When it’s raining (which seems to be all the time) here in Vancouver, there’s something about a hearty bowl of pho that always hits the spot. 

A classic Vietnamese dish, pho is a soup with rice noodles, herbs, and meat, traditionally in a clear beef broth. It is also considered Vietnam’s national dish, so you can see where my passion (I am the proud daughter of Vietnamese immigrants) for a good bowl of pho stems from. Here are a few of my fave spots in Vancouver to get the perfect bowl.

Anh & Chi

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs6sfi9P8y8/?hl=en

The magic of pho comes from the slow process of shimmering beef bones, often overnight, to ensure a rich flavour with every spoonful. At Main Street staple Anh and Chi, the broth is the result of an 18-hour shimmer and is topped with sliced AAA beef striploin, AAA brisket, and meatballs. 

Linh Cafe

https://www.instagram.com/p/CvqQOqxPDHo/?hl=en

If you want to customize your bowl of pho, may I recommend Linh Cafe (in the no-man’s land that’s not quite Yaletown, not quite downtown)? I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the influence of French cuisine in Vietnamese cooking (ever wonder why a Vietnamese sub is on a baguette?). Linh Cafe merges the two in French dishes with a Vietnamese twist. The beef noodle soup has plenty of add-ins, including decadent bone marrow and a sous vide egg.

Do Chay

https://www.instagram.com/p/CoqCohrgq55

Vegetarians, I didn’t forget about you. While beef bones are a traditional ingredient in a bowl of pho, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the deep and rich flavours of a good bowl of noodle soup if you’re meat-free. For a plant-based option, Do Chay at Kingsway and 23rd makes an excellent bowl with bamboo fungus and konjac tripe to add “meaty” textures and depth to the dish.

Lunch Lady

https://www.instagram.com/p/CtVCroTNIt1/?hl=en

Make your next bowl of pho as fancy as can be with the wagyu offering from Lunch Lady on Commercial Drive. This dine-in-only option features a classic bowl of pho with a giant slab of bone marrow sticking out of the bowl, a slow-poached egg sitting on top, and a side of wagyu zabuton to add in at your leisure.

Thai Son

For a truly authentic Vietnamese dining experience, you can’t beat Thai Son (which is so good it does not need an Instagram account). There are more than 80 menu items, and every pho dish costs less than $20—meaning it’s a cheap-eats experience you can’t miss. Thai Son offers 17 different combinations of pho, ranging from the house classic to bowls that come with tendon and tripe. And there are five locations to choose from, too.