Pho Lien

The best, most authentic pho outside of Vietnam! this is really an institution. the service is speedy, friendly and warm and the food is so so excellent. The broth is rich, deep and perfectly seasoned and full of flavour. The noodles are fresh and bouncy and the beef is excellent quality. Hands down the best pho I’ve had!

I’ve had Pho in many countries but no where can beat Pho Lien. The best Pho ever! The soup gives you perfect combination of gentle saltiness, sweetness from onion and bone marrow and herbal scents of spices. Highly recommend you to try, and this place only serves impressive and flavorful foods!

rating: 3.8 / 5 ☆ Prior to 2020, I used to have lunch here fairly often with my family. Out of the many pho restaurants located in Montreal, we preferred Pho Lien because of their appetizers, three-coloured drink and obviously, their pho. Over the past 3 years, we hadn’t dined here due to multiple reasons, the main ones being the implementation of restrictions associated with covid (lockdowns) and the 45 minutes drive it takes (used to come here after tutoring lessons back in high-school). On Friday, October 6th at around 11:15am, my family and I decided to come for lunch, as we had plans in the vicinity. We (4) were seated immediately and ordered the following: - pho (beef) - spring rolls - papaya salad - rice cakes and eggs - three-coloured drink (+ more pho for takeout) For starters, overall, the quality and the taste of the dishes are what I remember them to be. Although I have noticed that the broth contained slightly less MSG than before (based on its taste alone), which i personally prefer. Also, the three-coloured drink was extremely sugary and the taste of coconut was much less prominent, which sadly altered the taste. On a positive note, the spring rolls I grew up loving taste just the same and the peanut sauce is still to my liking. (I’m quite picky when it comes to the consistency and the taste of peanut dipping sauce, truthfully I’d give theirs an 8.5/10) However, the portion of some dishes are significantly smaller than what my family and I remember them to be- which is rather disappointing, considering that the price has increased as well. I understand that the rise of food costs leaves businesses no choice but to increase the prices on their menu, however diminishing the dishes’ portions on top of that is simply a bad business move. For instance: - the amount of noodles in the pho was nowhere near enough when taking into account the size of the bowl ordered (the amount of beef was fine though) - the rice cakes and eggs dish has shrunk by a lot (this is my mom’s favourite dish, therefore she noticed right away) - the glass used to serve the three-coloured drink is shorter and smaller, as the handle of the spoon used to be barely visible when inserted in the glass and while mixing the drink before taking a sip I sincerely hope this review reaches the business well and serves as constructive criticism, as I truly wish to continue supporting this restaurant whose food takes me back to my childhood and other memories that I’m fond of. Service: Waiter was polite and the dishes were served fairly quickly, though we went before rush-hour took place.

Been dining to this restaurant from time to time for many years when I have a craving for Vietnamese chicken soup or grilled beef lime with side dish of imperial rolls. Small restaurant with Jo reservation so you might have some lineups depending on time and day. Note that cash only is accepted but a ATM machine is inside for cash.

The pho was good, the rice pancakes with eggs was one of the best I've eaten. The grilled pork chop was also well seasoned and delicious. The only negative point I have is the price, the portion was small for what you paid for; I can find pork chop almost two times bigger elsewhere for the same price and that are as good.

We came from Toronto, expecting great food. The PHO was good, but the BUN was a total disappointment. The rice noodle were clump together and cold. The shrimps were cold and tasted off. The spring rolls is indescribably bad. The customer service was terrible. The server ignored us And seemed more interested in wandering around aimlessly than serving customers. Will not return !!!

Wow! This is an incredible Phoking good bowl of Pho. From the moment I took my first sip of the soup, my taste buds were smacked by the sweetness of the onions, followed by a harmonious blend of herbs such as star anise, cardamom, and cloves. The noodles were cooked to perfection, providing just the right amount of chewiness. Now, let's talk about the toppings, particularly the brisket, which was simply outstanding. The brisket slices were unbelievably tender and practically melted in my mouth. See the picture of the ideal brisket slice for Pho, showcasing a thin line of contrasting fat. Every aspect of this Southern-style Pho deserves a perfect 10 out of 10. It surpasses many bowls of Pho I've enjoyed during my travels and in NYC. I would gladly move upstairs to this restaurant so I can enjoy it for lunch every day and then walk up and down the stairs to burn off those calories.

