Best of Toronto
The Best Pho in Toronto
The best pho in Toronto is a title that comes inherently with a little controversy. With so many restaurants at which to enjoy the Vietnamese soup noodle dish, the relative simplicity of pho means any discussion about the best version of this steamy comfort food quickly becomes a passionate defense of personal beliefs: how intensely flavoured should a broth be? What is the best type of noodle? What is the ideal meat to noodle ratio?
Harkening back to its street food origins, pho has become one of Toronto's most ubiquitous options for a quick and tasty meal, no matter the time of day or where in the GTA you might be.
This list features a broad swath of familiar favourites from neighbourhoods across the city. Some of my personal haunts just missed the cut, including Pho Pasteur at Dundas and Spadina, as well as Scarborough's Pho Metro and Pho 88 at Bamburgh Circle Plaza. But hey, that's the great thing about pho - there always seems to be another potential best bowl out there to be tried.
Here are the best bowls of pho in Toronto.
Note: This list was previously published on March 22, 2008. Comments below made up until May 15th, 2011 are in reference to the old list. We've purposely kept the archived comments here because we believe they (mostly) add value to this topic. If you don't want to have to wade through all of them, simply hit the "sort by newest first" link at the top of the thread.
Top middle photo by kayehm on Flickr.
Golden Turtle
Perhaps inexorably linked with celebrity chef Susur Lee who has been spotted dining here on occasion, this Ossington eatery is equally notable for its plethora of vegetarian friendly options. Small, cramped and consistently busy, this hole-in-the-wall is as minimalist in decor as the delicate broth that has made it a consistent local favourite, for professional chefs and regular hungry folks alike. More »
Pho Hung
The laughing cow sign is pretty easy to spot. This Chinatown institution bustles at all times of day and has expanded to double its original capacity. The pho is hearty and the portions large. Patrons nuzzling up to their bowls of beef ball soup in the austere surroundings. Despite crowds, the vast real estate and entire walls of windows make this a relatively airy space compared to many other Vietnamese restaurants. More »
Pho Huong
A relative newcomer to the city’s pho landscape, this Junction restaurant has been embraced by locals with open arms and stomachs. A clean modern interior and contemporary china has helped attract patrons by the droves. Generosity with the protein helps too, as does a menu that reaches into Chinese and Thai cuisine alongside traditional Vietnamese. More »
Hanoi 3 Seasons
Both locations of this east-side seafood standout serve its signature spicy baby clams, grilled fish and a variety of Northern Vietnames inspired cuisine that helps the menu standout amongst fellow pho competitors. Although the original location is comparably upscale, the newer Leslieville locale is without a doubt the spot-du-jour, with a clean fauxotic aesthetic that manages to transport without feeling gaudy. Also, $5 glasses of wine? That’s French culture everyone can get behind. More »
Pho Vietnam
With only two Scarborough joints making this list, Pho Vietnam is a strong choice to represent the treasure trove of good pho out East. Large portions served with a light, herbal and intensely flavoured broth make this outpost a common stop for pho seekers across the city. Don’t forget to venture off the noodle path as well. Many of the shrimp dishes here are excellent. More »
Pho Tien Thanh
Forever known as “the other pho place on Ossington,” this divey restaurant is no slouch when it comes to the slurpy stuff. Many pho snobs consider Pho Tien Thanh to actually be superior to its Golden neighbour up the street and one taste of its deeply beefy broth is enough to understand why there’s a debate. Often crowded and always cash only, come during off hours and order the rare beef to get the classic experience. More »
Pho Linh
With fresh noodles and a light broth that punches above its weight in the flavour department, this unassuming College west noodle house is a mainstay amongst the city’s pho faithful. It may look a bit like a bookies lair from the outside, but you can’t ever judge a pho restaurant by its cover. Don’t forget to try the banh beo (rice pancake), a bit of a rare treat for Vietnamese cuisine. More »
Pho Phuong
Labelling yourself a fine dining establishment tends to come with expectations. In the case of Pho Phuong, a bright modern interior and thoughtful presentation manage to somewhat reconcile its menu of typical Vietnamese dishes with its self-titled humblebrag. Huge portions of pho overflow with protein and pints of sumptuous broth. “Fine dining” may be a misnomer, but “Great rice dishes too” just doesn’t have the same ring I suppose. More »
Peach Garden
Nestled in a strip mall next to a Home Depot, this low-key restaurant ladles out rich, savoury bowls of pho for neighbourhood families and night owls alike. Like many local Vietnamese restaurants, the interior and service sometimes border on utilitarian. Still, consistently spiced and complex broth along with everyday low prices mean if you generally get what you pay for; you’re definitely getting a steal here. More »
Pho Saigon
