Do a search below using the city or postal code search box if your city is not listed above.
Get dining news including restaurant closures and qualify for giveaways.
I've been here a few times with my gf and we always have a great time! It's always packed regardless of the time. It's small and cozy which adds to its ambiance and atmosphere. Service is quick and prices are reasonable. My gf ordered a large pho. A "large" comes in a HUGE bowl. You get your moneys worth for sure. The spring rolls there are a must as you get large portions! We will be back again.
When you first walk in through the back door, it will definitely be a turn off.
But I love coming here when you need a quick and GOOD meal.
I always order the spring roll. It's really big and actually filling!
Service is okay. They take your order and leave you alone until you wave them down. But the food comes out fast and I have never been disappointed!
Came here with my friend for lunch a few days ago. No ambiance to speak of, dingy little place, tables kind of crammed together, and the decor was quite out of date.
We got there a little before lunch time but the place was pretty packed already, only a few tables were open. We were seated right away, and the table was a little wet and sticky, not the cleanest place we've ever ate at.
Typical Vietnamese restaurant menu, but the prices were quite good and the portions were big. My friend and I each ordered a pho and an order steamed rice wrap with pork to share. We orders came quite quickly, and we were impressed by the portion sizes, especially our rice wrap, it was a huge plate with 6 wraps with a big pile of vietnamese ham slices and other fixings in the centre. The pho broth was quite tasty and everything was up to standard.
What can I say, good food, great value! Will certainly be back!
Food: Standard Vietnamese food. Nothing special.
Service: Compared to other Vietnamese restaurants I've been to, the service here was REALLY slow. The waitresses were quite unfriendly, and we had to ask for the bill twice. When we passed by it, we saw lots of people sitting inside, so we thought 'this place must be good!'. Turns out the service is just really slow and everyone was waiting for their food.
Value: The prices are quite a bit higher than other places. The portions were decent though (I ordered the vermecilli/grilled beef/spring roll dish). I noticed other tables had ordered the small pho-DON'T order that: it's basically a small small bowl of pho for $5.50- total ripoff. Instead, spend another $2 to upgrade to the large pho-those were massive.
Ambiance: I like how they don't have neon lights like the other Vietnamese restaurants. It was quite nice. However, make sure you take the time to look at your utensils...not that clean!
I probably won't be back.
This is my third trip to Pho Lan and I'd have to say that it's better than most places. I usually have the #10 medium which is a rare steak and meatball pho. The meat is on the generous side and the broth is tasty. The spring rolls are quite big and has lots of flavour. I also ordered an iced coffee for the first time and boy it is strong. Overall, I'd say this restaurant hits the mark for what it is..........a small, family run place that serves above average food in a decent looking building. If they took Interac or credit cards I would probably be back more often, unfortunately, they don't.
Although I've only been here 3 times, the waiter remembers me and my order, which is nice. I've been to Earls many many times and nobody remembers me at all, lol.
My boyfriend brought me here yesterday for some dinner. It was about 6pm and although there weren't very many ppl in the restaurant, parking in the back was entirely full (ppl parking for the chinese rest. next door). After finding pay parking in front, we were advised that we could park at the photo place next door once they close for the day - good tip for next time.
I ordered a medium plain noodle (didn't feel like having any meat) and a springroll, which is supposedly well-known here. Portions were HUGE!! I don't understand how ppl can order a large here. I thought I could do a medium because at most places, it's just extra soup and a bigger bowl. Not here. There was so much noodle! The spring rolls were nice - meaty and crispy. The only thing is that the roll is cut into pretty large pieces, so it wasn't very one-bite friendly. I love how they offer an option - for springrolls, you can choose between veggie or pork and for salad rolls, you can choose between shrimp, beef, chicken or minced pork. I've never seen this anywhere else.
The espresso w/ condensed milk was really good. Good quality french coffee that packed a punch!
Service was good, what some may mistaken as attitude was innocently a quiet lady with a mean looking neutral face. Once I talked to her, she was quite pleasant.
The restaurant seemed clean.
Their soup is one of the best flavoured with a secret twist in the broth, but only if you're okay with taking in lots of MSG. I'm still trying to find a really good light soup-based pho place. Is it even possible for it to be pho without the MSG?
Always busy, and basically, a long communal table (connected tables) straight down the middle length of the restaurant. With 2/4 seater tables on each side. Somewhat small, but always busy place! Their large pho orders are LARGE--at least the bowl and the soup given is quite large.
Some parking in the back.
CASH ONLY!
This was my first time here due to a friends referral and I was pleasantly surprised. I was warned that the interior was a little on the outdated side but that the food was good enough to surprise you. I always order a spring roll and bowl of pho at every Vietnamese restaurant as it's my favourite meal. The soup came out within 5 minutes and had a good aroma (very important). All the usual condiments were there...bean sprouts, basil and lemon wedges. After my meal i was quite satisfied. The broth was better than expected and the spring roll rocks, probably the best I've ever had. That's saying a lot as i travel a lot and have eaten spring rolls in numerous cities and countries. I've come to expect good things from small family run operations and Pho Lan does not disappoint.
I spoke to the waiter there and was informed the restaurant has been open since 1994. Kinda kicking myself for not trying it earlier but am happy that I've found a Richmond location for my Pho addiction. Overall Canada has an excellent variety of good Asian cuisines, especially in the Lower Mainland.
I have been to Pho Lan many times over many years. Something has change?
In the past when a table was cleaned the food leftovers went into the garbage can (which should be expected). The last two times I have been to this restaurant, I notice the left over bean sprouts were not dumped into the garbage when the table was cleaned. Instead they were removed from the table and then place on the back counter. To my surprise they were then delivered to a new customer's table.
The first time I saw this I said to my self "no way" !!!. However I have seen this twice now on two different visits to this location. I am not sure if I will ever go again.
