This visit was memory lane attempt visiting Ottawa after around 20 years. Same decoration and clean enough for these mom and pop establishments. I ordered the pho with tendon and tripe (extra cost) and I opted for large size. Unfortunately I feel I got screwed in many directions. It cost $20 however all I got as large was the size of the broth. It had 2 pieces of tripe and 3 small pieces of tendons. The amount of beef slices was good. As I was having my food I found a piece of red string which was disturbing however I didn't feel bad enough to stop eating and I was hungry and wasn't in mood to argue and potentially having to leave since I had already paid for street parking. read more

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I haven't been here since 12 yrs ago and it's still on point, with flavour, presentation, freshness, great service and still cute lil place as before :) I used to order S11 in the past with only shrimp however as a vegan now, S17 is perfect! I brought my daughter (Naruto fan) and she absolutely loved the whole experience down to every single drop :) Highly recommend! read more

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Nice food nice soup. I can feel that Im in Vietnam. I recommend to Vietnamese live in Canada. read more

Pho-Bo-Ga La Restaurant - ows a bowl of soup and chopsticks - Vietnamese Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

I am addicted to their vermicelli bowls. I add a little siracha and it's absolutely perfect. Bun just like in Vietnam!

The Asian night market in Chinatown was happening around this time, and we figured we'd just get a proper meal nearby rather than partake in the price gouging of the festival. Because of this, when we arrived around 11, there were quite a few people dining there. The atmosphere is rather casual, nothing too lavish, which is just how I like it. My first order was out of stock, so I instead got the S13, which is probably subject to change, but this should be Bo Kho, a spicy beef stew with rice and noodles. It took around 20 minutes for the dish to arrive. Overall great portion size for its price. The broth was hearty and the beef was cooked fine. This was a nice find; I would recommend Pho-Bo-Ga La, especially for late-night warriors, but not for vegetarians; a lot of the dishes have meat, and there aren't many great plant-based options. read more

I had dinner here with my parents, as part of their "try every pho joint in Ottawa" endeavour and we really liked it. So in Chinatown there are a lot of pho restaurants with really similar names all containing "Pho" "Bo" and "Ga" (In fact, there are even 2 different restaurants with the exact same name, very weird. There is a Pho Bo Ga 2 at 834 Somerset St West AND at 857 Somerset St West, so if you're meeting friends at Pho Bo Ga 2, you better specify which one!). I have to admit that I've been avoiding these places because I'm like "why don't you come up with more original names?" But then I realized that I would be missing out on like half of all the pho places in Chinatown. Anyway, my parents both got the Pho Thap Cam (Combination Pho). My mom got the small ($9.50) and my dad got the large ($11.50). I got what I usually get at pho restaurants if it's on the menu: Hu Tieu Nam Vang (Phnom Penh Tapioca Noodle Soup). I got a small ($10.50). The portions here are generous. I have a big appetite and small was sufficient for me. I probably could have eaten a medium, but I would have been uncomfortably full. My dad has a huge appetite and he admitted that the large was a bit much for him (although he finished it, lol). To think that they even have XL! My Hu Tieu Nam Vang was delicious. The tapioca noodles were chewy and the broth was fragrant. I got 2 large shrimp (peeled except for the end of the tail, and properly deveined), 2 slices of fried fish cakes, some ground pork, lots of slices of lean pork, and a quail egg. I love that the pork slices were lean. So many places give you fatty pork. I know that some people like that, but not me. I prefer lean meats. The soup also had some fried shallots, green onions and napa cabbage. I told them to hold the bean sprouts. The soup was tasty and I liked that they gave me a lot of toppings/protein. I did not run out of meat before I ran out of noodles. Yay! I hate it at other places where at the end I'm pretty much just eating noodles and broth because I ran out of meat. My soup also came with a shrimp cracker which was fried dough with a shrimp in it. It was super oily and greasy, so I didn't eat it, but my mom loved it. The shrimp in the shrimp cracker was not peeled but at least did not still have the head on it. I know that unpeeled and head on is the traditional way, but I prefer peeled and headless! It's too freaky for me otherwise, haha. My dad loved his pho. He especially loved the variety of meat in it. The Pho Thap Cam came with brisket, rare beef, cooked beef, beef balls (meatballs, not testicles, lol), chicken and a quail egg. He said he got a piece of tripe, but my mom who ordered the same thing said she didn't get any tripe (?!?) My mom enjoyed her pho too, but commented that the chicken was hard and chewy. My mom wanted some Che Ba Mau (a tri-coloured dessert with beans) but they didn't have any left :( Service was polite, efficient, and competent. The place is a bit small and cramped. Overall, I really liked my meal and I would rank this restaurant among the top 3 pho restaurants in Ottawa. read more

