Where to find the best bowl of pho in Melbourne's west
Melbourne takes its pho seriously. And the best pho in Melbourne's west is not in Footscray or Richmond. It is in Sunshine and St Albans, where the Vietnamese community has been cooking for over 40 years.
A great bowl of pho comes down to the broth. Hours of simmering beef bones, charred onion, star anise, and cinnamon. The colour should be clear, not murky. The flavour should be deep but not heavy. Get the broth right and everything else follows.
Here are seven places where the broth is right.
Address: 3/284 Hampshire Rd, Sunshine
Price: $14-$20
Google: 4.4 stars (754 reviews)
Pho Hien Saigon is the pho specialist on Hampshire Road. The broth is clear and deeply aromatic. Rare beef slices, brisket, and tendon options are all available. A plate of fresh bean sprouts, Thai basil, and chilli comes on the side.
Yelp reviewers from overseas have called it one of the best pho experiences outside of Vietnam. That is a strong claim from people who have eaten the real thing. 754 Google reviews at 4.4 stars. This is the benchmark for pho in Sunshine.
Address: 207 Hampshire Rd, Sunshine
Price: $14-$22
Google: 4.1 stars (1,380 reviews)
Co Do is better known for bun bo hue (spicy beef noodle soup from central Vietnam), but the pho is also worth ordering. 1,380 reviews make it one of the most-visited Vietnamese restaurants on Hampshire Road.
TikTok food reviewers have featured Co Do. The bun bo hue is the signature, but if you want a classic pho bo (beef pho) in a proven kitchen, this delivers. The broken rice plates are another strong option if you want something different.
Address: 253 Hampshire Rd, Sunshine
Price: $12-$22
Google: 4.3 stars (1,339 reviews)
Thuan An is a Vietnamese all-rounder. The crispy fried rice gets the most attention, but the pho holds its own. 1,339 Google reviews across the full menu. Reddit calls it a "definite must try."
If you are going with a group and not everyone wants pho, Thuan An is the smart choice. The menu has something for every palate. The pho is consistent, the service is fast, and the charcoal grilled meats are a solid backup order.
Address: 60 Alfrieda St, St Albans
Price: $14-$18
Google: 4.5 stars (506 reviews)
Pho Kim Long is on Alfrieda Street in St Albans, the suburb's main Vietnamese food strip. 506 reviews at 4.5 stars. TripAdvisor lists it among the top Vietnamese restaurants in St Albans.
The name tells you the focus. Pho is the main event. The broth is traditional southern Vietnamese style. Rich, slightly sweet, with all the classic accompaniments. If you are comparing the Sunshine pho strip (Hampshire Road) against the St Albans strip (Alfrieda Street), Pho Kim Long is the one to try first.
Address: 320 Main Rd E, St Albans
Price: $15-$22
Google: 4.7 stars
Co Thu Quan leans northern Vietnamese. The pho broth here is cleaner and more delicate than the southern-style pho you find at most places. Northern Vietnamese pho uses fewer herbs and lets the broth do the talking.
The crab noodle soup is the dish that draws the social media attention, but the pho is equally refined. 4.7 stars on Google. If you have only ever had southern-style pho and want to taste the difference, Co Thu Quan is the place to try.
Address: 71 Alfrieda St, St Albans
Price: $14-$20
Phone: 03 9356 0567
Song Huong is Reddit's go-to recommendation for Vietnamese food in the west. The bun bo hue is the signature, but they serve a full range including pho. The restaurant has been on Alfrieda Street for years and is well known in the Vietnamese community.
The atmosphere is no-frills. You come for the food, not the fit-out. Open seven days. The salt and pepper fried chicken with tomato rice is another popular order if you want a break from noodle soup.
Address: 28 Alfrieda St, St Albans
Price: $14-$30
Phone: 03 9366 5686
Phi Phi has been on Alfrieda Street since before most of the newer places opened. The menu runs to several pages covering Vietnamese and Chinese dishes. The pho is a reliable staple. Not the most talked-about item, but consistently good.
If you want a pho and someone in your group wants duck egg noodle soup or salt and pepper quail, Phi Phi is the compromise restaurant. The dining room is large enough for family groups.
| Rank | Name | Location | Rating | Pho Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pho Hien Saigon | Hampshire Rd, Sunshine | 4.4 (754) | Specialist, clean broth |
| 2 | Co Do | Hampshire Rd, Sunshine | 4.1 (1,380) | Also famous for bun bo hue |
| 3 | Thuan An | Hampshire Rd, Sunshine | 4.3 (1,339) | All-rounder, fast service |
| 4 | Pho Kim Long | Alfrieda St, St Albans | 4.5 (506) | Southern style, traditional |
| 5 | Co Thu Quan | Main Rd E, St Albans | 4.7 | Northern style, delicate broth |
| 6 | Song Huong | Alfrieda St, St Albans | 3.8 | Community favourite, bun bo hue too |
| 7 | Phi Phi | Alfrieda St, St Albans | 3.9 | Large menu, family groups |
Local tip: Northern and southern Vietnamese pho are different dishes. Southern pho (most common in Melbourne) has a sweeter broth with more herbs and garnishes. Northern pho has a clearer, lighter broth with fewer toppings. Co Thu Quan in St Albans is one of the few places in the west that does northern-style pho properly. Try both to taste the difference.
Melbourne's pho scene is world-class, and the best of it is in the west. These seven restaurants prove you do not need to cross the Yarra for a proper bowl. Browse all cafes and restaurants or explore businesses in Sunshine and businesses in St Albans.
Top-rated pho on Hampshire Road. 754 reviews at 4.4 stars. Clean broth, fresh herbs, generous portions.
3/284 Hampshire Rd, Sunshine VIC 3020
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Famous for bun bo hue but the pho is also excellent. 1,380 reviews. A Hampshire Road landmark.
207 Hampshire Rd, Sunshine VIC 3020
Open in Google MapsVietnamese institution with 1,339 reviews. Pho is one of many strong options alongside crispy fried rice.
253 Hampshire Rd, Sunshine VIC 3020
Open in Google MapsSt Albans pho specialist on Alfrieda Street. 506 reviews at 4.5 stars. TripAdvisor listed.
60 Alfrieda St, St Albans VIC 3021
Open in Google MapsNorthern Vietnamese style pho with a cleaner, more delicate broth. 4.7 stars. Also known for crab noodle soup.
320 Main Rd E, St Albans VIC 3021
Open in Google MapsFamous for bun bo hue but also serves solid pho. Reddit's go-to recommendation for Vietnamese in the west.
71 Alfrieda St, St Albans VIC 3021
Open in Google MapsSt Albans institution with a huge menu. The pho is a reliable staple among dozens of Vietnamese and Chinese options.
28 Alfrieda St, St Albans VIC 3021
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