Delicious Pho – Review

Having already gained success in Canada with no fewer than 12 establishments, Vietnamese chef and restauranteur Chau Tran has turned her attention to London’s Spitalfields as her first UK branch. With an impressive reputation and a natural talent for Vietnamese cooking, we were excited to give Delicious Pho a whirl. It just so happens we love Vietnamese food too.

The bright yellow facade of Delicious Pho makes up for its slightly tucked away positioning just off Spitalfields’ Brushfield Street. On one side is the milk tea counter, serving up all the colourful variations of fruity/chocolatey/coffee…ey/ beverages. There are smoothies, desserts and all varieties of jelly inspired add-ons you’d expect. As impressive as the selection is, we are here for the Pho.

We head towards the left side of the restaurant, a colourful, brightly lit space with walls covered with on-brand artwork surrounding an open kitchen. The ceiling features hanging greenery which continues around an open kitchen. Stairs lead you down to the lower floor to the bar area that is currently waiting to open.

It doesn’t take a genius to work out that the menu is focused around authentic Pho, Vietnam’s famous dish of rice noodles, fresh herbs and protein in a pool of broth. The food is of southern Vietnam origin to be precise which we are told is generally fresher.  The Pho broths have been developed over 12 hours giving them a deep, rich flavour and range from simple, one ingredient options through to Pho master featuring various slices of brisket and flank.

We take the go hard or go home attitude and opt for the Brisket Flank, Tendon, Fatty and Crunchy flank from the Master Menu. Having been to Vietnam, the dish does appear quite authentic to the same dish from the back streets of Ho Chi Minh. It is seemingly quite simple but has a rich, deep, beefy flavour, which is quite easily slurped up with the noodles. The meat is tender and all in all it’s a pretty decent Pho.

The rest of the menu includes familiar small dishes of summer rolls and salads, sharing platters such as Surf ‘N’ Turf beef summer rolls with squid and prawns. There are also curries and rice and noodle dishes. One of our favourites is the papaya salad, a zingy fresh plate of shredded green papaya, fresh mint, veggies and fish sauce, the added chicken adds some savoury mouthfuls to offset the freshness. No surprise with the summer rolls, fresh and light which comes alive by dunking them in the sauce of choice.

Vietnamese food isn’t the new kid on the block anymore, with nearby Kingsland road featuring an array of seemingly authentic style cafes. Delicious Pho is a strong contender though, with fresh, flavours and a fun ambience, it brings a contemporary attitude to the authenticity of the traditional food.

We think it could be a big hit for Spitalfields.

For more information visit: www.deliciouspho.co.uk

Address: 3-6 Steward St. London, E1 6FQ

Written by Rick Hartley

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