A company established in 1983 in Southern California officially launched its first Indiana location with a grand opening in late July.

The main attraction at Pho Hoa Noodle Soup + Jazen Tea in Crown Point is the pho, a Vietnamese soup billed as featuring a healthy broth with a choice of meats, vegetables and herbs.

“It’s very popular in California,” said David Tran, who owns Pho Hoa Noodle Soup + Jazen Tea in Crown Point with partner Ban Vuong, of Portage.

Here is the dish on the local franchise.

On the menu: “We have many kinds of soup,” Tran, of Crown Point, said about the pho ranging from traditional selections such as meatball to adventurous selections such as Vietnamese beef stew, vegetarian or hot-and-sour seafood. PhoHoa.comPhoHoa.com states, “Pho broth is traditionally made with bone marrow, which is high in calories and saturated fat. At Pho Hoa, we only use lean, quality meat cuts to create our delicious healthy broth.” The pho, which features a base of broth and rice noodles, can be made with proteins including chicken, tofu, shrimp, salmon and squid, as well as veggies such as broccoli, mushrooms, cauliflower, tomato, carrots and cucumber.

A mission statement: “Pho is a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup dish primarily consisting of a beef stock soup base. Hoa means harmony. Together, Pho Hoa symbolizes the harmony of traditional Vietnamese roots blended with the modern, local community,” according to . “We are proud to provide locally sourced produce and to work with our local residents to build a stronger community.” Founded by Binh Nguyen, Pho Hoa Noodle Soup celebrated its 35th anniversary in July and has more than 60 locations in Canada, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines and the United States.

Interior: “We have a very big dining room,” Tran said about his Pho Hoa Noodle Soup + Jazen Tea, which can seat 76 people. “We’re close to downtown Crown Point. Most people here enjoy the downtown.”

Specialties: “We have very good, experienced people working in the kitchen,” said Tran, who cited pho, rice plates and vermicelli bowls as popular dishes at Pho Hoa Noodle Soup. Pho favorites include steak and brisket; steak, flank, tendon and tripe; chicken; and brisket and flank. Rice plate possibilities include grilled lemongrass pork chop and fried egg; grilled chicken and fried roll; and sweet-chili salmon. Vermicelli bowl selections include grilled chicken and fried roll; grilled prawn and pork; and tofu and vegetable.

We’re different because: Not all Pho Hoa Noodle Soups are paired with Jazen Tea, which marked its sixth anniversary in August. “I just feel good,” Tran, who was born in Vietnam, said about Jazen Tea. “We use premium ingredients to make it.” Fresh fruits are featured in several drinks from fruit teas such as the Tutti Fruity, with strawberry mango lychee tea plus strawberry and mango fruit bits, to fruit smoothies such as the Avocado Overload, with blended whole avocado topped with whipped cream, to fruit slushies, such as raspberry breeze with blended raspberry and fresh strawberry plus pineapple fruit bits.

Prices: Pho Hoa Noodle Soup prices start at $2.50 for snax, $5.25 for banh mi, $5.50 for children’s selections, $9.15 for pho, $10.75 for rice plates or vermicelli bowls, and $13.45 for combos. Jazen Tea prices start at $2.75 for milk teas, $3.50 for cafe sips, $3.95 for fruit teas, and $4.80 for fruit smoothies or fruit slushies.

Logistics: Pho Hoa Noodle Soup + Jazen Tea is at 1107 N. Main St., Crown Point. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays. Call 219-323-3118 or go to www.phohoa.com.

Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.