Friend or pho? Ha Noi case goes to trial

Denver's pho restaurants have seen some tough times lately. Last month, a car crashed into Pho 7, knocking the joint out of commission for a few days. Times were even tougher at Ha Noi Pho, our Best Taste of Hanoi in the Best of Denver 2007. Soon after we bestowed...

By Patricia Calhoun

December 3, 2008

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Denver's pho restaurants have seen some tough times lately. Last month, a car crashed into Pho 7, knocking the joint out of commission for a few days.

Times were even tougher at Ha Noi Pho, our Best Taste of Hanoi in the Best of Denver 2007. Soon after we bestowed that honor, the pho spot at 1036 South Federal Boulevard was the site of a shootout between two Denver officers who happened to be lunching at the place and Phuong Van Dang, who came in with a shotgun. Four people were injured in the incident, including Dang.

Dang's now on trial in Denver District Court; his case is expected to last all week. And Ha Noi Pho is as good as ever -- which is very good indeed, as Jason Sheehan reported in this review.

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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