I had to look up Niskena soup, but it sounds fantastic (and reminiscent of some of the Turkish lentil soups that I've enjoyed in the past).

Your experiences with pho sound unfortunate, but I'm glad you go the chance to have a better version!

The gizzard and heart soup definitely sounds like an acquired taste, but like my mum's hearty vegetable soup, I guess if it's something you grew up with, it's comfortingly familiar.