It came time to herd the pho-loving crew to Victoria Street in Melbourne. Given that there are no shortage of places, I suggested we try another place aside from our beloved Pho Chu The – Co Do, seeing as they were at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival hawkers’ market. I didn’t get to sample their wares then and had promised myself I’d visit the restaurant instead.

Pho club regular @techydude wasted no time in showing us how things were done once we all arrived and ordered. He got one of those cool beverages that actually reminded me of something I’d seen at Malaysian restaurant Coconut House. An amused @adnrw laughs on.

Tris and I got smoothies – he got an avocado one, and I got a jackfruit one! I love jackfruit and used to eat it in ice cream in the Philippines. Delish.

Cam was kind enough to let me snap a photo of his pho choice (not before showing off his wonderful iPhone 4…grrr…). He had the braised beef pho.

Which incidentally, we were told by the waiter, is exactly the same as the beef and beef brisket pho Tristan had?!?! They do look remarkably similar…hmm. So why they are listed as different items on the menu is beyond me if even the staff think it’s the same thing.

I went all crazy Azn and got the pho bo ga dac biet (special beef and chicken combination rice noodle soup). It had sliced beef, sliced chicken, chicken and beef offal, and a gorgeous peppery beef sausage. Oddly enough, I only left my beef and chicken liver and ate most of that which I did not recognise. This pho kicked major arse in the meat and offal department, but sadly the broth was not quite as flavoursome and tasty as some I’ve had. Billy, bring on the congealed blood!

However, it’s definitely worthy of a repeat visit and the menu is huge, containing many non-pho options. At around $10 a bowl, it’s not going to break the bank either. Thanks to all who made it to this round of pho club and stay tuned for the next one. Just make sure you skilfully avoid the junkies on your way out of the shop. Alas, T and I missed out on post-pho beers with the gang because we had to dash across town to Biero Bar and quaff some Mikkellers. It’s a hard life! .

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