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In a building of white, accordion-stacked storefronts on a hectic corner in Graniteville, Pho Mac shares its tiny parking lot with another restaurant and a nail salon. Talk about an argument for public transit. With that fact duly noted, Pho Mac’s authentic Vietnamese dishes are worth getting on the bus. There are nineteen varieties of Pho—a clove-scented soup of beef broth, rice noodles, and, in some instances, tender slices of beef—and the eager staff is only to happy to give you a rundown of the rest of the menu. Admittedly, it might be impossible to explain the wonder of Banh Mi Ca Ri Ga. Simply billed in English as curried chicken with bread, this sweet, gold-orange, spicy stew bathes pieces of dark meat (still on the bone) in a rich mix of coconut milk, curry, and turmeric. To maximize your experience, skip the six tables on the no-nonsense first floor and ask for one of the booths upstairs. Their high wood-and-glass backs and bamboo privacy shades do the cuisine justice. — Amy Zavatto

Curry chicken, $4.25; grilled beef with lemongrass, $9.95; chicken with ginger and onions, $9.25