Heard great reviews about this restaurant so I decided to try it out. I ordered the spring rolls, the pho, the chicken vermicelli bowl and the bun Bo hue. All the dishes tasted great and the service was extremely quick! We got our food in around 5-10 after placing our order. The only downside is that they only accept cash and that the portions are quite small relative to the price. For instance, the chicken vermicelli bowl costed around 17$ and the portion was quite small. I am used to paying around 15$ for a much larger portion. Also their XL pho was not much larger than the L. All in all, the food was good but not the best viet I have had.

I've known about Pho Lien's high praise and accolades for years. Unfortunately for them, I've been spoiled with amazing Vietnamese food in Vancouver. They're located next to B12 Burger CDN, Mr. Puffs and La Republika. We dropped in on a busy Saturday for lunch (around 12:15pm) but snagged a table on the terrasse. There's partial umbrella shading (our table wasn't fully covered). Service was weak; it was like pulling teeth to get extra bowls. We grabbed our own spoons because they never brought any. They also never came by to refill waters. The menu consists of pho, appetizers, vermicelli, rice and combos. There's a couple weekday lunch specials (11:00am to 3:00pm). Note: prices already include all taxes. - Goi cuon tom thit (#18) ($6.00) - not worth it; you get two pieces but it's really only one roll cut in half. Nothing unique about them. - Goi du du tom thit ($9.00) - menu says shrimp but there wasn't any on the plate. Beef jerky was decent but the papaya salad was standard fare. Wouldn't get this again. - Herbs - bean sprouts, basil and lime wedges. - Bun bo hue ($18.50 XL) - only available on weekends. I love BBH and their version was okay. Broth was light on the lemongrass. No pork blood or pork hock but all the meats were tender. - Bun bo xao xa (#25) ($17.00) - flavours were more prominent and satisfying in this bowl than in the rice dish. Beef was surprisingly tender but still retained a bite. - Com ga xao xa (#28) ($17.00) - lemongrass flavour was subtle, chicken pieces were okay. Fairy standard rice dish. Cash only. PL isn't offering any unique Vietnamese dishes but seems to excel in the standards. 3.5 stars.

Came here for lunch and ordered a imperial roll, well done beef/flank/tendon pho, and a grilled pork vermicelli dish. We sat in the patio given the nice weather and were served pretty quickly. Not the friendliest service but efficient. The portion sizes were average but it was a bit pricier than what I'm used to in the GTA. The spring rolls were only warm and not very crispy in the middle, and the filling wasn't seasoned much and had too much carrots imo. The pho was pretty good and hot, the broth was a bit ginger forward. For some reason they didn't have any basil to serve with the bean sprouts for the pho which was too bad. The vermicelli bowl was fresh but the pork could use more lemongrass flavour. Note that this is a cash only spot. There is an ATM beside the cashier.

I'm not a huge fan of pho, I think it's good but I wouldn't eat it all the time. I'm also not good at determining what is authentic and what isn't. That being said, I did enjoy eating here. Portions are big for the price and it is tasty. Cash only and this is a very popular place so it will get busy.

Restaurant located in a nice business section. Food was great and fresh. Many choices are available. The Pho soup was very good. Good service

After getting many recommendations from friends and reading the reviews I was happy to get this place a try. Unfortunately I've been extremely disappointed. From getting in the restaurant service was less than average, being told that they don't take payment by cards. Then after assembling the soup with very sad amount of toppings, realized that 70% of the "beef" was actually FAT. On top of all the broth was tasteless water with half a hint of salt. + TIPS; The L size is almost the same as XL Now that you know, maybe stick to your favourite Phó place there are some many great one in Montreal !

5 stars for food quality. To be fair. I was warned that this is not a place to "go out to". It is an authentic food joint that offers "food". If this is the experience you seek, this is it. If you are after nice views and lovely tables, then pass to another.

