Pho Pasteur Parramatta

Overview

Pho Pasteur in Parramatta isn't just a Vietnamese restaurant. It's the realisation of a dream. Owners Mr and Mrs Pham fled their native Tay Ninh province to Australia in the 1970s, as refugees of the Vietnam War, and after working tirelessly to save up some money, they opened this old-school eatery in 1992.

Their hope? To share the recipes of their home province with their newfound neighbourhood. They chose Parramatta for its central location and multicultural population, and they haven't looked back since. And foodies throughout Sydney are grateful for their hard work and determination.

First off, we recommend you arrive at Pho Pasteur hungry for the dishes are mighty generous. And fair warning, you'll struggle to go past the beef pho, a heartwarming noodle soup containing the works — rare beef, brisket, meatballs, tendon and tripe. There are options to add carrots, potatoes or seafood as well.

Other soups include a wonton short soup and a spicy laksa with chicken, beef or seafood. Noodle dishes include grilled pork chops with dry noodles in a sweet and savoury sauce or crispy chicken with egg noodles. There are vermicelli salad bowls too, include wok tossed beef with lemongrass or grilled pork with spring rolls.

For vegetarians there are a whole two pages of menu to pick from, but the vegetarian hot pot with tofu and steamed rice or the mock duck salad are especially delicious. Options abound here. If you're up for sharing, order a bunch of dishes and feast on some of the best Vietnamese food in the city.

But it's not just about the food. Pho Pasteur's drinks list is fun and traditional, with highlights including the extra sweet Vietnamese style coffee with condescend milk as well as a homemade lemonade. For dessert, try the deep-fried banana fritters with berry vanilla ice cream. We highly recommend saving room for this bad boy.

Images: Kitti Gould.