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Pho Restaurants: A Guide
by Thang Ngo - 19th November 2010 | 03:47 AET
Phở is the name of the most popular Vietnamese noodle soup dish. Outside Vietnam, it’s been anglicised to simply “Pho”.
- Read our interview with SBS Featured Foodie Thang Ngo.
This dish is made up of pho noodles in soup with beef, topped with onion and spring onions. A bowl of pho is served with a side of basil, bean sprouts, chilli and a slice of lemon or lime. Hoisin sauce, fish sauce, and sometimes even sugar are optional additions and can be found on the restaurant table.
Pho is believed to have originated only a century ago in the north of Vietnam. These days, there are noticeable regional variances, with Pho tasting different in the north, central and southern Vietnam.
Many believe its relatively young origin means Pho is a Vietnamese adaptation of Chinese Hu Tieu, which uses very similar noodles, but is less intense in flavour. Pho is also the name of the rice noodle used in the dish.
Beef Pho is by far the most popular form of Pho and is offered in a bewildering variety of options:
- Pho nam: pre-cooked beef – this is likely what you’d receive if you just asked for pho
- Pho tai: thin uncooked slices of beef, which the diner cooks using the piping-hot soup
- Pho tai-nam: a combination of cooked and uncooked beef
- Pho gan: added beef tendon
- Pho sach: with added tripe
- Pho bo vien: with added beef balls
- Pho dac biet: the special with everything
Chicken pho is the second most popular form and, from my observations, seems to be more popular with women. Vegetarian pho is also relatively popular during ram (full-moon cycles). While fish pho and prawn pho can be found in some regions of Vietnam, it’s almost impossible to find elsewhere.
Here’s where you'll find the best pho in Australia:
NSW
Pho Tau Bay
Cabramatta
12/117 John Street
Cabramatta NSW 2166
(02) 9726 4583
Pho An
29 Greenfield Parade
Bankstown NSW 2200
(02) 9796 7826
Pho Pasteur
709 George St
Haymarket NSW 2000
(02) 9212 5622
Vic
Pho Hien Vuong
37 Leeds Street
Footscray Vic 3011
(03) 9687 1470
Pho Hung Vuong 2
150 Victoria St
Richmond Vic 3121
(03) 9428 8680
Pho Hung
268-274 Springvale Rd
Springvale NSW 3171
(03) 9540 3566
Qld
Pho Hien Vuong
319/341 Mains Road
Sunnybank Qld 4109
(07) 3219 5688
Pho Ha Lang
Shop 2, 1981 Logan Road
Mount Gravatt Qld 4122
(07) 3219 3677
SA
Pho Ba Ria 2
54c Hanson Road
Woodville Gardens SA 5012
(08) 8244 5522
Pho Nam
267A Kensington Rd
Adelaide SA 5068
(08) 8364 1965
WA
To To Vietnamese
875 Albany Hwy
East Victoria Park WA 6101
(08) 9355 2388
Tra Vinh
149 Brisbane Street
Northbridge WA 6003
(08) 9228 2788
ACT
Tu Do
7 Sargood Street
O’Connor ACT 2602
(02) 6248 6030
Can Tho
u1/38 Weedon Close
Belconnen ACT 2617
(02) 6251 3682
Acknowledgements: Noodlies’ list was compiled with help from foodies and food bloggers across Australia, including Ms Baklover, Missklicious, L. Trinh and MV.
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Comments (17)
01 Dec 2010 10:12 AEST
Kat
Annandale
I have always been a fan of the Naughty Chef. Rare beef is the way to go with plenty of chilli!
29 Nov 2010 11:52 AEST
Christine
Bellbird Park
I wear Pho on my chest
On a recent trip to Vietnam I purchased a t-shirt with 'I love Pho' on the front - now everybody knows.
28 Nov 2010 07:45 AEST
TINH NGUYEN
Springvale
BEST PHO IN THE WORLD
BELMORAL AVE, SPRINGVALE, VIC NEXT TO THE REALESTATE AGENCY "PHO VUONG" THIS IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD. I KNOW PPL WHO COME FROM ALL OVER ASIA FOR THEIR PHO, EVEN VIETNAM. IT IS FANTASTIC.
DEFINITELY THE BEST IN THE WORLD
25 Nov 2010 11:12 AEST
Thang
Cabramatta
Pho Minh
Pho Minh is not bad either and the owners are really sweet
25 Nov 2010 03:07 AEST
snow
RichMond
Pho
Pho Has too much MSG, you eat it too much your hair will fall out.
25 Nov 2010 02:09 AEST
KJ2010
Chatswood
Pho 54
I am surprised nobody has mentioned Pho 54 in Cabramatta? Definitely a hole in the wall experience as it is cramp in there but the Pho is the best pho shure! If only they deliver to your door.
25 Nov 2010 12:47 AEST
Jack
Palm Beach
Pho in Nth Shore
There's good Pho in the food arcade down Willoughby rd, Crows Nest, think it's called Annies, lots of good japanese there too! another is Phuong Restaurant, in Crows Nest too.
25 Nov 2010 11:51 AEST
Moe
North Perth
Tra Vinh!
My fave place for pho - it's not fancy, it's not exactly salubrious, but the pho is GOOD! The best i've had outside of hanoi!
I heard that the name is a derivation of the french pot-au-feu... it would make sense considering the french influence in Vietnam, but i haven't seen any real evidence - just word of mouth
25 Nov 2010 11:31 AEST
Ivy Hornibrook
East Ryde
Still looking...
Anywhere on the North Shore of Sydney? Anywhere at all?
25 Nov 2010 11:18 AEST
Nadia
St Leonards
Great List SBS
I was absolutely delighted that Pho An in Bankstown was on the list... (even though I knew that it HAD to be there!!) after many years patronage, and experimenting elsewhere... I think they do the BEST Pho tai :)
25 Nov 2010 11:10 AEST
phon
alexandria
pho-natic
Sydney Inner Westies should try Pho Bac Hai Duong on Illawarra Rd, Marrickville...
Or Thanh Binh's pho on weekends.
YUM.
25 Nov 2010 11:08 AEST
phon
alexandria
pho-natic
Sydney Inner Westies should try Pho Bac Hai Duong on Illawarra Rd, Marrickville...
Or Thanh Binh's pho on weekends.
YUM.
24 Nov 2010 07:44 AEST
Lauren
Footscray
Different type
How fascinating about the different types of pho! I had no idea.
I think pho is such a great entry point into Vietnamese cuisine. I know for me it was the first thing I ate regularly and I have now "graduated" to many different types of Vietnamese soup.
22 Nov 2010 02:29 AEST
Jo
Sydney
Great Info
Thanks for sharing this... I'll be going to a few of these places!
19 Nov 2010 10:18 AEST
Suze
Newtown
Eating Pho
I love pho, it's so healthy and guilt free and utterly delicious. Great list.
19 Nov 2010 05:39 AEST
Pete
Bondi
I Love Pho
What a great list, I'm gonna be trying these places in Sydney
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