Phood Vietnamese Restaurant Chatswood — Restaurant in Sydney

Worst Vietnamese restaurant I ate in my life, avoid at all cost. Came here for dinner, sat down and saw the menu, $24+ for just a bowl of pho and $23.8 for Hainan chicken rice. For this high mark up price the food must be fantastic or the portions must be big right? WRONG!! My Hainan chicken dish arrived, complete disappointment, there were 5 pieces of big chunk chicken with bone still attached, the yellow colour on the skin looks off, took a bite and the meat was rough and dry. Also tasted the rice, just blend, no flavour, no chicken oil, just mushy. At that point I was about to rage, my friend told me to ask them to change it. I questioned the waitress if this is what I ordered Hainanese chicken rice, I told her what I felt about the dish and requested to change it to the easiest dish any Vietnamese restaurants can make, beef pho. They took my disappointment away and few minutes later brought back another disaster. They charge a high premium on their menu, yet I only get a few piece of low quality beef slices. The broth was horrible, so plain like water. Some people might think they do it intentionally for a more healthy approach but I highly doubt it. The chef just lack the knowledge of seasoning his dishes, like the spring rolls we had, crunchy but super blend, no sauce to accompany it either. End of the day if you believe those google reviews of theirs with 4.3 average stars then please ordered what I had and judge...

i have decided to expend my Pho restaurant options in Chatswood and today was go with Phood. i did read people's review before and thought it would be worth trying. Firstly, there was NO social distancing table settings as we walked in and specifically had to ask if we could sit a bit further from others. Food came pretty quick - i ordered beef pho and my partner order pork chop with tomato rice. He did love his food as he said the flavour of pork chop was really delish. plus portion was good too for price. My pho was HUGE - it was almost doubled size you would normally have to ask for in Viet restaurant. BROTH - not so deep or authentic. it was watery but i enjoyed it regardless.

The main reason of this place only deserves 1 star begins from here. When my partner went up to counter to pay, the lady said cash only ALTHOUGH they did have a signage eftpos minum $30. I went up to ask why wouldn't take card payment specially around this time with Covid for contactless payment and check in to protect our safety. The lady went no wifi in this building. What a joke. I told her it is illegal to ask your customers to pay cash specially around this time. I will definitely not come back for a business owner who only cares about her own pocket $$$...

Generous and large portions. Authentic flavours and just better than Vietnam! The rice noodles are sooooo fresh and silky, particularly the bun noodles (rice vermicelli). Like a cloud. Just look at how delicate the noodles fold in the spoon. I ordered bun Bo hue (hot and spicy noodle soup) which was very mild in terms of heat. The lovely shop assistants will provide Birds Eye chilies on request to doctor your soup if you like it spicy.

The Pho is out of this world. The beef is served medium rare, flat rice noodles are delicate without ever disintegrating. While I wish there was more of the beef book tripe in the special pho (pho dac biet) I ordered, I can’t really complain with the soft and tremendous portion of sliced steak, perfect cubes of gelatinous cartilage, slices of brisket and firm beef meatballs in there. Just so so good. The broth is balanced and not loaded with msg or salt. Easily feeds two people.

The restaurant is well lit, floors are clean, tables are tidy, shop assistants are friendly. Seats are solid and there is adequate space to move around. This is the kind of unpretentious place people frequent with family...