The second Scarborough entry on the list, this bright uptown eatery features the requisite aesthetic of a classic Toronto Vietnamese restaurant. Tile floors, large windows, a single room and as many tables as you can arrange in a row. Most days however, all those tables are crammed with locals dropping by to consume a quick lunch of aromatic noodle soup or bun bowls bursting with herbage. A welcome Asian oasis in the midst of myriad middle eastern options. More »
Pho My Duyen
A clean, sharp, contemporary interior and trendy local following are fast becoming the M.O. of this stylish noodle house located in the increasingly popular Bloordale neighbourhood. Slightly smaller portions are offset by an intensely star-anise infused broth, while non-noodle options include treats such as duck salad and grilled goat. A relatively upscale experience at a comfortably (and familiarly) competitive price. More »
Pho Mi Asia
The sole representative of North York on this list, this casual eatery is consistently buzzing with both local Vietnamese patrons and overspill from nearby Yorkdale mall. Bowls of pho come with enough meat to host a bbq, but the star of the show here is the incendiary bun bo hu, served with fistfuls of fresh veggies, tender bits of pork knuckle and the earthy, tangy broth of shrimp paste, chili and lemongrass. Fuel up for that shopping spree in affordable style. More »
Discussion
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Having been to Viet Nam a few times, I long to find a restaurant that can make authentic spring rolls. If anyone knows of a place in Toronto that makes them like they do in Ha Noi, let me know!
Then again the only other pho I've had is at Xe Lua at 3:00 am and although good it doesn't compare to Spring Roll.
i think one of the main difference between pho here and VN
is one or two of the ingredients
there are these brown stars that the tend to add in it, my mom does it all the time so there is a difference between pho at the pho stores and "authentic" pho but i think its preference, none the less
regardin towards pho ga? do they serve it with an egg?
My favorite pho place used to be Hello Saigon (nee Miss Saigon) on Spadina, just north of Baldwin Street. It had the best pho: a nice taste of star anise, little bits of fried garlic and shallot in the bottom of the bowl and the beef they used was never gristley. About a year or so ago it was sold to someone else and it took a nosedive after that. After several visits with horrible service and bad food I've never gone back. The chef and owner opened a new place called Hua Sang (the upstairs one on Baldwin) a couple months ago but a few weeks ago they mysteriously stopped opening and I have no idea where they've gone. Anyone know what's become of them?
I've had a hankering for good pho and Pho Hung's is bland and watery in comparison.
In the North (finch and weston) and west (dundas and 10) is Pho Dau Bo.
Hello saigon is rteally bad..I have never been to a pho spot where i said "gah!!! never again'!!!!
Hands down, this place can't be touched.
Though I haven't had Banh Xeo in the longest time, not sure if white folk or non-asians know what I'm talking about, but, it's the shit. I am craving for some right now...
#1 Rule for eating at an ethnic restaurant: If you enter the restaurant and you see it's crowded with white people....WALK OUT! I generally don't trust zagat ratings on ethnic restaurants. Just peek inside and see who their customers are - and you'll know if it's more authentic or if they're going to make their food more bland.
On the list only 3 (Pho Phuong, Pho Linh, and Que Ling) are even close to legit. The broth of Golden Turtle is bland and lacks flavour. They make up for it by adding tons of msg. I know, I used to live on Ossington. A much more flavourful and authentic version can be found just down the street at Pho Tien. Besides everybody knows that the true measure of a pho restaurant is actually in their other soup items (the ones most non-asians are afraid to eat) like bun rieu (bun noodles in a tomato-ey crab broth) and the king of them all BUN BO HUE (bun noodles in a very complex beef and pork broth that must contain real shrimp paste, and MUST have real pig's feet and pig's blood, along with braised beef brisket). Most places are lazy and will just mix in a spoonful of storebought, preservative laden instant Bun Bo Hue flavour broth out of a jar. This includes half of the above restaurants. The other half don't even put it on their menu. If a place can get bun bo hue right it is for damn sure they can do pho bo (beef pho) in some respectable manor. Of all these places only Pho Phuong even comes close to a good Bun Bo Hue.
Don't get me wrong. I go to many of these places frequently, just like a person might go to their local sandwich shop. You can have good meal at any of them, and by no means should you not frequent any of these places. A few actually deserve to be on the list. What I said was the list is bogus not the restaurants. Let me put it this way. You know that little coffee shop you go to in the mornings run by friendly asians? The one where every morning you buy an egg sandwich with your coffee. Well it's like putting that place on a list for Toronto's best breakfast. For a good pho experience better than amost that on this list, try Green Bamboo in Scarborough; clean, good service, good broth.
