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    Pho Bo Ga Mekong

    3.5 (69 reviews)
    InexpensiveVietnamese
    Open 9:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Pho Bo Ga Mekong Photos

    PHO BO GA MEKONG ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Pho Bo Ga Mekong

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    beef special pho
    Anh L.

    The sister and I wanted to try some pho while we were here. This place popped up as the pho spot in melbourne; so we had to give it a try and also there was sign that said bill clinton visited here and other popular people around the world. PRAWN + CHICKEN SPRING ROLLS This is what we call egg rolls in the states. The filling was lackluster and flavorless and the dipping sauce didn't provide much flavor either. I was hoping for some sweetness and spice from the sauce, but it was just light and bland. The spring rolls were also bland and disappointing with little to no filling. BEEF SPECIAL PHO- beef, brisket, beef balls, tendon, tripe, sausage, and bone marrow The broth was very clean and meaty, totally different from what you get in the states, but the meats were nothing spectacular. The meats were chewy and you don't get many of each kind of meat and the size of the bowl is not something I'm used to. We ordered a medium bowl in the hopes of sharing among 2 of us, but it's more of like a small in the states. We do tend to eat more I guess. Overall, the broth is different and very clean and tasty, but other than that, it's a very basic bowl of pho. It was a good try, but if I didn't eat it on the next trip, I wouldn't be missing out on anything. Service is quick, our bowl came out within 2 minutes of us ordering and our server took our orders and brought our food out, nothing else.

    Inside
    David S.

    Since this is a Swanston Street restaurant you really do need to time yourself because this place can get pretty packed pretty quickly. Then again they do serve up some pretty awesome dishes and really reasonable prices, so I'm not surprised that this place is pretty popular. Mind you, being a Vietnamese restaurant you can probably guess what they tend to serve here, which honestly can be hit or miss at times, however, if you are looking for a cheap meal at a decent price, then this place certainly hits the spot.

    Not so tasty vermicelli with grilled pork
    Helen H.

    My husband ordered the beef pho special and I ordered the grilled pork vermicelli. The waiter did not bring his order as requested with beef on the side. The pho broth was on the sweeter side and had thicker noodles. It was overall average and nothing memorable. The vermicelli with grilled pork needed some mint and had giant pieces of pork with bones. I have never had bones in such a dish unless I ordered pork chops. The seasoning could use a lot of work and the meat was dry and difficult to eat. It was also on the saltier side. The bowl did not taste fresh and had one random basil leaf in it. It felt like sardines in this restaurant! I also had to ask twice for water and was never checked on again. The bowls and utensils were not thoroughly cleaned and I can see specks of dried old food. Decor is very old with bright fluorescent lighting. It was also extremely stuffy inside and was overall a very uncomfortable and subpar experience. Never again!

    Spring rolls not enough meat and skin is pretty tough and thick. Peanut sauce is spot on.
    Jacqueline T.

    Seriously... amazing pho! Top notch grade Australian beef! Different texture thin pho noodles! Different from classic pho... but mannnnnn it's gooooood! This chewy thin bounce of a noodle! Cute little hole in the wall. Walking distance to Chinatown. Entire street is filled with food and bbtea places. Including gigantic fried chicken next door... but do yourself a favor and save some space for this bowl of pho! No regrets! Pho for life! This may be my favorite pho place! Now I really gotta go visit Vietnam.

    Jennifer K.

    Mekong Vietnam has this old school Vietnamese restaurant feel. The experience was quite authentic! Eating here did feel like eating in one of the street food stalls in Hanoi where service is minimum and you rub elbows with your fellow diners. Sadly the food was just OK. Chicken Pho and Beef Pho were both unmemorable. I will suggest a pass if there is a wait. Yes this place is super busy and you have to squeeze through to even get to your table!

    Grilled pork Pho
    Geoff B.