Lack of options. My friends and I came in and they said we only have this left. In terms of cleanliness and hygiene there are none. I don't even see them wash the cups properly. The employees are not wearing masks. Stay away from this restaurant. I will never return.

Such good pho. Reliably great taste! I usually get the raw beef and tendon one! You can choose between big or small bowls. Only downside is that it's slightly pricier.

I consider Pho Lien my favourite pho joint in Montreal, although there are quite a few good ones. I think the Pho I've had here beats many other highly rated Vietnamese restaurants in bigger cities. There are only so many places that get their pho right in the city, and this is one of em. You know it's legit when other Vietnamese people come eat here too. Service: as per usual in Asian restaurants, the service was fast and efficient. Food: I come here to satisfy my pho craving and I go out satisfied every time. And I always get the three colour drink as dessert cuz I just can't stop eating. Warning: they only take cash here.

Alright, I xame here based on fellow yelper reviews. I love Vienamese food and my go to dish is pork vermicelli salad platter. Lots of people, that's a good sign. The service was quick, but holy cow is the staff dour and surely... you get the feeling like they don't want you there. Worst table side manner that'd experienved in a long time. The dish was just average, most Vietnamese places make a better version of this dish. Normally that would make it 3 star, but I have to dock a star for staff demeanor.

Alright! I eat a lot of pho, and so I came here with *expectations*, as I heard that this was the best Pho in Montreal. I have been to other pho restaurants in Toronto and Montreal, and I feel that although this is certainly not the best pho I've ever had, it was decent and will definitely satisfy your pho-cravings! We came around 8pm on a Saturday night, and the place was packed! The service was fast, but our server looked overworked and uncomfortable. I ordered their Pho #12, with rare beef, beef tendons and tripe. The flavor was there, and the noodles were perfectly cooked. The noodle to topping ingredients ratio seemed a little off--there weren't quite enough toppings. However, my biggest grip with the meal was that the pho was so hot that the rare beef was already VERY, VERY well-done by the time it came to the table. If I had wanted well-done beef, I would have ordered it instead! I also ordered a three colored dessert, which was delicious as expected. Coconut milk, green grass jelly, mung beans and red bean in a delicious layered drink. There was just a little too much ice in my drink, which detracted from it just a little bit, but the flavors were incredible! I would recommend Pho Lien if you need your pho fix, but it was not amazing, despite the rave reviews. Not sure if it's worth the wait if they have a long line. Worth a try!

Best pho I've ever had. Owner is Vietnamese, I love their vermicelli!!!! They boiled the rice noodles so when we eat it's not cold and dry like other place. It's warm. The signature pho beef noodles is also very delicious, broth is good! I ordered small and couldn't finish it (female). The ice coffee is very classic and tradition. I like it.

Not bad, Montreal. Not bad. Surely not the best bowl of pho I've ever had but since I'm from Toronto, the pho here definitely hit the spot. A hot savoury bowl of broth filled with soft rice noodles and sliced beef, topped with scallions and bean sprouts. Mmm, what else would you want on a cold day?

Sundaynight with sister the service is fast the food was good one of the best tastiest Soup in montreal good place and good people i recommed u to go try it

We had dinner here when we were in Montreal a few weeks ago. Easy to find and ample street parking. We came kinda late for dinner, around 8ish and it was still pretty packed. Really good food and the price was very reasonable!! I'd def check this place out again next time we're in town!

This place is always crowded but the line is pretty quick. We always get the no. 1 soup. The vietnamese iced coffee is also good. In term of pho, i probably love pho sen vang. They are closer to pho in vietnam.

Wife and I loved this place when in Montreal. During covid I know lots of restaurants had to "cheapen" the food to make up for lost revenues during the lockdown. My wife while in Montreal stopped by and had pho and was so sad to see the broth was watered down, noodles texture was off and even the beef didn't taste as fresh. Time are tough but skimping on ingredients? Too bad

I decided to eat out for the first time since the start of the pandemic, so I was full of anticipation and expectations when I went to Pho Lien to get my first Pho fix of 2020. Sadly the patio and dining room were closed, so take out was the only option. I ordered the smallest No 1 Pho Dac Biet. The service was quick and friendly, but the soup was just ok. The broth was a little bland and oily. Instead of Thai basil, the garnish had cilantro. That's not a good substitution IMO. Overall the garnish was a bit skimpy - very little onions and a teeny tiny lime wedge. Noodles and meat were fine. The portion was huge, and I got very stuffed and wasn't even able to finish. Overall, I prefer Sen Vang, where the broth has a more distinct taste of star aniseed and cloves, and I get my basil.

