Those who have been reading this blog for some time might realise that pho is one of my favorite foods of all time. My love for this simple Vietnamese noodle dish started from my year long stint in Northern Virginia, and later re-enforced from the 9 trips to Vietnam that I made in my previous job.
pho Dzung is located in Richmond, VIC
During my previous visit to Melbourne, I visited the very popular Mekong Vietnamese Restaurant right on Swanston Street. While it was pretty good, at least a couple readers commented that the best pho is found in Richmond, the Vietnamese community that is located just a few kilometers away from Melbourne CBD.
So on this second trip to Melbourne, I looked up online and found this Pho Dzung place at Richmond that is said to be one of the bests in this part of the world.
coagulated cow’s blood and Vietnamese spring roll
Mellissa and I took a train from Melbourne Central to North Richmond and walked a few hundred meter to the east on Victoria Street, passing quite a number of other Vietnamese and Asian restaurants, fresh seafood shops, and Asian grocers before reaching no. 208.
At 3pm, Pho Dzung was still packed with people to the point where we had to be seated upstairs. It was definitely the correct place to be.
special beef combination pho with plenty of basil leaves and bean sprouts
The menu is rather simple, rice noodle soup with the usual suspects: rare beef, tripe, brisket, tendon, cartilage, meat ball, chicken, and even beef pizzle (yes, beef penis!).
Mell ordered a bowl of beef pho ($7 for small) and I went for the beef combination, we also asked for a plate of deep fried Vietnamese spring roll to share.
Right after I made my order, I spotted coagulated ox blood ($1) on the menu, so of course, I asked for that. The waiter asked if I actually wanted a bowl of ox blood in liquid form, but that would have been a bit too intense for my liking.
we had a very satisfying lunch
The spring rolls were quite small in size but certainly not lacking in taste, crunchy on the outside and flavorful on the inside, a perfect way to open up the appetite. The coagulated blood though, was not as tasty as the pork or duck version I enjoy in Penang curry mee and kueh teow soup, but not bad nonetheless.
As for the beef noodle, the soup was simple excellent. The aromatic beef stock was sweet and to be frank, one of the bests I’ve had from anywhere. If you find yourself in Melbourne, you have to give this place a try, easily the best $20 lunch for two at this part of the world.
Address:
Pho Dzung Tan Dinh
208 Victoria St
Richmond 3121 VIC
GPS: -37.81042,144.998181
Tel: 03-9427 0292
There is this place right at the exit of Melbourne Central station, when you walk down towards the newsstand (away from RMIT) and towards Off Ya Tree. It’s a very good Vietnamese place with good pho and broken rice. Bill Clinton apparently patronized the place too, according to the photos adorning the walls. 🙂
Oh my, yummy Vietnamese pho…can’t wait to get down to melbourne again. KY, thanks for the great review and I shall try this place. So you reckon this is better than mekong?
love the blood thingy . . .unfortunately somehow, the pho lack a lot of other herbs that will give the broth a lot more ooomph . . .anyway so long as it is tasty . .who cares . . .
i cannot imagine how blood in liquid form would b? as a dish i mean.that’s like Dracula food! coagulated blood is way better! the pho looks really good!
Unfortunately, you are a bit late. They have changed ownership and quality of the broth is no longer there(still acceptable just doesn’t have the Oomph factor). You need to go all the way to Springvale, same shop name, for the better and tastier pho.
Huai Bin,
That would be Mekong! 😀
Paul,
Make it happen, yah I like it better than Mekong.
foodcrazee,
Yah, especially mint, but the broth was still very very good.
Chef Mel,
Hahaha yah, dracula :S
Anon,
For every place that supposedly has their ownership changed, first thing most people will say is “not so good anymore”, but this one still tasted one very very good to me. As for Springvale, we’ll see. 🙂
Yummyness! I don’t even like pho all that much but this place was good, just extremely out of the way for a spontaneous quick lunch/dinner -_-“
1 buck for the blood? looks like thats really not for the every day man on the streets to be prized so cheap..
I was about to post on this place too..my all time favourite. The soup is simply fantastic..yumyum..now i feel like driving down to Richmond for a bowl.
So, is this better or Mekong?
If you’re a big fan of pho, you should also try Pho Huong Vuong 2. It’s also on Victoria St in Richmond. I reckon it’s heaps nicer than Pho Dzung and Mekong 🙂
Mellissa,
Yahhh, doesn’t work very well for spontaneous lunch decisions without a car
lotsofcravings,
Hahaha not for every day man, that’s true
Precious Pea,
Make it happen 😀
Tey Cindy,
Yes it is!
Lynn,
Heaps nicer? emm intriguing!
my favourite pho place!!! usually go to the one at footscray hehe
have u tried the viet rolls? 😀
is tat ‘popia’ u eat or something else ?
jean`,
Yah just the deep fried rolls tho. 😉
eldy,
Hahaha something else!
Hey, been there too. Delicious Vietnamese food. Apparently the neighborhood is known as the Vietnam Town, correct me if I’m wrong.
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WJN,
Yah, you’re absolutely right. 😉
Hello, I came across your pictures after googling “pho”. OneVietnam Network will borrow your picture for our next blog article on Wednesday (March 9). We’ll credit you for it. Thank you so much. Let us know if this is a problem.
Isabella,
no problem. 🙂