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2.5 star Maybe I should not have give Pho-Bo-Ga La Restaurant a 2 star but my bowl of Bun Bo Hue ($9.50) Vietnamese spicy beef noodle soup was a little disappointing. I had way way better Bun Bo Hue but this was the only one I tried in Ottawa..... For $9.50 there was not much inside my bowl of noodle. 2 piece of raw beef and beef tendon each and they should just put in more noodle maybe for that price? I could eat 2 of those before I would be satisfied! I should not be eating Vietnamese food when I am in town. But I was dying for some hot comfort food and not much open after 10 pm. read more

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Walked into this restaurant with a group of friends for a Friday night dinner. Not too busy when we walked in (it was around 7pm). We ordered - I ordered #13 in a small size, which was just under $10 before tax. It came with rare beef, beef tendon, beef brisket, and beef tripe noodle. The taste was okay, pretty good but nothing spectacular. I was a bit disappointed with my portion (small was really small, and only $1 under the medium size so I would recommend getting medium instead or large if you are really hungry). I chose #13 because I wanted a fair mix of all the different types of meat. However, I only had a small tiny piece of rare beef and just a lot of beef tendons (about four pieces?) which I am not too big of a fan of. I wish there was more variety in the portion of meat given. The place is very casual and you can walk in easily and stay there chatting with friends for a while, so I would recommend it if you are looking for an easy, quick meal with friends. read more

Pho-Bo-Ga La Restaurant - #13 small, mix of different types of beef - Vietnamese Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

We (family of 4) liked this restaurant very much. The outdoor area is pretty and great for a cool night. The pho was very tasty - they have a million variations. The broth and the noodles were delicious and well-cooked. We liked the #20. Service was great, the two young women working that Saturday night were efficient, kind, and smily. We loved that! Price was great too. read more

One of my favs! It's the blue one up the stairs! They make the special Phos really well. I especially love their bun no hue and the bo kho! Spicy Phos are my fav for sure! Their regular pho broth is on point too. They are quick with service and the place is cozy. read more

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I went to the restaurant the other day and the first thing was that the service was horrible! the server did not even ask us what to drink. when I asked for water, rather than tea, he just gave me the stare... I ordered the typical rare beef noodle. The soup tasted off and the beef was for sure frozen 10 mins ago. I asked for hot sauce twice and they forgot it twice... I do not recommend this place. read more

Whenever I come to Ottawa, this is generally my stop for any Pho. Although I admit there's much better pho back in the GTA. The restaurant is quite small, yet busy as well. It seems to be one of the more well-known joints, which I'm not surprised at all. From the 4-5 times I've been here, I've waited on 1 of those occasions, and it was roughly a 5-10 minute wait. They do try and move everyone in and out as fast as possible. The menu is somewhat straight forward, but the items are all over the place in terms of organization. I was upset they don't have iced lemon tea though; it's a staple I always get back home. The pho itself is excellent for Ottawa. For Toronto it'd be average to above average, but since Ottawa isn't meant for Pho I won't argue there. The tomato soup I had in my order was quite good too, there's actually the taste of tomato in it. Makes me feel like I'm back home. Whenever I come back to Ottawa and if I ever miss Pho, this is definitely my stop. read more

