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Target 12: Kim Phung Vietnamese Restaurant
Address: 5764 Victoria Dr (map)
Phone: 604-327-4490
Menu: Page 1; Page 2
Price: $5.50 small; $6.50 large
Condiments Photo

Visit date: March 8th, 2007
Visit time: 7:30 PM

–ratings–

Jason’s ratings (#10 rare beef & tendon) –

Broth: 8/10
Beef: 7.5/10
Noodle: 5/10
Condiments: 8.5/10
Other factors (service, atmosphere, etc): 8/10

Jason’s total: 7.4/10

Dan’s ratings (#9 rare beef and beef flank) –

Broth: 7/10
Beef: 6.5/10
Noodle: 6.5/10
Condiments: 9/10
Other factors: 7.5/10

Dan’s total: 7.3/10

Total Score (averaged across both raters, all variables) = 7.35/10
Quality per dollar (based on large pho) = 1.131
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Description from Jason

I have been hearing about Kim Phung since I moved to Vancouver a few years ago. Among local food enthusiasts it is often touted as offering up one of the best bowls of pho in the area. Shortly after receiving the advice, I tried Kim Phung and although it was good, I was decidedly unimpressed. Of course, part of the phodown mandate we all signed was that all pho joints start with a clean slate, so with clear eyes and a full heart, I tried Kim Phung again last Thursday.

The first thing to note about Kim Phung is that it’s a tiny mom and pop restaurant, with some nice vineage on the wall, as well paintings of various landscapes that combine to evoke a feeling of eating pho lost somewhere in Vietnam. Dan and I agreed that we dug the atmosphere and amiable service. We also dug the condiments with all the usual suspects, plus chili sauce, chili oil, and a little bowl dispenser – the only points deducted here were for the old basil. Unfortunately, after being all psyched up by the jungle atmosphere and kick-ass condiments, Dan and I were completely let down by the pho.

There’s nothing very wrong with Kim Phung’s pho broth. It’s got a nice aroma and background of spices, but I can’t help thinking it could use a little more cooking to enhance the meaty flavor, because there isn’t much there. The noodles didn’t help matters, their numbers being simply too many, and maybe hardest to separate I’ve ever had. The beef was fine, just not over plentiful and with an odd crumbly texture that I couldn’t quite understand. Overall, I would say that Kim Phung is a reasonable choice for pho if you are in the area, but I wouldn’t travel far for this relatively average pho.