Pho Asia 21 — Restaurant in Toronto

I've been eating pho in Vietnamese restaurants for over 20 years in Toronto. To be honest, I've rarely tried anything else since pho is one of the best meals ever devised by human beings. So with that said, let's talk about Pho Asia 21. I've only gone twice now in the past two weeks despite living in Parkdale for a while. That corner just has never promised me good eating, you know? And yet, Pho Asia 21 delivers on good pho. Tasty broth, good noodles, delicious beef; it's a simple meal and they make it well. The spring rolls are greasy and salty and delicious, the iced coffee was syrupy sweet and very strong (I love it that way) although it kept my girlfriend up until 5 in the morning, jittering and nauseous. Quick service, and unobtrusive, the restaurant is bright and clean and quiet. We went at dinner time both times we went and it was nearly empty; but they seem to do okay with walk-in take-out.

It's not fine dining. It's a pho joint. It does exactly that. I'm probably going back monthly. It's not the best location, I guess - it's busy, lots of vehicular traffic - and although Parkdale has been rapidly gentrifying this little block is still a hangout for some of our rougher-looking/sounding neighbours. Some folks may be apprehensive about walking past the barflys smoking a couple doors west, or getting hit up for change by a couple of the locals. But it's at the intersection of King and Dufferin, which are the TTC's two busiest and therefore most frequently running routes (the 29 bus and the 504 streetcar). It's also near the FGX...

Never again.

My girlfriend and I used to come to this joint regularly for 4 years. Things took a turn for the worse a while back and tonight was the end.

We always order the rare beef pho and tonight I found a circular plastic from take out bags in my soup. I went up to cash and the woman (who I assume is the wife) told me I had to pay for both because I finished my soup. (I left a little soup but most was finished because I hadn't found the plastic until the end.) When I refused, the husband filled a small bowl with water and put the plastic in the bowl and said plastic floats so you should have found it at the beginning, basically accusing me of planting it in my food. I replied that it was buried under the noodles, meat, sprouts etc and that it should not have even inside the food in the first place.

At this point I let them know that just last month there was a piece of shrivelled up tape in my girlfriend's soup and the woman said yes but I didn't charge you for her soup because she found it at the beginning.

WTF?! No apology, just plain accusatory and even with ruined meal and experience, still charges for the other soup both times. I was angry but still paid for the other soup to which the husband yelled at me about how I was placing the money on the counter. I did not throw it, I put it down angrily, to which I had good reason for.

I hope this place is gone when the condos come up and improve the area. Until then, I will be taking my business up...

Pho Asia 21 is the coolest Vietnamese restaurant that I have been to in a very long time ! Tucked away in Parkdale, near Dufferin and King Street West, Pho Asia 21 encompasses a true experience of the tastes of Asia. One thing that you have to keep in mind when ordering is that they only accept cash at this establishment. Apart from that, Pho Asia 21 has a nice blend of Asian dishes that you do get to choose from. From Chicken wings (fried) to Pad Thai and one of my favorite dishes of all time, Pho Tai. When I ordered this Pho Tai I was surprised that the ingredients were on point and cooked to perfection. The mixes of meats and veggies came together like a match made in heaven. I came here with a friend and I was slightly hungover, but it was the perfect spot to have a meal and the hangover went away. If you are in the community, it would be great to support this restaurant as I highly do...