Melbourne, CBD: Pho Bo Ga Mekong Vietnam

PHO! Some steaming traditional pho again on a chilly winter night, but nobody's complaining about something that perfect, of course. This is the most conspicuous and convenient pho restaurant in the city - Pho Bo Ga Mekong Vietnam, right smack on one of the busiest streets... Swanston Street. You know where it is, I know where it is. But is the pho there good? People have very differing views, the old-timers who have been around the city tell me that it's not as good anymore. I always get a sharp twinge of sadness when I hear this sort of thing.. it's like telling me good pho and I are not destined to meet. I try it for myself, and I tell you how it goes:

This is the place with its neon green signboard, right at the high human traffic flow junction of Swanston and Little Bourke. It's always brimming with people slurping up bowls of pho...

It will be an understatement to say that the service is efficient, but that's where you compensate on the niceties. All I want is my pho in front of me a-s-a-p, so this does work out perfectly for me.

Here it is, nice and steaming, where I can breathe in its soupy and rich, well spiced steamy broth with specks of coriander somewhere. And I go slurping the silky smooth pho noodles.. the magic is in that it doesn't break even as something so delicate, and another pho bowl conquered under five minutes. It was very delicious. Not the best (which you'll find it here), but good enough for me. For its convenience right in the city centre, this place is definitely where you should go for your pho fix. I'd the unfortunate experience of randomly walking into a pho restaurant in the CBD thinking every one of it is awesome but some things just don't work this way.