Richmond Hill seems to have a good selection of Pho restaurants, and Pho Tai Bac is no exception. My wife and I originally intended to go to Little Saigon but the lineup was out the door. With a hungry stomach and an urge for Vietnamese soup noodles, we found this place.
First impressions:
+ Packed with people (didn't have to wait as long - their space is slightly larger than Little Saigon)
+ Authentic (owners are actually Vietnamese)
- Really cold (rainy weather, blasted AC, who knows?)
- At busy times, servers are a bit inattentive (no utensils, had to call down server to get a ticket to write order)
Ordered two Pho Tai Nam (rare/cooked beef) in a small and large portion size. The small is pretty standard in appearance, but there's slightly more noodles. The large is pretty filling and has a good balance of ingredients. Both are really well priced.
The broth is pretty clean tasting and flavourful - just the right amount of seasoning. The meat is of pretty good quality; no chewy or overly fatty pieces. And judging by the plate, it looks like they actually clean their bean sprouts. Good by my books.
All in all, a good spot for Pho if your favourite one happens to be full. If you can deal with the mediocre service, their pho is something you won't PHOget.