Review Series: Chinatown Challenge

When walking through Toronto’s Chinatown you have to keep your wits about you. As you weave in and out of sidewalk stalls it is easy for your senses to get overwhelmed by the smells, sounds and sights. One thing you will notice is a dozen or so signs advertising pho. We all know what pho is, but what is the difference between pho at one restaurant in Chinatown and another? This series entitled the Chinatown Challenge is aimed to help you get a sense of the different styles of pho and help you find the pho that is perfect for you. Over the next few weeks I will visit 10 Vietnamese restaurants in Chinatown and sample their Pho Dac Biet (Special Beef Noodle Pho). I will then share with you my findings.

The first restaurant I visited for the Chinatown Challenge was Pho Xe Lua located at 254 Spadina Ave. Situated on the second floor of its busy Chinatown location and walled almost completely by windows on its East and North sides, Pho Xe Lua offers an interesting view of the crowded markets that lay below. The recently renovated and well kept interior provides a modern and comfortable atmosphere for the restaurant’s guests. The open format of the restaurant allows the helpful staff to accommodate larger parties as well as intimate tables for two. One of the most impressive aspects of Pho Xe Lua is the speed of the service. Within seconds of being seated you are provided tea, and within minutes of ordering, a steaming hot bowl of pho will be placed in front of you. 

Pho Dac Biet at Pho Xe Lua - Packed with Beef