Who doesn’t love a good ‘hole in the wall’? They’re tiny, lacking in ambiance, completely unpretentious, and fabulous. My latest discovery, Pho Central at 1118 Davie Street, is all of the above.
See it on the right there hiding behind the tree? It’s location is certainly a plus.
Ahem, three stores to the left? That’s my #1: Samurai Sushi. Always nice to have it near.
Pho never used to appeal to me. Noodles, veggies, and broth? Yawn. I’d sooner choose sushi any day. But after one sip of a friend’s – I was sold. It reminded me of a Thai hot and sour soup, which I love.
This is #20 with a few modifications: no noodles, extra vegetables, add spice. It’s huge, healthy, and tangy. In this large bowl: broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, green beans, and tender shredded chicken.
Here is what is what you get on the side:
My favorite is the anise basil leaf – it’s bursting with a natural licorice flavor. You can smell it! Also, on the plate is a lime wedge (adding tang), sprouts (which cook in the hot broth as you eat), and spicy green chiles (the heat!).
Throw all that goodness in, and…
Ta da! It’s a hearty meal full of flavors – so much more than the blandness I had predicted.
Another dish I order is #15 – mostly for its unique broth and thin, rare beef strips:
Aside from these two altered ingredients and the sweet, indescribable meaty flavor, it’s similar to #20. The beef cooks in the broth. If you’re like me and love rare meat, you should eat it first. Pull ever so gently and it tears apart.
Pho Central’s dining room is smaller than my downtown Vancouver apartment’s living room and its decor is comparable to that of a car wash’s waiting area. Its atmosphere, however, is warm, lively, and bustling due to the heavy traffic created by Pho-loving West Enders and moi.
You should follow me on twitter @erin_ireland and check out my website www.erin-ireland.com.
Ciao for now.
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