The point is this, go outside your comfort zone. Go places you wouldn't normally go. Far places. Places you won't bump into friends. Or even anyone who speaks the same language except the waiter. And try new stuff. Stuff that may not sound that appetizing at first. But trust me, if people eat it it's definitely good.
Peace
Did you bother reading the title or intro of this post?
Best Pho in "Toronto".
This list covers the exact area that I am interested in. I'm not going to go out to Scarborough just because it may be better.
Lastly, you will notice the last sentence in the intro "So here's the short list, as voted by you".
So when you ask "Did the author even bother leaving Toronto proper?" you're actually describing the majority of the readership who voted on this.
Lastly, what classifies "Best" does not mean the same to all people. Best does not necessarily mean authentic.
Cut off at Coxwell to the East, St. Clair to the North and Keele to the West, it basically reads like a guide to downtown gentrification.
I find it irritating that the rest of the city outside the central core is excluded. Please note that since amalgamation in 1998, Scarborough, Etobicoke, York, East York and North York have all been part of "Toronto", it would be nice to see them get some play.
The best pho is found from Keele to Jane from Wilson up to Finch.
I don't eat pho in neighbourhoods without any Vietnamese people living there.
Saigon Palace is the worst Pho place I've ever eaten at. I'm actually Viet myself, and I think that that place has no authentic taste. Like, It's pretty bland. Personally, if you wanna find a good Viet restuarant, look in the store and see if there's actually a lot of Viet people, because they know what authentic Viet food tastes like.
http://app.toronto.ca/food2/DineSafeMain?userRequest=view_history&;ESTABLISHMENT_ID=10239236
The title of this article is very misleading and should be changed to "Best Pho in the Old City of Toronto"
Another place i like to go for Pho is Mimi's on Gerrard Street (near Logan). It's a no-frills place but the menu is very extensive, super cheap and the food is great.
their pho is really bland
I don't understand the hate for pho hung though. Could someone please explain what is wrong with pho hung besides being *gasp* popular? ... more popular with asians than non-asians I might add.
I've eaten at most of the places recommended by the commenters here (not denying that they are pretty good recommendations), but I still prefer Pho Hung. I actually converted a relative of the owners of one of the restaurants that seems to be a favourite of the commenters here over to pho hung. He's always paranoid that he'll be spotted betraying the fam, but he still goes. Actually, now that I think of it, I've converted TWO skeptical vietnamese whose families own restaurants over to Pho Hung.
Could someone please explain what their problem is with pho hung? I've heard a lot of people shit on pho hung, but there are never any reasons given. Trying too hard to be anti-mainstream me thinks
I think the vermicelli noodles are gross, and i'm looking for a pho with the thicker noodles (soooo much tastier!).
Suggestions, anyone?
Here are my picks.
Xe Lua #1 Great Broth thick rice noodles.
Golden Turtle #2 Great soup crappy Atmosphere bunch of low life's eating soup.
Asia 21 # 3 I go here most to do location closet to my office.
i just want me some good vege pho :(
There is a couple of chinese/viet places down yonge st @ Woodlawn (next to Monk's Tavern) they are too bad.
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I'd love for the wise commenters on this post to point me in the direction of something even better, but it seems no one can agree.
As to the comment earlier that good asian restaurants can't be full of white people. Sorry but the colour of your skin has nothing to do with how good your palate is. I've been to some restaurants full of asian people where to food was just objectively terrible. And the fact that Boston Pizza is full of white people doesn't make the food there good or authentic. It just means that there are a bunch of people sitting in a restaurant eating garbage for some reason – probably a lifetime of smoking has killed their taste buds. A better tip is to look at the other patrons, whatever their colour(s), and see if they're smiling.
I personally suggest Pho Rang Dong a bit west of Dufferin on St. Clair. It has vegetarian Pho for all of the vegetarians out there and the restaurant itself is very clean with good service as well.
Only 2 of the top 10 list make the cut for me. Tien thanh, and Pho linh.
Pho hung is just horrible, all the others are just bland or just overall bad. I find that these days i'll only go to a select few joints for some p-ho. For a golden turtle pho - I suggest you go to the location in mississauga (yes theres another called golden turtle) far superior broth, seems like the cooks know what they're doing.
The only pho dau bo i'll go to is the one up near finch and weston.
Just keeping it honest folks...the fancy looking pho shops know nothing about cooking the traditional dishes...they're marijuana farmers who have made some money and think this is a good way to wash the cash, employ family.
...Just keeping it real
Where is Mi Mi's on this list - one of the best in the city bar none!