There are certain meals that I never get tired of, and pho is at the top of that list. A properly made bowl of Vietnamese pho is one of the most satisfying things you can eat: a deep, aromatic broth that has simmered for hours, silky rice noodles, thin slices of beef that cook in the hot soup as it arrives, and a plate of fresh herbs and garnishes that let you customize every bite. It is simple in concept and incredibly complex in execution.
Living in Markham, I am fortunate to have some genuinely excellent pho restaurants within a short drive. The Vietnamese food scene here does not get the same attention as the Chinese dining scene, but it is quietly impressive, with family-run restaurants that have been perfecting their broths for years. Here are the spots that have earned my loyalty, and a few tips for anyone who wants to explore Markham's pho scene for themselves.
The Pho Restaurant: My Go-To on Highway 7
The Pho Restaurant at 3150 Highway 7 East is the place I come back to most often, and the reason is straightforward: the broth. It is clear, deeply flavourful, and has that unmistakable depth that only comes from long simmering with beef bones, star anise, cinnamon, and cloves. When a restaurant gets the broth right, everything else falls into place, and The Pho Restaurant gets it right consistently.
This is a family-owned spot with a warm, unpretentious atmosphere. The menu covers the full range of Vietnamese staples, but I almost always order the pho dac biet, the special combination that includes rare beef, well-done brisket, flank, tendon, and tripe. If you are not adventurous with offal, you can stick with the rare beef version, which is equally satisfying. The beef arrives thinly sliced and cooks gently in the hot broth, turning from pink to a tender grey right in the bowl.
The portions here are generous. Even the regular size is a substantial meal, and the large is enough for two moderate appetites. I always add the fresh basil, bean sprouts, and a generous squeeze of lime from the garnish plate, along with a touch of hoisin and sriracha on the side for dipping the meat. The spring rolls are also worth ordering as a starter, with a crispy exterior and a filling that has real flavour rather than just filler.
A word of warning: the restaurant can get busy during peak lunch hours on weekends. If you can visit on a weekday afternoon, you will get a table immediately and the food comes out quickly.
My Go-To Order
- Pho dac biet (special combination beef pho), large
- Fresh spring rolls (2 pieces)
- Vietnamese iced coffee
Pho Quinn: Consistently Excellent Near Markville Mall
Pho Quinn, located at 5284 Highway 7 East facing Markville Mall, is another spot I have visited many times. It occupies a corner unit in a strip plaza, and the interior is clean and functional without being fancy. What matters is what comes out of the kitchen, and Pho Quinn delivers.
The broth here is slightly different from The Pho Restaurant. It is a bit richer and has a more pronounced sweetness from the aromatics, which I find works particularly well with the rare beef. The noodles are cooked properly, soft without being mushy, and the beef is sliced thin enough that it cooks through perfectly in the hot soup.
Beyond pho, Pho Quinn does an excellent mango salad with shrimp that I would recommend as a lighter accompaniment. The combination of sweet mango, crunchy shrimp, fresh herbs, and a tangy dressing is a refreshing counterpoint to a heavy bowl of soup. They also have their own delivery service, which is convenient if you are craving pho but do not feel like making the trip.
Parking is available in front and behind the plaza, and there is designated temporary parking for pickup orders, which tells you something about how much takeout business they do. The place is popular for a reason.
My Go-To Order
- Rare beef pho, large
- Mango salad with shrimp
- Extra hoisin and sriracha on the side
Pho Mi 88: The South Unionville Favourite
Pho Mi 88 on South Unionville is the spot that several friends have pointed me to, and local residents seem to agree: this place has a loyal following. The portions are enormous and the pricing is fair, which is a combination that is hard to beat for a quick lunch.
The broth is robust and flavourful, and the noodles come in the kind of generous quantity that makes you glad you skipped breakfast. What I appreciate about Pho Mi 88 is the consistency. I have been multiple times and the quality has never dropped. The same rich broth, the same fresh noodles, the same generous portion of meat. That kind of reliability is what earns repeat business.
The restaurant is situated right across from Pacific Mall, making it an ideal stop before or after a visit. It is a smaller space, so expect some wait time during peak hours, but the turnover is quick.
Pho Anh Vu: The Richmond Hill Option
If you are in Richmond Hill, Pho Anh Vu at 420 Highway 7 deserves a visit. This restaurant has been around for years and has built a solid reputation with a menu that goes beyond just pho. The bun bo Hue, a spicy beef noodle soup from central Vietnam, is a standout that I would recommend to anyone who finds regular pho a bit mild for their taste. It has a lemongrass-and-chili-driven broth with a completely different character from pho, and it is one of the more authentic versions I have found in the area.
The regular pho here is solid as well, with a clean broth and good beef. The grilled pork dishes and chicken wings are popular with regulars, and the spring rolls are made fresh. The restaurant has a 4.3-star rating on Yelp with over 80 reviews, which in a Vietnamese restaurant context in this area, signals consistent quality.
What Makes Great Pho
After eating my way through a good number of pho restaurants in Markham and Richmond Hill, I have developed a few opinions about what separates the great from the merely good.
The broth is everything. A great pho broth should be clear, not cloudy, with a depth of flavour that comes from genuine long simmering. You should taste beef, star anise, and a gentle sweetness, but no single element should dominate. If the broth tastes thin, overly sweet, or like it came from a concentrate, the bowl is a disappointment no matter how good the noodles are.
Noodle texture matters more than you might think. Properly cooked rice noodles should be soft and slippery but still have a slight chew. Overcooked noodles turn into a gummy mass that sticks together and absorbs too much broth. The best pho restaurants cook their noodles to order and portion them carefully.
The garnish plate is a quality indicator. A restaurant that serves a generous, fresh plate of basil, bean sprouts, lime, and chili is signalling that they care about the details. If the herbs look wilted or the plate is sparse, it often reflects the overall approach to the food.
Tips for the Pho Newcomer
- Start with the classic. Pho tai (rare beef) or pho dac biet (the special combination) are the best introductions. They give you the full experience without venturing into less familiar territory.
- Season your bowl. Pho is meant to be customized. Add basil leaves, tear them first to release the oils. Squeeze lime juice into the broth. Add bean sprouts for crunch. Use hoisin sauce and sriracha on the side as a dipping sauce for the meat, not dumped directly into the broth.
- Use both utensils. Chopsticks in your dominant hand for noodles and meat, spoon in the other for broth. Alternate between bites of noodles and sips of broth.
- Order a Vietnamese iced coffee. Ca phe sua da, strong coffee with sweetened condensed milk over ice, is the perfect complement to a bowl of pho. It is rich, sweet, and acts as a counterbalance to the savoury depth of the soup.
- Go hungry. Pho portions in Markham are generous. A large bowl is a serious amount of food. Do not fill up on appetizers if you want to do justice to the main event.
Still Exploring
The Vietnamese food scene in Markham and Richmond Hill has more to offer than I have covered here, and I am still working through my list. Pho Metro on Main Street Unionville, NAM Vietnamese on Leslie, and Pho Street at Silver Star food court have all been recommended to me and are on my radar for future visits.
If you have a favourite pho spot in the area that I have not mentioned, I would love to hear about it. In the meantime, I will be at one of these restaurants with a large bowl in front of me, steam rising, chopsticks ready.
For more dining recommendations and local guides across Markham and Richmond Hill, visit MarkhamBusiness.com.