Good Pho Place in the Financial Core

[icytea]

Hi guys - love the new format of this site! Anyways, I have a craving for some good Pho for lunch today, but am not aware of any places in and around the financial core...any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[josamania]

Almost worth it to take a $5 cab to Chinatown (pho 88 or place with train logo) sit down, have lunch and come back to work; if you plan it in advance, you could be in and out in 45 mins!

[Olivia]

Oh trust me, if I had a $15 lunch budget, and an hour, I'd be a *very* happy woman...

[Olivia]

Our prayers have been answered! Or at least they will in the fall....

A brand new place in The Lanes (Richmond Adelaide Centre) called "Saveurs de Saigon" will be serving pho in the fall! Here's hoping it's good.

Maybe if we all pester the crap out of them they'll bump up the date :)

[Mila]

It is totally worth posting twice NovoCuisine. I had to run downstairs to find out the name as well.

I recommend the spicy broth with vermicelli noodles with BBQ Pork or wontons. And the fried spring rolls are out of this world. The healthier option, non-fried salad spring rolls are also good.

[kasey j miller]

I just discovered Noodle Concept last week and I agree - the spicy broth is delicious and I love that you pick and choose your additional ingredients! Best pho I've found in the core for sure. New Wok New Wok in FCP also has noodle soups, and the chicken broth is nicely falvoured but they are not as good as Noodle Concept.

[NovoCuisine]

Best noodle soup in the Concourse, IMO, is at a noodle place through First Canadian Place. I don't know what building it is exactly, but Richmond Adelaide Complex is coming to mind. But you pass the First Canadian Place foodcourt into the next building, on the left is a Starbucks and on your right is a food court.

The noodle place is there. They are fab; if you take it to go, they serve the noodles in one large styrofoam container and the broth in another for you to mix at time of eating, so the noodles don't get soggy.

I wish I knew the name! I'll investigate...

[Mila]

That's the one I posted above. Noodle Concept.
Yes they are great and the spicy broth is excellent. Add your own limes, sauces and peanuts.
And cheaper than Thai Island.

Yum.

[sasgirl]

Thanks for rec Mila! Will try it soon! What's their menu like and what do you recommend I get?

[NovoCuisine]

Sorry, I couldn't remember the name of the place or the building it was in so I had no idea you had already recommended them. My mistake :)

[Mila]

Number 33 at Thai Island. With beef and spring roll and interesting spicy sweet sauce on vermicelli.

Cheaper is across Adelaide in the Adelaide / Richmond foodcourt is a great noodle place. Noodle Concept.

FYI - Had lunch at East Side Mario's on Front today (not my choice) and had probably the worst food and service that I have experienced for years.
Yes, of course I should have known.

[sasgirl]

My favourite is #26, the wonton noodle soup. Everytime I order it, like today :), someone else waiting in line comments on how good the soup looks!

[wephie]

I love number 33 as well! But it's not Pho, which is soup-based. Number 33 is vermicelli and beef with a rice wine vinegar/chili sauce.

[Wil]

As someone already mentioned Thai Island is ok, but not real pho. You can get again a decent one at Spring Rolls (near St Lawrence Market or Queen/Yonge) Not close to authentic, not bad though. I'd love to hear if anyone knows of a really good place in the core.

[jayseeca]

I wouldn't really call it authentic pho, but in the TD Centre Food Hall, theres a fast food place called "Thai Island"... go to the left, which is the noodle soup line, and you'll see that they have "beef rice noodle soup" which is quite close, cheap, and satisfying if you need a bowl of pho in the Financial Area! Of course, its not the best - broth isn't extremely flavoured with spices, noodles are overcooked, there is no "Rare beef", but it still hits the spot. they're large bowls, and they have different noodle soups with egg noodles, etc.
They also have "Steamed vermicelli" dishes which are like vietnamese bun... i've gotten a friend addicted to it already.

[icytea]

Thanks - I've gone to Thai Island before many times myself...but you're right, it's not exactly 'real' pho which is what I am craving for, and it's a bit too much of a hike to walk all the way to Chinatown....