Xu Hue
Vietnamese
10548 97 Street
(780) 426-7775

It was a cold, snowy day in Chinatown. I was outside, photographing the Lunar New Year celebrations. My friend Sandra showed up, and we both decided that it was the perfect day to have pho for lunch.

We headed to Xu Hue, the latest Vietnamese restaurant along 97 street. It is housed at the same address as the departed La Family Vietnamese, which occupied the space for a long time, followed by the ill-fated Pho Anh Dao.

The interior looks pretty much the same as it always has – bright, clean, and spacious. A flat screen television was broadcasting a movie, and there were several tables already occupied.

I ordered my pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) with medium rare steak, while Sandra had hers with medium steak and beef balls. As the large portion was only $6.95 (a mere dollar more than the small) and we were both hungry, we opted for that size.

Sandra, who is quite the pho connoisseur and dines regularly in Chinatown, noted a slight sweetness to the broth in addition to the levels added by the various herbs and seasonings. She noted that it’s the broth that makes or breaks a bowl of pho, as the meat and noodles absorb the flavour.

We were not disappointed. Our huge bowls were filled to the brim with noodles, meat, and a very flavourful broth. Sandra, who is quite the pho connoisseur and dines regularly in Chinatown, noted a slight sweetness to the broth in addition to the levels added by the various herbs and seasonings. She noted that it’s the broth that makes or breaks a bowl of pho, as the meat and noodles absorb the flavour.

I completely agree. My bowl was flavourful from start to finish, and the meat just kept popping up amidst the plentiful noodles. We left Xu Hue full, happy, and looking forward to another visit.

There are other items on the menu besides pho, particularly rice noodle bowls, and the prices are very reasonable. I really hope that Xu Hue is able to make a go of it amidst the highly competitive area where it resides.