This is both a food safety issue as well as a general hygiene concern. What if the previous customer has Hepatitis or some other disease?. This could be passed on to the next customer.
My God!! Pho Lan what are you thinking???
Went back to Pho Lan last week after not coming for several years. I came through the back entrance and parked a block away due to the limited parking. The back entrance is dirty.
The special pho wasn't even close to what I remember it from several years ago. Prompting me to wonder if there was a change in ownership but it appears it's the same family. Service was not great for me. I noticed service was better if it may appear to the family that you are not a regular pho or vietnamese cuisine diner.
Couple of my friends have been telling me about this place for a while, saying that their noodle soup and spring rolls are way better than other Vietnamese restaurants. So the weather is cold and nights are now dip into sub-zero, I finally headed out to this place last weekend for the first time.
My friends were absolutely right. I ordered a noodle soup with thin sliced beef and beef meat balls, it was fantastic! The meat and veges in it were both very fresh while the soup base was delicious and hot, perfect for taste bud and this kind of cold nights. The service is OK but fast, decoration is simple, but 99% of the asian noodle houses we are going are only for one thing and one thing only: food! and I have to say The Lan does this part right.
I was going to order their spring rolls too, but after a large bowl of noodle soup with lots of meat and noodle in it, I was so full..but that's all right, I will be back there and try it next time.
their large phos are massive.. if you order them, make sure your stomach is empty because i guarantee you will walk out of there full.
i enjoy the pho here: hot and tasty soup base with a decent portion of beef that comes with the noodles... good place to hit on a cold rainy day where the prices are solid... the best thing they offer are their spring rolls, always have em when im here!
... the guy who runs this place though is a jerk, has no customer service skills and just plain rude, it sucks because you have to see his cranky face every time you are there.
the place itself needs to be much cleaner: washrooms are a mess and i do not even want to imagine how sanitary their kitchen is.
the only time i come back is when im craving a great spring roll.. since there are so many pho places around, i usually end up going elsewhere.
This family run business is always busy but for a good reason. Their Large sized Pho Noodle Soup is huge and will definetely get you full off a big bowl of soup, beef and noodles. The atmosphere is not great but everyone goes for the authentic food which is second to none. The spring rolls are crispy and always fresh and you will be full when you leave this place.
Pho Lan is ok. It has some good dishes. I really enjoy their spring rolls there, and they are probably the best Viet spring rolls I've had at this type of restaurant.
The pho wasen't too bad either, and the value is ok. Just don't expect any ambiance or steller service. I'd repeat, and have done so once in a blue moon for years now.
I don't know why samsam is so concerned with the washroom and spent half his review on the washroom...did he eat in there?
I came here just 1/week.Lunch time alway busy,but the food is prepare very quick! Ilike their soup so much. BBQ beef make me feel hungry when i just seat. Can't compare spicy noodle soup from the other.Pho Lan is the number one in town
This place is the epitome of Vietnamese food. Perhaps the food is not the most suthentic, I don't know not ever having gone to Vietnam, but the quality ss great (beefballs in the Pho are amazing!) and the serviec is very personal, given by what seems to be an extended family. These people actually care what you think. I am now a regular there, but even before that, I was asked how the food was on more than one occassion. This is one of the busiest Pho places in Richmond and for good reason. The spring rolls are second to none. Try it out, support our local business and experience clean, healty Pho.
awesome place to eat! i come here at least once a week. although there isnt much parking space and it seems to me that the portions are getting smaller and smaller. i remember the meat being lots in quantity for a small but now its just a little bit. but cant complaing i still love their pho!
I get here about three times a month as I work in Richmond. I am not a beef guy, but I do get their chicken pho (I appreciate purists might pass on chicken as not real pho). The sprouts and lime wedges are always fresh.
The service is prompt and food is delivered quickly. Water and tea arrive pretty much instantly. The fellow who I assume is the proprietor always checks with us. It may help that we attend almost every Monday with between five and 12 of us.
I have tried the lemon grass chicken which I order on vermicelli. (Today I had that.) As well, I have tried the wontons with noodles. Those dishes are very generously sized.
The walk in to the restaurant from the back parking lot is interesting. The interior is simply decorated. I wonder if it used to be a Greek restaurant.
I wish there were 3.5 ratings.
Chowman
I am always happy to eat at Pho Lan as the food comes out fast and hot. The best item on the menu is the deep fried spring rolls, hands down. The service is not exceptional, but I don't go there for the service. The food and the prices are very good.
When I asked a good friend of mine, where's a good place for noodles in Richmond, he took me for lunch at Pho Lan Beef Noodle Soup, tucked away in the City Center area of Richmond. There is parking and entry from the back of the restaurant. At first glance it looks like it needs some work on the decor, but the noodles, especially the broth was fantastic. If you order the large which cost 7.50, you'll get a bowl that looks like it can easily feed 2-3 people depending on their appetite. There is quite the selection of noodles and other dishes all at a reasonable prices. Vermicelli noodles are mixed with fresh sprouts, cilantro, lemon basil, beef tripe, beef meatballs and slices of beef. Service was efficient and friendly and will definitely be going back.
| 1. | Bamboo Grove (23 m) |  |
| 2. | Nikkoffee (40 m) |  |
| 3. | Toyotomi Japanese Restaurant (97 m) |  |
| 4. | Istanbul Topkapi (112 m) |  |
| 5. | Tai Yau Yick Restaurant (128 m) | |
| 6. | Spicy Szechuan Restaurant (128 m) | |
| 7. | Dairy Queen (133 m) | |
| 8. | Kumare Restaurant & Bakery (178 m) |  |
| 9. | Success Seafood Restaurant (178 m) | |
| 10. | McDonald's (178 m) |
