Review Pho 236

Jonash Ocampo

Fresh, complex flavours, great atmosphere - definitely eating here again! I am constantly craving Vietnamese vermicelli salads and eat them very regularly. I was so pleasantlysurprised by the quality of the food at Pho236. Apart from that, the staff were very friendly and the restaurant was immaculately clean and had a really soothing atmosphere. Will definitely return to try more on their menu!

George Qin

Ordered the Bun Bo Hue for lunch. The broth was a little watery but the flavour was right for the most part. Service was good and they even had Vietnamese mint in the bowl - no particularly bad points but some Vietnamese condiments on the table would have been nice (garlic and chilli in vinegar and sugar, etc.). Still probably my favourite Vietnamese restaurant in Newtown, but there's always room for improvement.

Rhys T

Lovely spot to have a meal. We had the beef pho and the chicken pho, they're great. The fresh rice paper rolls were good too. Friendly service.

Falguni Sanyal

Finally found a go to Pho place near my home. Already been there twice in a week. One of my friend who had bad experience having pho before, also loved it! The food feels so refreshing. Now I feel like going there every week.

Priya Johar

What more can you expect from the weekend when it ends with having a delicious dinner at Pho 236. We were looking for a good Vietnamese place and finally we found one. Ordered Singaporean noodles and Pho - both of them were delicious. Not to mention avocado shake which was yum as well. Will definitely visit again!! Thanks for the food and great service..

Anne Xie

Noodle is very much tasty and restaurant looks very clean! I would say it's a bit overpriced in general given the portion ($15). But the taste is really great

David Maddison

The price tag is appealing at this joint but other Vietnamese restaurants on King Street are a whole heap better for only a slightly more expensive price. Friendly service but the food was not anything to rave about.

Jamie Robertson

We ordered Sizzling Beef with tons on onion in it, could be say onion was more than beef! And also we had Salt & Pepper Pork which was good size with same price of the sizzling beef! Last one, we had seafood fried noodles which those seafood were cold that maybe its frozen seafood (no taste) which not cook thought; a lot of unknown fish fillets, a few pieces squid & scalloppies , and ONLY ONE prawn, the ONE and ONLY!

Jennifersilverii

I’ve just moved to the Newtown area and was really feeling a good pho. When I saw the high ratings i was delighted. Not so afterwards. It has to be up there with one of the worst pho’s I’ve ever had. We also got the veg and the some meat spring rolls. I couldn’t even eat the meat ones. Would not recommend this place and I’m still on the hunt for a good pho in the area.

Jeney

Best pho I’ve ever had! Recommend the special beef noodle soup and add fresh chilli if you’re a spicy food lover!!! Kind staff, good service, affordable prices!

James Spain

Best Pho in the inner West. Nice big servings, good value, quick, easy, bliss! Recent change of owners saw prices rise (still cheap), with the simple fitout also updated with a fresh lick of paint and chairs replacing the old stools. Luckily that magical broth stayed the same!

Dominic Svensson

I ordered the "fresh beef noodle soup", which I assumed would be the rarest, but the beef came out a bit past rare and was served in extremely hot broth, so quickly cooked well past what I wanted, plus it was rather chewy beef compared to a few I've had lately. The broth was tasty though and the Vietnamese iced coffee was the best I've had around here - seemingly the perfect ratio of coffee, milk, sugar and ice.

Al&Val

Owner is a nice guy, always trying to help you out. Got a student discount without even asking for one or knowing about it. Food is decent and of good value. Fried ice cream is a bit weird, the fry is thick and spongecake-like.

Eatwithmyfoodsafari

Pho 236 is a busy, budget friendly, casual eatery on King Street, Newtown. Whilst the name of the restaurant suggests it is a Vietnamese restaurant, the menu is more broadly south East Asian with won ton noodle soup and stir fried noodles as well as pho and vermicelli noodles with spring rolls. Service is quick and the food is satisfying.

Roxy Xie

great Pho place in Newtown， nice and yummy。 i love the spicy pho, and laksa. If u wanna have a causal lunch,it is a great place. and it is not expensive， gonna come to eat next time again

FoodLuva

Absolutely love this place. Sometimes the most understated restaurants can really punch above their weight. I’ve been coming here for years and it’s great to see that it is kept it’s consistency. The crispy chicken and tomato rice is the bomb The pork vermicelli also is outstanding. Of course as the name suggests the Pho is great as well.