Nothing special here. Move it along. Even though it had 1139 great reviews of 4.5 stars... i was expecting too much. I feel like ppl see a few leaves of basil and mint here and there they wet their panties thinking its the best food-gasm they've ever had. Amateurs. Ive had WAY better. Sorry NOT sorry guys. Ive gone out of my way today to go and try this Pho Lien because of the reviews, and this also was disappointing just like my last thai restaurant with 4.5 stars. Me and my gf ordered the papaya salad with beef jerky for $7 ... 2 chopsticks full and you're done with the entire plate. And the worst thing was, it wasn't even great. It was average. The ponzu sauce tht disguised as fish sauce, was like sour and sweet. Ehhhhh.. no spice... no good. Its not worth $7, they need to either plate more or lower that price down. Next we ordered the Pho with rare beef and tendons. He broth had too much of one ingredient and not enough of another. I tasted a lot of fish sauce, theres no sweetness in the soup, there might be less ginger and also less star spices in there too. Overall the pho was not good. Adding a little bit of lime and sriracha along with hoisin might help the flavor a little bit . But honestly pho should be already perfect as it is, and only should be using the other outside condiments as options to add on, not requirements... next up, the Bun thit bo nuong. They used the rare beef from the pho to grill this baby up. The meat was good , on the contrary, the noodles was very dry (even with the whole sauce cup dumped on it) it tasted stale, and almost like they just took it out of the plastic wrap bag. Dipped it in boiling hot water for like 5 seconds and served it. The veggies were fresh, thank goodness for that. As for the fish sauce, it was not sweet like it should be for this type of dish. I took 2 bites and could not finish this. 3 out of 5 Not being an ass, ppl def need to know what theyre getting themselves into.

I was told this place had THE best pho in town, but I was skeptical. My favorite spot so far had been Pho Bang New York in Chinatown, so I was excited to see how Pho Lien would fare. We went there around 7h30 Friday night. It was cold, windy and raining, and the walk from metro Côte-Sainte-Catherine to Côte-des-Neiges seemed like an eternity. The place looked terribly busy, with its cramped tables, noisy patrons, and steamy windows. Thanksfully, out friends had saved us a table, so we sat down right away. We all ordered #1, which is the usual bowl of pho with beef and tripes, along with chè ba màu (three color... pudding? dessert? drink?). My boyfriend grabbed bun ga nuong (rice vermicelli + grilled chicken), emperial rolls and cafe sua dan (vietnamese coffee) instead. The drinks came first, followed by the emperial rolls and the main dishes. The food was delicious - so much that there's not much to say about it. The broth was rich, flavorful and not too oily or salty. The beef was tender and slightly fatty, and melted in mouth. It is the best pho in town? From what I've seen so far, it might just be! The chè ba màu is a must try if you like coconut. It's not very sweet, and all flavors tasted natural. I can't wait to have it again this summer! The cafe sua dan was also very well balanced. The coffee was quite strong, and perfectly diluted by the condensed millk and ice. The emperial rolls were the only things that were kind of meh. They were a bit too dry and not very interesting overall. Prices are not the cheapest in the pho category, but are still very reasonable. Especially given how satisfying the meal was. I might just sneak onto bus 165 for a lunchtime visit one of these days! Note: Internet stopped working on my cellphone inside the restaurant?

Tried out Pho Lien on Côte-des-neiges, as the reviews online were pretty high. Although Alex really liked it, I wasn't a huge fan of the broth. I prefer a sweeter broth. So to me, the pho was good, but there was a little something missing in their pho broth. For my full MTL Pho Hunt review and more photos, check out my blog: Turquoise Blog (link in bio!)

