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Pho Pasteur
Category: Restaurants Vietnamese Vietnamese [Edit]
525 Dundas St WToronto, ON M5T 1H4
Neighbourhoods: Alexandra Park, Chinatown, Kensington Market
(416) 351-7188
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 6 am - 5:30 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
50 reviews for Pho Pasteur
Review Highlights
"The rare beef is fresh and nicely sliced."
(in 10 reviews)
"Initial reactions - bean sprouts are really healthy looking."
(in 8 reviews)
"I couldn't stop drinking the broth, it was delicious."
(in 23 reviews)
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50 reviews in English
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Review from Josephine C.
Markham, ON
2/1/2012
Came here for my pho fix a few times after a friend recommended it to me. Ordered the special beef rice noodle soup which was very yummy (excellent soup base, tasty noodles, good meat).
Love how the place is open late for the late night crowd.
I hear the non-pho dishes are the best here! Will come back to try those next time! -
Review from Zachary G.
Toronto, ON
2/10/2012
I feel very conflicted about only giving this place three stars for a number of reasons. First, it is always there for me. As this is the only 24 hour pho joint in the city (as far as I can tell), I know it will always be there for me at 3 AM when I need it most. You cannot say that about most restaurants outside of Chinatown. Second, they make a beautiful takeout package. Pho is something that is not easy to transport given the hot liquid and the need to keep the ingredients separate so that you can put it all together in your house. This place always manages to keep all the separate containers intact and makes sure that anything that can be spilled is wrapped tightly in a plastic bag. Third, this place is fast. I know pho is pretty much just broth and meat but this restaurant can have your meal ready faster than anywhere else in the city.
So why only three stars? The quality of the beef has really gone downhill. When I first started coming here about three years ago, the cuts of beef were always decent and I would typically eat every last piece in the bowl. In recent years, they have started mixing the strips of beef with so much fat and gristle that I end up taking about half of it out and putting it in a separate bowl that is not pleasant to look at and far less pleasant to eat. This problem could so easily be solved if they would stop being so cheap and return to their roots but I have started to lose hope after three or four bad experiences. Pho Pasteur - get your act together! -
Review from Behrouz M.
Toronto, ON
1/24/2012
I have had a 4 stars experience and a 3 stars experience at Pho Pasteur so let's say 3.5 stars!
Food: A-
Service: B-
Food presentation: B+
Atmosphere: B
Prices: B+
Recommended?: Yes
Highlights:
1. Open 24 hours!
2. The beef Pho and the spring rolls are real tasty.
3. Large portions and reasonable prices. (Large pho would feed four for 10 bucks!)
Tips:
1. Stay away from anything 'special', for example stay away from the special beef pho!
2. Cash only.
3. Make sure you communicate exactly what you want and then double check that they have brought you what you asked for when they bring you the food! I say this because on my second visit they mixed up our orders and our waiter was not helpful at all. However, eventually, the owner/manager did resolve the issue. -
Review from Lynn C.
1/15/2012
Did I really just spent $20 in a pho restaurant? But all I did was order a bowl of pho and vietnamese coffee....
I walked in and there's one old asian man wiping a nasty spill on a large table. Did the table look clean after he wiped it? No. But he gave me that table to sit anyway.
I asked for a cold vietnamese coffee while I waited for my friend, it never came.
My friend and I ordered two bowls of pho and my coffee, but didn't put down the size. He never asked us what size and just served the medium. We didn't find out until the bill came.
Towards the end of the meal, I asked for my coffee again. It finally came. Waaaaaaay too sweet.
The bill came and it was $26. $8.75 for the medium pho (we wanted the small), and $5.50 for the coffee. Yes you read right FIVE DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS for coffee that came too late and was too sweet.
The broth for the pho was good, but not $8.75 good.
Definitely not coming back. -
Review from Payam Z.
12/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best pho in Toronto, worst Pho in Toronto, most mediocre Pho in Toronto!
It seems like opinions vary more drastically than usual when it comes to what is offered at the Pasteur! I'm not an expert when it comes to Pho, but I have to say the broth served by Pasteur definitely brings a smile to my face! I personally prefer a broth that is complex, smooth, and yet not overly strong in any one sense and Pasteur seems to achieve that with a rich broth that is not too salty, spicy, or otherwise and allows flavor incorporation from the add ons.
The most popular choice is the rare beef pho, which is indeed very tasty. The price difference between a small and large is very minuscule, but in my experience the large will feed about two people!
