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.
My family have enjoyed Vietnamese cuisine across a number of US cities. Our favorite has always been bowls of hot, steaming pho. While visiting MTL, we stopped in & Pho Bac 97 truly serbes the best pho we've ever had. The pho broth comes from hours of simmering beef bones -- the old fashioned time-honored method to make the best stock. It has a depth & unctiousness which no one else's pho stock every had. Stop by & treat yourself to our gold standard of pho at Pho Bac 97.
Today I ordered grilled chicken RICE bowl & I even re-confirmed with the cashier lady that I'm ordering grilled chicken'RICE' bowl, the cashier lady said.. yes okay. It was a take out.. so when I came home & opened my food, they gave me GRILLED CHICKEN NOODLES BOWL. I'm soo upset, I didn't get what I originally ordered & paid for! 0 zero they don't carefully listen to customers when ordering!
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
Dec 14, 2025
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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. 😋🍜
Eating there is now a depressing experience. The old team is still there holding the fort. The decor needs major love. The bowl sizes have shrunk & the meat got dry, business is booming regardless, but I've lost hope.
Places like these show that a good bowl of pho can't be found in c-town anymore.
I ordered a small bowl but it was more than enough to fill me up. They served me tea at the beginning, which was really nice & comforting. The service was friendly, & overall I had a pleasant experience. The only thing I'd mention is that the side salad seemed a bit carelessly presented, but everything else was great.
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.
Food was fantastic. Very authentic. They had a few employees who spike English so no issue with communication. Cost with tip was CAD 69 for two pho bowls, a shrimp vermicelli bowl & a pork vermicelli bowl. They have gluten free choices but it's mostly limited to pho or the soup options.
