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The pho at Pho Akaushi has RUINED me for life! I haven’t been much of a pho eater up until about 1.5 years ago (I know, crazy!). I don’t have a very distinguished palette when it comes to pho, and I have a hard time telling the difference between what is good or just so-so. However, that has all completely changed after the bowl of perfection I had at Pho Akaushi. I mostly wanted to come here because my husband is a pho aficionado, but I ended up enjoying my meal here SO much – I just couldn’t wait to write about it. As many reviewers have already stated, this establishment is located on the second floor of a Vietnamese supermarket. You’ll have to navigate through the second floor – or through a bunch of students practicing traditional Vietnamese dancing like we did (LOL) – to find your way to the storefront, but it is so worth the trek. Pho Akaushi has a humble storefront. Just a few tables and chairs shared with other establishments, but their pho is anything but simple. The pho took a while to come out as each bowl is made fresh to order, and you can tell just by looking at it that you’re about to have something special. The broth tasted incredibly clean, but was rich in flavor. I’m one of those basic b’s that douses pho in sriracha, but I didn’t need to do that with this particular bowl. I also am pretty indifferent to the meat in pho as well and just take it for what it is, but the meat here was DIVINE. They use only the best, and eat piece of kobe beef practically melted in my mouth. The owner, Tom, is very passionate about pho and the ingredients that go into it. It was such a pleasure being able to talk to him about his food, and you really get a sense of how much effort is put into each bowl. He made us feel so welcome! If you check-in with your Yelp app, you also get a complimentary glass of juice, which is made fresh using real fruits/veggies. It hit the spot after that piping hot bowl of pho. This meal was definitely one of the highlights of our trip and I am soo jealous of anyone who lives within driving distance.

Basil Ultimate Pho – Menu with Prices – 2770 32 Ave NE, Calgary

I used to come to Basil all the time. They would be known for their great quality Vietnamese food as well as for their generous portion sizes. Today I came in and ordered the pho dac biet, spring rolls and orange juice and was disappointed with the amount of meat I had in my pho. I did bring it to the waitresses attention before I started to dig in, she then waved the manager over and their response was that all bowls get the same amount of meat. Honestly, if I’m paying nearly $10 for a bowl of pho.. I expect a decent amount of beef and beef balls in it. My pho had maybe 1/3 of a beef ball cut in small pieces. And EVEN IF that was the usual amount of meat they put in their pho, they could have dealt with the situation in a different way.. Could have told me that it was normal amount of beef and maybe mention extra beef costs however much and offered me that.. Anyways, I used to enjoy eating at basil and because of the chincing of the meats in the pho, I’d rather go to the dozens of other Vietnamese restaurants located in the NE.

Sun Vietnamese Restaurant – Menu with Prices – 699 Forest Ave, Portland

New favorite, hands down. Came here with the SO on a weekend evening. The inside was clean and updated to my great surprise (the parking lot looks like it needs some work, so I just made some assumptions…not that that deters me) The menu isn’t huge but they have your standard Pho and other Vietnamese dishes. The surpriser here is their Banh Mi! Have not yet tried that, but am so excited to in the future. The SO ordered the Pho Gai and steamed dumplings, while I ordered the Pho (Beef). The owner (papi of the family) walked our food to us even though we expected to pick it up from the counter. The dumplings came out within 5 to 10 minutes and the pho bowls soon after. Dumplings looked very homemade — they don’t seem to be fans of the pleating technique, but it did tell me they were homemade! And regardless of appearance, they were good. I bet the daughter was practicing her technique. The Pho Gai (Chicken) came with huge chunks of white meat chicken that were oozing in tenderness. The Pho beef had slices of Vietnamese meatballs and thin beef slices — perfectly bouncy and tender. I’m not a huge fan of meat so the SO ate them all (I like the flavor the meat gives it, but I’d rather just eat all the beansprouts, basil, and greens with the broth and noodles.) The Sun Vietnamese family is so nice and so sweet — there were not many people when we had our dinner, but the food was so good, and having had many of the Vietnamese places around the SoMe area, this one tops them all, especially because their prices are much more likeable, at just under $10 per bowl.

I Love Pho And Bo Ne – Menu with Prices – 811 S Mason Rd Ste 155, Katy

There have been several different restaurants in this location in the past couple of years. Katy, we have a hit. The dining area is nice and clean. The service is very good. The food is delicious. My wife had the filet mignon pho. A huge bowl for $8.45. Full of perfectly cooked noodles with ample steak and a plate full of bean sprouts, mint, cilantro, jalapeño and limes. My wife loves pho. She’s never had a beef pho. She usually has the chicken. She said this one was very good. We had spring rolls ($3.45) for a order of two. I had the charbroiled beef with rice. Some of the best beef I have ever had at a Vietnamese restaurant. Came with some sliced carrots, cucumbers, fish sauce and a side bowl of soup broth. A huge pile of very good steamed rice was on the plate too. My meal was $7.95 and it was plenty of food for me. We both had iced tea. Was fresh tasting. As per the usual at Asian restaurants, all the had for sweetener was the pink stuff. The only low point , and it cost them a star, was the women’s restroom. It’s not up to code for handicap use. It’s laid out weirdly and dark. It was not clean either. The toilet bowl cakes were strewn around the floor. My wife was really disappointed in the whole restroom. I did not use the men’s so I cannot address it. I will add that the owner came to our table prior to us ordering to tell me they also could make Chinese dishes for diner. Something new that is not on the menu yet but will be very soon. Looked like the normal base dishes. We will go back and just pray we don’t need the restrooms while we are there.

