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

Pho Dac Biet is the type of meal that can vary between restaurants depending on the ingredients the chef chooses to focus on. The staples of course are beef and noodles but there are variations within these two ingredients. Most Pho Dac Biet will include a variety of beef options but Pho Xe Lua has concentrated on serving it with beef flank, beef brisket and tendon and perhaps more importantly they concentrate on packing a lot of beef into the pho. This was the first thing I noticed when the bowl was slapped down in front of me. My bowl was overflowing with the different cuts of mouth watering beef.

The beef sat on a bed of thick rice noodles that absorbed the flavor of the broth. The pho did not contain as much scallions, onions or cilantro as other restaurants making it clear that the beef is what is important to this restaurant. Like all Vietnamese restaurants this one serves pho with a plate of sprouts, basil and lime for those who want to balance the beef with some vegetables. 

The beef itself was so tender that it almost melted in your mouth as the meal went on. The noodles and broth were incredibly flavorful as well and sucked in the flavor of the hoisin sauce I had poured on it. Overall the Pho Dac Biet was very satisfying and I would recommend it to anyone especially beef lovers.

Pho Dac Biet Prices – S – $4.95, L – $6.00, XL – $8.00

Pho Xe Lua
254 Spadina Ave.
Toronto, ON M5T-2C2
(416) 703-8330