Grilled Beef Vermicelli at Pho King

Grilled Beef Vermicelli, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I opted for vermicelli instead of pho for supper last night at Pho King (92 Street and 118 Avenue).

My grilled beef bun (as the word is in Vietnamese for a rice noodle bowl) was probably the best I have ever had. The meat was succulent, presented upon four skewers and flavourful with lemongrass. Presented in a shallow bowl, the noodles and vegetables were separate, keeping the cold items cold and the hot items hot. My dish was as beautiful to look at as it was delicious to eat.

Chocolate Torte Cake and Mochachino

Chocolate Torte Cake and Mochachino, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I often have coffee in the afternoon, usually over a meeting or reading a book by myself. It is only when I feel particularly decadent that I have cake or another kind of sweet treat.

When I was at Zocalo (95 Street and 108 Avenue) with a co-worker yesterday, I indulged in a piece of chocolate torte cake. The cake itself was rich and fudge-like in texture, while the creamy middle layer reminded me of cheesecake. However, it was the top, thick layer of fudge which took the cake (literally). It was a chocoholic's delight.

Add to this experience the fact I had a mochachino, and that rounded out the chocolate goodness of the afternoon. What I like the most about Zocalo's mochas is that they use real, shaved chocolate - not a poweder or syrup. The result is not as sweet as other mochas, but definitely rich and chocolatey.

Now, please excuse me - I have to get to an exercise class!

Onion Cakes at Pho King

Onion Cakes, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I love green onion cakes as an appetizer in Vietnamese restaurants, so I ordered them on my trip to Pho King (92 Street and 118 Avenue) for supper yesterday evening.

The cakes were not as crispy as I like, but were quite chewy on the inside. At only $3 for a cake, it was a steal, even if it was not perfect.

The Pho Files - King Noodle

Pho Tai (Steak), a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

King Noodle House/Pho Hoang (10613 - 97 Street) is one of the busiest Vietnamese restaurants in Chinatown. Pho is what the place sells for the most part, with a few vermicelli dishes and appetizers. It is family owned and operated (Hoang is, in fact, the family name), prices are in line with what pho goes for in Chinatown, and the place has a greasy spoon feel to it, Vietnamese style.

My small bowl of Pho Tai (medium steak) was large and hearty. I find the meat King Noodle uses is very soft and tender. The broth is flavourful and slightly more oily than I have had elsewhere, with a strong scent that can linger on the lips afterwards. I think this is perhaps from a little extra fish sauce, which is a typical ingredient of pho broth.

What makes King Noodle's pho stand out even more from the rest is the noodles themselves. They are firm and stay that way, even after they are in little pieces floating at the bottom of the bowl. They never get soggy. It's a great texture that keeps me slurping all the way to the end - and I very rarely consume all of the liquid in a serving, except here.

King Noodle is a pho joint that lives up to its name.