I've only tried the BBQ pork vermicelli and spring rolls from the non-pho items, and while the spring roll was one of the tastiest I've had in a while, the pork dish was not very impressive.
Overall recommended with the understanding that consistency of the broth is co-dependent on many factors that may vary after the date this review was written! Chances are you will love it! -
Review from Nos S.
Toronto, ON
12/20/2011
Funny name for that restaurant... but :
Best broth ever. I had a Pho Tai Bo Vien and I loved it. The meat is excellent and comes with vegetables. Broth taste very good and is not fatty at all.
One bad point : it's expensive $ € $ !!!
One good point : best place for hangover meal ; open 7/7 24/24
MIAM MIAM ! -
Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
11/15/2011
VIBE
So I confess. This is the first time I've had a sit down pho meal. I never grew up on pho, so I guess I didn't know what I was missing. That said, gat damn those bowls are huge. I can't eat it all in one sitting. We came here at about 2 p.m. in the afternoon on a Friday so there wasn't really a "vibe." It was mainly the staff and maybe another table of four. But I have a feeling this is a university hot spot. It's also 24 hours. Hey oh! That's always good if you're wanting a late night Vietnamese fix. Ah, gotta love the options we have in the T Dot. Service is very friendly and quick. Décor is as you would expect in Chinatown: simple table cloths and the obligatory Buddha somewhere.
WE ATE
My three dining companions had the beef pho. A small bowl is huge. A medium bowl is MASSIVE. One of our dining companions was SWEATING through his meal! I had the goat curry on vermicelli. It's not too spicy (I think you can add the heat if you want) and it's mega hearty. I hardly made a dent in my bowl and I was stuffed! The bone is still on the goat and there's a lot of carrot in there as well. I think you can also get French baguette with it, but I didn't get any (bummer). It's a great left-over meal for the next day or if you're ravenous at 3 a.m. on a Saturday night.
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
I'm no pho expert but there's nothing PHO-ny about this 24 hour Vietnamese eatery.Listed in: 30 Day Challenge
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Review from Clarissa S.
11/21/2011
As a youngin' who spent a good deal of time in Viet communities, I roll deep in Pho, and let me tell you, I can tell a good bowl when I see it. This my friends, is a damn good bowl to be had.
The broth is beautifully rich and perfume-y, the noodles, perfectly prepped with the right kind of bite. The ladies here saw me come here almost every day when I was in Toronto this summer, so they were extra nice to me. Also, I find that any place willing to give you a nice heaping pile of bean sprouts and herbs, along with the sawtooth herb is pretty legit. Their Bun Bo Hue is really tasty as well, although I can't speak for their other food offerings. I literally just couldn't get enough of the pho. Yes, it's more expensive than your average bowl, but their sizes run extra large and are always filled with tons of tasty meat morsels and that broth is worth every damn penny. Also, 24 hour pho?
Oh HELL yes. -
Review from Jason L.
East York, ON
11/6/2011
Had the spring rolls(kinda greasy) and Sweet and Sour chicken soup. Both were good, pineapple and chili's totally made the soup.
Other then the food, this place is great for people watching. It's amazing how many drunk people came in. FYI to get in the restaurant you PULL the door, out you PUSH -
Review from Yvonne T.
Hands down the best Pho place downtown. It is a bit pricier than the likes of Pho Hung, Pho 88 etcetera with a small ringing in at $7.99, a medium for $8.75 and a large for $9.75 - but its worth it for the added quality.
When we arrived, we were the only table of Asians in the restaurant. There was Lady Gaga blaring in the background. Our first thought was - should we stay or should we go?
I ordered #1 - Pho Dac Biet (Special Beef Pho) in medium. I must say that a medium at Pho Pasteur is the equivalent to a large in some of the other pho restaurants that fill your bowl up to the brim to make it appear you are getting a large, but alas, its mostly soup that fills your bowl. Not at Pho Pasteur! They are generous both in the quantity of beef parts, and rice noodles. Their soup base is bold and savory, but like most other pho places, makes you sip water for hours on end after consumption.
Pho comes with the standard fixings of bean sprouts, basil, mint, chilis and lime wedges. One thing I liked about Pho Pasteur is that they actually provide condiment dishes for you. Unlike most other pho places where you must use one spoon for the soup, and another spoon to serve as a makeshift sauce holder.
I realized quickly that the prices here are probably what make it not as busy as the likes of Pho Hung and Pho 88 - which are more budget friendly for the student population. So don't let the lack of customers fool you, Pho Pasteur is wonderful! -
Review from William T.
