the #11 Pho – beef balls in beef broth, complete with all the usual accompaniments and, of course, a full pot of tea
I have been visiting Pho Tam in Surrey for the last couple of years. Ethan and I have had many an FBC meeting in this humble spot in the Whalley area of Surrey. (If you follow Ethan on Instagram, then you know he has a fondness for Pho and many of his photos are shot in this restaurant!).
Hot and crispy spring roll as part of the $8.95 lunch combo
It was only recently that I found out many downtown Vancouver food bloggers head out to this, let’s face it, hole in the wall. There’s nothing fancy going on but here’s 5 reasons why I love Pho Tam and why it is one of the lower mainland’s best Vietnamese Pho Restaurants:
- The Pho – it’s piping hot, full of flavour and has the perfect balance of spices. Who needs chicken noodle soup when you can have this?
- They don’t skimp out on the portions. The small feeds me and then some. And there is a very generous portion of meat
- The service is FAST
- A lunch combo of a large Pho and a salad roll or spring roll is $8.95. You won’t need to eat dinner and you’ll feel all happy inside
- The menu is wide and varied and I’ve never been disappointed even when I have strayed away from the Pho.
If you’re in the Surrey area Pho Tam is right across the street from Gateway Skytrain station. It’s worth braving the mean Whalley streets!
Pho Tam Vietnamese Restaurant: 10302 135 St, Surrey, BC V3T 4Y8
This is the first in a new series I’ll be doing on the blog: 5 Reasons Why I Love… It’s all about the quick hits of some of my favourite dining spots in the Metro Vancouver area – the places I go to over and over again. Usually they’re cheap, cheerful and very tasty!
I actually have never had pho because I have yet to hunt down a place in Calgary that makes it vegetarian. And I am sure many pho purists would argue that without beef broth, it isn’t pho. This still looks super delicious though!
Like Mallory, I’ve never had Pho but this post definitely proves that a restaurant need not be big and fancy to deliver great food and service. I’d give anything to sit across from you and Ethan during one of your luncheons 🙂