When the first cold, grey week of November rolls in, Montreal goes looking for broth. And while French onion soup has its fans, nothing fixes a raw afternoon like a big bowl of phở. The city is lucky to have a large Vietnamese community and dozens of excellent, affordable restaurants, so narrowing down the best pho in Montreal is a delicious problem. This list leans on Tastet’s regularly updated guide to Montreal’s best pho, plus a few notes on what to order.
What makes a great bowl
Pho is Vietnam’s national dish, eaten at breakfast but good at any hour. It lives or dies by two things: the broth and the toppings. A good beef broth simmers for hours, ideally days, with bones and spices like star anise, cinnamon, ginger, onion, cardamom and fish sauce. Thin slices of beef (rare or well done), beef balls, tendon, tripe or chicken go in with rice noodles, and you finish it yourself at the table with lime, Thai basil, bean sprouts, cilantro and chilies. Hoisin and Sriracha are optional, and purists will tell you to taste the broth first.
The best pho in Montreal: 10 bowls to try
1. Pho Lien (Côte-des-Neiges)
Open since 1994, Pho Lien at 5703 chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges is regularly named among the city’s very best. It’s unpretentious and affordable, with a long Vietnamese menu, but people come for the signature pho and stay for a memorable Vietnamese coffee.
2. Restaurant Nguyen Phi (Côte-des-Neiges)
A little further up the road at 6260 chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges, facing Kent Park, this small spot has been perfuming the neighbourhood for years. Tastet calls its broth exceptional, one of the best in town. Ideal for a quick, restorative lunch.
3. Pho Bang New York (Chinatown)
A true Chinatown institution at 1001 boulevard Saint-Laurent, Pho Bang New York seems to have been there forever, and it’s always packed. Come for the soup, try a house combo, and enjoy the retro ceiling and menu photos.
4. Pho Saigon Vietnam (Chinatown)
A few doors down at 1053 boulevard Saint-Laurent, this classic hole-in-the-wall, complete with Buddha statuettes, serves a wide Vietnamese menu. You can’t go wrong with the rare beef pho.
5. Pho Viet (Centre-Sud)
Family-run for decades at 1663 rue Atateken, Pho Viet is known for an authentic, deeply flavoured bowl and charming owners. Bonus: it’s bring-your-own-wine.
6. Pho Jean-Talon (Little Italy)
Steps from the metro and the market at 360 rue Jean-Talon Est, Pho Jean-Talon opened in 2021. The classics are all here, but the filet mignon pho steals the show. Pair it with a stroll through the stalls from our fall guide to Montreal’s public markets.
7. Pho Tay Ho (Rosemont)
At 6414 rue Saint-Denis, Pho Tay Ho cooks the food of northern Vietnam, generous and comforting, with the kind of consistency that keeps regulars coming back.
8. Phở Nam Quan (Villeray)
A small, calm family business at 3562 rue Jarry Est. The pho is fragrant and slow-simmered, but Tastet’s tip is the bún bò Huế, a spicy beef noodle soup with explosive flavour.
9. TRAN Cantine Vietnamienne (Saint-Henri)
Everything is made in-house at TRAN Cantine, 4690 rue Notre-Dame Ouest, from the broths to the marinades. Choose chicken, rare beef or brisket pho, at prices that suit a weekday lunch.
10. Pho Anh Express (Plateau)
Near Laurier metro at 5055 rue Saint-Denis, this noodle shop’s broth recipe has been passed down through generations. Try the phở đặc biệt (the house special), then come back for the bún bò Huế and charcoal-grilled meats.
Two more worth knowing
Downtown, Au 14 on Prince-Arthur Ouest has been serving comforting classics for years, though it keeps short hours (lunch Tuesday to Friday and Saturday evening, per Tastet). On the South Shore, Sao Sao on boulevard Taschereau in Brossard draws diners across the bridge for chef Thi Le Diep’s pho.
Tips for your pho run
- Go at lunch: many of these spots are busiest at noon on weekdays, but service is fast.
- Bring cash just in case, and check hours before you go, since small family restaurants can close on short notice.
- Order a Vietnamese iced coffee, or a hot one now that it’s November.
- Taste first, then season. The herbs and lime should lift the broth, not bury it.
Looking for more cold-weather comfort? Compare notes with our list of the best French onion soups, grab a sandwich from our smoked meat roundup, or graze at one of the city’s food halls. More ideas live in our Food section. Bon appétit, et chúc ngon miệng!
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Photo: Codename5281 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Sources: Tastet (best pho), Tastet (Pho Lien), Tastet (Pho Bang New York), Tastet (Pho Jean-Talon), Tastet (Pho Tay Ho), Tastet (TRAN Cantine)