Absolutely delicious! I have had a lot of pho in my days, so I decided to try one of their special noodle soup dishes. I ordered the Bun Mi Phuc Kien, mixed vermicelli and shanghai noodles with shrimp and pork in a garlic soup. Oh my goodness...that garlic soup is sooo delicious! Delicious! read more

I've been a loyal customer for years but today was the final straw. Every couple of weeks I phone in a take out order and, almost invariably, it's not ready in the promised time. Today I was delayed in traffic, my only consolation being that for once my order would be ready.......guess what, it wasn't and was told it would be at least another 15 minutes. That was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. I love their food, and it was my very first into to pho many years ago. I'm going to miss you S4 soup but enough is enough. read more

I went on a pho binge a few years back and this place was up there with my favorite pho, so I expected them to make a decent vegetarian soup too. This was later in the evening, 10pm, so the other contenders in the area like Saigon Boy or Pho Thu Do were closed for the evening. After I went to New Pho Bo Ga La and discovered their sizes are now way too small, I came here expecting decent veggie pho but I think I'll pay the extra money and stick with New Pho Bo Ga La :( I ordered the medium vegetable pho and a strawberry shake. I've had strawberry shakes from other Vietnamese restaurants and they're more like a smoothie, they're usually pretty tasty. The strawberries they pulled out to put in the smoothie looked old and I wish I had stopped him there but I was too chicken. I got my pho to go and drank the strawberry shake on the way home. It wasn't that bad surprisingly, but definitely not as good as other ones I've had from other restaurants, and it was not worth the price ($5). The veggie pho really sucked. It was unremarkable, bland and tasty fishy. It was nothing like the delicious vegetable pho I had at New Pho Bo Ga La a few weeks ago. Really disappointing. The worst part is that a few hours later my stomach started turning. I ended up getting really sick. Never again. read more

The pho I had here is excellent. I usually order the beef Pho and went with 013, Pho Tai Gau Gan Sach: rare beef, beef brisket, beef tendons, and beef tripe rice noodles. The key to a great pho is the broth since the noodles will soak it in for the flavor. I loved the broth at this restaurant. Depending on your experience with ethnic food and tolerance for something different, I would warn against tripe (intestine). I enjoy it but I have eaten it my entire life. If you are visiting Ottawa and looking for recommendations, feel free to message me through Yelp and I can share my itinerary, which includes my Yelp reviews. The information for an electronic copy can also be found in the link via my Yelp profile. read more

Decided to try the pho place again. It was a lot better since I last came. Order the shrimp spring rolls ($5.50 for 3 small) and the number 13 large this time. The soup was very tasty and the noodles were a great texture. Was busy on a Tuesday night. read more

There are a lot of Pho places in Ottawa however this place is the BEST. It's a small establishment but don't let that sway you. I have been going almost every week for 17 years. This place dependable and consistent. Service is very fast and has a very loyal customer base. I will warn you that you will be back again and again. Portion sizes are big and the pho broth is top quality. Spring rolls and rice wraps are fantastic. Just go...you won't regret it. read more

Pho-Bo-Ga La Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Been coming here my whole life, I've tried almost every pho restaurant in Ottawa, but this one is still my favourite. Their broth is always very rich and flavourful and they give you a lot of meat. However, I would not recommend their Pad Thai. read more

Pho-Bo-Ga La Restaurant - Large #25 - Vietnamese Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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Nice little place. Nothing fancy. Had a pulled pork spring roll and pho. It was good and good price. I would try other places near to compare before going back. read more

Pho-Bo-Ga La Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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My favourite pho spot in Ottawa. Staff is always accommodating, and I've never had a problem with any of my meals there... And there are a lot of meals there! Dine-in or take-out, my food is always perfect. Great prices for the quality of food. Shrimp spring rolls are better than so many other pho restaurants I've been to, and the beef broth soup is perfect. Their vermicelli bowls are another favourite; great portion size; I've never left hungry!!!! read more