Scarborough, ON
9/21/2011
I was quite surprised a 24/7 Pho eatery would be this good! I have been here a few times & have sampled their Pho & their rice dishes.
First time I ate here I had rice with shredded pork, porkchop, steamed egg & pickled root vegetables. The rice itself was infused with flavoured oil of some sort, the porkchops were tender juicy & most enjoyable to eat, the steamed "egg" had scrambled egg, & chopped pork & vermecelli mixed into it & steamed into a block shape. This classic dish I always had at various restaurants from my days of yore as a young fat kid & thus far this place wins the title of being the best in Toronto!
Some days later I went here again & had staple of all Viet restaurants, Pho with all the garnishings & various meat of different animals. The beefballs were soft, the tripes were good, & the beef was pretty flavourful thanks to the delicious soup base. Overall the pho was good but does not sway me in any way particular.
Overall this is a great 24/7 eatery & I will surely come again to revisit fat kid memories. -
Review from Fabienne C.
Richmond Hill, ON
9/3/2011
Not gonna lie, it was some of the best pho I've ever had. The owners are Vietnamese and you can tell from their pho that this is the real stuff.
However, it's pretty expensive, relative (or not) to its location in Chinatown, where everything's supposed to be cheaper. My bowl of Small Beef Pho with Beef Brisket was $7.99 (one of the cheapest on the menu). Mind you, it filled me up and I was full for hours to come, and after tax it came to $9.00. Strategic pricing indeed as you would leave a $10 bill to include tips.
The Vietnamese condensed milk coffee + ice was $3.99, and the Grilled Pork Vermicelli was $10.99
The food came less than 5 minutes after I had ordered. Interaction between the customer and waitress was minimal as they just give you a pencil and paper to write down what you want.
I'm not sure if I would come here again (repelled by the price) since there are much cheaper eats across the street, but the quality is definitely worth the price.
NOTE: as for WiFi, it was free from the Dragon City Mall next door. -
Review from Mimi C.
Toronto, ON
10/10/2011
- relatively high prices compared to nearby competitors
- food is average. Doesn't justify price
- open 24/7 though -
Review from Anni L.
7/28/2011
Probably the best Pho place downtown, quoting the friend that I went with. The price for a small is $7.99, $8.75 for medium, and $9.75 (?) for a large. I ordered the small and the portion is very generous.
When we got there, the place was packed for a wednesday evening.
I ordered the special pho. The quality is better than average and the broth is very tasty. The noodles are the thin kind which is the way i like it. The raw beef comes on top uncooked, which is how its supposed to be in my book. The cooked beef is of better quality than all the other pho places. The meatballs are very flavourful. It really hit the spot.
My friend ordered a grilled chicken rice dish that comes with a fried egg on top. It also comes with a side of cucumbers, tomatoes, and lettuce leaf. The portion is very generous for rice dishes too.
Ambiance - there isn't much of an ambiance in terms of the decor. The place is clean, although like every other pho place, the floor looks and feels greasy. Why is that?!
The service is adequate and the food comes fairly quickly, along with the bill when you ask for it.
The bill came to $19.75 before tip.Listed in: Best Pho Downtown Chinatown
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Review from stefanie d.
Toronto, ON
9/19/2011
I'd heard so many reviews about Pho Pasteur being the best in the city, both from friends and online reviews I had read, so I had to check it out. I had other Pho restaurants among my favourites before but I am always scouring for the city's best Pho, so definitely wanted to give this place a fair try. From the outside this restaurant is complete no frills, and though 99% of the Pho restaurants out there aren't anything fancy, somehow the ambiance of this place made me a bit hesitant at the outset. Something about this venue struck me as being a bit more "unclean" from other Pho venues; maybe it's the "open 24 hour" factor or the location, either way, something about it just turned me off a bit but I went into it with an open mind.
A bit more pricey than other local Pho venues, and the portions are not larger by any means. I ordered the chicken pho and an avocado shake, my significant other the rare beef. Although yes, I do have to say that there is a lot more meat in the pho, I was very disappointed with the quality of the chicken in my dish. My bowl was filled with skin and cartilage, so even though by looking at the portion it seems like they are giving you more meat with your pho, it's a bit misleading to say the least. The rare beef was good as was the avocado shake, but the standard chicken pho was quite disappointing.
I gave Pho Pasteur a second try when my significant other brought takeout home for the both of us, both chicken pho this time. We were both disappointed with the dish, again the same complaint - lots of chicken skin/cartilage.
