LunchPho Hoang Vietnamese Restaurant

[rating: 4]

On a cold day, nothing taste better than a piping hot bowl of noodle soup. With the weather changing and winter creeping upon us, now is the best time to hit this spot on Main. Pho Hoang is a regular spot we go to whenever we feel like some yummy soup. Pho,  which is traditionally known as a Vietnamese rice-noodle soup, is made in simmering beef or chicken broth. Garnished with cilantro, green onions, white onions, Thai basil, lime wedges, bean sprouts and hot chili peppers.

Tre and I like to come here because the soup is great and it’s fairly clean. I like it when the tables don’t smell like its been wiped down with dirty, stinky rags that smell like wet dogs. No offense to dog lovers.

Tre orders the beef noodle soup with tendon and rare beef. I order beef tripe only with my noodle soup. It can be a hassle ordering this soup, and I’m not sure why. They want you to order by number. But because they don’t have beef tripe with noodles alone by number, It can be quite tiring explaining it. In the end, I’ll eventually get my soup the way I want it.

The soup here is delicious. They really know how to make the broth. It’s not too dense and heavy. The flavours are great. The noodles are cooked al dente. There’s nothing worse than over-cooked noodles. Tre likes his soup with hot chili peppers. Most places will serve the chilis with the bean sprouts, but you’ll have to ask for it here. A few dishes that are great to try are the lemon grass chicken and Vietnamese crepes otherwise known as Banh Cuon. This Vietnamese style crepe is filled with minced ground pork, and mushrooms. It’s accompanied with bean sprouts and Vietnamese ham with dressing on the side. I’ve had this dish at many places, and so far Pho Hoang makes it the best. The Vietnamese coffee is also great; French beans ground and slow dripped into condensed milk, served over ice. If you’re looking for something to wake you up, this will do it.

The only thing I find annoying is the service. If it’s a packed house, be prepared to wait to get served. If you need straws or utensil, you might have to pester them a few times before they get it. But if you can look past the inconsistent service, then I highly recommend coming here.

The Details

3388 Main Street, Vancouver
604.874.0832

Pho Hoang Vietnamese on Urbanspoon

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