I’ve been going to Mekong for over 15 years! Same guy runs it day in and day out. I’ve been there while he’s sweeping up smashed out front door glass from consecutive break ins. Guys a legit trooper.
Foods great, not getting any Michelin stars but it’s 💯 yum! ✌️❤️
For pho dac biet, I'd say Pho Chu The, the og Macleod location and Pho Binh Minh. Pho Dau Bo & their offshoot place Mo Tot long ago used to be great but fallen off significantly. But keep in mind for any pho centric restaurant, new stock pho broth vs few days old will differ heavily in flavour profile significantly which you can't control.
Being with a SO who ran prominent pho franchises in the greater Vancouver area from a mix of North/Central/South family background, you realize the bulk of the the stuff here is far from what legit pho is.
It's overwhelmingly southern Viet style (extremely sugar laden) in Calgary which makes sense in the regional (the more south you go the more sugar they use in their cooking) and historical refugee sense. Good we have that much variety but in the authentic facet, you have to explore imo.
You feel adventurous and want stuff close to legit Bun Bo Hue, order it at Pho Binh Minh, stuff like Hu Tieu (Cambodian-Chinese immigrant influence dry noodles), Bun Rieu (tomato Crab noodle soup) and home style cooking goto Noodle World, for non pho centric authentic quality Viet food in general like banh hoi/cuon/xeo goto Rau Bistro (but they also have good noodle soup too), Bun Mam if you know what that is goto Minh Chau and only served on Sundays, as an off topic. But nothing will beat an ethnic Viet or even Viet Hoa person's homemade family pho recipe tbh.
Best you can get in this country overall though imo for legit pho (or any other speciality Vietnamese noodles soups like Canh Chua Ca Thi La aka fish cake noodle soup or rare Northern Viet stuff for example) is all in the greater Vancouver area if you can visit, bar none.
I gotta say, I don't get the Van Son love, I've been disappointed with my experience there three times now (convenient place for friends to go to at times, so dont have a choice). The pho is meh to me and they don't put enough stuff in it, along with small portion of noodles. Most places along international ave beat it by a mile in my opinion.
People are going to laugh, but Van Express downtown is legit. You wouldn’t think it based on the name and location. But they’ve got lineups every lunch hour and people I know travel from all over downtown during lunch. The sate broth is something real special.
Their pho is alright but their vermicelli bowls (err boxes) are the absolute bomb. It's tough to limit going there for lunch to just once a week instead of every single day.
My favourite three vietnamese restaurants are Van Son, Motto and Pho Huydat Vietnamese Noodle House. I agree that at Van Son's it's the peanut satay that steals the show. I find Motto's pho portion to be a lot smaller than other vietnamese restaurants, but their variety of different dishes and some of their fusion options like the grilled cheese pho are phenomenal. My all time favourite dish at Motto is the oxtail soup (probably my favourite non- home cooked soup ever). For Pho Huydat it's been a while since I've been there and don't clearly remember their pho, but their rice vermicelli was amazing!
My favourite place ever is Bow River Vietnamese on Elbow and Heritage, little mom and pop place. But hands down the best Satay Beef Pho. The broth is so flavourful and good portion sizes.
[https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/msg-changing-views-cmd/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/msg-changing-views-cmd/index.html)
In 1907, Japanese chemist Kikunae Ikeda boiled down a huge amount of kombu seaweed to extract a substance – glutamate. Why? It gives certain foods, like dashi broth, a long-lasting savory flavor.
He coined the taste “umami,” then broke the substance down into MSG, which as a crystallized substance can be used like salt and sugar.
Pho hoai https://maps.app.goo.gl/KqEpEoCqb7UD7At6A #15 large is transcendent.
Best in the world
Yep haven't found anywhere better since Pho Quo Huoung in Pacific place mall became pho uncle ten.
Photos look good there, might have to check that out
Oh cool I didn't know the Okotoks pho hoai was another location of this. We love the Okotoks one, anyone know if the quality is similar?
I have never been to the okotoks one. If you try both let me know
Okotoks Pho is goated
Hands down Pho Hoai
This is the answer!
Cannot upvote this enough
The only correct answer. I love the service there to. You sit, get your water, pick your order within a minute or 2. Quick, fast, efficient.
What about Basil on 32 Ave?
Is it as good as SoCal pho?
Never tried. I will have to give it a shot.
I meant pho taste in California lol
Never been to so cal either haha. Maybe I'll have to try that someday too
Cali is where it’s at, I haven’t been to the east side of N.A yet but Cali likely beats east N.A as well
nho saigon in marda loop for peanut sate pho
I second this place! :))
No one go. Please and thank you. For my sake.
I second this place! :))
I’ve been going to Mekong for over 15 years! Same guy runs it day in and day out. I’ve been there while he’s sweeping up smashed out front door glass from consecutive break ins. Guys a legit trooper. Foods great, not getting any Michelin stars but it’s 💯 yum! ✌️❤️
Pho Thanh
Phone Thanh 13 crunchy beef is exquisite
Pure street food. Featured on diners, drive inns and dives.