The Icey Girl & Co. – Menu with Prices – 7515 Whitesville Rd, Columbus

So I’m just mad because I walked there with my dog and asked for ice water for my dog even brought her her own bowl and I was charged $2. The ice melted when the water was added and he handed me a bowl of water and made me pay $2. For tap water and melted ice. I questioned the poor young guy working there, giving him a chance not to charge me $2 for melted ice but he said he had to. Now I’m just mad at me for giving in and paying for melted ice…. I didn’t mind paying the $5 for my ice with flavored sugar water but $2 for dog melted ice water is out of control.

Le Petit Saigon – Menu with Prices – 2783 E Hastings St, Vancouver

Le Petit Saigon is my all time favourite Vietnamese restaurant. I’ve been eating pho since I was old enough to chew, and have had plenty of bowls of it in my lifetime. My favourite spot always changed, but ever since I’ve been to Le Petit Saigon in 2014, nothing else compares. My dad and I are regulars at the restaurant and we come for some lunch every weekend. I’ve tried a couple dishes from the menu but my favourite is just a regular bowl of pho. The broth has a strong umami flavour and because of the richness, you can tell it’s been simmering for the appropriate amount of time. Another dish on the menu I really enjoy is the seafood soup with egg noodles. It’s a very different flavour from the pho broth but again, the rich umami flavour is incredible. Overall, the broth at Le Petit Saigon rocks. Every meal I’ve tried, I’ve absolutely loved and practically licked the bowl. If you’re looking for a comforting meal (especially on a cold and rainy Vancouver day), definitely consider Le Petit Saigon.

Viet’s Restaurant Noodles & Grill – Menu with Prices – 7640 N Academy Blvd, Colorado Springs

We stopped in for dinner on a busy Saturday night, hungry and prepared for something good. We weren’t disappointed. I got the La Lop Beef, my wife had the lemongrass beef with rice paper and my daughter had the grilled beef Vermicelli noodle dish. My goal was not to have any carbs, so the La Lop Beef was the perfect dish, with its healthy but flavorful grape leaves enveloping well-seasoned beef. My wife loved her meal and was very happy with the traditional rice paper and long, flavorful strips of meat. My daughter was pleased with her noodle bowl too. The beef blended perfectly with the cool white Vermicelli noodles, sprinkled with green onions with a bottom layer of vegetables. Overall, the restaurant was spacious, clean, and packed with Vietnamese people, which of course is always a good thing. The staff were hospitable, quick and efficient. As a result, customer service was good, even when it got busy. The bathroom was clean too, which was good because it’s the first thing I judge a restaurant by. We’ll definitely be coming back for another quality meal.

Star Anise Vietnamese Noodles Restaurant – Menu with Prices – 1571 Barrington St, Halifax

Sooooo I grew up in a Vietnamese household. By nature, I eat pho pretty often. I had lunch here this afternoon and it was good, but not great. I had pho with rare beef and beef balls. There is only 1 pho size, no S, M, or L that I’m used to and it’s almost double the price of any pho house in Toronto. I think it was $11.99, when you can get amaaaaazing pho for $6-8 in Toronto. Also when the pho arrived all the garnishes were inside the bowl. The bean sprouts, mint leaves, the lime.. all of that stuff. This is not proper. It should come on a separate side plate for the eater to choose how much they want to garnish their pho. That being said, this isn’t Toronto. And this broth is still good enough.. esp. on a rainy/cold day. Also I was disappointed in the Vietnamese coffee. The coffee they use is not strong enough.

Jazen Tea | Lafayette – Menu with Prices – 4510 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy Suite H, Lafayette

Came here during lunch time and was very nervous.. since we were the only ones there. You can hear the workers gossiping about a dirty spot on the floor that was left from the night before and another about their personal lives.. but don’t expect them to check on you. First off, we ordered Vietnamese coffee.. the milk thing they served us, after we finished eating, was anything but coffee. Seriously, why did the drinks take so long?? We literally left both of the full cups on the table when we left!! Secondly, the food. The menu really threw me off.. the numbers are so random, it was a tad strange. Now on to the food.. we had ordered the following: S17 – Popcorn Chicken bowl – can’t really go wrong with these, they were okay, and was served with sweet chili sauce R22 – Grilled Lemongrass Pork Chop & fried egg with rice – if you look at the pictures, you can see how the “pork chop” didn’t even look like a pork chop.. it looks all chopped up and maybe people ate a piece off of it.. it was also really over cooked and dry, as the rice that we did not even touch.. 52 – Beef Rib & Brisket Pho – the broth was really bland and tasted like it was made from powder, and not from beef bones.. the beef rib.. was so inedible, I literally could not even bite it!! I left it on the side, hoping the waiter saw.. but he did not care. Honestly, there are so many good Vietnamese food in Lafayette now, you must avoid this one!! Their service sucks and their food is even worst!!

