The Pho Files: Satay Beef at Co Do Hue West (9524 163 Street)

View this post on Instagram

Catching up on some good blogging. Warmed up after a cold protest with satay beer soup, which was basically medium-cooked beef pho with hot sauce added to the broth. If you like a kick to your soup it’s great, or you can just add it yourself (same price either way). #yeg #yegfood #yegpho #satay #yegfoodie #nofilter

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Sep 6, 2018 at 1:43pm PDT

Catching up on some good blogging. Warmed up after a cold protest with satay beer soup, which was basically medium-cooked beef pho with hot sauce added to the broth. If you like a kick to your soup it’s great, or you can just add it yourself (same price either way).

Vegging Out: Pho and Vermicelli at An Chay

Vegan pho. #yeg #yegfood #yegeats #foodporn #vegsn #plantbased

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Apr 19, 2018 at 2:05pm PDT

Vietnamese is one of my favourite kinds of cuisine and being a non-pork and seafood eater, vegan works well for me. An Chay (11203 Jasper Avenue) is spacious, bright, and has lots of comfortable seating. The menu features spring rolls, soups, and vermicelli bowls, with the twist of everything being plant-based. Tofu and soy is mostly used for the protein. I had a vegan pho and found the flavour profile of the broth to be excellent, with lots of noodles, soft tofu, lotus root, and different kinds of mushrooms.

Vegging out with a vegan vermicelli bowl. #yegfood #plantbased #vegan #yegeats #nomnom #vietnamesefood #

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Apr 27, 2018 at 2:48pm PDT

On a subsequent visit I ordered the three-colour vermicelli. The "pork" was very flavourful, and the mint leaves added a lot of refreshment to the dish. I almost never eat all of the salad part of the bowl, but this time I did. The "fish sauce" added a little heat but was not overpowering the way I find real fish sauce to be. Also, the spring rolls are crispy and fantastic.

Soups at Rice Bowl Deluxe

Trying out the new Rice Bowl Deluxe in the west end, and thought the pho was fab. #yeg #yegfood #yegpho

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Oct 30, 2017 at 3:27pm PDT

Rice Bowl Deluxe has a new location in the Lynnwood area. On my first time there I had the pho. I was surprised that the flavour profile of the broth was as rich as it was. It came with the basil leaves and beansprouts already inserted. Although the bowl looked small-ish for the price, it was deceptively large, with lots of sliced beef (I held the beef balls - never been a fan of their texture). There also also several kinds of green onion cakes available. I had the flat kind, and it was quite full of onions and a great side to the soup.

Laksa soup with tofu and a green onion doughnut. The soup was hot and spicy! (Even though the menu did not indicate it as such.) New Rice Bowl Deluxe in Lynwood. #yegfood

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Nov 2, 2017 at 12:11pm PDT

On my second trip, I had the Laksa soup with tofu as my protein. The soup already comes with tofu puffs, which absorb the flavourful mild curry broth. The sliced tofu that was added was a huge portion, along the the noodles. This was a very thick, rich soup and wonderful on a cold day. I had a green onion doughnut as well, which was crunchy but not greasy.

The Pho Files: Chicken Pho at Pho Boy

Pho with chicken and mushrooms. I asked for chicken broth but am pretty sure it was beef. Also, onion cakes. #yegfood #yegpho

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Aug 4, 2017 at 12:51pm PDT

I was so excited about my first trip to Pho Boy a few weeks ago, that I went again and brought someone in tow. This time my "choose my own" pho had chicken and mushrooms as my toppings (you can get up to three), and I asked for chicken broth and all of the garnishes. My regular-sized bowl had a lot of chicken, but it was shredded so a lot of it settled at the bottom, only for me to retrieve it at the end of my meal. As well, I am almost positive I actually got the beef broth - it was far too dark to have been chicken. My lunch date was not happy with the amount of beef in his large bowl and found the broth to be bland. We also tried the green onion cakes. We enjoyed these, and loved the hot sauce/plum sauce combination that was served on the side. Because I did like my soup despite the wrong broth, I am willing to give this place another chance, but my lunch date is not.

