Pho Bang New York is a busy Chinatown staple in Montreal, praised for its authentic pho with a clear, aromatic broth, generous beef and noodle portions, and value that keeps customers coming back. The experience is often fast and efficient, even when the room is crowded, and staff can be multilingual, but reviews note that the space is compact and lines can be long. A persistent caveat is the cash only policy, with an on-site ATM and occasional complaints about the lack of receipts or card options, which some diners find inconvenient. Flavor and consistency vary by visit, with many calling it among the best pho in the city while others feel seasoning or heat can fall short at times, though weekend specials like ox tail soup add variety. Overall the restaurant is seen as a dependable, no-frills option for a hearty, affordable bowl of Vietnamese comfort in Chinatown, drawing loyal fans who appreciate reliable portions and quick service.
Although the food is alright, the service really left a sour taste in my mouth.
One of their waiter was rude when I ate there. I left some tip at the cashier but a little less since I was not satisfied with the service. But they had the audacity to harass us for more tip after we paid, saying that we didn't leave any...
Coupled with the fact that they only take cash (which I normally don't let bother me) but this was just too much.
I won't ever go back to this place after this interaction.
The food is fresh & delicious, but the service was terrible. The staff were rude & made the experience uncomfortable. What bothered me the most was being pressured to pay a tip of over 15% in a cash-only restaurant.
Mar 19, 2026
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I recently visited this establishment & had an extremely unpleasant experience regarding their tipping practices. After paying at the counter, I left a $1 tip, which is a standard courtesy for counter service. Shockingly, the staff member followed me to my table, returned the money, & explicitly told me that a'dollar is too cheap.'
This level of tip-shaming & aggressive entitlement is completely unacceptable. It is deeply disappointing to experience this kind of unprofessional behavior, which not only ruins the reputation of this specific restaurant but also leaves a terrible impression of the hospitality culture in Quebec & Canada as a whole. Harassing a customer over a voluntary counter tip is simply pathetic. I will not be returning, & I strongly advise others to be aware of this attitude before visiting.
Your typical Asian restaurant in the heart of china town in Montreal. Very reasonable prices. They serve you green tea on arrival, which is a welcomed gesture in the cold winter of MTL. Be careful, it's cash only . They do have an ATM inside the restaurant though.
Mar 3, 2026
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We've been waiting in line for a long time, the two of us. & when the next table became available, they sited 4 people who were way behind us. 10-15 minutes later another table became available vand they did exactly the same thing - sitter another group of four instead of 2 & 2 or 2 & 1 which were planty including us & people behind. I understand when they have only 2 sits available & they let 2 people going ahead of others but not the other way around. I'm very disappointed.
I've tried them everywhere & this is the best pho joint in Montreal. The communal seating is kind of funny - you never know who you'll have lunch with lol. It is a good thing, in that if you're just one or two people, you almost never have to wait, which is surprising, since the place is always packed.
The busboy guy with the savage tatoo on right hand has the attitude ultra aggressive & violent, he is definitely low educated, low mental & high probability of Psycho sign:
He had yelled in midle resto'I CLEAN HERE!' when customers would like to seat at certain table.
This guy must be chased off from this resto immediately.
This resto is reputable of a lot of aggressive s waiters & busboys, & a lot of these complaints have been just ignored .
The foods are so much salty & causing danger to kidneys.
Terrible experience, 1st: they only accept cash. 2nd: they don't give you a receipt. 3rd: There's an atm machine charging fees for the withdrawal.
I asked the cashier to add a $2 tip on the bill for a total of $33.5. But then the waiter came again with the tray yelling at me asking for 5 dollars more in tips, as I didn't have a receipt I couldn't show him, so I left $2.50 more & not the 5 he was asking for, I had him on my back yelling things at me & he didn't believe me I had left a tip already... so in total they wanted to force me pay $7.50 in tips! Never coming back to this restaurant, it's overcrowded & food is also average
Feb 20, 2026
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I was very disappointed with my experience. The service was terrible, & the staff's attitude toward customers was rude & dismissive. Being forced to pay despite such poor service felt unreasonable & frustrating.
The food was also quite unseasoned & lacked the authenticity & depth of flavor you would expect from Vietnamese cuisine. Overall, the experience did not live up to expectations, & I wouldn't recommend this place unless they seriously improve both their service & food quality.
Ce restaurant vietnamien est une véritable institution qui respecte parfaitement les standards qu'on attend d'un établissement de cette cuisine. Dès l'entrée, on retrouve les arômes authentiques, les bouillons savoureux & les plats préparés avec soin. La constance de la qualité est remarquable : chaque visite offre la même fraîcheur, le même équilibre de saveurs & un service attentionné. On sent le savoir-faire & la passion derrière chaque assiette. Une adresse fiable, authentique & incontournable pour quiconque aime la cuisine vietnamienne traditionnelle.
When we realized it was cash only, we were about to switch restaurent. The waiter said e-transfer was fine & insisted us to stay.
We ordered & the food came fast. The pho was alright.
When we got to the cashier, she said we don't accept e-transfer & so she directed me back to the waiter. The waiter tells me to talk back to her so it was a lot of back & forth. This whole process took 15 min before they finally let me pay by e-transfer then they tell you aggressively to tip.
I used to come here often. In fact, Pho Bang New York (not in New York) was the one that first taught me to appreciate this Americanized northern Vietnam dish more than three decades ago even though there were many pho places in town. The first day when I revisited Montreal recently, I brought my grown daughter to Pho Bang New York. We returned to this place several times during our short stay.
Their noodles are less bouncy than I prefer. But their meat cuts are superb, & their soup has a different emphasis from what I often get now. After all these years, they still keep their prices low, although they seem to have adjusted portions somewhat understandably due to inflation. Surprisingly, they now have a weekend special with ox tail soup. That soup has hot spices, & they offer a special hot sauce. You don't want to miss it if you visit on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday!
I still remember the weekend evenings when diners quietly - nay, loudly wait to enter near the small doorway at the plain-looking storefront. Today, people do the same. Their interior used be plain, too. But now, they have quite a bit of decors that look loud but do not necessarily go together. General atmosphere here is cozy. Staff speak fluent French & English - many speak Vietnamese, too.
Space is tight in this restaurant. So, expect some inconvenience if you visit during winter. (They now have a coat rack in the back although not many people notice that.) & prepare to pay cash. (How do you suppose they can keep price so low?)