    Picked up my son from the airport check, worked out with the trainer check, ask where could get the best Vietnamese food in the area Pho Bo Ga Mekong double check. For lunch I had the grilled pork Pho and my son had the grilled chicken Pho. Wow they were both really good. We also got vegetable, chicken and prawn spring rolls that were equally good. Highly recommend if you are on Swanson Street in Melbourne.

    Sign in front of us as we had the last table at the back. You can hear the cater of the waitress and waiters.
    C W.

    So this place is famous for pho in the CBD area of Melbourne. We got there around 8pm and the place was full. Luckily we managed to get a table at the back of the restaurant. Service was quick, the waitress came back within 5-6 min of showing our table. We ordered the Vietnam spring rolls which came in 5 seconds after we ordered. Sure if you are hungry it is great, but was it done freshly. Going by the customers, it Would be. We ordered the beef pho and the chicken pho. It came with large amount of fresh mint and bean sprouts. It was good especially when the soup is hot. Overall I believe there are others better ones in MEL but this will do for now.

    Helena T.

    So we decided to try the famous pho noodle restaurant. Apparently President Bill Clinton had 2 bowls when he visited. I had the chargrilled chicken pho and hubby had beef brisket pho. All very good. We also had fried spring rolls and they were good too. However the wait to get in maybe a bit long so be prepared. I would recommend it if you're in the area. #maneklady #manekeats #manektravels

    Pho beef and meatballs
    Sheenal S.

    Cheap and cheerful. Cash only Ordered chicken and prawn rice paper rolls. Below average tasting. Didn't contain many veggies or meat and too many noodles. No mint or soy either. The Chargrilled chicken with rice was delicious. Chicken was tender and flavoursome. The beef pho with meatballs was average. The balls came out slightly undercooked. The pho was subtly flavoured. Good portion sizes but dishes are not for sharing.

    Get on that pickled onion, yum! Or for the spice lovers, some fresh chili.
    Jo B.

    My husband is half Vietnamese, and pho is one of his favourite dishes. His face lights up any time I suggest we go get pho, because he knows I'm only talking about Mekong pho. We've tried many over time, but Mekong is the best we've found for pho in the CBD. We've had pho here many many times, and have always been happy with the freshness, quality and quantity. Our personal favourites are the char-grilled chicken and char-grilled pork. Whatever they do to that meat in the grilling process is wonderful. We've also tried many of the other options - including chicken hearts for him, which I couldn't cope with. The simple beef is nice, and safe for the less adventurous. If you're not okay with anything beyond standard cuts of meat, don't order the specials! There are other things on the menu, but don't bother. Just get a large pho, and you'll be totally satisfied by the end. Also look out for the pickled onions on the tables - those things are delicious! Hubby goes for the fresh chili and a good squeeze of hoisin sauce instead. Each to their own - pho is a personal thing, and it's wonderful when you get it right. And we always get it right here.

    Hope M.

    Okay, I'm going to be the party pooper here - I've seen that exact same sign re: Bill Clinton eating two bowls in another restaurant in Vietnam, so I'm not sure how authentic the claim is... Anyway, the pho is still good and very more-ish - but a single size will make any human stomach explode so let's assume if the Bill sign is true, they mean he ate the two bowls over two nights. For me, pho is the ultimate hangover cure - the salty soup rehydrates you while the chili (add lots) sorts out your stomach and clears your head. But the great thing about Mekong is you can go there on the way home from bars in the city to prevent the hangover! It's a genius location. But still, Mekong is only a 3-star joint for me - I like the busy atmosphere and the pho is good, but I've had much better around town...

    Krystine L.

    The reason why I gave 2 stars cuz the waitress was nice. I don't know how this place is so busy. The food here is terrible. I ordered a beef pho with bone marrow cuz I love bone marrow but when I saw it I didn't even know what that white thing is. Anyways the broth doesn't taste like pho. I am Vietnamese so I know how it supposed to taste like. So far I've tried pho, bun bo, and broken rice dishes and nothing tastes good. I thought maybe something else tastes good there so I kept coming back to try different dishes each time and nope! Failed!

    Arabella G.

