Pho Le 錦麗 — Restaurant in Richmond Hill

Pho Le is a Michelin Guide Restaurant from Vietnam and it is definitely worth the hype! The food was overall tastey, service was good and the atmosphere is nice. There's no reservations so be prepared to wait!

Food:

Pho Dac Biet - Signature Beef Noodle Soup with Rare Beef, Brisket, Tendon, & Beef Balls - the noodles are Southern Vietnamese style. This dish was rich, yet bright & it was packed with flavour that makes you pick up more after every bite. The noodles weren't over cooked and the broth was fairly clear. If you're looking for a dish that isnt too heavy, this is the one for you - perfect for any time during the day. 8/10

Laksa Dac Biet - Signature Malaysian Spicy Coconut Curry soup also with Rare Beef, Brisket, Tendon, & Beef Balls. Had the same noodles as their Pho. This one was definitely rich in flavour but in a different way than the Pho. It was deep, creamy, and hearty. Great as a dinner dish but I'm not sure if I would like it as much for lunch. Side note: if you can't handle your spice I would recommend another dish. 8/10

Canh Ga Chien - Deep fried chicken wings. It was tossed in a fish sauce sauce, and topped with fried garlic. I think this has to be by far the best wings I've had in a long time. I normally don't like fish sauce flavoured wings since they're typically too salty but this was just pure goodness. It was so perfectly crisp, moist, and flavourful. My mouth is salivating as I'm writing this. I would eat these wings alone with some white rice as a meal. So if you're debating on whether or not to get them - just do it. 9/10 would recommend.

Tra Thai Xanh - Thai Iced Green Tea. So tastey and definitely a must have!! Just wish there was a bit more for what it was. The glass wasn't that big and it had ice in it so I felt like I would've finished it in two gulps. 8/10 (would've been a 9 if it had more)

Ca Phe Sua Da - Vietnamese Iced Coffee. If you've had Viet iced coffee before, you know !

Atmosphere: Modern, lively, and somewhat familiar. It's not super big in there so I wouldn't recommend going with a group anymore than 5. Parking is available in the Lot.

Service: nothing outstanding but that's not a bad thing. We got what we needed and the server checked up on us at good times....

Went today and was really excited to try (my friend and I were literally the first 2 customers. Could this be the authentic pho to blow the competition away? It’s Michelin starred, it’s straight from Ho Chi Minh, there’s definitely promise. We pretty much ordered the entire menu (as you can see, save for the laksa and Tom yum) and I have thoughts.

The appetizers were top notch. The mango inside the wet springroll provided such a delightful burst of sweetness and tart that I never knew it needed. Absolutely amazing.

The fried wonton was perfectly cooked. A delightful crisp as you bite into it and the meat was plentiful and flavorful. Highly recommended.

The wings were delicious, but just be aware the fish sauce on it is a bit overpowering. I was getting this weird disconnect, where my mouth and eyes were telling me I was eating chicken but my brain was telling me I was eating fish. All-in-all, it’s good. Fried absolutely perfectly. A nice crispy texture and tender meat.

Now let’s get to the pho. I’m going to discuss something I don’t see many, if any, reviewers are mentioning: The texture of the noodles. Yes yes, we all say, it’s all about the broth BUT the entire dish should be a well played orchestra. All the ingredients playing together in harmony. The noodles are al dente, which is unfortunate. I get Michelin grades on western standards and Europe cooks their pasta al dente, but it really takes away from the pho. The al dente noodles distracts from the symphony the pho is supposed to be and creates a less than optimal experience. Pho noodles are supposed to be tender soft. Like a background instrument to support the broth. All-in-all, it’s OK, but don’t expect to be mind blown by it. The broth was good, a little sweet, but good. It has a light refreshing flavor. The meat was plentiful, though that could be because I ordered the special.

The dessert was really good and any South East Asian kid will be taken back home if they have it. Really well done.

I would recommend to give the place a try. The food is good, service was top notch (seriously, the staff was amazing. They had a lady walk around making sure people’s tea cups were full and they’re so welcoming and friendly.) and the ambiance is beautiful...

If I could appoint zero stars, I surely would. As a massive fan of pho, I'm always trying different Vietnamese spots, and so when I saw this one, right next door to one of my favourite late-night Chinese spots (shout-out New Choice), was awarded a bib, I decided to stop in and see what it was all about. Perhaps it was my fault ordering the laksa vs. the standard pho... it was, indeed, a critical error, as within the hour I feel horribly ill and spent the following 24hrs expelling the remnants of my ill-chosen choice. This was an extremely weak representation of laksa, with a poor integration of flavours and ingredients- the entire time I kept telling my companion that something tasted "off", but I persisted and finished. We also ordered one of the vermicelli dishes (half pork, half chicken) and that was edible, but mediocre-at-best, with superior ones possible to be had within less than 10 minutes drive from here. Beyond that, service was very weak- nobody came to check up on us, and anytime I requested something, I felt as if I was bothering/imposing on the different servers. Place was also empty at an hour where you'd think such a spot, Michelin-accredited, no less, should be thriving- pretty telling, in retrospect. I won't even spend long talking about the pricing, which was on the high side for what you get- I see the owners replying to other negative reviews below, justifying the prices by alleged use of quality ingredients... those certainly weren't on display when I visited... the proteins, the broth, the noodles... all tasted/felt bottom-tier. Maybe I ordered wrong, but you can rest assured I'll never burn another dollar at this establishment. My reward for giving them business was getting what I suspect was food poisoning... vomiting out both ends within an hour of dining here, as well as for the next day. I feel unwell just thinking about it. I will keep to my regular go-to Vietnamese spots, which are great. Really starting to think the whole Michelin thing...