People have raved about the broth and this being the best in the city, as well as the best bowl of Pho you will ever have. I would beg to differ; I've had much better broth at other fares, and better qualtiy of meat as well. On the plus side, it's 24 hours, so if you do need to fix that hankering for Pho at 4am, this is the place to go. No frills and open around the clock. Would I go back? If late night and my other picks were closed, then yes (but I would avoid the chicken pho). During normal hours, I would definitely choose another venue over this one. Not the best pho in the city in my opinion. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
5/7/2011 2 photos
Pho Pasteur does NOT serve the Best Pho in Toronto! But at 3 in the morning and you are hungry and no other Vietnamese restaurants are open in the wee hours.. this is the BEST Pho one can get!!
Up in the boring suburbs where I live, there are not many places that are open 24 hours/7 aside from MacDonald's and Tim Hortons.. and what do you do when you wake up in the middle of the night and you are hungry.. and do you want a Big Mac? Not really, I rather just starve....
Pho with Rare Beef ($7.99) small
- compare to what I been paying in Scarborough where a small is $5.99 that's definitely a lot pricier.. (yes I need to get over it! It is DT, not Scarbrough!)
- Broth is well flavoured and has this salty rich meaty taste.. the more you drink, the more you get thirsty! :)
- Noodles are the dried type, but cooked proper with no funny taste
- Size wise is decent.. a small size is great as a midnight snack!
Services here is fast and efficient.... my request for extra fresh chili peppers were fulfilled and he got me 3 extra large one!! Those were so spicy, and brought tears of joy to my eyes!
Pho Pasteur probably would not be my choice Vietnamese Pho joint if others in the area are opened... but it would be the best choice if nothing else are open!!
CASH Only! -
Review from Rafi N.
Toronto, ON
5/3/2011 2 photos
My first pho! I didn't know what to expect and I have no other pho to compare it against. Since I generally don't like noodles or soup, this experience was bound to be more pho than friend.
*** FOOD ***
I had the small beef pho which has slices of beef, tripe, tendons and other jelly-like parts of the animal. For the most part, all it is, is a soup with noodles. The flavoring of the pho comes from herbs and a few vegetables. There are raw leafy vegetables placed in the soup that I find is not appetizing. There are some red hot chili peppers that come with it. The peppers are very hot. I managed to eat the peppers, but at one point I felt like I was eating caustic soda. The meat itself takes it's flavor from the broth, but otherwise it is bland. The soup is okay, and the portion size is big.
*** APPEARANCE ***
Pho Pasteur looks like a small fast food restaurant. It has the standard Asian decor: golden Buddha and plants. It is clean for a downtown Toronto Asian restaurant.
*** SERVICE ***
The service is really fast. As soon as you walk in and sit, they bring you green tea. A couple minutes after ordering, the food comes. I guess because it's soup, it didn't take long to make and was probably just waiting to be dished out. Pho Pasteur, is opened 24hrs, so you have to give them points for that.
*** PRICE ***
When you consider the amount of food, the quick service and the fact that they're open 24hrs, I would say that the food is inexpensive.
Sm. Beef Pho: $7.99
*** Ket Luan ***
Pho Pasteur is a nice little restaurant with good service. I am not a big fan of pho, but maybe I need to try more before I can truly judge it. Since I don't have any other pho experiences with which to gauge this one, I'd say it was okay.Listed in: I got Yellow Fever
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Review from Justine H.
Toronto, ON
Restaurant: Pho Pasteur
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Location: Chinatown
Address: 525 Dundas St W
Price Range: ~$10
1: Poor
2: OK
3: Good
4: Very Good
5: Excellent
Food: 3
Service: 2
Ambiance: 2
Overall: 3
Pho Pasteur is located in Chinatown, it's little off the intersection and at a smaller building so you have to look out for a sign.
Its very bright inside and cleaner than I expected it to be. It's always nice to see authentic asian restaurants that are clean especially in Chinatown. They have extensive selection of different types of meat that could be served on top of soup noodles. They have small sauce dishes on side which I like, cause then I don't have to use the spoon. They are open 24 hours so you can drop by after a night of partying and drinking.
Ordered: RARE BEEF AND TRIPE NOODLE SOUP - So far this is the best Vietnamese noodle I had in Toronto. The soup was rich and full with flavor-although I like mine with a bit of hot sauce. It came with lots of thin sliced rare beef and tripe on top, there was so much of it I found it a little difficult to mix it up before taking a bite but I am not complaining! Just for personal preference, I wish they put in more cilantro but that's just me. Hot sauce tasted a little watered down and they only take cash.
