MoPho

MoPho is a New Orleans restaurant at 514 City Park Ave, known for Chef Michael Gulotta's fusion of Vietnamese pho and Louisiana flavors. MoPho opened in January 2014 and earned Restaurant of the Year from New Orleans Magazine. Gulotta worked at Restaurant August before founding MoPho.

His vision for MoPho was to create food that marries the flavors of Southeast Asia with Louisiana comfort traditions. The restaurant's name nods to pho. MoPho's menu showcases this blend through signature dishes.

The pho features rich pork hock broth, while the chicken wings blend Creole spices with Southeast Asian brightness. The som tum salad uses local cucuzza squash, and coconut milk appears throughout the menu. Each dish uses ingredients like lemongrass, galangal, Thai chilies, and fish sauce alongside Louisiana spices.

The menu emphasizes approachable comfort food. Housed in a renovated 1970s bookstore at 514 City Park Ave, MoPho mixes neighborhood warmth with refined touches. Custom wooden tables and quality linens create a polished yet accessible environment, while the outdoor patio extends the convivial atmosphere into Mid-City's recovering streetscape.

The modest exterior gives way to a carefully considered interior. Service reflects the restaurant's community-focused philosophy, professional yet unpretentious, allowing the bold flavors to speak for themselves. The space has a hole-in-the-wall feel with polished touches.