MrM

Pho was sooo good. Perfect for a cold winter day. Staff were friendly and service was great. This place is great for simple yet delicious viet food

Varun Singhal

Visited this place during lunch on weekday after reading review. Staff there was friendly and advise to order their signature dish. I asked to add extra spice to my meal and they provided me fresh chilles on the side. Chillies were not hot :( Crispy chicken was good but bit oily for me. clear soup lacks favours. But still its a quick and cheap outlet which can be given a try.

V

Pho was good. Atmosphere was pleasing. Service was great. Can’t complain. They didn’t have a problem with me changing my pho to egg noodle soup and adding wontons in there. Anyways pho always taste the same everywhere.

Lily

Interesting cheap pho place. The stock is not as strong as usual and the noodles used are of the thicker squarer variety. Meat was quite thin and surprisingly white rather than a more brown beef colour. The Singapore noodle was ok but could have had a stronger curry flavour.

Janette Huang

It’s a really small place that’s quite easy to find. Their service is really friendly especially because I was alone and this is my first time being here. Their food is so nice!! Probably the best pho I’ve had (but that’s not saying much I don’t have much pho). The beef is definitely the highlight (I ordered the special beef noodle soup). Just beware- it’s not airconditioned properly and can get very hot.

MizTea_SydneyFoodCritiX

I love my pho, and the taste reminds me of pho Ann in Bankstown. So I assume it's the msg I can taste lol it was okay service and it was quiet when we went

William Wu

Pho 236 is a small Vietnamese restaurant in Newtown, which offers cheap Vietnamese food. They have rice, pho and small dishes but there are not too many choices on the menu. The kitchen does not look very clean, and restaurant does not pay too much focus on decorations. The #Crispy chicken with tomato rice# is OK, very simple but cheap. The dish includes vegetables. I didn't find much difference between tomato rice and normal rice. #Seafood noodles# is very large in quantity. The taste is again very ordinary.

Vietnhanqtkd

What do you expect in casual dining restaurant. Quick service, excellent pho with reasonable price, friendly staff. Keep going back regularly even i get discount 10% for take away order and no charge for any drink or food out there. Best Pho in Newtown but the cheapest one lol

Leon

Pho 236 is a simple and nondescript restaurant in Newtown which offers a variety of traditional Vietnamese fare. As I entered the restaurant, I was greeted by a creaky gate which I struggled to pull across in my first attempt I ordered their signature pho. I liked how the beef was thinly sliced and 80% raw when it was dunked into a hot bowl of MSG-infused soup. The beef was tender, succulent and juicy. However, I was unable to finish the pho because the taste of MSG was unmistakable. 😑

Risa

We ordered Beef Pho and Crispy chicken with tomato rice. The taste was so-so. Not really want to go back. But the price is surely cheap. The place is really old and no music at all. The interior also a bad news.

Ruby Nguyen

Bang for the buck. I tried fresh beef noodle soup and the portion was big. The broth was a bit too sweet, I wonder if they put sugar in it cause it's quite impossible to make such sweet broth. Service was just ok, the decoration was pretry dull. But compare to other places, the food was good value for money.

Chris Vera

*Update: Unfortunately last two times had the same problem, very poor looking food, cold (yes, both of them cold!) and still no background music, pretty awkward mate. Oh, "CASH ONLY", we can guess why. Not going anymore. Nice food, good prices and friendly staff. The place is always clean 👍, just the atmosphere is a bit quiet (I've only gone at night), maybe a bit of music would make a big difference.

Manz

The food itself is about average, not amazing, definitely a fair way off being one of the better ones in Sydney, but they are not too bad either. But for a $8.80 beef pho, it definitely exceed expectations. The broth was decent, and the servings of meat was generous for the price. The fresh spring rolls are a little bit bland and uninspiring. The decor and service was no frills, and the food was served fast. Good if you're on a tight budget.

