Top 5 Vietnamese pho spots in Toronto
Published November 18, 2024 at 4:42 pm
Pho is popular in Toronto, and can be found all over the city. It’s a hearty Vietnamese noodle soup dish that’s warming during colder months, but filling and wonderful any time of year.
Great pho is defined by a broth that’s a labour of love, slippery noodles for slurping and a generous portion of quality meats or other protein, all served in a gigantic bowl. However, the best part of eating pho is an interactive element that’s different for everyone: you can choose your own adventure by adding your own sauces, herbs, bean sprouts and chili.
After that, just grab some chopsticks and a spoon and get to work on your pho, which is especially good when accompanied by a steaming cup of tea, an ice cold beer, or one of many other drink options pho places often offer like teas, smoothies and juices.
Here’s where to go for a great bowl of pho in Toronto
5 – Vit Beo
The take on pho at this Bloor restaurant is a little different from others, and you won’t find any sriracha, hoisin or other condiments on the table so you can dress your pho according to your own personal preference.
Fortunately, the default way that pho comes at this restaurant is excellent, so there’s no major need for adjustments. The beef pho comes presented with a little flair, the rare beef draped over the side of the bowl in a way that it usually isn’t at other restaurants.
The beef variety is made with well done beef, rare beef, thin but chewy rice noodles, fish sauce, herbs, lime and a very aromatic and rich beef broth. They also make a vegan pho with lemongrass tofu, king oyster mushroom, baby bok choy, noodles, tamari, herbs, lime and a veggie broth. All their pho is gluten-free.
4 – Pho 90
There’s a Weston location and a Queen West location of this restaurant serving up classic pho. Their rice noodles are very chewy, and the broth is deeply seasoned, peppery and fragrant.
Bowls of pho come topped with finely shredded green onion, which only adds to the aroma and strong flavours of the dish.
3 – Golden Turtle
This restaurant has been in business since 1987, and its long years of operation are a testament to its popularity. Strolling down Ossington, the patio and dining room of this place can often be seen packed with customers.
Bowls of pho come loaded with onion floating in the comforting broth, and an option with rare beef and beef balls balances out the tender rare meat with beef balls that have a nice bouncy chew.
2 – Pho Linh
This cash only affair on College Street serves giant bowls of pho topped with lots of shredded green onion. The broth is very flavourful, and it feels like an endless amount of meat is packed into the bowl.
There’s a generous amount of tender meat, and the noodles are always nicely slippery and never clumped together. Tea is served alongside every item ordered here.
1 – Pho Tien Thanh
This pho restaurant has been in business since 1995, and it’s recently received Michelin recognition for their food. The restaurant is often packed in the evenings with lines forming, and they only accept cash most days of the week.
The owner is from south Vietnam and runs the restaurant with family, and the menu here strives to represent Vietnamese cuisine from multiple regions.
The broth here is second to none, with a powerfully deep and complex flavour. The noodles are perfectly slippery, and even the smaller size options for pho are almost tough to finish. There’s a generous amount of meat included in their soups, and it’s always very fresh tasting and tender.