Best Montreal Pho Restaurants
Photo cred - Ilaf
There’s no shortage of yummy Asian noodle soups in Montreal. But even with the crowd of broth-filled bowls competing for our taste buds, pho stands out as one of our favourites. The tasty rice noodles, rich broth, and range of meats which can be found in the Vietnamese dish have us craving it on a regular basis. Thankfully, the city is full of places that have the goods to satisfy our jones. Here are the best pho places in Montreal.
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Nguyen Phi
6260 Chemin de la Cote-des-Neiges
The pho here has a dark broth that just barely conceals the heap of meat and noodles underneath. The colour comes from the marrow which is boiled out of bones in the broth, which also gives it a delightfully beefy flavour. It’s got a nice variety of meats, too—the soup contains tenderloin, brisket, flank steak, tripe, and meatballs.
Pho Nam Quan
This place has a unique tasting broth in their pho, and it’s just as delicious as it is one-of-a-kind. It has subtle undertones of cinnamon and anise that combine perfectly with its hefty meat aroma. They don’t stop at the broth, though. They pack the bowl full of fatty and tender brisket that’s bursting with meaty flavour.
Pho Bang New York
Sure, the area that this restaurant is in is called Chinatown, but the neighborhood also contains some of Montreal’s best pho. The delicate fragrance of the broth wafts into your nostrils the second your giant bowl of noodles arrives at your table.Meat lovers will love this pho, because it’s packed to the brim with yummy beef cuts like tendon and tripe.
Photo cred - La Bouche Pleine
Restaurant Pho 198
3604 Notre-Dame West
No matter what you like inside of your pho, you’ll find what you’re looking for here. You can get it loaded with different kinds of beef, as many places serve it. But if you want to try something a little different, you can also get it filled with chicken, shrimp, or veggies. Whatever you pick, you’re sure to leave satisfied.
Restaurant Pho Tay Ho
They offer their pho in medium, large, and extra-large bowls here, so you’ll be able to choose just how much gets put in front of you. Of course, when you take one taste of it, you’ll want the XL option, but it’s nice to know that you have the choice. Unlike some lesser phos, the broth is refreshing and not loaded with MSG. They top it off with a heaping of Thai basil and sprouts that compliments the flavours perfectly.
Pho Bac 97
Come here if you like your beef rare. It arrives in your steaming hot bowl tender, pink, and just barely cooked. Of course, if you like your meat more well done, you can also let it steam in the broth for a bit, but what’s the fun in that?
Restaurant Hoai Huong
You can definitely enjoy your pho while sitting in this restaurant, but you’ve got other options if you prefer slurping your broth in the comforts of your own home or elsewhere. They do one of our favourite takeout phos in the city, and they pack the broth separately from the noodles and meat so that they’ll be as fresh as possible whenever you eat them. Wash it down with one of their delicious Vietnamese iced coffees for the perfect ending to your pho experience.
Pho Lien
5703 Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges
Poultry lovers will want to check this place out. Many pho broths are unabashedly beef-based, but Lien allows you to choose between a classic beef broth and a chicken one. Either way, you’ll get a soup full of flavour that does a good job of supporting the healthy offering of meat and noodles inside.
Photo cred - Thomas Apricot
Dao Vien
5623 Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges
They’ve got a archetypical pho here that doesn’t mess with the formula and gets you that authentic pho flavor you crave. The dish comes with a meaty broth and is loaded with yummy noodles and meat. But if you feel like branching out a bit, you can try harder to find dishes like escargot soup or rolled cakes known as ban cuons.
Itamea Sushi
You wouldn’t know it from the name, but this place has some of the best pho in the city. Of course, they have an extensive sushi menu as well, but those in the mood for cooked food will love their take on the noodle dish. They jampack it with chicken, veggies, various cuts of beef, or shrimp.
Pho Saigon Vietnam
If you’re looking to customize your pho experience, you’ll want to come here. You can get your bowl filled with chicken, seafood, or beef broth. No matter which one you choose, they make it from scratch with bones and more flavours, and you’ll taste the home-cooking in every bite.
Restaurant Dong Qué
The broth here is so yummy that we’d be happy eating a bowl filled with nothing but the stuff, but thankfully they don’t stop there. You can get it full of rice noodles, veggies, and a variety of meats. Make sure you save room for their Che 7 Mau, which is their deliciously unique take on the classic Vietnamese bean dessert.
Pho Hoa
6208 Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges
The atmosphere at this place doesn’t exactly scream of luxury, but they more than make up for it with their pho. The piping hot broth will warm you up right, whether you get it with chicken or beef. The remarkably fresh basil lime and sprouts add an extra little touch to bring out the delicious range of flavours hidden in the dish.
Photo cred - Thomas Apricot
Restaurant La Saigonaise
5711 Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges
This restaurant specializes in natural ingredients without additives, and it allows them to serve a wholesome pho that’s sure to help you get your fix. Their commitment to health doesn’t make them compromise on taste at all, as you’ll see when you take one taste of their rich and aromatic broth. If you’re looking for some alcohol to enhance your pho experience, they’ve got a nice range of beers, wines, and liqueurs.
Pho Nguyen
You'll need to bring cash here, because they don't take plastic. Thankfully, you won't need much of it, and the pho is more than worth the extra effort. The rare beef blends perfectly with the mint and coriander for a delicious combination of flavors. The crunchy beef sprouts on top are the perfect finishing touch.
Pho 88
The name is 88, but we'd give their pho a perfect 100. Like most phos, it's packed full of noodles and beef, but it also has delicious veggies like broccoli, carrots, and lettuce. Just be prepared to wait if you come during lunch--customers pack the place in the hopes of getting a taste of their legendary rendition of the dish.
Pho Cali
Even though it's called Cali, this pho tastes like it came straight from Vietnam. We love all of their variations on the dish, but their grilled shrimp pho will send you straight into seafood heaven. Not only that, but they serve it fast, so you'll be slurping down your noodles in no time.
Pho 21
This area is jam packed with places to get the dish, but 21 is one of our favourites. The tripe that they load it with is some of the best you'll ever taste. It's also BYOW, so feel free to pair it with the alcoholic beverage of your choosing.
Photo cred - Fyp
Restaurant Sen Vang
We've already talked about how delicious Sen Vang's pho is, but it's worth repeating. There are lots of delicious things on their menu, but nothing makes our mouth water quite like the Dac Biet. It has a delicious assortment of beef cuts and is served with a heap of Thai basil. Throw a squirt of lemon on it, and you'll have a pho experience you'll never forget.
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