It Should Be Illegal To Drive Through Metuchen, New Jersey Without Stopping At Pho One

Route 1 is a long, winding highway heading all the way from Maine to Florida, with a lengthy run in New Jersey. As you hit the Middlesex County section, you'll find a busy stretch full of chain restaurants, strip malls, and supermarkets - as well as the occasional hidden gem. One such gem is found in the short Metuchen section. Sandwiched in between a vitamin shop and a mattress store, you'll find Pho One, a humble noodle shop serving what might be the best Vietnamese in New Jersey at an affordable price. For little more than the cost of a fast food combo meal these days, you'll be able to tuck into a steaming bowl of traditional Vietnamese soup loaded with meat and noodles. Top your meal off with one of the restaurant's signature drinks, and you'll have more than enough fuel for the drive ahead.

Tucked into a quiet strip mall, many people don't give Pho One a second look - and that makes this a true New Jersey hidden gem.

The spacious, brightly-lit dining room attracts both adventurous eaters looking to try something new and Vietnamese-American locals who know Pho One makes traditional dishes with all the care needed.

A great light way to start off the meal is with Vietnamese spring rolls, stuffed with shrimp, greens, and vermicelli and wrapped in rice paper.

If you need to get back on the road, Pho One has an excellent menu of Banh Mi - the classic French-Vietnamese sandwich.

But if you're here for a sit-down meal, turn right to the soup page. The signature item is Pho - a rich beef broth loaded with rice noodles and your choice of cuts of beef.

The restaurant features a lot of varieties of soup you might not find on other Vietnamese menus, including a dark, slow-cooked oxtail soup.

For those who have the tolerance for spice, you'll find some of the hottest soups in the state here - loaded with wheat noodles and a mix of proteins.

You'll definitely want to cool off after that, so make sure to get one of the restaurant's bubble teas or other sweet drinks for the road!

Have you visited Pho One along Route 1 in Metuchen? Let us know about your meal, and tell us your pick for the best Vietnamese in New Jersey in the comments section. For more information on the restaurant's sprawling menu, you can visit the official Pho One website. While you're in the area, you're only a few minutes drive from Roosevelt Park, where you'll find the state's most offbeat sculpture.