So I went there a few nights before and had a small well done pho. It was OK, I hadn't had pho in a long time and decided to try it again with my wife. I went back a few days later and orderd the large bowl with extra meat. My wife ordered the well done beef, except the beef was very fatty and different from my rare beef and the well done beef I had just a few days ago. Also just because we asked for a different doness I don't expect the beef to become riddled with fat (it tasted radically different, they even have a fatty beef option on the menu, trust me I wasn't being picky). Anyway I thought hey, it's an honest mistake so I asked the waiter and he quickly said no, it's what you ordered, I tried to explain myself but I was dismissed quickly and the waiter left to do his busy work. It also didn't help that the soup tasted and smelled like mop water. we ended up leaving with a huge bill and uneaten pho. Avoid at all cost, Ottawa has way better quality places that are steps away from this horrible place. read more

The hu tieu is very good here. I found they overcook the noodles no matter what i orderbut next time I will ask them to cook them less. It's a good place. My local Vietnamese like this spot too. read more

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This is a place to go for the traditional Southern style Vietnamese Pho. We had gone to this restaurant at least once a month for many years and we have never been let down. The place is small though and they do serve take-out. Prices have gone up a little and the XL bowl is a little smaller but we don't mind. Service is always friendly. Try the "fatty beef" with your Pho. read more

Pho-Bo-Ga La Restaurant - Traditional Pho (No. 15) - Vietnamese Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

We walked in 20 minutes becore close and this mutha f$@ka tell me his is out of soup, bugges disapointment ever, still giving 5 stars cause "Dat Pho Isda Best"... read more

The food was amazing, I ordered 004 rare beef and well done rice noodle, the portion was decent, soup was riched with beef flavour and hot, the beef and noodle were well-made. Most importantly, I didnt feel thirsty, which suggest that the food did not have much MSG. I mean I usually crave for water after going to some of them Pho restaurants but this one, I barely need to drink. read more

This is my abosulute favourite Pho place in Ottawa. They also offer Vegetarian broth!!! read more

So this is the original Pho Bo Ga La and has the same owners as the 'New' Pho Bo Ga La pretty much right across the street. The decor is average at best and the seating space is a bit tight. It is one of those places where you go for the food and dont worry about the rest. The price is very competitive as well. That being said, the place does not have quality or cleanliness issues. The service is quick. The menu may be a bit difficult to decipher since the sequence is a bit whacky but the food makes up for everything. You have to write down your order while you get a constant supply of green tea. The regular pho bowls are really good. I tried the special rare beef with rice noodles in spicy thai soup (s6) last night and it was really good. The spice was just right and didnt destroy my sinuses. I had a bit of an issue with the tomato-ey broth but it wasnt a big deal since its more of a personal preference. For $7.50 for a medium bowl, I can't complain. The pork spring rolls are really good too. Crispy and not too oily. This place gets 4 stars only for the food and should be on the list of the unpretentious restaurants. I am taking 1 more star off for decor and service. Be prepared to pay 25 cents for using your debit card for any amount. No credit cards can be used! read more

I came here with a group of 6. The portion was so small. I usually get a medium size at other pho places and that will fill me up quite well. This place medium bowl only had like 3 pieces of beef! Last but not least, when I was paying for the bill they tried to scam us by charging us an extra bowl which made sense why they did not want to split our bills. Never will I come back here again. read more

This is the best pho spot in Ottawa! I'm a vegetarian and love this place the most, however my meat-eating friend also says it's his favorite pho spot out of both Ottawa and Toronto! Although the restaurant is small and not the fanciest, the food is out of this world. Flavors are always on point, service is awesome, and the price is very reasonable. Highly recommend this one! read more

Delicious pho. I am from Toronto and Ottawa got the best pho. I ordered a large rare beef & beef & beef tendon pho and it was really good. Lots of meat which I love. The broth was hearty and perfect. I wasn't thirsty after meal so I assume not much MSG. The lady owner and her son? were friendly. Overall this is the best pho in Ontario. No joke. Come here when you are in Ottawa. read more

I had lunch here a few weeks ago. It's very pretty and the service was quick and friendly. I only had spring rolls and my friend had noodle soup. Very tasty, very authentic. read more