Love Pho in the Media

The Age Melbourne Magazine
Issue #48
October 2008-10-07

A Thing For Noodle Soup

Graphic Artist Simon Rankin will drive across Melbourne as part of his search of the perfect bowl of pho (Vietnamese rice noodle soup). The 34-year-old from Brunswick estimates he has slurped up a few hundred bowls in 50 different pho shops over the past three years and show no signs of slowing.

“For me, the search itself is as important as each individual bowl. I like the atmosphere of the shops and the experience of eating them. A trip to Vietnam in 2000 heightened my awareness of Asian food in Melbourne. Then, in the past three years, I’ve been much more active in seeking it out.

Generally, you know where the hubs are and you can explore those little regions – like Springvale or Footscray. Also, just keeping your eyes open, you come across pho in places you wouldn’t expect, and that’s by chance. I found one in Glenroy the other day, just driving past. It was OK. Another one was Love Pho in Swan Street in Richmond – that was really good.

Then there was Pho Dzung Tan Dinh on Russell Street, near QV building. It’s a chain and they consistently put out a good bowl. I like quite a clear stock; in a good one, you can taste the flavour of the bones and all the marrow. It’s rich. It should only ever contain a rice noodle called vanh. And it’s always nicer to have better quality meat.

Generally, Vietnamese restaurants that don’t specialise in pho don’t do a good one. They have that cube-stock flavour – gritty. Some taste as if they are enhanced, as if there is powder added to it. And noodles that go sloppy and soggy.”

 

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Other mentions on the web

Love Pho? Head to Swan Street (Very Cheap Eats)

Love Pho, Richmond (noodleoodle.com.au)