The place was as crowded as usual. After having waited for 15minutes we were lead to a table which was very near to the toilettes, like 2meters away, and there was water on the floor, that made me really uncomfortable. We waited for an another 10minutes to change a table. The pho was tasty though, but it wasn't the best one I tried in montreal. Soupe of the noodle was a little bit sweet, but I was amazed by the abundant amount of beef in the bowl. Liked the drink with red beans, coconut milk and other ingredients. And don't forget to bring enough cash because they don't accept any card. To withdraw cash, you gotta get them at the mini ATM which will charge additionally $1.5... Even though it isn't flawless, but it is still a very popular and comparatively worth going restaurant in the cote des neiges area.

It is most likely the best Pho soup you can get in Montreal as you can see by the line ups all day long.

What can I say other than: the best Pho in town. Yep, their broth is on fleek (haha inside joke). But yeah, the Pho is incredible and definitely worth traveling for. They also have deliciously fresh spring rolls, that melt in your mouth and seem to be the perfect pairing with Pho imo. As opposed to the other Pho places, I have to admit, I've never tried anything else on their menu - not sure if it's because it didn't seem appealing or if it's because the Pho is so damn good I didn't notice anything else. Either way, come and have the Pho!

Extremely poor sanitary measures. First I find a bug, now I find a string of hair. Few years ago, I found a bug in my soup but I did not write any bad reviews because I thought I may have been unlucky. Today, I found hair which was clearly not mine. If you look at the picture, above is the hair I found and below is mine for comparison. You can see that the hair above is not mine because: 1) my hair is clearly much shorter (note that the hair I found was split in two while I was pulling it out of my mouth) 2) my hair is black while the hair above is light brown. 3) the hair string above is much thinner than mine. 2 years ago, when I had found a bug in the soup, at first, I thought it was some sort of a thin black bean and wondered why there would be a bean in my pho. I pushed on it with my chopstick and saw wings sticking out. I wanted to puke. The restaurant refunded me the soup (which is why I did not post any bad reviews at the time) but they never apologized. Instead, they asked me why I had eaten the soup if I had found a bug, insinuating that I put the bug in myself. (This is because I had only found the bug floating on the soup when I had almost finished eating it.) I don't understand how anyone could eat from here. You think this won't happen to you, but think again. Go to a clean pho. These pho's rarely keep their sanitary measures and this one was not an exception clearly. This restaurant will never change as long as you keep paying for their dirty soups.

Good pho! I wish the meat was a bit cleaner , without too much grease. But overall very good! It's only cash.

Tasty, fast and polite. Did I mention tasty? Best pho lunch this side of North America. Cash reigns and be prepared to be accommodating in seating.

Well, this is probably the best pho in Montreal (until now), beef is delicious, I would say all kind of beef here. I've been here twice or three times and it's always crowded, most of people chose Pho as their main dish. The service is okay, it's a bit loud. Price per person is reasonable, it's even better if you go there with 3, 4 people and share your dishes (not pho but the other ones). Unfortunately, I heard that Pho Lien's employees can't receive their tips and the owners don't treat them in a good way. That's why sometimes I hesitate having dinner there if I don't really crave for some Pho

OK, this is very simple - the best Pho in the city. All you need to know. I have tried most well known places in the city and no one touches Pho Lien. Service is not 5 stars but the is clearly.

This place is in a good location, right on the corner of two main streets. I do find it a bit pricey for what it is. The service is good. Their pho's are tasty (I'm picky about good broth), but spring rolls barely have any shrimp. Also the soups we got were not hot enough.

Their bun bo hue is delicious! Whenever I have a craving but don't feel like making it myself, this is my go to. I would have given them a 5 star but unfortunately if you order the sweet vietnamese coffee by uber eats, the cup size is less than half a glass cup, but it also tastes really good.

Forget about Chinatown if you're looking for good, authentic TASTY pho, Pho Lien is the best place in Montreal for this Vietnamese comfort soup, but don't take my word for it. Just ask any of your friends in the Vietnamese community and they will tell you the exact same thing. It's a bit on the small side, they only take cash and if you can, try to go during it's off-hours since there is usually a line up here. Service is very fast, prices are super cheap. The food is also very fresh and very tasty. A large Pho soup will fill you up for the whole day, no joke. I also found their spring rolls to be outstanding. Their pho soup is like the nectar of the gods especially on super cold and windy January days!