SUMMARY: Make sure to bring cash to grab some of this pho goodness! :) -
Review from A U.
Toronto, ON
11/1/2011
Yum. This is an unassuming little eatery, so I had zero expectations when I walked in late one night. It was reassuring that the place was spotlessly clean and the staff friendly.
The pho was spectacular. The price was definitely on the not-so-cheap side of normal, but certainly not pricey.
So I went back. Again. And again. And again.
This has now become my go-to restaurant when I'm in Chinatown. And no matter what I order, it's delicious - I've had several of the pho dishes, and am now working my way through the other items. So far, every single entree has been excellent. The fried rolls? I've had better, but then I don't usually order them, so it's fine. The shakes are thick and not too sweet - yum.
Well worth your time and money. -
Review from Ryan T.
Toronto, ON
12/28/2010 1 Check-in Here
It was down and dirty pho. Sometimes this is a good thing, but what bugs me is I don't know why everyone raves so much about this place.
The broth was good, not over or under seasoned, but for me that's just what I expect from traditional cooking. You gotta really be out of it to screw up something perfected over many generations.
I'm taking it down a star for reasons of relativity. It's not the best pho in town, let alone even china town.
Looking downtown? Golden turtle shows more creativity. -
Review from Lauren M.
2/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I don't really get why many claim this is the best Viet/best pho place in downtown Toronto. It certainly is not a favourite of mine!
Yes, the pho is HUGE. But you pay more. So it's same-same!
Both times I've been here there have been gross fruit flies all over the damn restaurant. I know, Viet places aren't especially known for extreme cleanliness to begin with, but this is the only place I can remember there being swarms of fruit flies on repeat visits.
I prefer Ahn Dao on Spadina or Pho Canh Buom at College/Dufferin. Not that either specifically have better PHO, but overall service and menu variety is better.Listed in: An "Egg's" guide to eating in…
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Review from Gord M.
East York, ON
11/8/2010
Note to self: next time bring a bib.
That was one splashy, slurpy, and slooshy good time.
Splashy: Great, strong beef broth.
Slurpy: Yummy noodles, ever-so slightly firm.
Slooshy: The medium was huuuuuge, so my stomach was slooshing around the entire walk back to the office.
As well, the soup was served with a huge side of fresh basil, limes and uncut peppers, so we were left asking for nothing. The service, like Susan C wrote was efficient and quietly friendly.
Can't wait to return for more pho and a non-pho tour of the menu. -
Review from Velshin C.
Toronto, ON
1/23/2011
I couldn't stop drinking the broth, it was delicious!
Decent pho overall. Sort of authentic.
Salty as the ocean. MSG, maybe?
Giant bowls. (Medium is huge, Large is super huge!)
Very filling.
Relatively clean, for a Chinatown cafeteria style eatery.
Medium quality ingredients.
Vietnamese staff. Friendly and helpful.
Taste was quite good, elevating Pho Pasteur to 4 stars! -
Review from Denise C.
9/13/2010
Really? This is the best Vietnamese place in town?? The pho was good, but everything else seemed... meh.
I ordered pho tai and it was great. They don't pull tight with the meat, and it is delish. And I loved that they autoserve you a pot of hot jasmine tea when you come in.
However, the cha giò was... weird. I have been known to eat these spring rolls like a wood chipper going through logs. This is the first time I took a bite of cha giò and didn't want any more. I'm not sure, but my (Vietnamese) consort theorizes that they use wonton wrappers instead of rice paper. I dunno, but something makes the texture really strange and not crispy. Do not want.
And what's up with using cubes of ice instead of crushed ice in 3 bean dessert drinks?? Argghhhh.
All in all, it wasn't horrible, but it was the least tasty meal I had in Toronto. And I had 2 meals at Tim Horton's, so that's saying something. -
Review from Jay D.
Toronto, ON
6/3/2010
It may be 1 or 2$ pricier than other places but it also makes up for it in quantity. Portions here are huge and fortunately quality is not compromised.
Pho is delicious and comes with plenty of accompanying garnishes (they certainly don't skimp out like many other Pho joints).
The rice dishes with grilled pork, chicken and or beef are also delicious and will satisfy the greatest hunger.
Fresh rolls and fried spring rolls are just as tasty as they are generous in portion.
Overall, it's a Yum Yum situation. -
Review from Vivien L.
