Joshua Rey5 Best Pho in Vancouver
If there’s one dish that always hits the right spot, it’s noodle dishes, and we’re here to tell you that we’ve recently had some of the best pho in town. It’s salty, spicy, citrusy, and sweet in all the right ways—we’re salivating just thinking about it.
So step right up and indulge in a bowl at one of these places where we slurped, savored, and devoured every last drop of pho goodness.
Vancouver’s Best Pho
Whether you’ve had pho or it’s your first time trying this popular Vietnamese dish, the best way to determine its quality is through the broth, as it’s the foundation of a good bowl of pho. You also want to get a bite of the meat and noodles.
Below is the criteria we’ve used to assess these restaurants that serve pho in Vancouver:
1. Le Pho Vietnamese Restaurant
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Quality | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Broth Flavor | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Noodle Texture | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Meat Quality | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Presentation | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Serving Size | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Meat Quantity | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Garnishes | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Le Pho, a family-owned restaurant, serves Vietnamese staples inside a quaint place that feels like you’re sharing a meal with your family. There’s TV playing (Kung Fu Panda was showing), and the walls are adorned with Vietnamese artwork.
So, let’s get down to brass tacks. The broth. So far, so good, and believe us, we’ve ordered a lot: beef, chicken, and the house special. It’s deep and pure, like you know it’s been simmering for hours.
They even let us decide if we wanted thin or thick noodles, which we appreciated. We decided to have the beef pho thick and the chicken and house special with the thin noodles.
The house special pho was quite special indeed, with a portion so large that it could easily feed two people. We just wish there were more meat slices put into the bowl, but we absolutely loved how tasty and tender it was.
Oh, and you wouldn’t want to miss out on their special banh mi. It’s crunchy with lots of fillings inside and a great amount of mayo, giving it the perfect balance of flavors.
We had a great meal here at Le Pho, and they even asked us if we wanted blanched bean sprouts and to refill our waters. If you’re looking for one of the best pho in Vancouver, Le Pho is a great choice.
Pros
- Customizable noodle thickness
- Variety of pho
Cons
- Relatively small meat portions
Customer Reviews
Reasonable prices and pleasant service
“Our go to place whenever we are craving pho. Reasonable prices and pleasant services…”
-Marj A.
Very good broth
“I usually come here if I’m running errands in this area. Love the pho here, I’ve tried the beef and the chicken both are very good they give you the option of thin or thick noodles too…”
-John M.
2. Pholicious
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Quality | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Broth Flavor | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Noodle Texture | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Meat Quality | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Presentation | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Serving Size | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Meat Quantity | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Garnishes | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Pholicious is a tiny hole in the wall along Pender Street, with a rustic vibe accentuated by red-bricked walls, wooden furniture, and a small chandelier right in the center of the room. It’s quite cozy dining here, and so was the food.
Start with a nice hot cup of Vietnamese coffee; trust us. You can get an iced one if it’s hot outside; either way, we recommend you get one of these while waiting for your orders.
What we absolutely liked about this place is that everything on the menu is under 10 bucks, and the broth here is solid considering the price. It was rich, light, and very comforting to our tummies.
We paired our beef pho with one of their salad rolls (we got the shrimp and beef). Toppings-wise, it was very generous, which we liked. The salad rolls were also bursting with fresh and crisp vegetables.
They’re also able to substitute and modify their dishes to suit vegan and vegetarian diets. It was pretty awesome to see how accommodating they are, and not just with the pho, but with all items on their menu as well.
You can’t go wrong when you step inside Pholicious. Many of the customers we’ve spoken with highlight how cheerful the staff were, so it’s safe to say you’ll have a great time eating here.
Pros
- Generous portions
- Vegan options available
Cons
- Limited seating
Customer Reviews
Affordable authentic pho
“Authentic Pho and Also is good value just under 10 Canadian dollar you can taste the delicious Noodle and soup.”
-Pongsakorn K.
Quick service and good portions
“They are really fast! The food arrived on my table about 5 minutes after I ordered. The portions were good. “
-Ghazal
3. Pho 37
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Quality | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Broth Flavor | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Noodle Texture | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Meat Quality | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Presentation | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Serving Size | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Meat Quantity | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Garnishes | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Pho 37 is where traditional Vietnamese dining meets a contemporary twist. Here, you’ll see various artworks adorning the walls, and we liked the intimate vibe of this place as tables are separated by wooden partitions.
The broth, oh, it’s so good we drank it clean. It’s got to be one of the most unique broths we’ve ever tasted in pho— rich, flavorful, and bursting with aromatic spices.
