Pho Bac focuses on the preparation of authentic Vietnamese soups and traditional rice noodle bowls. The menu highlights slow-simmered beef and chicken bone broths infused with star anise, cinnamon, and ginger. Patrons customize their bowls with fresh bean sprouts, Thai basil, sliced jalapenos, and lime wedges provided at every table. Beyond the signature noodle soups, the offerings include crispy spring rolls and grilled meat vermicelli plates served with pungent fish sauce. The dining environment maintains a functional, high-turnover layout designed for efficient service of hot meals. Stainless steel tables and minimalist seating emphasize the practicality of the culinary experience. This establishment serves as a dedicated destination for individuals seeking classic, broth-based comfort food prepared according to established regional standards without unnecessary garnish or complex culinary embellishments.
Pho Bac has long been recognized as a staple in the neighborhood for authentic, comfort-driven Vietnamese cuisine, frequently praised for its rich, traditional broth and generous portions. Many visitors have expressed deep appreciation for the warm, family-oriented atmosphere and the exceptionally fast, friendly service provided by the staff. While the restaurant has built a loyal following over the years, recent feedback highlights a significant divide in experiences, with some patrons noting inconsistencies in food quality, changes to classic recipes, and concerns regarding the building's maintenance, particularly unpleasant odors. Despite these mixed reports and confusion surrounding its current operating status, the restaurant remains a sentimental landmark for many who value its historic role in the community and its history of serving high-quality, affordable meals.
Pho Bac 97 is easily one of the best comfort food spots in Verdun. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm, welcoming, & relaxed. The ambiance is simple but cozy, & the whole place feels genuinely authentic & family-run in the best possible way.
The lady serving us was incredibly kind, attentive, & polite the entire time. You can tell they really care about customers & take pride in what they do. Service was also impressively fast - our food came out super quickly even though the restaurant was busy.
Most importantly, the food was absolutely delicious. Everything tasted fresh, flavorful, & homemade. The broth was rich & comforting, the ingredients were fresh, & portions were generous without being overpriced. You get amazing quality for the price here, which is becoming rare these days. Very affordable & 100% worth it.
This is the kind of local restaurant you want to support because they consistently deliver good food, good service, & a great overall experience. Definitely coming back regularly. Highly recommended if you're in Verdun & craving Vietnamese food.
The Ph? Bò broth & Ph? Gà broth is amazing. Its cooked over hours to get that rich deep flavors out of the bones. Everytime I return to Montreal I alway book my hotel close to the restaurant so I can have this authentic Ph? D?c Bi?t which is hard to find these days in North America.
It was a shame that this time it was cash only since there card machine is out of service during our whole trip. We hardly carry around cash these days.
The price on the menu is tax included already so no need for calculation if your going with a large group.
Pho Bac 97 has always been one of my favorite spots whenever I visit Montreal. It is right in Chinatown, which made it really easy to get to since our hotel was only a few minutes away.
The people here are honestly the best part. The owner, the male staff, & Hannah were so sweet & welcoming. They made us feel at home right away & it's clear they can connect with anyone because they switch so easily between English, French, Vietnamese, Chinese, & probably even more languages. That kind of warmth really makes a difference.
We ordered two Pho Dac Biet XL bowls & one Bi Cuon roll, & with taxes & tip it came to around $50 for the two of us. The food was comforting, flavorful, & authentic. As someone who is part Vietnamese, I really appreciate when a restaurant captures those traditional flavors, & this one absolutely does. At the end they even gave us fortune cookies, which was such a simple but thoughtful little touch.
I'll be honest, there is a strong smell around the bathroom area that can be a bit distracting, maybe from the age of the building or cleaning issues, but it didn't take away from how kindly we were treated.
I still want to give five stars because this place feels special to me & the staff treat you like family. Thank you again for such a lovely experience. Sending love from Candy & family from Toronto. 😋🍜
A small Vietnamese restaurant located right in Chinatown. I ordered the bun bo hue. It is very authentic & tasted perfect. I highly recommended ordering this dish if you are looking for some good quality Vietnamese cuisine.
I grew up going to an incredible authentic Vietnamese place called Pho Barclay, when I was 15 they closed shop & moved away. For almost 6 year I have been looking for a bowl of Pho which compares to their level of excellence. Pho Bac has done it, what an outstanding bowl of pho accompanied by such a lively & familiar feeling atmosphere of tight seating & rich smells coming from the kitchen. If I had one night in Montréal City, this is where I would have dinner 100 out of 100 times over.
Authentic pho 100%. I'm from the west coast, visited in 2019, had a bowl that made me want to come back for round two. Finally got a chance to visit in Oct 2024. Unlike most places, the broth here is hearty & not overly salty, the meat is tender, & the proportions are extremely generous. An XL bowl size is a good amount of food to share with someone. Hai, one of the people who work there, actually remembered me from five years ago. We had a good chat before we left. I'm writing this review from Vancouver because I'm hungry & thinking about Pho Bac. I can't wait to go back. This is the place for pho. It's just incredible.
Pho Bac has great & delicious menu with a great front desk who are extremely cheerful & happy. Prices are quite good for Pho & soup tastes quite authentic with loads of meat. Great experience.
