Pho Hung — Restaurant in Brisbane City

Pho Hung has been one of the longest standing Vietnamese restaurant in the Sunnybank precinct. My family and I have been here more then enough times that I could even count on all our hands numerous times since early 2000s. My family and I have had pretty much everything on their menu. But I have been going less and less in the past couple of years for a few reasons. My go to at all Vietnamese restaurants is always their special beef. That usually forms the basis on how I judge the restaurant and their menu options. I judge it by the flavours of the broth, the content and their generosity. I'm not sure if it is a management thing or whether them opening a sister restaurant in Garden City contributed to the change. But over the past couple of years the food has slowly gone downwards. I'm not sure if it is because I have been to so many other Vietnamese restaurants state wide and my taste pallete has changed. But I feel the restaurant has become a shadow of what it once was. Had a craving for some Pho Dac Biet (special beef noodle soup) tonight and I was already at Market Sq. I was hungry and it was the only Vietnamese restaurant in Market Sq open on a Tuesday night (excluding That Viet Place in Sunny Park and Toilet pho is now closed on Tuesdays). So I thought I'd make a stop by a old favourite and see how it is now. I ordered a large special beef. Their portion sizes have definately been reduced, the amount of meat and noodles you get for a large I could say is what you would get in a medium elsewhere. Flavours in the broth just isn't there anymore. They are not as generous on the beansprouts and Thai basil. Whether that is to prevent wastage and safe in costs. But for me it didn't hit the craving I had which is disappointing. I left a 4⭐ because this place is like a old friend who you lost contact with. Outside of the food, it was a place where I still have fond memories of with family and friends. But the food isn't what it once was that...

Update 2025:

My score for PhoHung is now down...from 5 stars. I've been going to this shop to eat excellent Viet food for many years....many.

Last night we ordered 3 bowls and 3 tea drinks and were charged over $90. I questioned the bill with the young attendant and she said that was the cost. Previous visits the bill had been substantially lower.

Food, a River Verm bowl with ToFu was ordered and got spring rolls on it instead.

For me it's the cost, the lady that runs it said oh hang on when she saw the screen but then said oh no it's ok.

Just like Southside Bistro (over the road when there), we won't patron PhoHung ever again.

Now it's just a Pho I used to know......pity. Friends and colleagues will also not return either.

Update: food is still good as ever. Same people and even being away 6 months they still remember my order.

Come for the Pho, stay for the Sass! I see many reviews talking about the rude staff. They are pretty nice people once you get to know them. The lady I know everyone is talking about, that's just how she is...she isn't rude she is just a direct person.

When you hear her and others with the loud talk, it sounds angry but that's just how Viet people talk really, they are not yelling or fighting with each other it's just talking to them.

Food has always been great, no place can do perfect food all the time so I've had a few off meals but very rarely. Its consistent good Pho. Off meals I mean not as much veg or missing something, but upon asking to fix they do it happily.

Setup has been remodeled recently but still a locals style close quarters kind of authentic Viet eating experience. They play tetris with the tables on busy times to try accommodate as many as possible.

Great vegetarian Tofu & Veg Pho but also some great meat based ones too. Won Ton Soup is a total winner.

They always accommodate off menu requests. Drinks like Jelly Tea etc...

Imagine you're riding your horse home from work, you've spent a long day working in the fields to provide for your family.

You gaze out into the country side and the fresh smell of grass wafts through the air. Wild life doing nature stuff all around you.

A river runs not far from the path teeming with fish as you decide to sit down and just watch the sun set a little.

You continue home and your partner has been brewing this broth that just takes you back to your childhood. The undeniable scent of a well crafted broth accompanied with that shaved meat that adds just the right amount of heart to a bowl.

Your mouth begins to salivate as your spoon dips into that broth and gets on an express ticket to your mouth. The taste, explosive, revitalises your body, relieves your fatigue, dopamine rushing through your body as you experience euphoria as that first mouthful of broth travels down your throat. Subsequent spoonfuls of rice noodles and soup enter only continuing this euphoric experience until you're done. You're sitting in that chair contemplating the meaning of life. Then you realise this was all in a restaurant and now you gotta pay. But it was worth it.

Im actually Chinese but this is what I think Vietnamese people must imagine sometimes. This place for me is it, dunks on all Vietnamese franchises. Can't say for other family owned or small restaurants.

Order on your phone so you aren't waiting for table service.

Orders come out v fast.

The owner/lady that's always there radiates indomitable energy 10/10

Gluten free haven for my girlfriend.

I'm sure if you didn't bother reading my food erotic review you'd get yeah food is top tier here for me.

Just go. Don't question me. If you have a bad experience that's on you.

It's like 1am and I felt compelled to write this after coming here...