Overall (based on 1 ratings) | |
Broth (flavor, fragrance, clarity) | |
Noodles (texture, clumpiness) | |
Meat (tenderness, quality) | |
Vegetables (variety, freshness) |
Tom
I live in a virtual Pho wasteland in Indiana, so when I found that there were not one, but two pho restaurants in Coquitlam centre near my wife's childhood home, I was ecstatic. This one is a small, friendly, clean place with decent service and a good variety of pho and non-pho options. You get the feeling when you walk in that you are in for a solid meal - it seems professionally run.
To the point: I ordered a #1, and the thin, raw, lean, eye-round steak was heaped on top in a glorious mound as it should be. The broth was a little bit on the "beefy" side, meaning there was less of a complex five-spice flavor, but most importantly, it was piping hot, and it cooked the meat through perfectly. The veggie selection was a bit on the sparse side; basil was glaringly absent. The cilantro and scallion, which are served on the side in my favorite restaurant back home, came in the broth already. The noodles were perfectly cooked - couldn't be better.
All in all, a solid pho experience that I would repeat in a heartbeat (actually, I have been there 3 times in the span of 5 days). The price, I should mention, was also very good: 6.15 for a small bowl; two bucks more for a large.