It’s a Vietnamese dish popularised around the world by migrants and travellers alike, and one thing’s for certain: we can’t get enough pho. Tropical Queensland is the perfect place to grow all those lovely fresh herbs you need to create the perfect bowl of complex and subtle soup, with all its gorgeous noodley goodness. As such, the sunshine state has some of the best bowls of pho in the land, these are the top five as crowned in the delicious. 100.
Pho starts life at Cafe O-Mai with a fragrant 48-hour broth without MSG but with lots of love. Make it your own with fresh herbs, chilli, bean shoots and lemon. Their unphogettable Pho ranges from sliced beef to chicken, beef combo with tripe, black angus and two 100 per cent vegan soups topped with tofu, mushroom, carrot and seasonal Asian greens. 15 Cracknell Rd, Annerley; cafeomai.com.au.
When it comes to Pho, Ngon sticks to the classics with traditional beef as the soup du jour every, er, jour. You can customise the fragrant, heady broth with sides of fresh herbs, chilli, and more to make it your own. Beef might be thinly sliced, while the rice noodles are thick. Yes, it tastes even better than it looks. 183 Given Tce, Paddington; ngonbrisbane.com.au.
With a name like Pho An, you know it’s all about the Pho. The complex broth is simmered over 24 hours with a spice level that keeps locals coming back for more. You’re spoiled for choice with rare beef, brisket or beef balls, tripe and flank steak. But the medicinal powers of chicken make this healing in a bowl. Shop 9/57 Skylark St, Inala; facebook.com/phoanskylarksvillage.
Don’t be fooled by the name. It’s all about the Pho here. The clarity of the broth is the first sign you’re onto a winner. Bonus points that it’s heady with anise and garlic. But there are choices. Noodles can be egg, thick or thin vermicelli. Choose your beef style or have them all in one delicious bowl. 261 Warrigal Rd, Eight Mile Plains; facebook.com/RicePaperWarrigal.
Trust your nose. That unmistakeable fragrance of Pho takes you straight to Hanoi. Ca Phe Nam’s Pho is beyond authentic, with a touch of sweetness that only comes from a long simmer and the right balance of herbs. The beef is tender. The noodles silky. While the steamed chicken is a winner, it’s the combination that ticks all the boxes. 4/60 Vulture St, West End; facebook.com/CaPheNamWestEnd.