    Ok, it may look like a slightly decrepit 1980s gaming arcade replete with neon signs and seen-better-days paintwork; admittedly, you probably wouldn't want to go on a first date here unless your companion was REALLY into their cheap as chips Vietnamese food; but Mekong Vietnam in the heart of the CBD is one of Melbourne's best kept Vietnamese secrets and the home of some damn good Pho. Specialising in Pho, a light, fragrant Vietnamese soup served with pork, chicken or a multitude of other accompaniments, Mekong Vietnam is nothing less than a Pho institution. I used to have a theory that soup wasn't a real meal, but having visited Mekong Vietnam I can admit that I was wrong and am quite happy to return to Mekong Vietnam to be proven wrong again and again. And again if need be. I shared a bowl of the pork Pho and some fresh chargrilled chicken spring rolls and both were exceptional. The Pho came with reams of noodles and was served with add-it-yourself beansprouts, lemon quarters for squeezing, holy basil and red chilli and topped with two beautifully cooked and very heartily sized pieces of pork. While Mekong's spring rolls were gorgeous: all fresh crunchy lettuce, fragrant mint and copious amounts of hoisin dipping sauce. And the bill? A very, very fair $19. Total. Cheap, cheerful and very very tasty, Mekong deserves every bit of its cult status.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Pho Bo Ga Mekong Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Pho Bo Ga Mekong

    When I was feeling a little down and lonely, missing the hussel and bustle of Saigon i ventured out to Mekong Vietnam, for some pho.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

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    Pho Nom - In the basement away from the upstairs food court it has a cool modern street food feel that's very Melbourne

    Pho Nom

    4.1(28 reviews)
    0.1 kmMelbourne
    $

    Ph Nom is an unassuming looking eatery in the food court located on the lower ground level of the…read moreshoping center, The Emporium. The restaurant boasts of MSG-free, high quality ingredients with authentic Vietnamese recipes. My pho bo Saigon came with tender brisket, quality steak, and your usual beef balls. The beef broth was HANDS DOWN the most finest, clean-tasting, and flavorful beef broth that I have ever had. It was not oily and surprisingly had a lightness to it. No hoison sauce or sriracha needed to go into this broth. It was perfect the way it was. I also tried the Saigon sandwich, which came with housemade pate, wagyu beef, and eggs. The sandwich was delicious, flavorful, and hearty. Housemade pate truly makes a difference. I did not think a Vietnamese sandwich could've been enjoyed that much but this was an elevated version of your usual banh mi. The Vietnamese iced coffee was also delicious and almost finished immediately. I will definitely miss Ph Nom when I return home! Vietnamese cuisine is one of my favorite and growing up with it, I thought I had tasted it all but Ph Nom was a whole new level entirely!

    What's that? A big fancy new shopping centre has opened in Melbourne and people are flocking there…read moreto visit MUJI and Uniqlo? Ahuh. Very nice dear. I'm more interested in the food offerings they have at Emporium and it was Pho Nom that I was most keen to sample first, as it's been spoken and tweeted about for months now, with chef Jerry Mai even giving potential new customers a sample at some pop up Pho kitchens months ago at the National. I'm glad to say that it lived up to expectations, my Saigon Pho Bo broth rich with spices and flavour and three cuts of beef (rare, brisket and meatball) bobbing around amongst the rice noodles. We also sampled the rice paper rolls - the pork skewered and the lemongrass chicken got the thumbs up from the grown ups and the crispy pork got devoured by Miss 3 before she started in on the Pho. It was only the first week when we visited and it was clear that every store in Emporium was struggling a little with the onslaught of people while trying to bed down systems. The Pho Nom crew did a stellar job, pumping on the food quickly and maintaining a smile the whole time. The only downfall? With hardly any seating (something that seems to be apparent with all food vendors in the centre) it was tricky finding somewhere to sit. Once we did, we could feel the eyes of everyone around us as we ate our last mouthfuls. Apparently more seating has been ordered, which should hopefully create a little more calm. Hooray!

