Pho Tien Thanh

This place has always been my go-to pho spot in downtown Toronto, and for years, my friends and I have considered it one of the best pho places in the city. Recently, I found myself back in the Ossington area and decided to stop by again—and I’m happy to say it’s still just as delicious as I remembered. The broth remains rich, aromatic, and deeply flavorful. The beef is fresh and tender, and the noodles have a great texture. Everything comes together in a very balanced and satisfying bowl. If you’re looking for a classic, reliable bowl of pho that has stood the test of time, Pho Tien Thanh is absolutely worth a visit.

We tried the pho and some sides, and everything was good the portions were generous, the meat was tender, and the spring rolls were crispy and satisfying. The herbs and add-ins were fresh and paired nicely with the soup. The only thing for me was that the pho broth was a bit too light compared to what I usually like, I personally prefer something a bit richer and deeper in flavour. Still, it’s a good bowl of pho and a place I’d come back to

This Ossington staple is a must-try. We ordered the rare beef pho and the vermicelli with sugar cane shrimp and spring rolls. The pho was excellent, and the vermicelli was just as good. The sugar cane shrimp, however, is deep fired so it had a bit of a greasy taste. The service was friendly and helpful, as you’d expect. Just a heads up, it’s cash only on weekends. If you haven’t been, you should definitely check it out!

Very clean tasty Vietnamese traditional soups are served here. Fast efficient service at a reasonable price. There's nothing like their rare beef pho.

Come here at least once to understand why they’ve earned Michelin stars for five consecutive years. This pho is the Vietnamese southern style, so the broth might be a bit different from other pho you’ve tried. But trust me, it’s 100% authentic. The sriracha and hoisin sauce are also homemade, so they’re a great complement to the pho. There will be a bit of a wait during weekends.

It's the first place I've had pho soup, but I haven't been in a while, and what I've seen is, sadly, deplorable. They've lost their flavor, and the disrespectful and indifferent waiters serve you while dragging their slippers. They didn’t even clean dirty the table we sit. They put meat fat in my soup instead of chunks of meat, as you can see in the pictures I've shared. Even though I warned the waiters several times, they did not help me about the fat in the meat and ignored me. So I strongly do not recommend it. You can find more delicious Vietnamese restaurants. Only the name of this place remains, the rest is empty.

Went on Tuesday at around 11:30 wasn’t super busy. Got the vegetable roll was delicious and a chicken pho, and their daily special pho. The phos were so good. Medium size was more than enough for one person.

It is the overrated spot by Michelin Especially too dirty wall and so many insects on the Bruce Lee of paint. When you eat foods, you need clean spot for you clean dishes. The soup (#21, #7) is not flavorful and beef fat oily, greasy and rice noodle is just so so. Nothing special ! Shrimp spring roll is also not tasty at all. There are so so many great pho restaurants bettee than this. Sorry...

As the OG pho spot in Toronto that now has a michelin recommendation, Pho Tien Thanh lives up to the hype as a place to get a delicious authentic bowl of pho. However, I will say that despite the high level of authenticity they could make a few tweaks. Here are my small list of qualms: - switch bowls to something that retains heat better / longer - put on background noise in the restaurant, it's way too quiet / a weird vibe - please do something about the smell in the washrooms Besides that, great spot for a bowl of pho with lines out the door.

Pho Tien Thanh Or should I say very man (mahn, salty in Vietnamese) This was the last restaurant we ate before our flight And we did not leave right The service was good But the food , didn't match the service like it should This place only accepts cash on the weekend And you still have to write your own with the form and pen This was a very hard eat But the owner was very sweet They supposedly had an accolade of best pho in Ossington But I am not sure how they won...

This was the third Michelin Guide restaurant my husband and I visited, and knowing its reputation as an established institution, our expectations were high. We were excited after reading glowing reviews online. Unfortunately, our experience fell short of those expectations. Cleanliness is a big priority for us when dining out, and I must admit, we were disappointed right from the start. Upon being seated, we were greeted by an unpleasant smell coming from the table, which was wet and slimy to the touch--definitely not what you'd expect from a Michelin Guide establishment. As for the food, we ordered pho, spring rolls, and a pork chop dish. The pho was decent; I personally enjoyed it, but my husband felt the beef portion was quite small. To be fair, this was only my third time trying pho in a restaurant, so I didn't have much to compare it to. The spring rolls were okay, and the pork chop was acceptable but paled in comparison to what we've had at Ginger, a non-Michelin Guide Vietnamese restaurant. While the food had its moments, the overall experience was hindered by the lack of cleanliness and understaffing. We left feeling underwhelmed and a bit frustrated, especially given the high hopes we had for this visit.