The Pho Files: Pho Boy

Eating hot pho on a hot day. #yegfood #yegpho

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Jul 8, 2017 at 1:20pm PDT

I stopped in for lunch at Pho Boy during the Art Walk. It is a lovely place with lots of indoor and outdoor seating. The service was fantastic. I found the menu to be unique, as you can choose your broth and up to three toppings. I had beef broth with steak, flank, and chicken. The broth was rich and deep, and there was plenty of meat and noodles for the regular-sized portion ($10 - reasonable). The chicken was especially good - very tender and fresh, not chewy at all. My only beef (pun intended) is that for the vegetarian choices, it would be nice to have a protein choice like tofu - not just vegetables.

The Pho Files: Tofu Pho at Phobulous

Tofu pho (the broth is beef). #yegfood #yegpho

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on May 29, 2017 at 11:45am PDT

While running errands in the University area, lunch was required, and I stopped in to Phobulous for the first time in ages. I was definitely in the mood for soup, but not for lots of meat, if that makes any sense. So, I went for the tofu pho, which included a plentiful number of fried tofu cubes in a beef broth with loads of rice noodles. Obviously, this was not a purely vegetarian dish, but I did not mind. The tofu picked up the flavour of the broth and also absorbed a lot of it, which forced me to be careful when I bit into each piece, as there would be an explosion of piping hot broth in my mouth. The broth was indeed piping hot and remained so for most of the meal. It also had a deep flavour, if not a little too bitter to my taste, possibly due to an abundance of fish sauce. Next time, I might go for one of the non-soup dishes instead.

The Pho Files: Vegan Pho at XO Bistro

Vegan pho #yegfood

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Apr 20, 2017 at 12:33pm PDT

I visited XO Bistro on the advice of my brother, who says the vegan pho is excellent. It was. What made the soup was the broth, which is a true vegan broth but has much more flavour than other ones I have encountered. I ordered the small size, which was ample enough for lunch and slightly more expensive than Chinatown (not a surprise, given the location and upscale interior). I especially liked the tofu, which was fried but firm. Definitely deserving of a repeat visit.

The Pho Files: Beef Satay Soup at Hoang Long Fresh Market

After picketing outside for over an hour, I need this. #yegfood #yegpho

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Feb 25, 2017 at 12:35pm PST

I was between events/meetings and needed a bowl of soup after my previous engagement had me outside in the cold for over an hour. So, I ventured into Hoang Long Fresh Market for the first time. The place was very modern and fancy, albeit empty on a Saturday afternoon. I certainly did not mind having the place to myself, and ordered a beef satay soup. I've never had beef satay soup before, so I can honestly say this is the best I have ever had, but it truly was great. The broth was rich and flavourful without being too spicy. There was an abundance of beef, noodles, and cooked carrots, topped with lettuce, red cabbage, and peanuts. Really great flavour. Although it is slightly pricier than other Vietnamese eateries I frequent, I love the look of the place and will be back.

The Pho Files: Yellow Curry Vegetable Pho at Friends and Neighbours

Yellow curry tofu noodle soup. #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Oct 6, 2016 at 5:03pm PDT

I often enjoy the vegetarian pho at Friends and Neighbours (10834 82 Avenue), but decided to try something different. The yellow curry veggie pho was not listed on the menu as spicy, so I went for it. It was a huge bowl of rich curry broth, with tofu and many vegetables. However, if this was not considered spicy, I would definitely suggest avoiding anything on the menu that actually says it is spicy, if you don't like heat. I found it delicious but quite spicy for my taste. It was definitely worth trying, though.

The Pho Files: Saigon Taste

Pho! Medium rare beef. #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Aug 25, 2016 at 10:53am PDT

Although I have passed it many times on my journeys back and forth from downtown, I never set foot in Saigon Taste until a few weeks ago when I was in the area for a while. I found the place clean and bright, with good service, and started off with an onion cake. How was it? It was an onion cake. It didn't really stand out to me one way or the other. The soup was a good portion of meat and noodles (I always try the Pho Tai first whenever I try out a new pho place), but the broth was rather one-note. It wasn't bad, just bland. I would come here again if I was in the area, and perhaps try one of the vermicelli bowls instead.

The Pho File: Spring Roll Kitchen

I am in the deep southeast and found pho! #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Aug 29, 2016 at 3:47pm PDT

A meeting brought me to the Century Park area a few weeks ago, and I wanted to grab some supper first. I discovered Spring Roll Kitchen (2395 111 Street) not too far from the LRT station. The place was extremely large and spacious, and decorated very tastefully. My bowl of Pho Tai was huge, with a broth that had some depth to its flavour. The vegetarian spring rolls were among the best I have ever had: large, crispy, and filled with different kinds of vegetables. If I am ever back in this neck of the woods I would try Spring Roll Kitchen again.

