What the Pho?
If you don’t know what Pho is by now, I’m sorry, but you have probably lived in a cultural bubble. For those well acquainted with the subtly spiced, simmered beef broth with noodles and DIY mint and bean sprouts, will be well aware it’s messy business. It can also be quite hit-and-miss. Sometimes the serving size is too small with an unfair noodle-veggie ratio. Or the broth just doesn’t have enough oomph. Or it’s ludicrously expensive. That’s the dead giveaway for a shonky Pho. Over $10 and I’d walk in the other direction. Because I know where you can get a killer for $9.
It’s called Pho Huynh and it’s in the central northern suburb of Girrawheen. Though the greater surrounds would make me feel uneasy at night, this place shines like a beacon in the newly named Saigon Business Centre. It’s quite the opposite of every other noodle house I’ve been to: fresh decor (no plastic table coverings here), air con and a plasma TV that blares Vietnamese karaoke all day long (well maybe this is the same). The staff are attentive and family-like. It’s not uncommon to see the proprietor babysitting her (Eurasian) children, and the matriarch wisely staring from the corner. I’m sure she’s analysing my Pho eating style and chopstick etiquette. Whether I’m a sauce adder or dunker, and whether I add all the bean sprouts with judicial use of mint and hoisin. It’s highly personal stuff. Lunch time, it’s packed. The car park swells with oddly out of place Mercedes and BMWs. Sunday lunch is pretty much like being back in Vietnam, 100 people per metre squared. The litmus test for a good Asian restaurant is how many countrymen dine there. This place passes with flying colours.
The food is better than I had in Vietnam, Pho sure.
Pho Huynh. Vietnamese Rice & Noodle Bar. Shop 1/32 Balgonie Ave Girrawheen WA Open 6 Days 9am-8pm (Closed Wednesdays)
Tags: House, Huynh, Noodle, Pho, Review, Vietnam, Vietnamese
August 9th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I can’t wait to try this little treasure. Our next “ladies get together” will enjoy Pho!
October 13th, 2009 at 9:23 am
I love the pho at Tra Vinh on Brisbane St in Northbridge. It does lack decor/atmosphere but makes up for it in taste!
October 14th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
u should give Pho Que Huong a try which is located in Koondoola if u wanna try ghetto pho, its one of the best in Perth i reakon, Tra Vinh comes a close second!
Not only that in the little Koondoola Neighbourhood they make Banh Mi Thit fresh for 3.50.. and freshly squeezed sugar cane juice. win win if u ask me.
June 16th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
[...] can go to pretty much any city and get decent true-to-form Viet fare. I can’t really say that for [...]
January 22nd, 2011 at 2:45 pm
This place is delicious! I’ve been countless times now with the boyfriend as his new favourite dish is the rice vermicelli noodles with spring rolls and the sliced pork. The food is fresh and very plentiful for what you pay… the atmosphere is nice and lively, always very full and vibrant. One of the best if not the BEST places to get viet food.. although kind of sucks to drive so far
June 16th, 2011 at 6:50 pm
[...] along. A personable waitstaff greeted, spieled and serviced us with a less austere nature than most traditionally run Asian eateries. That I suppose is a [...]