Karine Thai

Very flavorsome pho brought!!! Super yummy, I was not disappointed. However, I have a little regret that my soup was not as hot as I like it, especially with the wintery wind outside. Therefore, the raw I ingredients (soy, basil, chili) are not "melting" enough to release all their flavors.

Katie Harris

Definitely has changed hands - not as good as it used to be. Prices were the same, but hardly any chicken in my chicken with crispy noodles. Won't come back, which is a shame!

_simplypeckish

Pho was really flavoursome. Definitely did not disappoint. The shop looks a bit old and small but the food was good. Spring roll was fresh served with a sweet dipping sauce. Price was alright.

MsBrulee

Tan Viet in my hometown of Cabramatta make the inimitable ‘criskin’ chicken – a portmanteau of crispy and skin and man do they make it good. I made the mistake of eating my ultimate comfort food at another Vietnamese restaurant called Pho 236. The prices of dishes are really cheap, most are under $10 and the decor is very no frills.

JT Esse

So disappointed ! Had been hanging out for Pho for months ! When we arrived here we assumed they would know their broth! Sadly it was bland and flavorless. Meat was chewy. All in all a very unpleasant experience . Overpriced for a bowl of soup too.

Amy Wang

Was in Sydney for a couple of days and decided to try this out due to all the positive reviews! We ordered the beef pho and the spring rolls and it was delicious!! Service was good and prices were affordable. We ended up going there the next day too!

The Sojourner

Your average pho noodle restaurant. One hungry afternoon after running errands, I decided to stop here for lunch. The space is small, relatively clean, very casual and simple setting. The menu has all the usual favorite Vietnamese dishes and is less than $10 a bowl excluding seafood dishes. I enjoyed my hot and spicy beef soup. It had a lot of flavor and was quite fulfilling. The service was pretty standard.

La Petite Bobo

I ate here a few nights back and sadly wasn't too impressed with the food. The prices are great but you can definitely find better Vietnamese in marrickville for a slightly higher price. I had the beef vermicelli noodle salad that lacked flavour, although wasn't too bad. I will probably be back to try the pho as I know that's what there known for.

ThatFoodDude.

I feel that Pho 236 caters for the price-conscious more than anyone else. Prices are cheap, service is quick, but the food is substandard. If you're after some quick, cheap Vietnamese food and aren't too fussed about anything else, this is the place for you.

Garnet Chan

Rice paper rolls fell apart when we ate them, the beef vermicelli salad wasn't as fresh or light or crunchy as to what I'm used to. It's alright, but not the best.

Sydney Foodie

My friend's parents found a cockroach in their pho today. I use to be a regular here but the quality of their food has seriously gone down in the last 6 months, they over salt the soup and the rice tastes like it has been sitting around for days.

Asian Food Ninja

Sorry but im strict with Pho LOL as a vietnamese and lives in cabramatta all my life im somewhat a mental case toward pho. First off ... got give a warm bowl of pho ...WARM ...by the time i add my herbs and beansprout its all cold. The broth was bland, no flavour what so ever, felt like it was mixed with water .... my friend order the rice dish and the pork chop texture was like rubber .... the good or soso dish was the springrolls 😂😂😂😂 pretty upset when i heard the microwave ring before out food got sent out ..... then again .... its my fault for eating vietnamese in Newtown. Until next time ..... keep eating!!!

Tim

Above average food, it isn't no 3 hat restaurant but what do you expect for the price you're paying. Had the sizzling Mongolian chicken and the beef salad, great flavours and filling.

Nora Ng–Na

Not particularly memorable but Pho 236 offers reasonably sized Vietnamese or Vietnamese–Chinese fare at prices that don't break the bank. Although we do not really understand Vietnamese food or, for whatever reason, like it (perhaps it is the pho and the soup?), the food tastes as though the ingredients are fresh and that they are prepared upon order. However, we noted that the quality or preparation of the dishes varied, with some dishes not as warm as we would have liked them to be or two of the same dishes not being of the same standard. The service at Pho 236 isn't too shabby, with attentive and accommodating staff. On the other hand, this hole-in-the-wall restaurant could do with some refurbishing and life. However, for the sake of lunch, it is good enough. On balance, we would recommend friends visit Pho 236 if they have cravings for no-frills Vietnamese in the Newtown area.

