“We have a sad news,” read the message posted to Facebook this past Saturday by Noodles Pho Me, a popular Lao-style pho restaurant in San Leandro — perhaps the only one of its kind in the Bay Area.

Unlike the usual steaming broth, this unique pho dish in Lao Cai is served with a thick, rich sauce, accompanied by sliced char siu, eggs, crispy noodles, and more. Unlike traditional pho, which is ...