Lee Pao Her opened Pho Reel in Kerman this January, bringing a taste of Vietnamese cuisine to the growing Valley town. Photo by Ben Hensley

If you’re hungry on Whitesbridge Avenue in Kerman, you have plenty of options. Barbecue, fast food, family-owned Mexican restaurants and more.

Lee Pao Her hopes to add a new flavor to the palate of the Kerman community, and even draw West Fresno residents itching to take a 15 minute drive down Highway 180 for a bowl.

Pho Reel opened its doors in January, celebrating its status as one of the up-and-coming new restaurants in Kerman.

Featuring spare ribs, rice bowls, Hmong sausage and, of course, pho, Pho Reel brings the city’s only taste of the bone broth soup described by Her.

Her, a Fresno resident who grew up selling produce with his family, hadn’t planned on entering the restaurant business. Despite growing up cooking traditional Vietnamese cuisine, the roots of Pho Reel boil down to a chance meeting with a building owner.

“It was just a good day,” Her said. “[I asked] the owner if he had a kitchen to rent. He said ‘You came on a good day.’”

Her, who was unfamiliar with Kerman at the time, had to Google the town and drive through. When he did, he discovered that Kerman, a fast-growing community, lacked traditional Lao food, and saw it as an opportunity to venture into restaurant ownership.

“It’s a growing community, so I might as well give it a shot,” Her said. “We love cooking at home, so why don’t we just bring the Southeast Asian food into Kerman?”

Pho originated in Vietnam, but the noodle addition was added by the French, according to Her.

Her hopes to expand his footprint in the community by hiring additional staff for the family-run restaurant.

When it comes to the food though, Her is hopeful people unfamiliar with pho give it a shot.

“Some people just need to venture out,” Her said.

Pho Reel is located at 14861 W. Whitesbridge Ave. in Kerman, next to the Valero gas station. Pho Reel is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day but is closed on Wednesdays.