Not to be labeled a hater , but I didn't find this place to be much of a"must go" viet eatary. The classic Phở Dặc Biệt was a bit bland. Although the meat was cooked well and wasn't chewy. The side hoisin sauce we watered down, which was strange. The broken rice with beef was also not particularly appetizing. Like many Viet places the ambiance and decor was super basic. Almost everyone had some variation of pho. Service was fairly quick as the waiters scramble to turn over tables quickly to accommodate the steady line waiting to sit

Yum!! Stopped in at around 9:30 for a late dinner and were happy to see they were still open and quite busy. The patio was open so we opted for a table outside. We were served quickly but the food took a while to come but it came out piping hot so it's okay. We had the tofu fresh rolls, my partner had the chicken pho, and I had the vermicelli noodles with BBQ chicken and a spring roll. Everything was really good. The pho was so hot I burnt my tongue but it's okay lol. Worth it lol.

Pho tastes good. The salad doesn't worth the price. Service is good but it only accept cash on weekend, which is not convenient. And it is pretty crowded.

Chanced upon this restaurant around 8pm on a Friday night and had to wait ~15mins to get seated so it definitely appeared to be a popular local pick. I've eaten a lot of good pho in and around GTA and I would say this place was pretty decent. I ordered the house special Pho Dac Biet and found that the portions were good and they were generous with the meat, however, the beef brisket was a bit tough. The broth was good and had adequate flavour. Price-wise, I'm an uptown girl so it wasn't cheap ($15 for a small) but understandable given its location. Overall, not an outstanding bowl of pho but definitely satisfies a craving.

Michelin Guide status is definitely well deserved! Everything about this spot is authentic, from the physical restaurant to their dishes. Ever since the pandemic, they put in a street patio and have kept it ever since. The service is quick, which is great for those who need a fast lunch in the area. People line up just to get a seat and I understand why. Prices are fair and the pho broth is clear and flavourful.

Currently on a Toronto trip and so glad I came to this pho restaurant!! Ordered Pho #18 in size Large (portions are really good), and got some vietnamese ice coffee. The pho didn't even need any sriracha or hoisin sauce for extra flavor. The noodles were also perfectly cooked! I did hear that it usually gets busy, but I came here on a Monday during lunch time and it was fine. If I ever come back to Toronto, I'm definitely coming back for some good pho!

When I came here this place already had a line up, and I met a celebrity chef Susur Lee I'm a big fan of his, I got the rare beef pho, came with the bean sprout and basil and of course added the hoisin and sirancha, I can see why this place is so popular. I got the rare beef pho, small size was a massive portion decent price, noodles were cooked perfectly, beef was so tender, keep in mind this place is cash only, luckily we didn't have to wait so long for a seat, the broth was so good and mix the lime and bean sprouts and basil it taste like heaven. I would recommended if your coming from far leave your house early because this place gets so packed.

They have a very extensive menu which I appreciate. I've had take-out pho, bun bo hue, and the duck bamboo noodle soup from here. All delicious and on the better end (not necessarily the best) of what I've eaten at other places. In particular the duck bamboo soup - I often order this when I see it on the menu because I love both ingredients, though I have no idea what authentic is supposed to look like. In this case it's a lot of bone-in duck pieces in a clear but tasty broth. Don't come for the ambiance as there was never music playing so it can either be super quiet or buzzing with people's chatter. From my limited experience visiting that is the only negative but not enough to dock a star.

We have been here for like 10+ times, and we don't even live close by. However this time is a little disappointing, there is a very obvious decline in the meat portion and quality. The soup was good still, but the potion, if u r gonna charge more and more, keep up the food quality, don't give us much less meat and call it a day. That's not ok and eventually gonna make u lose ur loyal customers. It is crowded. when u come here to eat, expect to share ur table with strangers, yeah like on the same table. They r not gonna care. As of now I already heard about all the gossips I can possibly hear in a year since I was literally sharing the table with another group.

