eatvancouver.net

Target 5: Pho Hoang
Address: 3388 Main St (map)
Phone: 604-874-0832
Menu: Page 1; Page 2
Price: $4.95 small; $5.95 large
Condiments Photo

Visit date: December 10th, 2006
Visit time: 8:30 PM

–ratings–

Jason’s ratings (#14 rare beef and tendon) –

Broth: 6/10
Beef: 7/10
Noodle: 9.5/10
Condiments: 7/10
Other factors (service, atmosphere, etc): 5.5/10 (for service, atmosphere is good)

Jason’s total: 7/10

Dan’s ratings (#13 rare beef and brisket) –

Broth: 7/10
Beef: 7/10
Noodle: 8/10
Condiments: 7/10
Other factors: 5/10

Dan’s total: 6.8/10

Total Score (averaged across both raters, all variables) = 6.9/10
Quality per dollar (based on large pho) = 1.16/$
—

Description from Jason:

Pho Hoang has been a bastion of the pho scene in Vancouver for several years now. When I moved here about three years ago, it was one of the first places that was recommended to me. My first impression back then that it was perfectly acceptable, if middle of the road pho. The Fishman and I found out a few weeks ago that not much has changed.

One thing that has always been an issue at Pho Hoang for me is service. Even when the place is dead quiet, service can be quite slow. It’s one of those places where I have to make sure I order the first time I see the server, because it’s anyone’s guess how long it will be before I see her again. If you get passed the service, the pho and condiments are good, but certainly not great. I’ll start with the broth, as that is what is most important to me. Pho Hoang’s broth is mildly flavorful, but not especially meaty or aromatic. There is nothing off-putting about this pho, but there is nothing especially alluring about it either. It does, however, have some of the best noodles around. These noodles do not clump together or become overly starchy, surely the mark of refined pho technique. The condiments here are also good, but not great. The basil and bean sprouts are fresh, although a bit more basil would be appreciated. What I didn’t like, and this is actually the first time this happened to me here, is that no lime or chili was offered. I eventually had to flag down the server to get some, which arrived a good deal after I had received my pho. I don’t know if this happened because it was busy or because they were short on lime, but it certainly left a sour taste in my mouth that was not helped by the fact that one of the chilies turned out to be rotten.

With regards to atmosphere, Pho Hoang is a step above the rest with a sleek, tasteful interior and some pretty nice fish tanks in the front of the main room.

In a nutshell, although Pho Hoang may have served some special pho at some point in the past, it no longer does. On the bright side, it remains a fairly consistent purveyor of decent pho at a slightly higher price point than average.