Paul Sterling

Terrible food, terrible service, the bowl of chillies at our table had mould growing in it. The staff did not care. Just because it's cheap doesn't mean it's good value.

Sianowen

Terrible service, average food. We have just eaten at PHO 236 For dinner after reading all of the great reviews, however our experience was not so great. We ordered 1 diet coke and 1 coke zero, one was warm nearing on hot and the other very cold so I went to ask if they would change mine for a cold one from the fridge, the lady refused saying that as I had opened the can already she couldn't give me a new one. Then came the tasteless chicken stock soup... Nobody eat here, it might be cheap but compared to all of the other great places in Newtown it was terrible service and average food!

Andrea Fuchs

Good & cheap food. I've been here a couple of times and tried some different things on the menu. They were all good, but the chicken laksa is my favourite! Just spicy enough and you get a huge portion for about 8 dollars. I only manange to eat half of it and take the rest with me for lunch the next day. So you really get a lot of food for your money! Can highly recommend this place :-)

Padaek

If you’re looking for tasty and affordable Vietnamese/Chinese food, including pho in Newtown, then Phở 236 will satisfy your hunger. It is understated in appearance, but if you’re after good food without the gloss, this is definitely a place to consider and try. To some pho connoisseur, the pho at Phở 236 might not compare to the pho of Marrickville or Cabramatta, but you know what – if it looks like pho, smells like pho and tastes like pho – it’s more than good enough for me.

Strop

There is a no nonsense attitude about this place. It is there in the name, with the street address included. There is nothing fancy in the fit-out either, and no decorations. Just a long narrow rectangular tube with glass at the street end and a counter at the back. Tiled floors and plain painted walls, containing a row of tables on either side of a central aisle that leads straight from the door to the business end. There is nothing fancy about the food either: Vietnamese/Chinese that is not great but good enough for the price. Service is fast, and you can drink Coke or Sunkist or Water, or you can bring your own. We brought our own. A nice little Pinot Grigio courtesy of the Coopers Arms across the street, which seemed a bit far to go as there is a Vintage Cellars next door, but unfortunately it is closed due to it being Boxing Day and there being trading rules. Its the name and the address! It is early but Pho 236 is fairly busy — as it always seems to be. It has been around for as

Little Lauren's Adventures

For the most part the menu is pretty much under $10 with a Fresh Beef Pho starting at $7.80. I know this sounds weird as I’m raving about a Vietnamese places but I don’t know if I’m one-hundred percent sold on the old Pho, although I like to spend copious amounts of time saying the word to create punny restaurant names…

Charn Tangson

I hadn’t had any of this dish to compare to in over a year but I thought the broth was quite fragrant and delicious. The standard sprouts with lemon and basil leaves which is almost always served with Pho anywhere you go.

Forking Around Sydney

When it comes to cheap, quick and tasty Vietnamese food in Newtown, nobody comes close.

Simon Leong

This cheap and cheerful Vietnamese and Chinese restaurant has been serving up one of my favourite Salt & Pepper Squid dishes in Sydney — Phamish used to cook it like this but I don't find theirs as crispy anymore since their move to Palmer Street location

Mr Shawn & Miss Chicken

Pho 236 on King Street Newtown has been serving Vietnamese street food classics for ten years or so. Pho 236 is your basic hole-in-the-wall joint and has to be one of the best value feeds in Newtown. The food is good though not on par with the Vietnamese

Heneedsfood

You're craving a quick and tasty Vietnamese meal in Newtown and you've turned your pockets inside out and found just 10 bucks and a few coins.

Safwat Hossain

Great sizzling prawns!. Came by and had lunch here today. I had the sizzling garlic prawns, which were cooked well and was delicious. The vegetables were not bad either. The place is quiet and the service is great. The staff are friendly the prices are cheap: max $15, for a main meal.

Jam-master

Walked past this restaurant quite a few times and thought the interior designer must've been a blind person. That being said I do love my pho so figured why not. The service was slow and unless you speak Vietnamese, you'd have a hard time conversing with your waiter. Soup came out relatively quick, however, soup was lukewarm and tasted like watered down Campbell's beef stock cubes. Don't think I'll be coming for seconds

MerryJ

Don't understand why it is rated so high. yes, lukewarm pho and the spicy noodle isn't delicious either. will not go back again.

