The longer read
What the reviews say
What the reviews say about the best pho in Melbourne, restaurant by restaurant.
Why it leads
Why Alex Canteen is the pick for pho
Alex Canteen’s beef pho arrives with a deeply fragrant broth, simmered with a generous amount of tender beef slices and fresh bean sprouts, offering a comforting warmth. Reviewers noted a surprising lack of depth in the soup, alongside wilted chili toppings and the presence of unwelcome debris, highlighting inconsistent execution of this popular dish. Despite these issues, the restaurant’s friendly atmosphere and approachable prices create a welcoming space, setting it apart with genuine Melbourne hospitality rather than grand culinary ambition.
The alternatives
Where the other pho spots shine
Not everyone wants the same pho. These are the clearest differences reviewers point to among the next-best places.
- Chú 7 Gà Restaurant: Chú 7 Gà’s pho boasts a deeply rich, intensely savory broth, brimming with tender slices of beef and vibrant green scallions.
- Delicious Asian Cuisines & Pho: Delicious Asian Cuisines & Pho’s pho boasts a rich, intensely fragrant broth, simmered with lemongrass and spices that linger pleasantly on the palate, while generous portions of tender chicken and perfectly smooth rice noodles offer a satisfying textural experience.
- Good Days Brunswick: Good Days Brunswick’s pho boasts incredibly silken noodles and a deeply rich, intensely flavorful broth, brimming with tender brisket and a generous helping of fresh herbs.
- Good Days Collingwood: The deeply concentrated, amber-hued broth of Good Days Collingwood’s pho carries a subtle, almost smoky aroma, hinting at hours of careful simmering alongside fresh herbs and spices.
How to choose
Choosing pho in Melbourne
Treat this as a shortlist as well as a winner: Alex Canteen has the strongest reviews for the pho, and the others are where reviewers found different strengths across Melbourne.
- 72,623 reviews across 21 restaurants ranked; that total covers every dish they serve, not only the pho.
- 28 reviews mention the pho at Alex Canteen, and 89% of them are positive.


