Clear broth and great service! Noodles were really nice! Meat was substantial. A bit on the dry and tough side!

Food: 3 Stars Service: 3 Stars Ambience: 3 Stars Fill Factor: Satisfied I have a tendency to stick to the tried and true when it comes to Vietnamese cuisine but feeling a bit adventurous today I gave Pho Tien Thanh a try. I ordered the Bun bo hue which was a spicy broth with beef, Vietnamese ham, pork knuckle and blood. The gentlemen who took my order immediately asked if I wanted to remove the pork knuckle and blood from my order (I guess a lot of people don't like it?) but of course being someone who eats everything with four legs except for a chair I opted to leave it in. I also figured you would not be getting the full intended experience if I removed any ingredients. The soup base was a bit spicy and had good flavor to it but other than the soup everything else was pretty average. The portions here were disappointingly small as the bowl was mostly soup with the bare minimum amount of noodles (though there was an acceptable amount of meat). There was probably more bean sprout in my bowl than noodles so I ended up filling up on the soup but was hungry in less than an hour. The place was very busy when I visited but it did not take very long for us to be seated and the food arrived fairly quickly so no issues on that end. There are plenty of seats indoors but the restaurant has also opened up a number of seats outside so there is plenty of seating. Oh and they only accept cash/debit on weekdays and cash only on weekends. Well after this experience I am not sure I will be as adventurous as it backfired this time. Definitely not worth the $17+ I paid for the noodles. Maybe their other offerings are better but do not recommend ordering what I did if you are hungry (unless you like filling up on soup).

Cute neighborhood Vietnamese shop. I know this place is an institution but honestly the food was very meh. I ordered the Special Pho and the broth was not very flavorful, not much topping and a lot of noodles. The broth tasted a lot of spices but not much beef flavor. My friend got the Bun Bo Hue, which is actually the better choice with much better soup but still not a lot of meat. We also ordered the spring rolls which was so oily and heavy, lots of taro and not much meat filling. The portion was decent but I noticed an increase in price. I understand the economy but I was hoping for better quality in the food. Came during lunch time so it was quite busy and loud. The service was quick.

This place is a hole in the wall type joint but came here after a coworker highly recommended it. It's got that old school Asian resto vibe where seating is almost communal so they can get more people in and out. The tables are mostly 2 person tables that are pushed together against the wall and extend out into the restaurant so it's hard to seat a big group together. Their phos come in 3 different sizes, ranging from small to large. The small is perfect if you're splitting an app. The large is huge! Bring your appetite. I usually default to the pho tai. I was hoping the beef would be more rare but it was mostly well done. The broth is really amazing and the noodles were perfectly cooked. The only issue - a surprise hair that wasn't mine! I'm used to the dirty pho trope but I don't enjoy it. On my way out of the restaurant I did see that they only had a conditional pass on Dine Safe.

Visited this spot to satisfy pho cravings looks a bit run down & some may have second thoughts upon arrival but def worth giving a try! The noodles were the perfect texture but felt like broth could've been a bit better - also pretty generous with the meat & toppings! Friendly service. Cash only. Parking along the street or public parking garages available

This place was recommended to us by some friends who live local and we're so glad we got to stop in! The food was outstanding, and the service excellent. The ambience is very local and small, and there was a constant line of people to come in! Your are place at tables where you can fit, given a menu and an order sheet with a pen. You can write the number you're ordering and hand it to a waiter when they come by. We ordered the Pho Chicken Ga and Pad Thai. Both were excellent! I ordered a small Pho and it was plenty for me!

Hearty noodle soup for the soul! A local mom and pop pho restaurant in the busy streets of Ossington West neighbourhood. Your typical quick service pho restaurant but with very friendly staff - especially the man on cash who always had a smile on! :) Start off with the fried spring rolls - the outter layer was nice and crispy (fried to perfection), with a soft pork filling, paired with a salty fish sauce for dipping. Bun bo hue was aaah-mazing. Packed with flavour in the broth, topped with lots of meat and was perfectly seasoned. Not too spicy for your palette! Highly recommend this dish. Bun Rieu was also flavour packed and so delicious. Probably one of the best in town! Loaded with toppings of a crab claw, meat patties and crab meat. Could probably drink the entire bowl of soup! Will be coming back just for this! Drinks - get the soursop milkshake. Sweet and slightly sour/ tangy. It's refreshing and pairs well with the hot noodle soup dishes. Love this place as it's reasonably priced with super delicious food. They also had a patio in the front where you can dine outdoors if you'd like!