12/14/2010
Been here twice past midnight and was surprised that the bean sprouts and basil leaves were fresh looking! I appreciated that it was open 24 hours because i occasionally get a craving for pho late at night.
another thing to note, they have the tomato beef stew thing in size large! most places only have size small so that was a pleasant surprise. I've also had the rare beef noodles and it was yummy.
The staff were attentive and although some didn't understand English, they were still able to communicate.
Come here for pho when you find yourself hungry at 3am =) -
Review from Dave O.
Toronto, ON
1/5/2010 ROTD 4/24/2010
Oh my, this is some pho-tastic soup! Every aspect of this place is pho-nominal, from the pho-togenic presentation to the magni-pho-cent fatty chunks of meat. It was abso-pho-king-lutely delicious, I gobbled it down like an Idahoan pho-rmer after a long day in the fields. I postulate that a new subatomic particle is responsible for the incredible flavour, hopefully CERN will find this elusive pho-ton with a mass somewhere north of 4 TeV. "I pity the pho" who doesn't know the true nature of this Vietnamese delight.
Enough of this punny pho-lishness, down to the nuts and bolts! Tender chunks of close-to raw beef in my dish made me very happy, as did the hand-cut noodles. The broth was near-perfect, salty and pho-rmidable and although the medium size was enormous, I found myself consuming phor too much of it along with the much lauded Sriracha 'hot cock' sauce and their own fresh chili sauce, which was really tasty. They serve an extra-pho-gant plate of super-fresh and crunchy bean sprouts on the side with full branches of purple basil and other leafy herbs to pho-lavour your broth. I'll not beat around the bush, the accoutrements were all pho-gasmic, truly masterful pho-llatio! Bravissi-pho!
The restaurant was clean and well lit (the lighting was perhaps a bit garish, but quite forgivable) and the service was fast and pho-riendly.
This famous 24 hour spot is no phony, if you want really good soup anytime, check out Pho Pasteur, it's some of the best soup I've ever had, and it's really cheap for the enormous bowls that they give you. What are you waiting for, don't be a phool, it's open now! -
Review from Angela L.
7/8/2009 ROTD 12/11/2009
The generous teepee of fresh bean sprouts, bouquets of basil, plump little red hot chili peppers, juicy lime quarters, and even a mystery celery-like herb was the first sign that Pho Pasteur wasn't like the rest of 'em. My seafood pho ($7.50) came chock full of extra large tail-on meaty shrimp, delicately scored bite-sized pieces of squid, imitation crab meat, and tons of chewy fish balls. Everyone else's assorted thinly sliced beef and tender chunks of tendons were reported to be done just right. The rice noodles themselves were thin and not mushy. The broth was flavourful before and after my hoisin and hot sauce massacre.
The service was prompt and friendly. It was late on a weekday, but quite a few tables were actually filled. They were great about constantly refilling our teapot that was emptying out with every other round of pouring for five thirsty people. The air conditioning blasting from above was a little strong at first, but there were no more complaints once the piping hot bowls of pho came and we didn't break into the usual beads of noodle sweats. -
Review from susan c.
2/3/2010
I had pho here tonight and I felt like someone beat me up--I mean this in a good way. I could barely move from all the broth sloshing around in my belly, I had a mad case of soup sweats, and I just wanted to curl up and go to sleep.
This is my usual spot for pho in Chinatown. I took a break from it for a while because the broth was unusually weak on my last visit but I decided to give it another chance for Pho-bruary and it seems to be back on track.
The Pho-ndamentals
Pho Tai Gan (rare beef and beef tendon); medium = $7.75
Broth: invigorating and refreshing, if a bit on the light side; could be richer but the combination of aromatic spices imparts a lovely flavor
Beef: thin, lean slices of beef
Tendon: I like their thick, smooth slices instead of chunky globs
Noodles: dried, i.e., not fresh noodles but steeped just right in the broth
Garnishes: the mung bean sprouts and basil are always super fresh and they include saw leaf (shout out to Deanna W!)
Service: I always see the same reticent waitress who doesn't talk much but gets the job done and she flashes a sweet, genuine smile each time I say good-bye to her.
Other: I really enjoy the summer rolls here; they make them fresh to order and do not skimp on the shrimp. The place is always sparkling because the waitress is constantly wiping down surfaces and mopping.
3 and 3/4 stars which I will round up to 4 because of my favorite waitressListed in: Places in Toronto My Friend…, My Time in 'Nam, My Pho-bruary
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Review from Jennifer M.
