Snapdragon Vietnamese Pho at Costco Review (Gluten Free Noodles)

Costco’s is selling Snapdragon Vietnamese Pho which is surprisingly tasty and I am delighted that I made the purchase. The pho is far from perfect but it makes me smile and I enjoy heating some up for an easy lunch.

Keep reading and we will cover:

• How to heat the pho
• Is the pho good?
• Calories and nutrition of the pho
• Price of the pho at Costco

Heating Instructions

Cooking the pho is fast and easy.  The packaging provides cooking instructions using a microwave as well as using hot water from a kettle.

I follow the microwave instructions and the noodles come out great.

Microwave Heating Instructions

• Open the lid and add the contents of the Soup Base Packet and Vegetable Packet.
• Fill to the line with cold water
• Microwave on High for two minutes.
• Have Happy Thoughts
• Let the pho sit for one minute.
• And the contents of the Flavoring Oil Packet and mix well.
• Slurp the noodles like you have never slurped before!

I really enjoy the playfulness of the instructions.  It shouldn’t be a big deal that the instructions tell me to think Happy Thoughts but it works!

Overall it is much faster and easier to prepare this gluten free pho than Costco’s gluten free Ramen.

The one deviation I make from the instructions provided is with the Soup Base packet.

There is a LOT of salt in the soup base and my high blood pressure does not need excessive sodium.  To that end I only put about 1/2 to 1/3 of the soup base into the pho before heating.

I have also started adding small broccoli florets and diced chicken to the soup before heating and that works exceptionally well.

Taste Test

I love the taste of the Snapdragon Vietnamese Pho!

The rice noodles have a much nicer texture than Costco’s Healthy Noodles and the flavor is wonderful even though I only use about half of the soup base.  The broth is salty, a little spicy and has a pleasant umami note.  Overall the flavors of the broth and texture of the noodles are a delightful combination.

I found myself following the silly packaging again and discovered that I was slurping up the noodles with a big smile on my face.

Calories and Nutrition

One bowl of the pho is a single serving and has the following calories and nutritional information:

• Calories: 230
• Fat: 3.5g (4% DV)
• Cholesterol: 0mg (0% DV)
• Sodium: 1550mg (67% DV)
• Carbohydrates: 46g (17% DV)
• Protein: 3g

The sodium is crazy high in this meal but you can reduce that by using less of the soup base.  Overall this meal is a heck of a lot healthier than tradition heat and serve Ramen and is something I look forward to enjoying.

If you want to get some ramen that is lower in sodium then try Snapdragon Miso Ramen which is also sold at Costco.

Price of Snapdragon Vietnamese Pho at Costco

I bought the nine pack of Snapdragon Vietnamese Pho at Costco for $9.99, on sale from its regular price of $13.49.

At the full regular price the bowls cost $1.50 each.  While $1.50 a bowl is expensive compared to traditional heat and serve Ramen the price is not excessive and is quite reasonable for an easy, tasty lunch.

If I can find the pho on sale again then I will definitely stock up!

Other Interesting Noodle Options at Costco

If the Vietnamese Pho doesn’t look like your cup of tea, then there are some other interesting noodle options for your consideration at Costco.

I really enjoy the Yakisoba Stir Fry Meal Kit from the deli with the other Take and Bake meals.  The stir fry kit is filled with Asian style noodles, two containers of yakisoba sauce, a pound of seasoned sous vide chicken thighs and fresh veggies.

The Gluten Free Ramen at Costco are another interesting option to consider.  I am not gluten sensitive but these noodles are low in calories and taste great.  You can dress up the noodles with a little teriyaki sauce, leftover rotisserie chicken and a few broccoli florets and have a delicious and heathy noodle meal.