I was thinking about trying some Vietnamese food this weekend. The only place I have really eaten Vietnamese food is Au Petite on Main Street. However, it's a pretty small restaurant with potential lineups.
When reading up reviews on Yelp or any other site, I have noticed the following negative comments that seem to be common for some Vietnamese restaurants:
- Food is uncooked
- Food contains MSG
- Food is greasy
- Restaurant is dirty
- Service is rude
Anyway, I am curious to know if there are any recommendations on some decent safe Pho restaurants in Vancouver?
LOL....All five of those are "features" of Pho joints
1. uncooked? That's what you get when you order "rare steak" in your noodles. Plus the sprouts and Basil are supposed to be raw.
2. MSG = standard ingredient in the broth....it's all a matter of degree. Some places use a lot some use less
3. Greasy = deep fried spring rolls are supposed to be greasy...Jeez
4. Dirty = just go to a place right after they re-open from "renovations" which is the code word for "we got shut down by Foodsafe BC and had to repair our dishwasher"
5. Rudeness = I think it's just the way the servers speak English with the heavy Viet accent.
-------------
Au Petit Cafe is one of the better places but they are more known for their Viet Sub sammiches than Pho
Good pho is characterized by fresh ingredients, al-dente noodles (most places are abit over-cooked), clear broth.
Pho Tan - kind of across the street from Au Petit on Main. Second location - 6516 Kingsway
Pho Hoa - on Granville @ 15th. It's the cleanest location of that chain in Vancouver
Pho Century - Kingsway and Sperling
Green Lemongrass - Westminster hwy in Richmond (just east of #3 Rd.) and on 1086 Kingsway (west of Knight)
Thai Son 1450 SW Marine Dr and 6471 Victoria Dr.