Ra Ra Noodle

Ugh!. Seriously the worst Vietnamese "restaurant" I've ever been to. The dodgy surrounds I could do with, but the spring roll vermicelli that I ordered was underwhelming. Came with spring rolls, vermicelli, lettuce, carrot and cucumber. No sign of any herbs and fish sauce was pretty poor.

Strop

Special in a special beef pho kind of way. Well, at Pho 236 what you see is pretty much what you get. Nothing fancy (certainly not about the decor!), but tasty Chinese/Vietnamese standard offerings. It must be doing lots of things well enough cos it is almost always busy, full of people. The Special Beef Pho was pretty good, just not as good as I had in many other places, and several 'special' meaty bits were missing, including my favourite bits. Everyone else liked what they had and it was certainly good value. For more detail check out paintingthebridge.com

Bmj

Lovely service but food was terrible. Would not waste my time or money again.

Harry

Gave pho 236 a try yesterday after seeing the high rating. was pleased with the special beef pho noodles for its price of 8.50$. had a good mix of balls and beef slices. got a side of spring rolls with it. avoid the spring rolls at all costs unless all you want is a crunchy snack and not care what it is. they were just cocktail spring rolls and not authentic viet spring rolls. even the sauce for it was wrong

THEJUGERNAUTS

I liked it and then.... Normally, I'd rate Pho236 quite highly but seriously serving up a bowl of lukewarm pho? what is happening in the kitchen?

Ul1311

The food is as bland as the colour of the walls. We ordered a special pho which was luke warm and a cashew chicken which came out without cashews - so they brought out a little dish of cashews to pour over the chicken! Unimpressed!!!

Axalottle

Used to be good but has lost it. Staff dont give a F about anyone, forget drinks, and food isn't as good as it used to be. Shame

Cinntonic

Seriously good pho! Fresh, tasty and generous for $7.80 The rice noodles in the pho were so good.

Reens

Fast service. I love the fast service and the food is always consistently fantastic! The prices are completely reasonable too. I go here often with my friends in Newtown and it is always a great decision when we do.

Portsmouth Local 4 Now

Best food in Newtown!

Michael O'Rafferty

Awesome!!!. This place is awesome :) great cheap prices and fantastic food. Their beef pho, chicken soup and fresh spring rolls are Devine, u can't get it anywhere else. I've been here literally 20 times and will keep going back. Try it, I'm sure you won't b disappointed.

Sarah Archer

Enjoyed a casual cheap meal in this popular spot. Ordered wontons and pho. Attentive and friendly service

Kylie McNeil

Wasn't great to be honest. Pho was ok but lacking the flavours of other better places (think cabramatta and bankstown). The beef was chewy too. I wouldn't return even though it is a cheap eat.

Paul S

Mould in the red chilli peppers on the table should have been an indication. The food was terrible, the service was even worse. Would not subject myself to this place again regardless of the price. Especially with so many alternatives on King st.

Shek Yuen

Cheap and cheerful! Could do with some fan/aircon though, sweltering inside on a cool night

Newtown Tragic

Best fast food in Newtown. Fast take away- call and it will be ready in 15 minutes for pickup. Eat in- cheaper than I could cook it myself, methinks. One of the best cheap eats in Newtown

Fatbetty

Cheap and cheerful. Love this place, it's cheap and cheerful and BYO! The beef pho is my favourite.

Eunis Tran

Love it!!! Beautiful flavours. The beef pho is one of the best I've had on Sydney. The pepper steak was also delicious. Beware of the hot chillis on the table.

Greg

Terrible terrible Pho. Well, one of the best Pho before i tried was in Waterloo, where there is no ambience either, so this is not that important! The joint that has 'Pho' in its name should be serving at least good Pho's.... To my dismay, Pho Special that I ordered was dreadful, the stock was terrible, it was lacking tendons and the tripe.... Never will come back again

Sarah

Great Every Day Ffood. No nonsense, good, authentic & cheap Vietnamese, if you want to eat in be early! It'salways full.

