Saint-Michel
Nam Quan Restaurant
3562 Jarry Street East | Website
My noodle soup of choice is dac biet pho, usually listed as the house specialty. It’s served with slices of brisket, rare flank steak, tendon and tripe. If you’re way uptown, the spot you have to hit is Restaurant Nam Quan, one of the best joints in the city.
Restaurant Pho Duy-Anh
7961 Saint-Michel Boulevard | Website
Duy-Anh is often overlooked, but its beefy noodle soup is the star that shines. This neighbourhood spot offers pho with a view – a large terrasse in the summer offers a view of the busy Saint-Michel Boulevard.
Ho Guom
2605 Jean-Talon Street East | Website
This spot features a wide variety of different kinds of pho, from rare beef to seafood, but the pro move is going for its signature specialty, the chicken Tonkinese soup with lemon leaf. Aromatic and flavourful, this soup is perfect if you’re feeling under the weather.
© Alison Slattery
Uptown - Côte-des-Neiges
Restaurant Nguyen Phi
6260 Côte-des-Neiges | Website
Restaurant Nguyen Phi is one of my favorites. Nguyen Phi shreds its tripe really fine, adding terrific texture and crunch to each chewy mouthful of noodles. The grilled chicken pho is also fantastic.
Pho Lien
5703-B Côte-des-Neiges | Website
Pho Lien is also a happening soup spot just up the hill. It’s the go-to spot for locals and university students looking for a quick bite that won’t break the bank. Toothsome rice noodles swimming in crystal-clear broth deep in flavour is a testament to its success and popularity.
Pho Restaurant Sen Vang
5690 Victoria Avenue | Website
Seng Vang has a small and concise menu. It’s doing just a handful of dishes and doing them extremely well. The pho is delicious but the restaurant is also known for having the ever popular “bún bò hué”, a soup that’s often only offered on Vietnamese menus on weekends (for the laborious cooking process). Sen Vang offers it daily.
Restaurant Hoai Huong
5485 Victoria Avenue | Website
Known for a variety of specialty dishes like bird’s nest fried noodles, Vietnamese crepe served with chicken, shrimp and fresh herbs as well as beef rolls in vine leaves. But make sure to try their “Hoai Huong soup special”, a noodle soup served with breaded shrimp and pork.
© Alison Slattery
Mid-town
Restaurant Pho Tay Ho
6414 Saint-Denis Street | Website
If a pho craving should strike you in the Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie borough, Restaurant Pho Tay Ho is where you should go. Thei specialty here is chicken pho. It comes with generous slices of poached chicken in an aromatic chicken bone soup, but there is an option with both chicken and beef in the same bowl.
Pho MYMY
1636 Saint-Martin Boulevard West | Website
Pho Mymy is Montréal’s own Vietnamese restaurant chain. With multiple locations, its growing popularity is a testament to the quality of its food and consistency. Bú bo Huê is available daily.
Hà Restaurant
243 Mont-Royal Avenue West | Website
In the Plateau, check out Restaurant Hà for a great Southeast Asian-inspired menu. Restaurant Hà celebrates the spirit of Bia Loi, a Vietnamese street corner watering hole that serves quick bites. They don’t necessarily specialize in Tonkinese soup, but they do serve a delectable beef pho—it’s the only type on their menu. The deep broth is accented by aromatic flavours and is served with raw slices of ribeye over thick rice noodles. Location in the Old Port as well.
Le Bay Cà Phê
5263 Saint-Laurent Boulevard | Website
Le Bay is a quaint noodle outpost in the heart of Mile End offering traditional dishes like pho, and noodle salads and rice dishes. The classic beef noodle bowl is a surprisingly heavy contender for one of the best in the city. Do not miss.
© Two Food Photographers
Chinatown
Pho Bang New York
1001 Saint-Laurent Boulevard | Website
Pho Bang New York is your best option in the downtown/Chinatown area. Its soup is richer in earthy spices and highlighted by the generous greenery of basil, scallions and cilantro. The traditional and hearty dac biet hits the spot after a day of walking through Chinatown or the Old Port.
Restaurant My Canh
1086 Saint-Laurent Boulevard | Website
My-Canh offers classic Vietnamese dishes, but it’s its specialty noodles that stand out. A visit here isn’t complete unless you slurp the pork and seafood soup or the delicious “Bún Mam” – rice vermicelli soup with fermented fish.
Pho Bac
1016 Saint-Laurent Boulevard | Website
One of the oldest Vietnamese restaurants in Chinatown, Pho Bac has been serving up steaming bowls of hot noodle soup for over 15 years! Generous lunch specials are available; they include fresh spring rolls, vermicelli bowls with grilled chicken, pork or beef.
© Alison Slattery
Southwest
TRAN Cantine Vietmanienne
4690 Notre-Dame Street West | Website
The fast-casual cantine offshoot of the popular Plateau Pho Tay Ho serves generous bowls of rare beef pho and its signature “pho ga” – chicken noodle soup. Have the banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich) topped with a fried egg.
Le Petit Sao
1870, du Centre Street (and other locations) | Website
This restaurant is popular amongst the locals in the Southwest borough of Pointe-Saint-Charles. Owner Lise grew up in the restaurant business and wanted to bring her family background in serving fresh and authentic Vietnamese dishes to the masses. With four locations (including one in Brossard), make sure to check out the grilled meat plates or exotic salads.
Little Italy
Cafeden
6576 Saint-Laurent Boulevard | Website
“Den” means “black” in Vietnamese, like “black sheep” – the one that stands out. This chic Vietnamese restaurant located in Little Italy is a popular spot for cocktails and snacks and isn’t your typical noodle shop. The signature pho is Mama Vu’s secret recipe - as is most of the menu offerings.
TRAN l’epicier
7061, Alexandra Street | Website
This is the second location of TRAN Cantine. This Little Italy outpost is called TRAN L’Epicier and serves the same delectable menu. However, this spot also offers their homemade products as well as specialty pantry items.
Pho Jean Talon
360, Jean-Talon Street | Website
New to the restaurant scene, Pho Jean Talon is making a name for themselves quick with their signature dish - the filet mignon pho! Tender pieces of hand-sliced filet mignon top off their fragrant bowl of steamy delicious noodles with all the fixings.
West Island
Pho Zui Zui
9 Sunnydale Street | Website
This family run spot in the suburbs of the West Island is a local favourite for a quick fix of tasty pho. Beef, chicken as well as vegetarian options available as well as gigantic banh mi on the menu - that’s a traditional Vietnamese style sandwiches.
I am Pho
4832, Saint-Jean Boulevard (and other locations) | Website
Tucked away in a strip mall in Dollard-Des Ormeaux sits the West Island location of local chain, “I Am Pho”. They’ve got all the classic noodle bowls as well as grilled meats served with rice or vermicelli rice noodles. But get the pho, after all the place is named after it!
Jason Lee
Jason is a food eater and picture taker. As the blogger behind Shut Up and Eat, he covers everything food, from recipes to reviews. Jason has vowed that he will not stop until he has officially eaten his way across Montréal. It’s a big claim, and it’s one he’s making.