    Photos
    Pho Nom - Order at one end, pick up at the other

    Order at one end, pick up at the other

    Pho Nom - Vietnamese drinks include 2 Vietnamese beers, proper VN coffee, soursop smoothies, sugarcane juice...

    Vietnamese drinks include 2 Vietnamese beers, proper VN coffee, soursop smoothies, sugarcane juice...

    Pho Nom - Order at one end, grab it further along the counter. Busy opening weekend

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    Order at one end, grab it further along the counter. Busy opening weekend

    Pho Dzung City Noodle Shop

    Pho Dzung City Noodle Shop

    3.9(32 reviews)
    0.3 kmMelbourne
    $

    PhoNomenal! Mekong, no more!?…read more was here for an early dinner before heading down to south yarra for CMYE. this is my first time here, trying only their pho and they have won me over. could it be the trek in winter that made me hungry?;) if you get past closing their tricky glass door, their typically basic pho shop set up will slowly warm you up. hit their free flow hot tea for a quicker thaw. menu is pictorialized, so just point and shoot your order(s). do beware when it comes to sizes, they come in S,M,L but the staff seems to only offer medium or large ones. for me, the medium size combination pho at A$10, was way more than enough! so if you are planning to squeeze into your wedding dress for a photo shoot, do ask them for a small portion instead. the wait was only made agonizing because they do not offer wifi:( but the fact of the matter is, you will soon be presented with fresh garnishes followed in tow by their piping, yet not overly hot bowl of pho goodness. the trick is to add in all the fresh garnishes, if you like them, crunchy bean sprouts, fragrant sweet thai basil and a squeeze of tart lemon, as much as i do. quickly toss up so the heat transfers to the garnishes without overcooking them and yet brings the broth down to a desirable slurping temperature whilst enhancing the depth of the dish. then add the usual suspects like hosin, sriracha and fish sauces and chilli oil for the complex trained palate. another round of gentle mixing and you are ready to reap what you sowed. all the different cuts of beef in their combination pho were exquisitely cooked and offered a marvelous mix of texture and flavour. slurping them silky, slippery rice noodles was a breeze and delight. The genius of a move of keeping my black winter pea coat on, also prevented any unwanted visible splash spots! Service was neither bad nor good. They let their pho do the talking and boy did it speak to me in volumes! It is definitely a 5 star pho but i'll reserve that fifth for after I try their other dishes. p.s. can you please open an outlet in SG!?;-)

    This place deserves a standing phovation! I was on a Great Ocean Road tour and it was supposed to…read morebe back in the city at 9pm. Due to some delays, we didn't make it back into the city until close to 10pm. I had phoned ahead to see if they would still be open and they said "Yes." When I saw the time closing in on 10pm, I called them again and explained my situation. They were very friendly and told me to come on and not to worry. They are staying open for me. I could not believe this. When I walked up to the restaurant, they had the "We are closed" sign on the door but had the door unlocked for me. They let me sit down and immediately brought out my warm tea and large bowl of pho that I had pre-ordered. After walking outside all day and being a bit chilly, nothing better to warm you up than a steaming bowl of pho. The broth was tasty which is the most important factor when eating pho and i liked the thick flat noodles as well. They didn't skimp on one thing. My bowl was packed with thinly sliced rare beef and vietnamese beef balls. I used all the fresh condiments they gave me and went to town. I use tons of lime in my pho but it's because I am a huge lover of lime. A place that will not only stay open for you but let you enjoy your meal and give you a big bowl of pho with all the fixings is a place I would keep coming back too. Thank you for providing me my last supper in Melbourne. I know where to tell my friends to go when they visit and I definitely know where to go when I return.

    Photos
    Pho Dzung City Noodle Shop
    Pho Dzung City Noodle Shop - Menu, utensils and condiments.

    Menu, utensils and condiments.

    Pho Dzung City Noodle Shop - Chicken Pho.... So ridiculously delicious!

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    Chicken Pho.... So ridiculously delicious!

    Pho Bo Ga Mekong - vietnamese - Updated May 2026

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