Pho Junction — Restaurant in Toronto

Pho Huong is located close to our home; we can walk there in about three minutes. We have been meaning to try it since moving to The Junction, and really wanted to like it in spite of the decidedly mixed reviews.

Alas, we cannot give them a positive - or even a neutral - review. We walked over to order in-person, just to help us get a sense of the service and to be able to peruse the menu and ask questions.

The rather indifferent young man we encountered didn’t seem particularly interested in suggesting which dish he would recommend, though in the end he pointed to fresh rolls. We said we would rather be a bit more adventurous so declined.

We were excited to see beef with betel leaf on the menu (listed as “Beef in Tropical Leaf”). We love this dish and asked for two. We also ordered the Shrimp on Sugar Cane, another favourite. When we ordered that the young man again pointed to the fresh rolls on the menu. We shook our heads “no”, and pointed (again) at the Shrimp on Sugar Cane. He shrugged and took the order.

After speaking with the cook (more on that later) the young man told us that the beef with betel leaf wasn’t available. So, we quickly settled for an order of Pad Thai shrimp and went to wait outside.

When we were called in to pick up the order we noticed that the cook wasn’t wearing a mask, which left us pretty unsettled.

When we got home we discovered that we didn’t get Shrimp on Sugar Cane, but instead got very mediocre fresh rolls (it would seem that they really wanted to move those that night!).

And the Pad Thai was very disappointing. The noodles were gluey and clumpy, and the tomato-based sauce tasted like it was made almost exclusively from ketchup. There were none of the subtleties of flavours that make Pad Thai such a popular dish.

We wish this weren’t the case, but we can’t...

Let me begin by saying that I have really liked Pho Huong on Pacific. I have gone there often both as a sit-down and take-out customer. Most of their offerings are up to par, and it's convenient. Their pho is up to standard, though their salads are small for the cost and the steamed rice rolls could be accompanied by more generous salad sides and fresher shrimp cake. That said, I have never had a significant complaint about the place - until now.

Recently, because I was feeling sick, my husband decided to go there and get some soup, but when he returned we found they had not included the greens and sprouts that accompany the soup. I called and guess what? The guy ARGUED with me, insisting that they had put them in and then his wife got on the line and told me the same. Really?? Why would I lie? DO I have a greedy sprout fetish? Please!

When something is wrong with an order, the ONLY correct response is to say, "Im sorry" and make it right, not waste time and create animosity by debating and swearing up and down that you have not made a mistake, especially over something as inconsequential as a frickin' bag of bean sprouts!

Frankly I don't care HOW it came that there was an incomplete order, I only care that the problem is fixed. I confess I sort of lost it on the man. Was not my best moment, but the one way to put me into a white rage is to tell me I don't know WTF I am talking about, and insinuate I'm a liar, when I know I am 100% in the right. Now I have to consider whether I care enough to ever go back - all over a stupid bag of veggies.

All they and to do was make the problem right, not compound it with arrogant backtalk Honestly!

Oh, we did get the things, but the cost of it was a severely damaged relationship with a formerly happy,...

I used to come in for Vegetable Pho for years. It was affordable wait staff of most positive young men were competent, courteous and efficient, orders were accurate and portions were generous.

I have ordered Vegetable Pho in person for take-away and waited for the order, a few times, recently, and had the bag with my order handed directly to me.

Once, rather than vegetable Pho, I arrived home to a pile of bloody beef, packaged with my vegetable broth. Today I had chicken meat and chicken broth in my order rather than the Vegetable Order.

I don't eat meat and I don't order it. This can be a big deal for those of varied faiths and belief and those with food issues Recent orders were a waste of time, money, effort and food. It used to be a an affordable comfort place and I was in once or twice a week by self or with others. I know the family that started the business and they were sure to include non-meat options on the menu, which was a rarity for restaurants at the time .. and still is. That is why I have been in regulaly, in the past.

I guess that I am done with Pho Huong as when I clearly order vegetables I leave with no vegetables and hunks of meat... more than once. All of us put up with the surly lead staff (including the kindly waiters of the past) and the harsh renovation lighting. The menu is vast and hit/miss... customers seem to stick with their couple of reliable items... no longer reliable in any way and not a hint of friendly ... after years of regular patronage. I am, currently making dinner and find that more reliable. This place is no longer a comfort or a...