Pho Lien serves authentic Vietnamese cuisine centered on traditional noodle soup preparations. The menu highlights bowls of aromatic broth simmered with star anise, cinnamon, and ginger, served alongside fresh herbs, bean sprouts, and thinly sliced proteins. Diners select from varied rice noodle thicknesses and cuts of meat to customize individual bowls. Beyond the signature soups, the kitchen prepares classic rolls wrapped in translucent rice paper with dipping sauces. The setting emphasizes a functional and straightforward approach to Asian culinary staples. Ingredients are prepared daily to ensure consistent flavor profiles in every serving of the steaming broth. This establishment focuses on delivering standardized bowls that reflect established techniques for crafting complex, savory liquids combined with tender ingredients for a cohesive meal.
Pho Lien is widely regarded as a top destination for authentic and flavorful pho in Montreal, with many diners praising the rich, high quality broth and generous portions. Guests often highlight the friendly and efficient service, noting that the restaurant provides a welcoming atmosphere that feels like a moment of comfort. While the majority of feedback is glowing, with some patrons visiting for over a decade, there are occasional critiques regarding the crowded seating, the lack of modern payment options as the business is cash only, and some mixed experiences with consistency. Despite these minor drawbacks and the need to plan ahead for cash payments, the consistently busy environment and strong local following suggest that it remains a favorite for many seeking a delicious and satisfying meal.
The best pho in mtl. Even though I'm mostly vegan, I often make the exception at this restaurant & get the rare beef & extra veggies when just veggies won't cut it on those days. These are the rare times (pun unintended) i eat red meat. Just don't try to show up on a tuesday because they're closed
2026: I had the weekend special soup that has a spicy broth, beef & pork & round slurpy noodles & I really enjoyed it. The place has been renovated to look more modern & the service is really human, polite & chill
Sadly incredibly mid. This place gets recommended constantly, & I'd heard people were excited when it reopened after the fire, so I really wanted it to be good. Sadly, it was a huge letdown.
The broth tasted almost entirely like MSG. MSG itself isn't the problem, but here it felt like the only flavour, flat & one dimensional. The noodles were thin & broken apart, the meat portions were tiny, & the rolls were mushy & completely forgettable.
It's also more expensive than most pho spots, which makes it harder to justify. The service was slow & disorganized, the room was cold, & the music was loud, horrible radio slop that made the whole place feel even more unpleasant. They even charge for tea, which came in a tiny teapot & tasted extremely bitter. The atmosphere feels sterile, like sitting in a suburban boomer kitchen, & they don't accept cards.
If you're nearby, just go to Nguyen Phi down the street instead. The staff there are warm & funny, the service is genuinely welcoming, & the pho is excellent, deep, clear, aromatic broth with generous, well prepared toppings. The vibe is great, the decor is awesome, & the music is weird & cool, it actually feels like a place with personality.
Feb 22, 2026
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Cash only! They are sooo busy with full tables & non-stop take out orders for a reason. I got fatty broth pho dac biet with a side of tiny fiery green hot chili's & chili oil... heaven 😋
The noodles have a good bite to them & they have an excellent mouth feel when combined with all the things. I barely needed to dip my meats in hoisin sriracha mix, the broth is that flavourful!
If this isn't the best pho in Montreal somebody please let me know
I was so happy to see that you guys were open on thanksgiving! Ordered tonight & I don't know what happened but I paid for two XL pho tai gau & it just wasn't like usual. Less noodles & meat, less bean sprouts (which had browned some already), it was greasier than usual too & the broth wasn't as flavourful... Not impressed at all, & I hope it was just an off day today because this is my favourite pho restaurants.
The best, most authentic pho outside of Vietnam! this is really an institution. the service is speedy, friendly & warm & the food is so so excellent. The broth is rich, deep & perfectly seasoned & full of flavour. The noodles are fresh & bouncy & the beef is excellent quality. Hands down the best pho I've had! Service Dine in Meal type Dinner Price per person $10-20 Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Recommended dishes Pho Soup Raw Beef Pho
The best, most authentic pho outside of Vietnam! this is really an institution. the service is speedy, friendly & warm & the food is so so excellent. The broth is rich, deep & perfectly seasoned & full of flavour. The noodles are fresh & bouncy & the beef is excellent quality. Hands down the best pho I've had!
We came from Toronto, expecting great food. The PHO was good, but the BUN was a total disappointment. The rice noodle were clump together & cold. The shrimps were cold & tasted off. The spring rolls is indescribably bad. The customer service was terrible. The server ignored us & seemed more interested in wandering around aimlessly than serving customers. Will not return !!!
Today I ordered from.this restaurant on uber eat, I have a cold so.i wanted soup , boy o boy let me.tell you it was absolutely delishes, the broth was amazing & the way that they package the broth separately from.the noodle & protein is great , it came hot with fresh veggies on the side to top up the soup. Anyways absolutely delishes, loved it, thank you
Delicious. Line out the door so you know the food had to be delicious. Was not disappointed after I had the first bite. The broth was flavorful & the noodles were perfectly cooked. Highly recommend!
