After days of lobster rolls and lobster everything, I was ready to throw myself into the ocean just…read moreto feel something spicy. Halifax is beautiful, no doubt--but if you're someone who needs a kick of chili in your food (and your soul), the city can feel like a spice desert. Enter Pho Maniac. We spotted it thanks to the red chili-laced photos plastered on the window. That alone was enough to pull us in. And thank god we did--because this place delivers on heat. Not the mild, tamed-down-for-tourists kind either. Real spice. Actual flavor. The food scene in Halifax is trying to grow, but let's be honest--it's mostly tailored for white folks and cruise ship passersby. If your palate grew up on sambal, Sichuan, or scotch bonnets, most of this city will leave you unbothered and unsalted. But Pho Maniac? A mirage turned real. The place was packed with Asian diners and the one off-white wanderer who knew what's up. That's always a good sign. The broth? Deep, rich, and fiery. It hits the spot you forgot Halifax had. I still couldn't see myself living here long-term--because spicy food is non-negotiable--but at least Pho Maniac made the week feel less bland. In a city of boiled lobster and beige seasoning, this little joint reminded me my taste buds were still alive.

It's funny returning to Halifax and seeing new restaurants replace old faves, as is the case of Pho…read moreManiac in the space formerly occupied by New Asia. One day at work, I was looking for lunch and Pho Maniac came up in a scan of nearby spots. While they're a pho place, I didn't want to get the inevitable soup splashes on my work clothes, so I went with the banh mi for takeout. Taking my spoils back the office, I unfurled the sandwich bag to see what was inside. Wrapped tightly in plastic, the banh mi seemed a bit narrow, but it was longer than the sort of banh mi you get at specialty shops for a few bucks each (at least in pre-pandemic pricing) in bigger cities. It was very meat-heavy, loaded with strips of grilled pork (they also have beef and chicken). The pork had a nice flavour from the grill and a bit of fish sauce funk, balanced out by a hint of sweetness from the pickled carrots. Some Thai basil and green onion added pops of vegetal freshness. It was hard to get a good feel for the bun, as the heat of the pork and the plastic wrap steamed it, so the trademark crispness of a banh mi bun was lost. A paper wrap would definitely be an improvement. A return visit had me rolling the dice on pho splashes, going with tender beef and flank pho. I'm not sure what cut "tender beef" is, as tenderloin isn't typically found in pho, but I would guess brisket, which is much more common. I got it as takeout and assembled it in a bowl I had at work, but you could easily use the one they give you. Said bowl comes with the noodles, beef and toppings (bean sprouts, lime, Thai basil, hoisin and chili sauces) in it, while a second container had the broth. The flank and (likely) brisket weren't particularly discernible from one another, but both were nice and tender, and reasonably portioned. The many accoutrements added layers of flavour to the already tasty pho. The broth was beef-forward, with hints of star anise and other spices, and had a pleasant viscosity that suggested that Pho Maniac is likely boiling bones to make their own broth. It was good enough for me to straight up drink the broth that remained unused for the noodles after I had finished those! My regular-sized pho was a good portion for a satisfying, but not heavy, lunch. While I'm sad that New Asia has moved on, Pho Maniac is a solid spot in its own right, and I look forward to many work lunches to come!