Hong An Vietnamese Cuisine – Menu with Prices – 4600 130 Ave SE, Calgary

I have my favorite Vietnamese places, but all are a drive from the deep SE. The places in this neck of the woods are ok, not fantastic. Well that all changed with my meal here the other day. I knew this place used to be a sub place but I hadn’t been in this neck of 130th for awhile, lets be honest traffic is brutal and this might be the worst spot in the South trail area. But I had to visit another store and saw the name had changed so checked it out, and was happy I did! Great service, followed by great food with decent portion size, but the thing I really noticed was the quality of the ingredients. I had beef, pork and chicken on rice noodles and the meat was fantastic, thick and tasty. We also had spring rolls and again, very good. I will be a regular here, and can’t wait to try the rare beef pho.

Kaia Bowls – Acai Bowls, Pitaya Bowls, Poke Bowls – Menu with Prices – 483 Mandalay Ave Suite 107, Clearwater

First Impression Post! I am always in favor of trying new things, especially when it comes to our local Beach businesses. Support the little guys, people! … Now that I’ve stepped off my soapbox, let’s get down to business. I’ve only ordered the Poké Bowls so far, so if you’re a sushi fan then keep on reading. Once I’ve tasted their other bowls, this review will be updated. SERVICE: 5* The girls behind the counter are super nice and informative, giving me detailed information about the different bowls they have and how you can order. I also had the pleasure of meeting the owners – both of whom are incredibly sincere, have a good head on their shoulders, and just want to help people make sounder nutrition decisions. QUALITY: 5* If you’re looking to get away from your typical beach/bar/fried/grilled dishes, this is your place. Brighten up your taste palette with fresh ingredients that you can watch the girls make right in front of you. – Poke Bowls: apikai fresh salmon bowl and the kilauea shrimp bowl, and it was enough to last for two meals! I usually ask for half rice, half greens to portion out my carb intake. There is also a build-your-own version in case you don’t want certain ingredients in your meal. – Acai Bowls: Hono lulu if you’re feeling like sweets and chocolate without all the guilt. VALUE: 5* With tip, I’ve left the restaurant at about $15.00 per meal. If you manage to contain yourself and save the rest for another meal, you’re looking at $7.50 per meal. Although it may seem pricey, you’re looking at beach prices here. But if you want to leave with a happy, pleasantly full belly without regret, I think it’s worth it. CLEANLINESS: 5* There are never any unpleasant odors, always fresh and appealing scents! Floors and surfaces are always clean, and their working station remains tidy as well. I mean, they make your meal right before your eyes so it’s a great way to determine cleanliness. I hope this modern little quick casual earns its permanent place on the beach!

Thiên Ã?n Restaurant – Menu with Prices – 7304 101 Ave NW, Edmonton

Thien An is a new Vietnamese restaurant to open us in this neck of the woods. Not much is in this area except we did pass Pho & Bun a few blocks west on the way back home. There’s plenty of room to park and they even have a lot in the back. We came on a late Monday afternoon so there were only a few tables occupied. The inside is new and quite spacious. The menu is massive but the southern Vietnamese soup (hu tiu mi) and beef stew (bo kho) caught my eye. – Fresh salad roll with tofu (V2) ($6.00 for four) – these were nicely done. Slightly warmed, freshly made and with a good peanut dipping sauce. – Veggie noodle soup (V9) ($10.50) – O’s converted to partial vegetarianism so it was veggie soup for her. She liked the broth and it looked like a satisfactory amount of tofu, vegetables and noodles. – Hu tieu nam vang (H2) ($13.00) – smelled great. You choose either egg noodles or rice noodles. I asked about it and you actually can get a mix, so I tried both. You get a variety of meat (beef, shrimp, squid and ground pork) but a bit more meat and noodles would justify the higher price point. That being said, the broth was solid and had a sweetness to it similar to what you find in a wonton/egg noodle soup. What I found interesting was the shape of their bowls. The top part of the bowl forms into a square shape. Odd. Good first experience. I’d come back to try their bo koh and other pho options. 3.5 stars.

Delices de Maurice – Menu with Prices – 22764 Westheimer Pkwy, Katy

Please, in your mind, insert a picture of the drooling Homer Simpson here. Good God! I happened to drive by with my mother and she cried out in joy at seeing the storefront. She made me pull in, though I did not want to, as I’m on a keto diet and was afraid that this place might be legit. I was sorely disappointed when my fears were realized. I knew instantly upon walking in and spying the bakery case that less than a week into my diet, I was going to cheat. And cheat I did. Very, very badly. The opera cake I ordered melted with sweet bitterness in my mouth. My mother’s 3 mousse delicacy was a work of art. And the flirty eyed, French accented owner/pastry chef, I assume, made the experience that much more tempting. Damn you, sir. See you next week.