Don't be fooled by the hole-in-the-wall aesthetic! It's what gives this place an authentic and homey vibe. The pho here has a really nice broth, and that's what makes it darned good. The spring rolls were deliciously fried (double fried, I believe) - highly recommended! We waited ~5 minutes for a table, but I imagine the place is usually busier during the weekend lunch hour. We must have gotten lucky with many folks out of town for the long weekend. Usually, I don't expect good service from Asian establishments, but the waitstaff were patient and friendly, which is an unexpected but pleasant surprise!! It was a nice touch to top off our wonderful dining experience.

Authentic Vietnamese comfort food spot! Right when you walk in- the decor is without a doubt charming. There are bubblegum pink walls surrounding and a huge I love Pho Forever sign. We ordered a feast (a lot for 2 people); def had to get the Pho, Bun Bo Hue, Fried Eggrolls, Grilled Pork Chop over broken rice, Avocado Smoothie and their Vietnamese Coffee. I personally loved the Bun Bo Hue more than the Pho but I think it really comes down to preference; if you like spicy & a stronger fish sauce taste go for BBH and if you prefer lighter and thinner noodles go for Pho. Honestly everything we ordered was solid & def authentic. Even the BBH had pork blood cubes just like you would if you ordered this in Vietnam (there's an alternate version of BBH where they omit the pork blood if you can't eat it or don't like it!) The owner was an absolute sweetheart! Hospitality was so heartwarming. He took time to greet us and even started conversation with us about where we're from & kept saying thank you thank you for the support! Support and protect this business at all cost! While Ossington is a meca of new hip businesses nothing beats some traditional eats where the food is the star. Def recommend! I'm coming back again very soon!!

Pho Tien Tanh is one of my go-to spots for pho (like many other people in the city - be prepared for 30+ min waits during peak mealtimes)! It's the perfect warm bowl of noodle soup on a cold day, and my second fave pho spot in Toronto. I always order the small size rare beef pho - it's good quality and the broth is clear yet super tasty. Service is quick and efficient - payment is cash only.

Vegetarian and shrimp spring rolls with dipping sauce were a perfect start and the broth was sensational. The service was equal the food quality.

Pho Tien Thanh is a Vietnamese restaurant that offers an exceptional dining experience with its authentic flavors and a wide range of consistently delicious menu options that keep customers coming back week after week. Don't just get the pho and try one of their other delicious noodle soup! The menu offers a broad selection of Vietnamese dishes beyond just pho.

Always thought this placed was over hyped, but I would always give it another shot when I'm in the area. Bonus points for serving authentic banh canh (clear tapioca noodle), but unfortunately their soup base was really blend. Their banh canh cua 15$ is served in their middle sized bowl with two crab claws, 2 shrimps, and 2 pieces of pork feet. The pho dac biet comes in three different sizes, and is served with a variety of different cuts. Please note that this venue is cash only, so bring cash unless you're down to pay for for the atm fees.

Best pho restaurant I've ever been to in Toronto. In comparison to other places, the broth is extremely rich. I only ordered the standard pho and some spring rolls. The mango smoothie is also delicious; I took one to go! My only complaint is that the ambiance isn't particularly appealing, its loud and the overall place doesn't look that sanitary compared to other places (but tbh that's how you know you're gonna get good food lmao) But if you don't mind that and are only interested in the food, you should definitely try it! By no means am I claiming that the food is OUTSTANDING. It still tastes like pho, just better than the other restaurants I've been to.

Listen, you can't argue with success. This place is very popular and when we were there there was quite a lineup. And one slurp of the pho confirms it - this is a very tasty, legit Pho. Some of the diners claimed it was the best Pho they've had. There's one problem I can't get over. The place is very dated, unkept, and let's face it... a little grimy. For the kind owners of this fabulous establishment, I beg of you: please spend a few dollars to spruce up the place, and get a regular house keeper. Other than that, keep doing what you're doing - making marvellous Pho.

