Pho Thai Ha

Pho Thai Ha is a quaint sit-down Vietnamese restaurant with a broad menu, mainly focusing on pho. They do have a bahn mi selection however - how does it hold up?

The Components

Bread

I found the bread to be extremely flakey (messy) and a touch dry, with a medium crumb and little chew. This is, unfortunately, pretty standard for most bahn mi baguettes in Vancouver.

Veg

They had everything - fresh cucumber, japapeno and cilantro, plus pickled carrot and diakon. The pickled carrot and diakon could stand to be more heavily seasoned or served with more of the pickling juices - it too was dry.

Spread

Mayo and pate were definitely present on my pork bahn mi, but it wasn’t very much and was hardly noticeable.

Meat

The sliced pork on my bahn mi had flavor, but it too was heavily cooked and dried out.

Overall Impression

While they nailed the classic ingredient list, subpar preparation or holding lead to an overly dry sandwich. It wasn’t bad per se, just not great. This is not totally unexpected for a restaurant that focuses on pho, however unfortunate that is.

The ambiance however - I seriously felt at ease in the restaurant. With a warm, green interior and gentle spa music playing, I felt totally refreshed by the time I finished my meal. I would recommend coming here for that alone

Recommendation

It’s only okay bahn mi. I might recommend it if you live in the area as there’s no close by alternatives within walking distance, but otherwise, head to Victoria drive or Kingsway for some better sandwiches.