Man Bean took over the former Lemon Grass location after I moved to Ottawa, but since my wife and I…read moremoved back to Halifax, its proximity to my office has added to the variety of lunch options that I have. Their name can have some...unbecoming...associations if English is your first language and you have a filthy mind (guilty as charged), but judging from the note about mung beans at the top of their menu, and the bean in their logo, I assume its origins are more legume-based. They're not on any delivery apps except for Asian food specialty app Fantuan, but you can order ahead the old fashioned way via...a phone call. Difficult, I know! While I have done takeout pho in the past, it is a bit of a process and you're guaranteed to have broth splatters at your desk, so I went for the more easily managed grilled pork vermicelli bowl. Pick-up was a breeze and was ready and waiting when I arrived at the estimated time they gave me on the phone. I often find that the pork in these dishes is chunks that are grilled separately, like satay, but Man Bean sliced up a grilled pork chop (which is also an item on their menu). It had a good char on it, and while the chop was slightly on the dry side it wasn't too bad and you don't really notice when you're having it in bites with the other ingredients. To that point, I'm going to posit that bun is like pizza, in that it's hard to mess up and have a truly bad one. I mean, what's not to like? Rice noodles in a sweet and lightly spicy sauce, crunchy lettuce, carrot and cucumber, pork and a peanut crumble? That's a winning combination! A return visit found me coming by with my wife for dinner after work. The interior space is nice, with a contemporary, subdued style that's given a touch of Vietnam with framed photos and art adorning the walls. The plentiful windows onto Barrington and Morris let in tons of light and give you lots of people watching potential. This time around, my wife had the grilled pork vermicelli bowl (her "go-to" at Vietnamese places), while I opted for the bun bo hue. Not all Vietnamese places carry this spicy noodle soup, so I jumped at the chance to try Man Bean's. Since I was wearing a white shirt, I put my black jacket on to protect from the soup's area of effect splash damage, as nothing stains quite so well as red chili oil. I'm no bun bo hue connoisseur, but I really enjoyed Man Bean's version. The broth was top notch, with layers of savoury flavours, a smooth mouthfeel and prominent, but manageable, levels of spice. I knew their broth was legit when I fished out some rib tips or the like, and the chunks of cartilage were as wobbly as Jell-O, a sign of being simmered low and slow and releasing their gelatinous goodness into the broth. The round, moderately-thick noodles (think spaghetti, but rice-based) were tender and supple and safely slurped up with my protective jacket on, while the slices of slices of beef brisket were fantastically tender, and not grainy and overcooked. I also had an iced Vietnamese coffee to help balance out the heat of the bun bo hue, and its mix of sweetness and creaminess certainly did its job well, while the dark roast of the coffee still stood out from the spice and big flavours of my dinner. It's always been the same gentleman working the front of house when I've been there, and every time he's been friendly, easy-going and attentive. Man Bean is putting out some very solid food, with some stand-out dishes, and combined with its friendly service and nice atmosphere, it's a neighbourhood joint that's really worth getting to know. PS. It's not really advertised, but Man Bean has an impressively good Scotch collection!

Restaurant is clean and service is good, but the food was just ok, and not that authentic tasting…read more It was also quite pricey (well, compared to vietnamese restaurants in Toronto, so take that tidbit with a grain of salt if you're not from Toronto). A bowl of pho here is $14 and they don't have tendon or tripe or beef balls. The menu doesn't have a big selection. Also, the bean sprouts and basil were all in the soup already at the time it was served, rather than fresh on a plate for you to add yourself. I got the sweet and sour soup ($7) which came in a bigger bowl than I expected. The prawns were good and plentiful, but I didn't like the taste of the soup. The pineapple chunks in it looked like they were the dole canned pineapple, and the soup kind of tasted like the syrup from the canned pineapple was mixed into there. The sweet flavour was very strong. I also tried the pork spring rolls which were alright. Walking around Halifax, it didn't seem to have that many Vietnamese restaurant choices, so props to this family for opening up this restaurant.

I've been coming here for years and they are consistently a delicious bowl of love…read more I am a pho ho I would have liked to take a better picture but it was so delicious looking I jumped right in and then remembered to take a picture I can't speak to anything else on the menu because I've been getting this one for years. Family run locally run supporting small businesses in Dartmouth Nova Scotia Highly recommend if you're needing a little extra love

I was excited to eat some pho after eating lots seafood but I was disappointed. Our waitress was…read morethe highlight. She was super nice and when some lady yelled at her for something that was probably not her fault, she stayed kind and under standing. Ok so the bad part. I ordered (as seen in the photo) a beef pho with no bean sprouts in it and I understand that the broth probably had it pre mixed in but I received my soup with the bean sprouts everywhere. Also to the noodles were the same you could buy at the store so that was a little disappointing. The restaurant looked nice enough but in my opinion I'd rather have good food than nice decor.

Kind of a hole in the wall little place. Three or four stools at a shelf by the window, otherwise…read moreit's mostly a take-out establishment. I went for a noodle bowl with shrimp and spring roll. All fine, flavours were good, but the dish was heavy on the salad and pretty light on the noodles. The shrimp were good, but the cut up roll was kind of ordinary. At $15 a pop it's probably rather on the high side, but given its location that's to be expected.