I can't remember how many times I nom nom-ed at this place for their delicious Pho-od - and I don't even live in Montreal. The flavor of their dishes is addicting - I cannot get enough of the food here, my craving for this place usually begins when I finish eating until the next time I step into the restaurant. I'm usually here on the weekends and their Bun Bo Hue is to die for. The variety of beef tendons, shanks, stripes mixed with the perfect broth with chili oil. It's the ultimate comfort food with a hint of spiciness to stimulate the taste. The essence of the dish is all in the broth, the heavenly broth. Simply the best food anyone could ask for on a cold winter day. I discovered their Bún Thit Bò Xào during a conference week in Montreal and came back 3 times for it. The stir fried beef is marinated perfectly, cooked to tenderness but still maintains its chewy texture and strength. The vermicelli, fresh and light, topped with fresh vegetables. Delicious, flavorful and nutritious. I love love love this place, it's no wonder it's always packed, no matter what time of the day. The food and service is extremely efficient, you never have to wait hungry for long.

Still I believe to be the best Vietnamese in Montreal. Recently I went there on the weekend and it was stupid busy! The servers don't even try to be nice. They want to serve you and they want you out quick! I ordered the XL rare beef pho and it was damm off the chart good! With tax and tip it was $12. Where can you seriously go wrong with this? Maybe too busy for you in the restaurant? Maybe not your level of politeness? I come here for the food and not much else! Enough said! Try to find me a better Pho in the 514!

We arrived here on a Sunday evening and were pleasantly surprised to see the crowd at Pho Lien. The restuarant had tons of patrons sitting in cramped quarters and all ordering the Pho. Coming from California, I can admit I know good Pho when I see it and the bowls being served up at Pho Lien is pretty good. They were unable to do any special orders on the Pho, but it came out quickly and hit the spot. Also, we tried the fresh spring rolls and although it was a bit overpriced, it also was very delicious. Overall, this place truly deserves 3.5 stars. =)

Delicious pho soup and spring rolls. Fast and efficient service. First time coming here and i will definitely be back.

Best pho soup in Montreal. Been there so many times and never disappoints. Love their dessert (Che Ba Mau) CASH ONLY

I'd read Montreal had some good Pho. This was the place that cropped up in my search. This place gets crowded. It's popular. It's not trendy. It's just really, really great Pho. I had the number one with all the goodies like tripe, tendon and several cuts of beef. It was served with a nice plate of lime, bean sprouts and Thai basil. Broth was delicious even before doctoring it to taste with limes and sriracha. Generous portions of meat and noodles. Very good deal. This place is the real deal for Pho. I loved it. Cash only tho.

2 and half star Definetly not the best pho in mtl. Overhyped by people. Soup is filled with msg and size is not big compare to other pho places. The quality of the meat is also not the best qulity. Other phos that are better:Pho thanh,pho mymy,Pho bang nyc,pho hoai huong,pho nguyen.

Many locals say this place has the best pho in Montréal. Parking was easy because I was lucky. I was able to find a parking spot right out front of the restaurant, but be warned you might have to drive around a bit to find a parking space. The place was busy, but luckily I was able to get the last available table. They try to seat as much people as possible in this small restaurant. Hence the tables are real close together. The menu was only written in French and English. I ordered their extra large pho dac biet (special beef noodle) and was not disappointed. Their pho soup base was very tasty and you get quite a large assortment of meats on top. The rare beef, though, was mostly well done when I received my bowl. You also get a good portion of noodles in the pho. Would I come back? Of course!

My opinion of this place is a bit divided. We were at Pho Lien for lunch on a weekend and the place was packed. The restaurant was small but cozy and the service was lightening fast. We order Pho and vermicelli bowl and I think from the moment we ordered to the food arriving at the table it took about 5min... (probably indicating that the food was all prepared at the back, which is fine for a cheap restaurant on a busy lunch hour) . The Pho broth was way to salty and there was a hair in the vermicelli bowl... Not my best experience at a Vietnamese place. I would not go back there. Not recommended.