Shelley

If you use the word 'pho' in your restaurant name, you'd assume you'd make a good pho wouldn't you? It tastes as good as a $7.80 pho should taste I guess. I'd prefer to pay a few extra dollars somewhere else and enjoy it. Service is shocking too - but I guess it's to be expected when prices are that cheap. Although dropping a bowl of hot liquid onto your table from an inappropriate height is a bit much. On the plus side, at least it meant there was less pho to eat...!

The2littlepiggies

A cheap and average Pho. If you are looking for a no frills, basic Pho restaurant, look no further than Pho 236 in Newtown. This hole-in-the-wall restaurant serves an average Pho at only $7.80. Don't come here for the ambiance or service because you won't get any. If you are looking for a cheap and decent feed in Newtown, this restaurant is worth a visit. The Beef Pho was simple, light and the perfect portion size. The broth did however, lack some flavours exhibited by the better Phos we had previously experienced but overall it was a satisfying feed. The Chicken Pho was surprisingly good, if not, better than the Beef Pho and was served with extra vegetables on top. The chicken was succulent, the vegetables perfectly cooked and the broth quite tasty. Overall the experience was average, neither great nor bad. If you are in the area and looking for a cheap meal, we'd recommend Pho 236.

Megan

Cheap and tasty. Very quick and lovely service, and the pho is very nice. I wasn't a huge fan of the other food but it wasn't terrible either.

Madam Wu

Average 'Vietnamese'. The bright green walls, unfriendly service and menu full of both Chinese and Vietnamese options should signal that this was not going to be a good experience but the constant number of people in place lulled me into believing it might be a good option, despite an average experience years ago. It was not to be. The fresh rice paper rolls were filled with vermicelli, pickled veges and some shredded chicken with a thick and gluggy peanut paste that you could secure wallpaper with. The seafood wonton noodle soup had that clear and salty broth that you just know has MSG in it and was filled with the bland taste of frozen vegetables exuding defrosting juices. The veges were tasty, fresh and not overcooked. The noodles were also nice and of a generous portion. Having a look around, the large majority of people in here were students which explains why it's always busy.

Sparrokei

Best Pho Out!. I'm a Pho Ga addict and I've had it all over the world, but Pho 236 is my favourite. To be fair - it's not the most authentic (they typically don't have that many delicious veggies, for starters), but it's still the tastiest I've had. The Beef Vermicelli is great too, and the salt and pepper squid is also good.

Jane

A regular fix for us. Sure its nothing to look at but the soups, squid and summer rolls are great.. They could use some new teacups though quite a lot are chipped...

Inner Westie

Simple and easy. Good chicken Pho and delicious salt and spicy squid.

Dominic

Other reviews mention "cheap food"! Well, d'uh!!! That's what we WANT! And who cares about the decor when you can get large, tasty fresh spring rolls, a huge plate of delicious and tender Salt & Spice Calamari, a big tub of rice and 2 cans of soft drink for just under $25 - enough to feed 2 (large!) people!!? I'm ALWAYS going back to this place!

Mikey

It's great qualily for the price. The fresh spring rolls are really good and so are all of the soups.

Ed

Dreadful Pho, unfortunately. Awful ambience, too. Won't go back to try anything else.

JasonH

Phone 236 has great rice paper rolls, yummy hot pots and the Mongolian beef is good too. A regular favourite for me at great price. Highly recommend.

Vu Ha

The beef noodle soup is not all that. Service is slow with grunts. Food is cheap. Restaurant looks pathetic.

I Live To Eat

Best beef Pho on King Street & really cheap.

Shawn Bergquist

Great fresh beef noodle. Just got back from Vietnam and look for pho all over. This resturant was better. Fresh spring rolls are fantastic as is the salt and leper squid

David Clayton

Fantastic if you know what to get. I highly reccomend the fresh beef noodle soup. It is the best in the inner west and for 7 dollars you can't go wrong

Ozute

Vietnamese theme, cheap and cheerful food. Friends and I bought 2 entrees with 4 mains totalling $49.50. Nothing flash but fills a hole.

Review Pho 236 - Sydney