The Top Places For The Best Ph In Melbourne

When the ‘PHO Real’ pop-up store opened in late July in Melbourne, the aim was to fill a hole in the market and sell authentic Vietnamese food. Despite countless other Vietnamese restaurants in the CBD, Thai Ho found that they were either not serving authentic food, or were simply not up to standard. So he and his friends Midawell Phal and Raymond Phan got together and created a place for eat-good food in the CBD.

Our expert team, Midawell Phal and Thai Ho (left to right)

Ho explains that what sets their restuarant apart from others is the freshness of their beef, their hand-made noodles, and of course, their broth. Cooked for 12-14 hours, the broth is the heart and soul of the dish, exceptionally rich with a deep beefy flavour from a family recipe.
Growing up in Springvale, a suburb in Melbourne’s south-east, with a large Vietnamese and Chinese community, the three agree that the best phở can be found in these communities, as the flavours have not changed to the wider palate, and the authenticity of the taste remains.
When places in the CBD are lacking in taste, it is the suburbs around Melbourne that pick up the slack and save the tastebuds. Here are the Top 5 spots chosen by the ‘Pho Real’ crew for you to try:
Are You ‘PHO’ Real?
Of course, the best-tasting choice should always be your first pick. With their fresh noodles and rich broth, this pop-up store was the obvious choice for number one. While it is now closed, they expect to re-create the same magic – and then some – in their new restaurant in September.
Are You ‘Pho’ Real?, 11 Liverpool Street, Melbourne, VIC, Australia (Closed Temporarily)

Pho Hung Vuong 2
Outside of their own restaurant, Pho Hung Vuong 2 is by far their most beloved phở restaurant in ‘all of Australia.’ Despite the tacky white tiles and mirrored walls of this restaurant, the taste of the food is second to none. The portions are generous, to say the least, and with all meals under $10, it makes for a great, cheap, and filling dinner.
Pho Hung Vuong 2, 15 Balmoral Avenue, Springvale, VIC, Australia, +61 3 9558 5147
Pho Hung Vuong Saigon
Much like Pho Hung Vuong 2 in Springvale, Pho Hung Vuong Saigon shares many similarities in terms of looks and branding. The phở is of a similar high quality, but the menu expands to more than just the classic beef noodle soup, including rice dishes and a selection of entrées.

Pho Hung Vuong Saigon, 128 Hopkins Street, Footscray, VIC, Australia, +61 3 9689 6002
Pho Chu The
If Pho Hung Vuong Saigon is full, you can head down the street to Pho Chu The to enjoy a great bowl of phở at this spot that shares the same name as a well known phở restaurant in Richmond.
Pho Chu The,93 Hopkins Street, Footscray, VIC, Australia, +61 3 9687 8265

Pho Hung
Like many others in Springvale, Pho Hung delivers in taste what it lacks in aesthetics. In addition to their rather large portions of phở, they have a range of classic Vietnamese delights, including broken rice with a fried porkchop and bún bò Huế, a spicy beef noodle soup.
Pho Hung, 268-274 Springvale Road, Springvale, VIC, Australia, +61 3 9540 3566
The ‘Are You PHO Real?’ trio plan to open up their own restaurant sometime in mid-September at the same location, with an all-new look and a menu of traditional and fusion cuisine. By keeping it casual and serving good food, they want their place to be ‘the place you eat before going out on a Friday night.’ So far, the name and other information is being kept a secret, but watch this space for any updates in the coming months.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.