Editor’s note: Welcome to our new series. We can’t dine out right now, but we can order in. Guest author Liz McCue is sharing her takeout chronicles from restaurants offering delivery and curbside pickup in the capitol city.

How to Order

Online at phofactorylincoln.com — the restaurant offers takeout and curbside pickup, as well as delivery through Doordash — or by phone at 402-261-3213. Pho Factory is at 940 N. 26th St., Ste. 206.

What we got

Papaya jerky salad, Vietnamese king crepes (bahn xeo), and fried rice.

How long it took

From the time the order was placed online to delivery, it took just under 45 minutes for it to arrive at our northwest Lincoln apartment.

Liz’s take

I think this was the first time I hadn’t actually ordered pho from Pho Factory. It’s a staple as a pick-me-up after a rough day or if I’m feeling under the weather. But I figure, when you see the same square footage every day, why not try something new in your takeout?

Of course, when you try a new dish, you might make one or two (or ten) mistakes when serving it. 

Full disclosure — I tried to eat the bahn xeo with a knife and fork. Even with my initial faux pas, it was delicious. The edges of the crepe were crispy and caramelized. After its car ride here, the middle retained a light crunch on the outside with a sweet doughy interior studded with shrimp and pork, and filled with bean sprouts and onions. And the lime chili fish sauce for dipping? Can’t go wrong. 

The papaya jerky salad was crunchy and a little sour, the perfect partner to the heavier main dishes we ordered. There was plenty of it to split between my husband, Michael, and I, and a little more for lunch the next day. 

Fried rice may not be Pho Factory’s namesake, but there’s a reason Michael returns to it. Each grain is golden and lightly spiced, just salty enough to bring out the flavors of the vegetables and meats in the dish, with a sprinkling of cilantro. It’s familiar, and that’s okay, too.