Where We Eat: Pho Anh Vu on Dufferin, Our Weekly Bowl When the Weather Turns.

Once the weather turns in the fall, Pho Anh Vu on Dufferin Street becomes a weekly stop for me. It’s a few minutes from Yorkdale, and the broth is unlike any pho I’ve had anywhere else in the city.

That made it an easy choice to launch Where We Eat, a new series on the blog. When you spend your days showing homes across Toronto, you learn more than the listings. You learn where to grab lunch between showings, and which family-run spots keep a street lively.

Each post will share one of those places, along with a look at the neighbourhood around it. Think of it as a companion to our Toronto neighbourhood guides. Here’s what to order at Pho Anh Vu, what to know before you go, and what it’s like to live nearby.

The Story Behind the Bowl

Pho Anh Vu opened in North York in 2019 and is built on Chef Hana Vu’s family recipes, passed down through generations. According to the restaurant, the broth simmers for up to 15 hours.

You can taste every one of them. The broth is rich and full bodied, and I’m clearly not the only one who thinks so. Locals regularly rank it among the best pho restaurants in Toronto, and the brand has grown to locations across Ontario, Montreal and Vancouver, including a location at Yonge and Eglinton for anyone living in Yonge-Eglinton.

What I Order Every Time

My go-to is the Phở Đặc Biệt, the special rice noodle soup. The thin slices of beef make it a hearty meal, and the thick-cut onions tie the whole bowl together. It’s also the most popular dish on the menu, so I’m in good company.

One tip on sizing: the small is quite large, and it does the job.

I always add a side of Chả Giò, two spring rolls cut into four pieces. I’ll often eat them right over the bowl, so the crunchy bits fall into the soup and add even more flavour. Try it once and you’ll see why.

Not in the Mood for Soup?

Then head to the broken rice plates. My favourite is the Cơm Sườn Nướng, two grilled pork chops on broken rice, with the Bún Thịt Nướng (grilled pork with vermicelli noodles) a close second. Truly, whatever you order here, you can’t go wrong.

Before You Go

Service is fast and prices are fair for the size of the portions, which makes Pho Anh Vu an easy lunch between appointments. One thing that catches people: this location takes cash or debit only.

You’ll find it at 3200 Dufferin Street, a few minutes from Yorkdale Shopping Centre and Playtime Bowl. Hours can change, so check current hours on Google Maps before you head over.

Living in Yorkdale–Glen Park

Pho Anh Vu sits on Dufferin Street in Yorkdale–Glen Park, one of the best-connected pockets of the city. Three Line 1 stations (Yorkdale, Lawrence West and Glencairn) run along Allen Road, the Yorkdale GO Bus Terminal sits beside the mall, and Highway 401 is at the north edge.

South of Lawrence Avenue West, the mood changes. Glen Park is a grid of short, quiet streets lined with brick bungalows and two-storey homes, many built in the 1950s and 1960s, while Dufferin and Marlee carry the everyday shopping. Our Yorkdale–Glen Park neighbourhood guide covers the schools, parks and history in full.

Thinking about living nearby? Start with Yorkdale–Glen Park houses for sale and Yorkdale–Glen Park condos for sale, both updated as new homes list.

Just to the south, Briar Hill–Belgravia offers interwar brick homes, the Beltline Trail and Line 5 along Eglinton West. Read our Briar Hill–Belgravia neighbourhood guide, or browse Briar Hill–Belgravia houses for sale and condos for sale.

What’s Next for Where We Eat?

Pho Anh Vu sets a high bar for the first post in the series. As the weather gets colder, you’ll know where to find me.

Where should we eat next? If there’s a local spot you love in one of the neighbourhoods we cover, send it our way and it may show up in a future post.

And if being close to a place like this is on your list for your next home, get in touch with our team and we’ll help you find the neighbourhood that fits.