Pho Lan - Richmond, BC

I admit Mr. Piglet and I have our favorite Pho places in each city but we decided to try a new place - a spin of the wheel brought us here to Pho Lan.

This place is a D-I-V-E, no doubt about it. There's even a secret passageway that leads to the dingy parking lot in the back (more on the parking later). We are pointed to a seat but given no menus. Why? Because they're in the table. Oh man. The food better be good. It must be cuz the phone lines are constant for the take out and it's busy here on a Tuesday night! It's never busy anywhere on a Tuesday night!

Deep-Fried Spring Roll (shrimp and pork inside) - $2.50 per roll

We were thinking that it was kinda pricey for one roll but then they arrived at our table... *gasps* These things are massive! Coulda just gone with one roll... But then, we take a bite and it is DELISH. So thankful we got two or else Mr. and I would have to fight to the death for them. Crunchy on the outside and filled to the brim on the inside with shrimp, glass noodles, mushrooms, carrots and other goodies. A bit greasy but that crunch is just intoxicating! We notice later on that everyone has multiples of these at their table. I can see why.

Pho with Rare Steak and Beef Ball - $6.50 (small)

Just add the bean sprouts, basil, a squirt of lime, a nice circling of hot sauce... Ahh, now it's perfect. The broth has a nice beef flavor without too much saltiness (it doesn't leave that dry mouth feeling after I'm done eating it). It's making our favorite Pho places fade away... Oh no! The only criticism that I have, and it's minor, is that the beef is clumped together and seemed cooked before it got to the table. Mr. Piglet didn't even notice cuz he sucked that bowl of noodles back like it was no tomorrow.

Vietnamese Steamed Rice Crepe - $7

(Stuffed with pork, onion, Chinese mushrooms, served with fried onion flakes and Vietnamese hand rolls)

I decided Mr. Piglet try something different from the noodles and lemon grass chicken - he was not happy. That is, until the dish arrived. Those onion flakes do wonders for that dish! A bite of ham, onion flakes, some veggies and a bit of crepe with filling = unadulterated deliciousness. Mr. Piglet also sucked this one back without so much a peep. It was a very silent meal with just sounds of noshing and swallowing. You know it's good food when the meal is only filled with eating noises. My gripe? The crepe skin is not as thin and pliable as I've had at other places so the crepes were just breaking apart, filling going everywhere, but as a whole I thought this dish was good. Mr. Piglet liked it as every last morsel was consumed.


Overall: We will be back pho sho! It has officially usurped our former favorite Richmond Pho place from the top spot to become our favorite Pho place in Richmond. Bon appetite!


Pros:

• Excellent food
• Affordable prices
• Great portion sizes - small here is a regular elsewhere and it just gets bigger from there (Medium looks massive at $7.50 and I hate to see what the large looks like at $8.50)
• Take-out available
• Favorite of locals - saw every ethnicity having a meal (looked like a UN summit in here)
• Food turnover is high
• Free tea
• Efficient service

Cons:

• Service started out abrasive but the ladies quickly warmed up - just give them a chance and you'll be surprised
• Dive - there is zero ambiance - just come for the food
• Parking is atrocious - some spaces you can't park in, some lanes you have to back out of, there's a row of garbage cans in the middle of the whole damn ordeal *sigh*