The #37, where they got their name from, is their signature dish, and it definitely lives up to the hype. The smoked meat and the raw egg yolk is really what makes the soup even richer.
The pho also had lots of meat, and while they could’ve had more garnishes like star anise or cinnamon, we can honestly say the food was just as enjoyable.
We tried the Vietnamese Beef Carpaccio too, and it was just thin slices of raw beef with a sauce that was kinda simple but super tasty. The tanginess in the sauce really popped when we dipped the meat in it.
All in all, we would highly recommend dropping by Pho 37 if you’re looking for one of the best pho in Vancouver.
Pros
- Wonderful dish presentations
- Three store locations
Cons
- Limited garnishes
Customer Reviews
Unique broth taste
“Their serving sizes are huge and they never miss. Their #37 (the namesake) has possibly one of the most unique broth I’ve ever tasted in pho…”
-Carson L.
Great presentation and ambiance
“The presentation and ambience is great, clean décor and subtle music…”
-Victor C.
4. Viet Sub
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Quality | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Broth Flavor | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Noodle Texture | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Meat Quality | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Presentation | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Serving Size | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Meat Quantity | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Garnishes | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Another option worth considering is Viet Sub, a homey counter-serve pho spot that reminds us of the bustling streets of Hanoi. This is where you can slurp well-done beef pho and sink your teeth into delicious banh mi.
Menu highlights include grilled lemongrass chicken with pork broth, rare beef and tripe, and, of course, the well-done beef. There are nine salad roll options to choose from on the menu, incorporating ingredients from the land and sea.
The broth at this place is sweet, filled with pork and herb goodness, and they generously pour sesame oil on it, giving the soup an amazing aroma. It’s not drowning in fish sauce, and honestly, it’s quite refreshing.
The balance between meat and veggies is spot-on, and the meat is so succulent it might even end up staining your shirt or pants. That said, it’d be a good idea to order something to wash that all down, right?
Well, we highly recommend you get one of their Vietnamese milkshakes. They have it in four flavors: jackfruit, strawberry, mango, and avocado.
We’re just a tad concerned about their limited seating, so if you’re in the mood for a sit-down meal, this might not be your top choice. But if you’re all about grabbing some Vietnamese takeout, this is the place to go.
Pros
- Plenty of salad roll options
- Serves Vietnamese milkshakes
Cons
- More ideal for takeout
Customer Reviews
Friendly service with nice pho
“Warm friendly service with decent Pho and Viet Subs available on the menu…”
-Alvin W.
Superb Vietnamese spot
“Superb Vietnamese spot! Cheap and delicious amd high quality — $9 pho (beef noodle soup) and $6 banh mi sandwich…”
-David N.
5. Pho Goodness
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Quality | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Broth Flavor | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Noodle Texture | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Meat Quality | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Presentation | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Serving Size | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Meat Quantity | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Garnishes | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Pho Goodness looks really small at the entrance, but don’t be fooled, as there’s plenty of room once you go inside past the counter. They really made use of the space, with ample seating areas and a cleverly designed layout.
If you’re in the mood for some quick and delicious pho, this place is the way to go. The broth in these bowls was bursting with flavor and not overly greasy, and the meat was perfectly tender, not chewy at all.
But our favorite has to be the special pho with spicy peanut broth. We’re not pho experts at all, and this was a wonderful surprise as we had never tried peanut broth before.
Just remember to grab extra spicy peanut sauce; it totally transformed our entire pho experience. It’s nutty and spicy, and we thought it was a nice twist on traditional pho.
If you’re stopping by here, get all the Vietnamese classics—banh mi, lemongrass chicken, and char-braised pork over vermicelli. Portions-wise, in our opinion, it’s fair for the price.
Overall, if you’ve never had pho and you’re eager to broaden your gastronomic horizons, we suggest paying a visit to Pho Goodness.
Pros
- Inventive pho dishes
- Extensive menu of Vietnamese classics
Cons
- Some complaints about service
Customer Reviews
Polite service and flavorful food
“The food was excellent. Fresh and flavourful. Service was polite and quick…”
-Marc
Tasty food and great portions
“In my opinion, this is one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in downtown Vancouver. Food is always tasty and the portions are great for the price point. I eat here quite frequently because of this.”
-Andy W.
FAQs about Pho in Vancouver
That should solve your hunt for the best pho in Vancouver. We hope this article has helped you figure out where to go to try out this Vietnamese dish, and eventually decide on who serves the best one.
If you’re looking to explore Asian cuisine further, here are a few of our articles that may help:
