Bar Pho - Bondi — Restaurant in Sydney

Ordered the ‘master beef’ pho and was not impressed. I’ve eaten a lot of pho around Sydney and this one in particular was disappointing. The broth completely lacked depth and flavour, which was surprising considering the colour of the broth looked right - naturally I expected a flavour explosion, but was left with an overly sweet broth that seemed diluted and lacked aromatics and spices.

Beef quality was ok, but definitely felt like it was skimped on; I had 3 small pieces of rare beef and 3 extremely thin pieces of brisket and when you consider this a “master beef” pho, it really isn’t good enough. Noodles were overcooked so made it difficult to grab any with chopsticks as they’d all fallen apart. The basil bunch that had been provided to garnish was black and wilted. I can understand if one or two basil leaves of the bunch are a little worn, but the whole thing was old! Shame because basil is one of the ingredients that is supposed to be really fresh and cut through the beefiness of the soup. The onions were way too big and round, where the onions should be sliced so that you are getting a nice crunchy bite with your noodles, not shoving a huge piece of onion in your mouth and ruining the balance of the different components.

I normally wouldn’t be this critical of a dish and picking apart every component, but considering the price of the bowl on it’s own was $21 takeaway ($19 when you dine in) it is pricier than your average bowl of pho, and as such you expect a quality pho that has been prepared carefully and thoughtfully. And just as an FYI, the soup is delivered by separating the ingredients from the broth, so the broth had not affected the integrity of the dish...

I stopped into this pho spot at an off-peak time, and it was such a lovely experience. The atmosphere is cosy and welcoming, and I grabbed a seat by the window. It was perfect for people-watching while waiting on my meal.

The man serving all the tables was relaxed, attentive, and made the whole experience feel unhurried and comfortable.

The pho itself was fantastic. The broth had that rich, layered flavour you hope for in a great bowl of pho. Deeply savoury, aromatic, and comforting. The meat was tender and delicious. I liked the way the four different condiments were served in a clear glass jars with spoons, and not just a bottle of hot sauce like other areas. It gave the dish that extra vibrancy and the chance to season it to taste, without needing to use a large bottle.

It’s the kind of place where I actually enjoy eating by myself, relaxed, welcoming, and genuinely satisfying. I’d happily come back for another one of those dinners anytime. Portion size was spot on, and every bite was...

Definitely not what I expected. Great funky feel and decor is the first wonderful impression. We proceeded to order two meals, a rare beef pho and a crispy pork salad. The staff are extremely helpful and genuinely polite.

Pho presentation was fine but the real taste test failed as it was tasteless and definitely not the usual beef Pho broth you get at some of the popular Vietnamese restaurants in Marrickville, Bankstown or Fairfield, hugely disappointed. The crispy pork salad was also unfortunately not great also as it lacked that Vietnamese authentic aroma of fresh herbs they are so renowned for. The pork pieces that was suppose to compliment the dish were deep fried and ended up completely dry and very difficult to chew. We did mention the concern but at no stage was it addressed. All in all a poor experience and a...