Had a smoothie bubble tea ($5.50) at Indochine Banh Mi and it was pretty good. You can choose up to…read more3 flavours for your smoothie, so I got mango, coconut and pineapple. The tapioca pearls were soft and chewy and didn't get all hard because of the coldness of the drink (which sometimes happens at some places). The smoothies are dairy-free, so it wasn't as creamy, but it was blended smooth and tasted good (although a scoop of ice cream or frozen yogurt in it would have made it better, lol). Service was friendly and efficient. I was tempted by their lobster roll special for $8, maybe next time :) Their Banh Mi looked good too.

Considering a large bowl of pho is under $15- I am impressed! Other places in the city are usually…read more$18+. Fantastic portions and just delicious. I also ordered the meat spring rolls and they were even better than the pho somehow! 10/10 meal, definitely going to be a regular. Their food/containers deliver very well btw!! Everything was perfectly hot.

Poor flavors. Ordered pho and cashew chicken, as well as lemongrass chicken. Bland meat, no sauce…read more The rice was sticky.

Felt like a bowl of pho after eating too much rich food during a business trip to Halifax. This…read moreplace is located in the core - a short walk from the convention center. A lot of seats, playing pop music deviates from the authentic vibe. Soup broth is a little dark and salty. Not a clear broth that I am used to, but passible. Ample meat and tripe but not a lot of noodles. Wish they offered more noodles for the price. Halifax isn't the GTA so the choices are limited for pho, so I can't complain too much. It's an okay bowl of pho..but small for the price point.

STAY AWAY!!! 2 hours to get my food! Enough said. Ordered the beef rib pho and even though it's in…read morea stone bowl, the broth was not hot enough to cook the rare beef. My kids were starving by the time they got their food. The waiter couldn't give me a good estimate on time. They looked under staffed. No tp in the washrooms. It was just a horrible dining experience. The food was not authentic either. Mix of Chinese food and other Asian dishes. None of which tasted good from asking the rest of my family.

Food is good，staff is very nice with my picky eating habits，she explain to me the sause taste…read morelike，and the difference between white onion and green one.

I was really hopeful for this place after reading reviews, but after ordering the pad thai I was…read moreleft underwhelmed. The noodles and tofu were tough and rubbery and the sauce was too sweet for me. I know I said I didn't want spicy but dang. That being said, my husband (who ordered a sauteed beef rice plate) was very happy with his order. It came with a salad (lettuce, cucumber and tomato with a vinaigrette dressing and the beef was seasoned beautifully. I was so envious of his meal! The spring rolls were the true gems of the meal, especially mine. My hubbie put it perfectly - they were the first spring rolls that we'd ever had where the outside of the spring roll felt like part of the food, instead of something crunchy. We had the meat ones, but I'd be really interested in the veggie ones too! The lady who works the front counter (and I'm assuming owns the place) is amazing. She has so much energy and makes sure you have everything you need. It was much more like a traditional restaurant service-wise than a fast food joint. She came out and collected our trays when we were done and brought us sweet and sour sauce unprompted for our spring rolls. I really loved her and would honestly go back just because she was so great. (And for the spring rolls)

