604: Pho An Nam - Richmond

This is one of my favourite place for Pho in Vancouver. I've been supporting them from their old location on Granville Avenue since 2011. They were forced to relocate because of redevelopment in that little tiny strip mall on Granville Avenue, and I had followed them to their new location on No. 3 Road since their relocation. Their restaurant is currently tucked in in the little strip mall where IHOP, Wo Fung and John 3:16 are also located. Parking can be a bit tense there btw.

Back then their pricing was quite competitive, but since covid the prices have really soar. I remember paying $13 for a meal combo and it included a bowl of pho, a spring roll and a drink. Now the combo is $16, and the increase happened just overnight! The Bahn Mi combo was $8.50 back then and now just a Bahn mi itself costs $8. It seems like most restaurants just spiked their prices by 25% since COVID.

Their spring rolls are a must order and their Spicy Beef and Pork with thick vermicelli soup comforts your soul in the cold weather. The spicy noodle is very addicting! These are the recommendations but if you want a review of their Bahn Mi, feel free to take a read of this article here.

Price: $8 per sub // $11.50 - $14 per Pho bowl

Taste:

Sub: 3.3 / 5

Pho: 4.7 / 5

Rice: 4.0 / 5

Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Seating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Price Performance ratio:

Sub: 2.6 / 5

Pho: 3.2 / 5

Rice: 3.4 /5

Location: Here

Menu:

Joyee on a Banh Mi Hunt - Pho An Nam

I went to my favourite pho place today to grab a Banh Mi. I was thinking that the majority of the food I order there are pretty legit so the subs can’t be that bad. That’s a good assumption.

For $8 per sub, which is above market pricing, I expected more from them. My ‘only’ suggestions for them is to add more cold cuts, more butter, more vinegar and sugar in the pickled vegetables, and more pate in the cold cut sub (just look at that sad picture of the spread... how skimpy is that?...)... As for the grill chicken sub, I’d suggest adding more lemon grass, more marinade, more mayo, more chicken and same thing with the vegetables. Other than that it’s pretty good. Lol.

I didn’t feel very full after eating the whole sub though. It’s the same feels with Banh Mi Saigon BUT I’d say their subs are still better than Saigon!

On the side note, their hot food is great! Their vermicelli special is my favourite, and their spring rolls are the bomb. For the full review for Pho An Nam, click here.

Price: $8 per sub

Taste: 3.3 / 5

Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Seating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Price Performance ratio: 2.6 / 5

Location: Here

Kitchen Hack Attack! (Overnight Bread)

People often tell me that it's not worth making my own bread cause it's only $2 a loaf. Well, a baker will always be a baker.

I'm glad I was persistent in learning and have finally advanced my bread making skills (it only took a few

years...), cause now I get fresh buns every morning!

Here's a tip for you bread makers - just double your favourite bread recipe and follow the normal procedure. After the second rise, shape your bread dough into the desired shape and wrap each bun individually with cling film. Place the wrapped dough in the freezer until you are ready to bake them.

I normally defrost my frozen bun(s) (1 or 2 at a time) in the fridge the night before I bake them - that's the third rise which happens overnight. When I wake up I just take the buns out from the fridge and preheat the oven and then go brush up. By the time I'm done, the oven is ready and I get fresh bread in 14 minutes.

If you want it right away, you can just defrost the frozen buns at room temperature for about 15 minutes and bake it as per instructed temperature. You may need to increase the baking duration for a few more minutes though!

Happy baking!