If you're in the mood for a delicious and comforting bowl of pho, then Pho Tien Thanh is the perfect place to go. Their Pho Dac Biet is an absolute must-try, and is easily one of the best I've ever had. The broth is rich, flavorful, and complex, with layers of savory and aromatic notes that are hard to resist. It's clear that the broth is made with care and attention, as every spoonful is packed with intense umami flavor. The rice noodles are also cooked to perfection, with just the right amount of chewiness and texture. But what really sets this bowl of pho apart is the generous serving of meats. The Pho Dac Biet comes with a delicious combination of rare steak, well-done brisket, meatballs, and tripe, all of which are perfectly cooked and seasoned. The meats add a satisfying richness and depth to the dish, and are a perfect complement to the flavorful broth. Overall, if you're looking for a great bowl of pho in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, be sure to try the Pho Dac Biet at Pho Tien Thanh. It's a delicious and comforting dish that's sure to warm your heart and soul.

I came here with my friend on a weekday afternoon and Pho Tien Thanh was very busy! Their patio was full and there was a line up. Everytime a free table opened up, it was quickly occupied. My friend and I decided to eat outside on their patio. I got the pho dac biet (medium) and she got the pho bo vien (with the beef balls). The pho was flavourful but otherwise it was just okay. I felt there weren't enough noodles for a $13.00 bowl of pho but the meat was adequate. They do dilute their sriracha and hoison sauce. In addition, at the beginning of my meal, a bee flew into my pho broth (why!!!!!) and drowned (R.I.P.). Just a note as there are many bugs around that want a taste of the pho too! The washroom does the job but it isn't as clean as you would expect. Service was quick and professional although cleaning can be improved.

Consistently good here! Been coming here for the last 10+ years and their pho noodles is always spot on. My go-tos are the fresh summer rolls and pho noodles with rare beef and beef balls. My only disappointment is that prices have gone up but I'm sure still cheap relatively! A small bowl of noodles is around $14

Very authentic Vietnamese restaurant. The environment was welcoming. The soup was flavorful with minced prawn and crab meat in there. We also ordered the Special Beef, Hot Spicy Noodle Soup. It was not very spicy with a taste of sour in it.

I had high hopes for this place as several people have recommended this pho restaurant to me but sadly felt like it didn't live up to the hype. The restaurant was a cute Vietnamese restaurant, nothing fancy. Unfortunately so 2 cockroaches but having eaten in side street stalls that was actually ok. The Viet iced coffee was relatively normal and nothing special but a bit too sweet. The pho was the main disappointment. The protein portion was sub par (the noods were not too bad). The broth is probably the only winner here. Staff are friendly though and they seemed like they were Vietnamese. So that's a plus!

The rare beef pho was filling and tasty. The fact that they only take debit and cash is inconvenient. What's more inconvenient is that their debit machine wasn't working that day and I had to use the in-house ATM to withdraw $20, paying a $2.50 fee in the process. Not cool, Pho Tien Thanh! The service was ok. Nothing spectacular, but nothing to complain about either. Overall, it's a no-frills kind of place to satisfy your pho craving. BTW: The scanned copy of their menu on their website (photienthanh.wordpress.com) is out of date. I paid $13+HST for #16 Pho Tai Nam, not $11+HST.

Heard about all the type and claiming to be one of the best place for pho. After trying it was a decent bowl of pho but I think it is over hyped and there are many other places that is comparable if not better. May give it another try in the future but I will explore other restaurants in the area too

The Pho here earns is spot on the list of best pho in the city, possibly THE best pho. Service is excellent, they are always willing to accommodate any requests and generous with the extras such as Thai Basil. No reservations, strictly first come first serve. Expect a line-up and wait time in the winter but we'll worth the wait.

