The doors at 3195 S. Grand Blvd. are open once more. On Wednesday, April 2, Grand Bistro, formerly the celebrated Vietnamese institution Pho Grand, quietly opened in its rightful place in the heart of the South Grand neighborhood. There was little fanfare, just the familiar creak of the door swinging open and the scent of star anise and simmering broth curling into the cool spring air.
When Pho Grand shuttered on June 13, 2022, after 33 years of service, the loss felt almost personal. “When Pho Grand closed, it was like the neighborhood losing a child,” reflected Rachel Witt, executive director of the South Grand Community Improvement District. For many, it wasn’t just a restaurant; it was a refuge, a place where time felt suspended over bowls of fragrant pho and plates of delicate spring rolls.
Now, after nearly two years, Grand Bistro arrives as both a new chapter and an echo of the past. The menu is a slightly more streamlined version of the original, yet the heart remains intact. “We wanted it to feel like a new restaurant that pays homage to the original,” said Andrew Trinh, son of longtime owners Michael and Tami Trinh and now the steward of this next iteration. “It’s the same family and the same recipes.”
But there are new flourishes, such as a new cocktail menu that offers a Vietnamese twist on classic drinks like the Chrysanthemum Highball, where floral chrysanthemum tea and ginger liqueur come together in harmony, or the Ca Phe Sua Da Martini, thick with Vietnamese coffee and sweetened condensed milk, a marriage of delicious nostalgia in a coupe glass.
Even with the subtle changes, stepping inside Grand Bistro feels like a homecoming. The soft glow of the lights, the gentle buzz of conversation, the symphonic clatter of chopsticks – all of it warm and familiar. The door swings open, again and again, sending in wafts of laughter and the joy of reunions. At the bar, diners lean in close, steam rising between them, the air thick with stories and the scent of something simmering – something that tastes like memory.
Over time, there will be more changes. A new awning will eventually replace the iconic Pho Grand signage. The menu will grow, the cocktail list will evolve. But for now, there is no rush. For Trinh, who spent his childhood within these walls, the moment is an almost surreal blend of past and present, gratitude and possibility.
Grand Bistro is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., closed on Tuesdays, and open Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The neighborhood has waited, and now, at long last, the wait is over.
Check out the slideshow below for a look at some of the offerings.
