The Best Pho in Montreal

The weather’s getting colder, so to warm you up, we put together a list of the best pho (or phở) in Montreal.

Pho, often called “soupe tonkinoise” in Québec, is the national dish of Vietnam. Traditionally the soup is eaten for breakfast but, due to its international appeal, pho is commonly enjoyed at any time of day. The two most important characteristics of good pho are the broth and the ingredients. It’s the interplay of these elements that separate a good bowl of pho from a great one! 

Typically, the broth for pho is made by gently simmering beef bones and aromatics for many hours — and sometimes days. A great broth takes a tremendous amount of knowledge, patience and experience.  Aside from the rich umami flavours yielded from the beef bones (and marrow!) the broth gains its distinctive fragrant flavour from a combination of aromatic spices (star anise, Saigon cinnamon, smoked cardamom, cilantro and coriander). To a perfectly balanced broth are added any number of ingredients, most commonly being thin slices of raw beef, springy meatballs, tripe, brisket, chicken and of course, rice noodles. Served piping hot, pho can be seasoned at the table with lime or lemon juice, Thai basil leaves, raw onion, cilantro and chopped chili. While many purists add little more than herbs to their soup, you can also add hoisin sauce and Sriracha, to taste. (more info here).

Pho is so good that it has become adored in cities all over the world! In Montreal, we are fortunate to have a large Vietnamese population and therefore many excellent Vietnamese restaurants. Pho is a staple in Vietnamese restaurants across the city and is one of our all-time favourite soups. In addition to being delicious, pho is also inexpensive; each of the addresses on this list could be found on our lists of excellent, affordable restaurants.