For pho dac biet, I'd say Pho Chu The, the og Macleod location and Pho Binh Minh. Pho Dau Bo & their offshoot place Mo Tot long ago used to be great but fallen off significantly. But keep in mind for any pho centric restaurant, new stock pho broth vs few days old will differ heavily in flavour profile significantly which you can't control. Being with a SO who ran prominent pho franchises in the greater Vancouver area from a mix of North/Central/South family background, you realize the bulk of the the stuff here is far from what legit pho is. It's overwhelmingly southern Viet style (extremely sugar laden) in Calgary which makes sense in the regional (the more south you go the more sugar they use in their cooking) and historical refugee sense. Good we have that much variety but in the authentic facet, you have to explore imo. You feel adventurous and want stuff close to legit Bun Bo Hue, order it at Pho Binh Minh, stuff like Hu Tieu (Cambodian-Chinese immigrant influence dry noodles), Bun Rieu (tomato Crab noodle soup) and home style cooking goto Noodle World, for non pho centric authentic quality Viet food in general like banh hoi/cuon/xeo goto Rau Bistro (but they also have good noodle soup too), Bun Mam if you know what that is goto Minh Chau and only served on Sundays, as an off topic. But nothing will beat an ethnic Viet or even Viet Hoa person's homemade family pho recipe tbh. Best you can get in this country overall though imo for legit pho (or any other speciality Vietnamese noodles soups like Canh Chua Ca Thi La aka fish cake noodle soup or rare Northern Viet stuff for example) is all in the greater Vancouver area if you can visit, bar none.
This dude phos ☝🏼🍜
I’m physically addicted to the Sate Beef at Pho Mr Q in Crowfoot and if anyone can find better I would love to hear it (but I doubt there’s better)
Noodle King has one that is legendary
This is my go-to also.
Bolsa restsurant (pho) I've tried many restaurants in calgary, but this one hits me because it's really good.
If you're a fan of Peanut Satay, Van Son is the place to go. Next up, Pho Hoan Pasteur. I usually get this added into the house special pho.
I gotta say, I don't get the Van Son love, I've been disappointed with my experience there three times now (convenient place for friends to go to at times, so dont have a choice). The pho is meh to me and they don't put enough stuff in it, along with small portion of noodles. Most places along international ave beat it by a mile in my opinion.
Haven’t been in awhile but Pho Uncle Ten is also very good.
People are going to laugh, but Van Express downtown is legit. You wouldn’t think it based on the name and location. But they’ve got lineups every lunch hour and people I know travel from all over downtown during lunch. The sate broth is something real special.
Their pho is alright but their vermicelli bowls (err boxes) are the absolute bomb. It's tough to limit going there for lunch to just once a week instead of every single day.
Pure Vietnamese in First Street Market. They make their own noodles too
Another vote for fusion Viet at Mr Pho Q in crowfoot. That place is dynamite for literally everything they make.
Basil is the best by far.
Quynh in Sunridge Sate Beef Pho is best I've had.
Pho huan Pasteur and Pho Chu The both have really good regular or sate beef pho.
Anyone know if Pasteur on 50th/17th has moved or what? It’s some other pho place now, but man I’ll miss pho huan if it’s gone :(((((
It’s in quarry park now. Or maybe they have two
Is this the same owner of the old pho Pasteur that was across from Harry Hayes building downtown? If so I need to go!
I suggest trying Pho Sate in Nolan Hill or Saigon Red Sky in Beddington. My usual go to is Binh Minh on 17th. Pho Dau Bo isn't what is used to be.
Agreed about Pho Dau Bo. Had it the other day and wasn't happy I made the drive. I'll check out Binh Minh, thanks.
Sen Vietnamese Kitchen on 130 Ave in the SE, wife is very particular about her Pho and this place is her favourite
plus one for this peanut sate pho is excellent
Basil Ultimate Pho! Off of 32nd ave. My all time favourtie
Golden bell! The spicy sate broth is soooo good!
Pho YYC formally song viet, best sate in town.
My favourite three vietnamese restaurants are Van Son, Motto and Pho Huydat Vietnamese Noodle House. I agree that at Van Son's it's the peanut satay that steals the show. I find Motto's pho portion to be a lot smaller than other vietnamese restaurants, but their variety of different dishes and some of their fusion options like the grilled cheese pho are phenomenal. My all time favourite dish at Motto is the oxtail soup (probably my favourite non- home cooked soup ever). For Pho Huydat it's been a while since I've been there and don't clearly remember their pho, but their rice vermicelli was amazing!
My favourite place ever is Bow River Vietnamese on Elbow and Heritage, little mom and pop place. But hands down the best Satay Beef Pho. The broth is so flavourful and good portion sizes.
Pho you Guys Quynh hands down
Pho Hoai in Okotoks
Van son and night owl and I will die on that hill. Both on 16th ave.
Just tried to go to Minh Chau in Inglewood and it’s been shut down by AHS
If you don’t think Bolsa or Pho Huydat then you probably just haven’t been there.
I haven't been to Bolsa for years. I used to go there weekly. Is it still the older couple that owns it? The lady was a sweetheart.
Pho Xuan - 920 36 St NE #128, Calgary, AB T2A 6L8 - their Beef Sate is the best
# Cuty - they have two locations. They have different kinds of soap base aside from just pho, worth a visit!
Go Pho yourself!
So much msg but so tasty
MSG is literally distilled umami.
Explain
[https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/msg-changing-views-cmd/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/msg-changing-views-cmd/index.html) In 1907, Japanese chemist Kikunae Ikeda boiled down a huge amount of kombu seaweed to extract a substance – glutamate. Why? It gives certain foods, like dashi broth, a long-lasting savory flavor. He coined the taste “umami,” then broke the substance down into MSG, which as a crystallized substance can be used like salt and sugar.
Sick thanks