Dropped into Pho Lien for a late afternoon quick bite with mom: A couple of obsrvations: * Location: Right at corners of Cote de Neiges & Cote Ste Catherine by Montreal Jewish Hospital * Food: based on pho alone, I'd give 3/5 stars, nothing special, your typical pho. Taste a bit on the bland side, especially in late afternoon, the broth might have been diluted (evening pot still in the works) * Service: none to speak of, waiting staff not friendly " WiFi: not available, WHAT???

One of the best pho I've ever had! Flavorful broth that wasn't too sweet or salty...it was perfect! The meat was tender and so were the tripe and tendon. Place was packed but we were seated right away. Highly recommend this place! Good prices and you have the option of small, large or xl.

I had high expectations but a few disappointments turned out instead from my dining experience this morning with out of town guests. The spring roll is the biggest putdown ,too tiny (a small finger and a half size )so not even an inch wide with the inner wrapper soft and seemingly untouched by hot oil meaning they fried it too fast and oil too hot ,comprised mostly of julienned carrots (cheapest of ingredient), This is not befitting an esteemed Vietnamese restaurant like theirs. The broth is the saving grace ,obviously from slowly simmered bones and carcasses but, a big but since soup is the main draw of this place ,it gets cold easily. They are not aware how to keep soups hot after being served on the table? Keep it boiling at low heat ,this procedure will keep the soups hot at the table for longer than an hour or more. Who wants to slurp on soup that has turned cold while your are still at it?

My husband and I had our first ever Pho experience today at Pho Lien. We had read about it on Yelp and decided to give it a try. We came right before the lunch rush around 11:45 and got a table beside the window. We really didn't know what to order but our server was nice enough to help us out. We ordered the imperial rolls to start. They came in less then 5 minutes and they were amazing! We couldn't quote figure out what was in them but it didn't matter! Then I got the chicken pho soup (can't remember the actual name) and my hubby got the beef soup. Again...we waited less then 10 minutes total. The soup was piping hot and the portions were HUGE! The flavours were so unique that at first I wasn't sure if I really liked it. I added some of their teriyaki sauce into it and the flavours just came of life! The more I ate...the more I wanted to eat! It was sooooo good!!! A totally new flavor profile then we've ever had! The service and food were outstanding. The only reason I didn't give it a full 5 stats is because of the ambiance and hustle/bustle of the restaurant. Had I not read all the reviews on yelp, I would have never eaten there after walking into it. It's a bit of a dive restaurant...no decor and just a bunch of tables jammed in there. Plus as the restaurant started filling up...we felt a bit rushed. Our whole lunch was about 45 minutes long. So if you're looking for a nice place to sit back and lounge...I wouldn't go here. But overall...outstanding food for our first time! Thank you "Yelpers" for helping us find this little gem!

this is my first Pho experience in Montreal. Yum and inexpensive. ordered a small pho w beef, tripe, tendons and more tendons. So good! Best of all, its Cheap eats!

TLDR: Best pho in the city The above says it all! The small restaurant is always packed and with a line heading out the door, but it's all worth it for the flavorful clear broth and noodle bowl. I always go with my standard beef ball pho which puts a smile on my face. A must visit when in Montreal.

After intense session of pingpong and leg workout, I was craving for Pho. I heard about the famous Pho Lien and had to give it a try. I went for the original one. It tasted great. I didn't go crazy lol. It was a great Pho. I also tried the iced coffee which was nice. The place is really small and crowded. You don't have much intimacy. Great for a quick warm pho.

My favourite Pho restaurant in Montreal. It tastes just like home. First of all, the broth is prefect. It is rich and flavourful. I tend to taste the broth before adding any extra sauces in. That is how you can taste the " beefy" in Pho .^.^. Then you can modify the broth as you like. I tend to go extra spicy. It helps for common cold by adding extra pepper. Second and sadly, the restaurant is too small and not clean at all. Avoid using their washroom. And sometime you have to sit on the special table that only few feet away from the washroom. And that is not really what you want. And, if you going during the lunch or dinner time, it will be a long waiting line. But it worth it .^.^.