Toronto, ON
9/1/2010
*disclaimer* I don't eat Pho.
Now that we got that out of the way, I do enjoy other Viet-treats. The menu sucks for non-pho eaters. On Last visit I ordered cold shrimp rolls which were fine, but really basic and lacking all of delicious herbs.
I asked (as there was no option on the menu) for a Bun (vermicelli dish) sans meat. I was here with my SO who had come to try the Pho satay and I was too hungry to just watch him eat.
I get it, I am annoying for asking them to make me something that isn't on their menu, but all I wanted was "pork bun no pork" it should be doable, especially since I was willing to pay the pork price. Regardless, I got some sort of heap of very oily noodle, not even vermicelli, fried with a couple random bits of vegetables. It was barely editable. Most disappointing when I got the bill and they had charged me $9 and change for it. If we had gone to Xe ula down the street, I could have had a decent bun and a milkshake for that.
We won't be returning. We are spoiled, living in the east side where there are tonnes of quality options i guess. -
Review from Neil T.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 2/4/2010
I made my way to my regular spot, Pho Pasteur, after Susan C. claimed that the broth was back on track. Good news, broth is back on track! I didn't find it to be off side in the first place.
My update is similar to my original review, though for this particular visit, the noodles were pretty firm and sticky. That's never been a problem before. I also found a hair in my soup too, but that sort of thing doesn't bother me -- remove and continue to eat. Am I weird? I dunno. I blame living in a developing country for giving me this increased tolerance for filthy food.
3 stars for this visit, but still a 4 star place for me.Listed in: My Vietnamese Food Rankings, Gettin' My Eat on in Slanty…, My Favorite Spots in the T.Dot, The Pho Nazi's Pho-cking Best…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/28/2009
Oh yes, the mighty 24-hour giant of a pho joint...Pho Pasteur! I like it here, I like it a lot.… Read more »
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Review from Paul R.
Toronto, ON
6/3/2010
Pasteur is the best Vietnamese restaurant in Toronto.
The pho broth is very flavorful without being too oily. If you like things spicy, request satay in your pho and you will be treated to the pinnacle of pho delights. The rare beef is fresh and nicely sliced. Get a large if you are very hungry and your hungry will be satiated quite nicely.
The rice dishes are also very good. My particular favourite is the grilled beef with rice (I often opt for an additional fried egg on top). The beef is nicely grilled, with subtle seasonings and garlic. The rice is generously piled on the plate.. Drizzle the fish sauce over the dish and it transforms into an exquisite masterpiece revealing itself with every bite.
The fresh fruit shakes are also noteworthy. Try the green bean, pennyleaf, and coconut. -
Review from Jim S.
Toronto, ON
3/6/2011 3 Check-ins Here
By far the best Bun Bo Hue in Toronto... I've had this dish in numerous restaurants in Toronto and many other cities. So far have found any that comes close to this. Try their rice dishes too - #66 - some of the best pork chops I've had.
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Review from Deanna W.
12/21/2008
I usually like to avoid the long lineups and chaos at Pho Hung and head over to Pho Pasteur for my pho cravings.
Somewhat more pricey than the other pho joints on the spadina-chinatown strip but I find it's worth it because the 1) the place is open 24 hours 2) they tend to be a little more generous with the beef 3) they include sawtooth herb or vietnamese coriander in their herb plate (i find this is not used as much in toronto pho places as it is in ottawa). And I find the broth is more complex and less salty than Xe Lua or Pho Hung. It's a very heady, boiled down to the bones broth which I appreciate. The meat is also decent here, provided you don't order any of the brisket or tripe cuts that is when you're liable to get the stringy or fatty bits.
This place is not as bustlin as pho hung or xu lua but for my pho fix in chinatown I find that it does me just right. Plus it's open 24 hours-how many other pho joints operate under those conditions?Listed in: Fie Fi Pho Fum!
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Review from Tom L.
Toronto, ON
10/3/2011
Their pho is a winner my books. No shortage of meat and good broth. Only complaint is drafty seating near the door in the colder weather.
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Review from Earl C.
8/29/2010 3 photos
The first pho meal I had since I left Arizona in May. I decided to go to this place because of what everyone on Yelp was rating it. The pho was good. They have SMALL, MEDIUM, & LARGE size bowls. I ordered the #17 which was gigantic! but i finished it like a champ. :) I ordered the one with the tripe, tendon, and beef brisket. The beef brisket had too much fat though. If they trimmed up the fatty content and heightened the quality of their beef, I could probably honor them a 4 star.