You can't talk about Vietnamese food in Halifax for long without someone bringing up the delicious…read moresandwiches and other dishes at Banh Mi A&B on Quinpool, and I finally made my way there in the summer to see what the fuss was about. Arriving in the thick of the dinner rush on a Thursday, the small restaurant was nearly full, but since I was dining solo, I was able to grab a seat by the window. It has a "counter service" kind of vibe, but it is actually table service, and I was seen to quickly after I sat down. Even though banh mi is their namesake dish, I was impressed with the variety of banh mi options, with creative flavour profiles and a wide assortment of proteins, including lemongrass grilled pork, garlic and lime chicken, sate shrimp with kimchi, and teriyaki tofu and mushroom just to name a few. I'm no banh mi scholar, but I feel like A&B's kitchen is breaking out of the mould a bit and flexing their creative muscles, which I appreciate. The menu doesn't stop there though, as there's several each of appetizers and other familiar Vietnamese mains (bun cha, pho, bun bo hue). My first time here *had* to be banh mi though, so I went for the pork meatballs banh mi, with the Viet slaw as the side in my combo. A&B's banh mi unfortunately doesn't come with paté by default, and I didn't notice that in addition to getting it for "free" if you take it as your side, you can have it added onto your sandwich for $1.50. Oh well, next time! My food came out quickly, and soon I was chowing down with the stunning view of Quinpool Centre, which despite being a visual blight on a full city block in the West End's main commercial district, it has impressively managed to avoid any sort of beautification from the Halifax Mural Festival for four years straight. Bravo, commercial real estate owners, bravo *insert sarcastic clapping* I digress though. Let's not mess around here - the fuss about Banh Mi A&B is absolutely deserved. The bread is definitely the star, as it should be in any truly great sandwich. The shatteringly crisp exterior leads to a dense, pleasantly chewy crumb that supports the delicious fillings within. The pork meatballs had a nice grainy texture that suggested they weren't just coming out of a Sysco freezer bag, and were wonderfully tender and moist, with a lightly herbaceous note to them. The usual banh mi fillings of pickled daikon and carrot, cucumber and cilantro added the texture, bright flavours and colours that are a signature of Vietnamese cuisine. The Viet slaw carried on this tradition with shredded cabbage, carrot, and onion with a peanut crumble and a dressing that enlivens your taste buds with a balanced mix of sweetness, acidity and hints of umami. It was too late in the day for me to grab a Vietnamese coffee, but a peach iced tea was just the right amount of sweet and fruity, without being cloying and dessert-like; just a refreshing drink on a humid summer day! My next time at BMAB had me trying another Vietnamese classic - their pho. Unlike the multitude of banh mi options, there's only one beef pho to choose from, and you know what? I'm cool with that. They've got their specialty, and I respect that! It was another busy Thursday evening, but I received my food in good time nonetheless. The pho comes with beef meatball and slices of brisket; I know squishy textures are a "thing" in Asian cuisine, but I grew up with mediocre, from-frozen meatballs, and they're just not *my* thing. The brisket, on the other hand, was next level compared to A&B's peers; the ultra-tender, thinly-sliced pieces of brisket were deliberately cut to have a layer of fat on top of the meat; evenly distributed on all the slices, it added an unctuous texture without having any overly fatty pieces that were hard to chew. I see you, A&B's prep cook! The highlight of any good soup is the broth, and A&B's really stood out here as well. It had a hearty beefiness, with prominent herbal notes and a velvety smooth mouthfeel, and it was so good that I didn't bother adding any sauces to it! Noodles and accoutrements were all solid standards, but the brisket and broth sealed the deal for this top tier pho. I pulled the trigger on a Vietnamese iced coffee, and true to form it was sweet, smooth and had a great punch of slowly steeped coffee. Banh Mi A&B rightly deserves all the praise it gets, from its fantastic namesake sandwiches to solid execution across the menu, that's tied together with friendly, attentive service. It's got the feel of a neighbourhood spot, but it's truly destination worthy for some of the best Vietnamese food in the city.

I do not know if the person giving this place 5-star has been to other Vietnamese restaurants or…read moreperhaps is somehow associated with the restaurant. I went in today and order a large side pho and egg roll. I have never seen such small egg rolls which is about 1/3 of what you would expect at other asian restaurants. The pho portion is laughable and meat tastes not fresh. I should have realized that i made a mistake when i see only non-asian people are eating inside. I told the server about the portion and he obviously knows but didnt make any comments. Will not come back again.

The decor is spartan, but the food was good…read more The chicken wings were wonderfully crispy, but not seasoned. A dipping sauce should be an enhancement, not the sole source of flavour. However, the pho was very tasty!

Great place for a pho...price is right ...fast....service was great…read more Perfect for a quick lunch

This place knocks it pit of the park on all levels. I've tried their butternut squash and apple…read moresoup, the roasted reds, and a variety of their teas and all of it was fantastic. Service is usually pretty prompt and friendly. I've also never stepped into this place and it was dirty. Very clean and an excellent spot to chill or to get full. I can't recommend this place enough.

Harvest quickly became one of our favorite spots in Halifax. We ordered a chai latte, a strawberry…read morebanana smoothie, a latte, and a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit; everything was made fresh to order and absolutely delicious. The cozy, plant-filled interior made it the perfect place to relax and warm up, and the welcoming service added to the charm. A great spot for a laid-back breakfast or a peaceful coffee break in the city.