Pho Binh Minh

In my continued search for the best Vietnamese restaurant in Winnipeg, I came across Pho Binh Minh. Housing a sizable Vietnamese citizens, Winnipeg seems to be popping up with quality pho restaurants left right and centre. On my last post-call day I decided to drag one of my co-residents out for some pho.

Pho Binh Minh is located on Sargent Avenue in a stretch of quality restaurants. The sign does a poor job of demarcating the restaurant and one might miss the restaurant on first glance.

I was impressed by the vast interior (the restaurant stretches over two buildings) and pleasant decorations. Opening up the menu you realize that this establishment is a labour of love for a family who immigrated here many years ago. Obviously thriving, I was thrilled to see them succeed through hard work and quality food.

I have to order the Sliced Beef & Beef Balls Pho as a marker of a Vietnamese restaurants' quality. The broth here was excellent with a strong beef flavour and crispness from the onions and herbs. The noodles tender, the beef thinly sliced and the balls springy, this was a fantastic offering and rivals some of the best in Winnipeg.

My dining companion ordered the Vietnamese Sweet & Sour Soup with Shrimp. Filled to the brim with large juicy shrimp, cabbage, celery root and pineapples, this was the perfect answer to a cold morning. The tomato based broth was light but tart enough to contrast the rest of ingredients. Very nicely done!

Wanting to try something else we ordered the Vietnamese Crepe. A large thin crepe is filled with chicken and bean sprouts. The idea is to fill a piece of lettuce with the crepe, cucumber and pickled vegetables and dip the entire concoction in Vietnamese sweet sauce. This was excellent. The crepe was thinly fried, crisp and not oily but held all its delicious contents together.

Overall Pho Binh Minh is pushing itself on my already crowded list of Winnipeg Vietnamese restaurants. I have to commend them on a clean, pleasant restaurant and serving quality and affordable food.