A More Than Acceptable Last Resort
~C$30 + tip for two
CASH ONLY
After hours pho
Minimal wait
Reviewed as local
As it so prominently displays on the building's facade (several times), Pho Pasteur is a Vietnamese pho restaurant that is open 24/7. Despite my general aversion to eating a proper meal somewhere that keeps the same hours as Macs / Couche-Tard, this would be the one exception. This restaurant is neatly tucked away just around the corner Dundas and Spadina.
Clientele can be a bit sketchy depending on when you go. If you're like me, you'll usually come here after the clubs have closed, usually well into the early AMs. Place is usually fairly full, though never truly packed. The wait staff is pretty non-descript with one very notable exception: a flamboyantly colourful waiter who always seems to get the late shift (at least when I go). While I always enjoy his presence, he was absent on our most recent trip: I hope he's ok.
The food is consistently good (especially if nothing else is open): The quality of the noodles and broth is great and their shrimp summer rolls are fresh. The stand out dish to go for is the Pho Tai Hoac Sate (Beef rice noodle soup with satay beef) or #3 (you can also get with beef balls or #4). However, make sure you specify that you want Satay on the order otherwise you will just get the standard Pho broth (I made that mistake and was sorely disappointed).
Made a point to come here with my wife out of a sense of nostalgia on our last trip. Food was good as I remember even though I was sober this time, so feel confident providing an accurate review.