Pho Bac receives strong praise for authentic, flavorful pho with rich broth and generous portions at a reasonable price, with fast, friendly service that many describe as warm and welcoming. The Chinatown location is convenient and the staff often go the extra mile, making guests feel at home, though several reviews note an aging space with a noticeable odor around the dining area and bathrooms that can detract from the experience. While the food is consistently described as comforting and delicious, occasional issues include variable service, crowded seating, and a few quality hiccups such as certain dishes not meeting expectations or concerns about cleanliness. Despite these concerns, many customers still call it a go to spot for Vietnamese bowls and recommend the XL sizes for value.
service was so excellent we were seated promptly & there was hot tea on the table. i got the beef vermicelli bowl & the beef was very tender & well seasoned. overall great experience! duck in from the snow & get some great hot food
It was not the greatest in my opinion, the beef was very chewy. But the tea that they gave me was very nice. I sat there for around an hour & played some chess on my mobile phone.
the food was around 16-19 dollars I think.
6.7/10 for me. I would love to have some garlic chili vinegar in it next time.
Nov 29, 2025
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A totally unassuming simple Pho joint with irresistable food, though the grilled beef & rice are not the same as a few years ago, its still worth visiting.
Restaurant with around 30 tables on bld. St Laurent since 27 years. The little details count to maintain a loyal & satisfied clientele in these crisis times, knowing that I have tried ALL the tonkinoise restaurants in St Laurent (in the surroundings of the quartier chinois) & this is my prefered spot. There is also a big variety of other Vietnamese dishes. This is one of the rare places that includes tea, which is more than enough for one person. It can be repeated as needed. But also each table has its own napkin dispenser, without being stingy & having to ask for another one every time, as is the habit everywhere in these days of economic restrictions. & since the specialty is tonkinoise & my favorite dish (a medium beef is $16), it is abundant, tasty & well seasoned bouillon. With large portions of meat, dressings, according to specialty, in a pleasant, bright & clean place. By now, the parking spots are very rare, for the street reparations. I have always been lucky because the waiters have been diligents, helpful & available. For all this, I return every time I visit Old Montreal... !
First time been here & first time trying North Pho noodle. I was not sure if it was the exact taste of North Pho, so gave it a try, the soup was not salted, not too much flavor compared to other Pho I tried. It was ok. Fast service. I ordered a Special Pho (M size) & 1 combo of beef pho + 1 spring roll. I paid cash & was charged without tax, of course I tipped. The price was pretty not bad. Would recommend.
I ate many Pho & Vietnamese food of many different stores. but this store , Pho tasted plain. The portion of beef compared with other store didn't good amount. Too much soup & lack of toppings: noodles, meat.
I ordered Phở nạm / well-done beef pho. The taste was surprisingly okay. My only complaint would be that the beef didn't have enough fats 🙁 (way too lean, actually). The broth was light like Northern Pho, obviously the taste wasn't there yet but def acceptable. Really optimal for quick & feel good lunch. The service was really efficient, I ordered when I got seated & got my bowl of Pho ~2 minutes later. You paid at the front. The restaurant was crowded when I was there. The order lady does speak broken English & French if this is your concern.
This is hole-in-the-wall place, not fancy, not exactly anything to write home about, but the food is truly authentic. It doesn't just serve pho, but also curry dishes & rice. Their range of combos provide an excellent way to try several items without over-ordering. The service is not great. The server (perhaps the owner) merely toss the menu at you as soon as you sit down. No words spoken, no pleasantries. Once he gets your order, your steaming pho arrives in less than 3 minutes (yes, we timed him). Food is great, large chunks of beef, lots of scrumptious soup, & very tasty. We have eaten here twice & will come here rather than freeze to death outside the handmade noodle place next door! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Ordered number five extra large, the overall experience was decent. The soup was not too salty, but there's not so much flavor, it's a bit bland & doesn't taste like MSG. The quality of meat was subpar. The beef was stuck together, like other reviewers have described. the quantity of meat is a bit on the low side, compared to other pho places. ingredients are not the most fresh. The service is efficient, but rushed, as you would expect at lunch hour.
Tight little restaurant. Very nice people. I went for take out & the lady told me to "sit my bum" then she poured me a pot of tea to warm me up she said. So kind. The food was alright too! So I went back the second night. Take what out of this. I'll be going back tomorrow for some more beef soup.
Dec 6, 2023
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Been going to Pho bac for pho for many years. I was there just yesterday for lunch & ordered my usual tripe & beef pho & I have to say I was disappointed. The broth was lacking flavour & the beef quality was just really poor. The slices were stuck together & some pieces were hard. The prices have also gone up since the last time I have been there & I don't feel the quality reflects the price anymore. I will need to find a new spot to go for pho.
I ordered beef saignant pho (number 7). I haven’t eaten here since covid, the food was good, the soup wasn’t too salty which I usually find with other pho places. However, I think the beef was frozen or cooked before I ordered, cuz it was fully cooked & stuck together. Still pretty good overall. Service was really fast, the food came within 2min of order or so!! I usually go for large size with other restaurants, but was full with medium.