The Pho Files: Vietnamese Beef Stew at Delicious Pho

Vietnamese beef stew #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Mar 21, 2016 at 1:44pm PDT

A meeting right across the street from the 124 Street location of Delicious Pho made the restaurant the perfect place for lunch. I tried the beef stew with cooked carrots and rice noodles. The broth was aromatic to perfection, as were the carrots perfectly cooked. The chunks of beef were smaller and leaner than in other versions of the stew, which made for easier eating. All in all, a definite win.

The Pho Files: Pho Ga at Pho Huong/Mama Pizza

I've been visiting Pho Huong (also known as Mama Pizza, located at 10531 107 Avenue) quite a bit in the last couple of weeks. I decided to stray from my rare steak/well-done brisket combo soup, and tried the pho ga (chicken pho). The chicken was fresh and plentiful, topped with crispy onions for additional flavour. The broth was rich and strong, with a definite salty taste that penetrated the noodles. If you like chicken soup and don't mine a salty broth, you will love this pho ga.

The Pho Files: Well-Done Beef at V Sandwiches

Desperate for pho on Whyte Avenue last week, I noticed that V Sandwiches sells more than just banh mi. I had a bowl of the well-done beef, which was steaming hot and quite large. The beef and noodles were plentiful, and the broth was quite rich and meaty albeit with a sour taste likely from fish sauce. I can see myself coming here quite often during the winter.

The Pho Files: Pho Tai at Nha Trang

I have been spending a lot of time in the Kingsway area lately, and finally stopped in to Nha Trang which seems like it has been there forever across the street from the Royal Alex. First, I ordered onion cakes, which were excellent: chewy on the inside, crunchy on the outside, and well-seasoned. Next, came my medium order of Phi Tai - pho with rare sliced steak. The portion was definitely adequate, it was steaming hot, and full of meat and noodles. The broth was a little more one-note than I like, however. It tasted strongly from anise, and little else. Although I certainly would come back here in the future, it would not be my first choice with Chinatown being so close by.

The Pho Files: Brisket Pho at Maki Maki

I had a severe craving for pho over the weekend, and being on Whyte Avenue, my choices were limited. Then, I remembered Maki Maki. I had a bowl of pho with well-done beef brisket. The broth was rich and meaty, the noodles were plentiful, and the meat was so tender it was falling apart in the bowl. And, there was lots of it. Plus, I loved the abundance of cilantro. Piping hot, filling, and totally comforting.

The Pho Files: Chicken Pho from Pho Delight

Chicken pho #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Sep 22, 2015 at 2:00pm PDT

An oncoming cold made me crave pho, and since Pho Delight, the soup side of Friends and Neighbours (10838 82 Avenue) was near a meeting, that is where I went and had chicken pho. Admittedly, my sense of taste was diminished as my head congestion grew, but the broth was soothing, the slices of chicken breast were ample enough, and the noodles were comforting. I could have done with a few more herbs in the broth but it got the job done.

The Pho Files: Steak and Brisket at Co Do Hue

Co Do Hue, a local chain of Vietnamese restaurants, recently opened a new location in the west end at 9524 163 Street. It's a dine-in and take-out place where you order at the counter whether you are staying or not. I tried the pho with rare steak and brisket, and was very impressed with the portion size as well as the richness of the broth. The rare steak was cut in perfectly thin, round slices, while the brisket was tender and slightly too fatty in some spots. All in all though it was a satisfying bowl of pho and I look forward to coming again.

The Pho Files: Vietnamese Beef Stew at Pho Rice Pot

Although I have been to Pho Rice Pot numerous times, I have never had one of my favourite Vietnamese dishes: the brisket stew with carrots and rice noodles. The portion was huge, as is typical for Pho Rice Pot, and the amount of reasonably lean cubes of brisket was quite ample. The broth was flavourful but not too spicy. Perfect comfort food for a cooler day.

The Pho Files: Steak and Brisket at Pho Hoang/King Noodle

A late lunch in Chinatown brought me to Pho Hoang/King Noodle for a large bowl of steak and brisket pho. Large, it certainly was, filled to the brim with noodles and meat. The broth was rich and flavourful. Served up by the moustache man himself, I can see why Pho Hoang is considered one of the best places for pho in the city.