Customer service was adequate, they were fast bring the food out and the lady who took our order was friendly.
Also, the good thing about this place is the fact they're open 24hrs. That's convenient for those who are craving pho after a night on the town. :) -
Review from Tammy Y.
Toronto, ON
6/7/2009 2 photos
After having been curious to try this hidden gem for the longest time, I finally made it in here for a solo lunch on a cloudy Sunday afternoon. And yes, it is indeed a gem.
I take a seat looking out onto Dundas as a smiling lady places a pot of lukewarm tea (could be hotter), a cup, laminated menu and order form in front of me. The place looks to be a little outdated, but clean. They are playing CHUM FM. And the place is rather empty (given, it was about 3:30 pm).
There are 3 sizes of bowls - S, M, L to choose from, which is nice. The prices here are slightly more expensive than Pho Hung or Xe Lua, a size small bowl is $6.99. I almost go for medium #1, but at the last-minute go for a small instead. And thank goodness. When I get my meal - real quick-fast by the way, about 4 minutes later - it is a pretty hefty "small", accompanied by a giant heap of deliciously crisp bean sprouts and a nice assortment of herbs.
Initial reactions - bean sprouts are really healthy looking. A weird observation, but one of those things that you notice when you see it. The broth is letting off so much steam you may as well call him Thomas. Another weird observation, I know, but it made me realize that neither Xe Lua, Pho 88, nor Pho Hung have ever brought any bowl out to me quite so piping hot. The thin slices of beef are perfectly medium rare, and there is lots of it. I'm not normally a fan of tripe, but this is delicious as it's cut very thin, like the onions and the noodles. Yes, the noodles are fantastically thin. Broth packs excellent flavour. And by the end of it all, I've fished out every possible noodle and I'm stuffed.
A great meal to accompany the sounds of Beyonce and Katy Perry. -
Review from Cheryl B.
9/25/2009
Wandered around Chinatown in TO and found this 24 hr. pho place. Steady traffic of people. All happy with their food.
My brother loved their rare beef pho and the spring rolls.
I love vermicelli. Especially pork because usually it is flavored pretty well. In the 2 days in a row we went during our 4 day vacation, we had the same things and they were consistently good.
I loved the vermicelli. The noodles could have been a little less sticky, but the pork is so good. Plus the egg roll was delicious.
The server was sort of neutral to us the first time (we might have been a little obnoxious), but the second night he was super friendly. There seemed to be a lot of regular customers, too. That's always a plus.
Prices were reasonable for just entrees. Service was fast. Next time i make it to Toronto, I'll probably be here for a night or two. -
Review from Jonathan W.
Calgary, AB
4/17/2010
Whew.....you eat enough pho and eventually you find one that fits. Came here late at night, it's open 24hrs, and the place still had a few patrons but seemed pretty quiet.
It's just a few yards off Spadina and tucked around the corner from pho88. Perhaps this dark and dank section of Dundas scares off the usual passerby and the store front isn't the most inviting but nothing gained if nothing ventured.
Rock solid pho place which does it the right way, quality sliced beef raw, gooey beef tendon and a slick broth just glistening with the rendered fat from the beef.
Humongous springs rolls which were decidedly not typical. Filled with taro root (wu tau) and spicy. Surprisingly delicious. Different but in a very good way.
The 'fixin's' here top any other pho place in the downtown, better than the turtle or pho tien or xe lua. The noodles were decent, a bit shredded and the broth is rich and flavorful.
Mama, If that's movin' up then I'm movin' in. -
Review from Melissa J.
Toronto, ON
1/8/2009
One night, my 24-hour Pho Train (Xe Lua) was closed for unknown reasons, and we had to find somewhere else that was open at 1 am. I've walked past Pho Pasteur probably millions of times in my life, and I've usually been kind of intimidated by it because it looks sketchy as hell, but this night, we gave it a chance.
Eh. I wasn't really taken aback by it. It is definitely more expensive - every dish is at least $1 or $2 more than what it would be at Xe Lua or Pho Hung. So my pho wasn't cheap this time. And it wasn't really good either. I personally hate when there are fatty or stringy cuts of meat, and most of the meat here ended up in my napkin. Besides that, the spring rolls were too greasy and the broth was just OK.
I did notice that they had more options of herbs to put in your broth, but that didn't really make it taste better.
My final verdict on this place: It's OK if nothing else is open. Besides that, I'd go elsewhere.
