Trams Kitchen
(412) 682-2688
4050 Penn Ave
Pittsburgh,
PA
15224
40.4654
-79.9559
Neighborhood: Central Lawrenceville
What People Are Saying About Trams Kitchen
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
If you were blindfolded and led into Tram's Kitchen, you might believe you were on a side street in Saigon. There are Vietnamese signs, Eastern art and waitstaff calling to each other in a foreign tongue. In fact, the food is straight out of Saigon, and is filling, healthy and inexpensive.
The Food
You might start off with pho, the traditional soup of the country, with beef or chicken, noodles, onions, and cilantro, served in a large bowl with fresh mint and bean sprouts on the side to add as desired. You must try the fresh spring roll (goi cuon), crisp shredded vegetables, mint and pork (or tofu, for the vegetarian variety). For a main course, the choice is vermicelli topped with meat, eggrolls or shredded pork, fresh vegetables and served with a sweet-sour sauce on the side. Another version features coconut milk in the sauce, and is also an excellent choice.
User Reviews
linglyn
April 02, 2009
I like the spring rolls because they aren't super loaded with herbs, even though the ones I had in Vietnam were, and the dipping sauce is yummy too. I've only been twice, once I sat down and once I got take out. Both times I got the beef pho and it was definitely better as takeout, you get soup in one container, noodles, medium rare beef (definitely some raw/pink) and onions and some herbs in another container and a baggy full of bean sprouts, mint and a lime wedge plus they pack some siracha hot sauce with a darker sauce and it was super fast, I went in and ordered and got it within 5 min. The only down side is that they only take cash or check.
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PhoSho
December 08, 2008
I love Asian food of all different styles and fancies but I have never before ventured into the depths of Trams Kitchen. The first time I went there I was not sure what to get and the man with one arm who worked there instilled some doubt that maybe this was the wrong place to go. However my beautiful girlfriend continued to reassure me that this was a fine establishment and I was in for a treat. I was skeptical but she told me what to order and as usual I trusted her pretty face. I ordered the Beef Pho and three spring rolls as did she. As I waited for the "Pho" to grace my presence I glanced around the restaurant and tried to take in the atmosphere. I noticed a variety of people of all ages and backgrounds, so I blinded assumed everything was going to be ok. After holding my gorgeous girl friends hand for about ten minutes waiting for the arrival of the spring rolls and this so called "Pho" it suddenly appeared. I was not hesitant to consume the spring roll as my taste buds have crossed there path numerous times before. But Pho? This large steamy bowl of soup, beef and Pho noodles I did not know what to expect. My precious girl friend kept me calm and told me to add the hot sauce and plum sauce, conveniently located beside me on the table, to this unknown soup. After one bite I was overcome with pure utopia begining in my mouth and then traveling throughout my whole body. Who would have known that this eight dollar bowl of soup in some generic restaurant could be so scrumptious. About one minute later this beefy noodley concoction of godliness was completely engulfed in my happy stomache. Later upon arriving home I took a large doodie and went to sleep. Who would have know that the mysterious one armed man could be so right?
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kevingimpel
July 29, 2008
I don't usually write reviews, but with the wide range of ratings for Tram's I figured I should chime in. I've been there three times, and while I haven't tried that many things from the menu, nearly all the food I've had has been excellent. As others have noted, the spring rolls are delicious. My sister and I both liked the shrimp/pork spring rolls better than the vegetarian ones, but the latter were good too. My favorite at Tram's, though, is the "Vegetarian Mixed Vegies" (sic), which is one of the tastiest and most original vegetarian entrees in Pittsburgh (outside of Kaya). Concerns expressed by others about cleanliness and service are probably valid, but when the food is this good I can look beyond them. With the low price of admission, it's definitely worth a try!
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