Finally got to try one of the best well known Vietnamese restaurants in the city on Ossington. 8/10 - food was good, but it is on the pricier side compared to other viet restaurants in the city and portions are on the smaller side We got the classic pho dat biet and com ga nuong with a fried egg on top Definitely recommend getting the iced coffee with condensed milk!!! @imsuchafatass

Below average. I personally wouldn't come back only because I ordered the following: 1. Papaya salad - the MOST blandest papaya salad I've ever tried and I am from Calgary and we don't have really great food there so I was shocked that this was the worse papaya salad I've ever tried. I don't know if it was a hit or miss but it tasted like there was no salt no fish sauce it tasted like it was marinated with the water they soaked the papaya in with a dash of vinegar. I couldn't even eat it. There wasn't even a bit of chili to add some flavour? Where was the fish sauce? I recommend the owner check who's making this papaya salad because it really felt like whoever made this forgot to season it. 2. Bun Bo hue was good 8/10 my husband liked it also. The broth was flavourful it had l the right umami flavour I expected in a bun Bo hue and the perfect spice level for me but nothing special or extra delicious I wouldn't recommend coming here for just that because I don't know what else could be good or not. Overall I gave this place a 2 stars because the bun Bo hue was decent.

Came to visit from NYC and asked my Torontonian friends for a good place. They chose Pho Tien Thanh and it did not disappoint. This place was extremely busy on a Monday night but the service was still pretty quick. Ordered the vermicelli with pork skin and spring rolls and it was delicious! Every component and the crispy spring rolls *chef kiss*

the best pho in Toronto hands down. been around for ages, good authentic broth and beef. owners are very friendly

Went back for the first time in over a year and the noodles were disappointingly mushy. I hope it is a one off situation because this was consistently the best pho in Toronto for years. No excuse for it either since it was a busy high turnover day.

Overall: 1/5 This place only takes Cash, which is fine, but it'd be nice if they posted larger signs or any signs at the front of the store. Besides that, I'd been here a few times before and everything seemed acceptable, was a good lunch spot for PHO, however my most recent experience has been the worst and we'll never be going here again. We usually order the Beef PHO, and this time there were small bugs in my friend's PHO. Usually not a big deal, however they were quite busy (which is reasonable), so while I finished my bowl, my friend has not even had more than a few bites of hers. If they'd come by our table right away we'd have asked for a replacement, but as we were trying to catch a movie, we just wanted to leave. Finally got the waiters attention, and he did verify and admit they were in fact bugs in the soup, he said he would get a replacement right away. I tried twice to say can we just get the bill, but not pay for the second PHO (because of bugs, right? reasonable?) but he kept saying we can't cancel, and we ordered it so we have to pay for it. He brought a second PHO which we literally didn't touch, and yes, the bill had two PHOs on it. So, never going here again.

Loves the deep fried meat spring rolls. So crispy outside and juicy inside. Def try them! The broth of the pho is clear and tastes a lil bit sweet, just like any good pho broth does. The coffee is great. I was about to have the classic Vietnam coffee but it was not on the menu. So, i just have the hot coffee with condensed milk. It was good.

I have been here multiple times but this is my first review of it. I can't remember what I ordered previous times. So this time around I got the number 9 dac biet pho (medium - $10.50). The toppings such as the bean sprouts and basil were very fresh. There was also a very generous amount of meat in the bowl. As usual, I added all toppings (including the lime) and some sriracha. I usually don't add the hoisin cause I'm not a fan. Overall I thought the noodles and meats were good - the meat especially seemed good quality. But the broth just wasn't there for me. A bit salty and not so much depth to it. Maybe next time I'll try something else on the menu instead such as the bun bo hue to see if I like it better.

Honestly, don't understand the hype? The bun bo hue isn't a super flavourful broth. It's too clear of a broth to be a bun bo hue broth. The bun thit nuongs meat is wayyyyy too sweet and overpowering in the meal. The bathroom is pretty disgusting. I think there is better pho joints out there you can try

It was a great dish with lots of flavour. I loved the vermicelli, it's topped with minced prawns, crab tomatoes, and pork blood in a soup. So flavourful and the bowl is huge!

This place has delicious food, and the owners are so kind And welcoming. Their pho soup is there best I've ever had.

I got Bun Bo Hue, Com Tam today for takeout and the food is horrible.... I had come here for many times but this time is truly a disappointment.

Returned for a second time and the House Special pho was better. The quality and cleanliness is still less than Golden Turtle down the road. This place is open on Tuesdays and their fried spring roll was really good! Increasing rating as the second experience was better.

Legit Vietnamese food. Will be my go-to place for my pho fix. Totally worth to wait in line.