Ottawa Foodies

I went here on Canada Day. The place was just a little over half full, which was good because I wanted to get away from the crowds downtown.

Dishes ordered were the shrimp rice wraps, shrimp spring rolls, a seafood rice noodle pho and a beef rice dish.

The food was average for a Viet place. Nothing bad at all, but nothing mind blowing -- good broth if a bit on the mild side. The soup bowls are a bit smaller than some of the places that have those giant vats (that I love so).
The quality of the beef, although nicely flavoured, was sub-par. Not sliced thinly enough and tough and gristly in spots.

Service was a bit lacking: no water refills unless you flagged someone down.

Stuff did come out quickly though, which was a plus.

Now that I've been here twice, I know my preference is Pho Bo Ga, just a few steps away on Lebreton.

I came to New Pho Bo Ga LA with my colleagues yesterday (one of whom is Vietnamese) for some pho. It was my first visit to the restaurant, and it was packed. No wonder: the pho was delish (one co-worker and I had the S4 with shrimp and BBQ pork and rice noodles, and another co-worker had a dish with tapioca noodles and pork, but I can't remember its number), as were the pork springrolls. The three of us were definitely satisfied after our meal. It was a good, cheap, quick lunch and I am already craving their springrolls again.

My only complaint is that several feet outside the front door there is a black rubber "Welcome" mat concealing a pothole. Of course, because I was wearing heels, I walked over said mat and into the pothole, twisting my ankle. It was quite hilarious at the time, but now my foot is swollen. A word to the wise: at New Pho Bo Ga LA order the springrolls, but don't step on the mat!

There is some confusion wrt New PBGLa and PBGLa

New PBGLa with the blue sign and the brown wood Buddha is on the north side of Somerset….is in fact the PBGLa than MingD is talking about. There is also one on the south side of the street further west of Bronson with a blue sign… this is the ‘old’ PBGLa…and it’s been around a long time and I have never been too impressed by it. It has also gone through many reincarnations thru the last 20 years and I found the food wanting.

The New PBGLa is the one I went to try Bun BO below and is the one I was not too impressed with their rice dishes…… talk about too many viet places…..

Didn't know there was a 'new' PBGLa. (761-763 Somerset W?)

Must be a dynasty like the PBG1, 2 3 and Springroll House.

PBG1 had the greatest soup, but has deteriorated recently. Springroll has a great pork chop on rice, but the soup's ok. Seems they may have lost the PBG1 soup secret to someone else. Since I know the original owner, must ask what happened. Unless someone else knows?

The soup at 'original' PBGLa was ok, but restaurant & things seem to be saying that the soup is 'better' here.

After Pacific Village and then PBG1, I'd have to go backwards in memory and think that the Golden Turtle place has the best soup stock after this. I have been to quite a few viet soup places since then though.

2007 06 16.

Like Pho Bo Ga LA (vendor 739), they also serve a shrimp cracker with their satay-style soup. The shrimp and chicken satay soup (S3), was decent. Broth is sometimes awesome here but was just okay today.

Unlike the other "Pho Bo Ga" restaurants, this one offers a full menu of non-soup dishes.

One order consists of three little delicious rolls as opposed to only two. Best bang for your buck on Somerset.

Shrimp spring rolls were piping hot and very good!

Very fresh, good shrimp, but low on mint and the sauce was more like hoisin with peanuts floating in it rather than the really great peanut sauce you sometimes get in other places. Still, not bad at all.

"new" Pho Bo Ga la

A very worthy bowl o' bun bo hue..