There’s a moment — the one when the bowl lands in front of you — that tells you everything. The broth is the colour of dark amber, trembling slightly in the ceramic. Steam rises in slow, fragrant spirals. You catch the first whisper of star anise, cinnamon, and deeply roasted bone, and suddenly you understand why people drive across Ottawa for a bowl of pho in Chinatown.
That moment happens every single day at Vietnam Palace Restaurant, 819 Somerset Street West — right in the heart of Ottawa’s Chinatown. For over 35 years, we’ve been the address that locals argue is the best pho on Somerset Street. With 664 Google reviews and a menu boasting 100+ dishes, we’ve earned that reputation one steaming bowl at a time.
This is the story of what makes our pho different — and why Ottawa’s Chinatown is the only place you should be looking for the real thing.
Ottawa’s Chinatown: The Neighbourhood That Takes Food Seriously
Somerset Street West between Bronson Avenue and Rochester Street is one of the most food-dense strips in the capital. Walk it on a Saturday afternoon and you’ll pass produce vendors with lemongrass and galangal piled high, bubble tea shops, dim sum parlours, and bakeries selling pork buns that disappear by noon. This is Ottawa’s Chinatown — a neighbourhood that has been feeding the city’s most adventurous eaters for generations.
Among the Chinatown restaurants in Ottawa, Vietnamese cuisine holds a special place. The Vietnamese community put deep roots into this neighbourhood in the late 1970s and early 1980s, bringing with them the cooking traditions of Hanoi, Saigon, and Hue. Pho wasn’t just a menu item — it was a way of preserving identity, of feeding family, of saying home in a language everyone understood.
Vietnam Palace opened its doors in that era, and we never left. While restaurants have come and gone on Somerset Street, we’ve stayed — because the community kept coming back. They know that authenticity isn’t a marketing word here. It’s a daily practice.
If you’re searching for pho Somerset Ottawa, you’re already in the right mindset. The question is: which bowl do you order?
Want to understand what makes Vietnamese pho so extraordinary? Read our deep dive: The Ultimate Guide to Pho: Why This Vietnamese Soup Has the Whole World Obsessed.
The Broth Is Everything: How Authentic Pho Is Actually Made
Most people who haven’t grown up with pho think of it as a simple noodle soup. They’re wrong — and beautifully so. Authentic pho broth is one of the most labour-intensive preparations in Vietnamese cooking, a slow-built masterpiece that cannot be rushed or faked.
Here’s what goes into a proper pot of authentic pho in Ottawa:
- Beef bones — knuckles, marrow, and neck — roasted first until they’re deeply caramelized, unlocking complex Maillard compounds that no shortcut can replicate.
- Charred onion and ginger, blackened directly over flame to add smokiness and depth without any artificial flavour.
- The sacred spice sachet: whole star anise, cinnamon sticks, cloves, black cardamom, coriander seeds, and fennel. Each spice added at the right moment, in the right ratio — a recipe that took years to perfect.
- A long, slow simmer — we’re talking hours, not minutes. The fat is skimmed constantly. The broth clarifies, concentrates, and develops that golden translucence that is the hallmark of a properly made pho.
- Fish sauce and rock sugar — the final calibration, balancing salt, sweetness, and umami into a broth that is somehow light and profound at the same time.
The result? A broth that is never muddy, never flat, never one-dimensional. Every sip tells a story about the time and care that went into it. This is the broth that regulars describe when they say Vietnam Palace’s pho changed their understanding of the dish.
You can taste the difference immediately. Chain restaurants and shortcuts produce a broth that hits one or two notes. Ours plays the whole chord.
Curious how pho compares to other bold Vietnamese noodle soups? Explore our post on Bun Bo Hue: The Spicy, Bold Noodle Soup That Rivals Pho.
The Full Pho Experience: What Comes With Your Bowl
A bowl of pho is only as good as its accompaniments — and this is another area where authenticity matters enormously. At Vietnam Palace, your pho arrives with a garnish plate that has been thought through carefully:
- Fresh bean sprouts — crunchy, clean, added in just before eating so they stay fresh.
- Thai basil — not regular basil. The real thing, with that anise-forward fragrance that perfumes your bowl the moment you tear a leaf.
- Lime wedges — squeezed in at the table, brightening the broth and cutting through the richness.
- Bird’s eye chilies — fresh-sliced, for those who want heat that builds rather than burns.
- Hoisin and sriracha — your dipping sauces for the meat, or swirled into the broth if you like.
The ritual of assembling your bowl is part of the experience. Add your herbs, squeeze your lime, drop a few chili slices in. Stir gently. Take the first sip of broth before you’ve touched anything else — that’s the real test. That’s where you learn whether the kitchen has done its job.
We think you’ll find we have.
Explore our full menu to see the complete range of pho varieties and Vietnamese classics we offer: view the Vietnam Palace menu here.
What to Order: The Pho Menu at Vietnam Palace
Part of what makes Vietnam Palace the destination for authentic pho in Ottawa is the range of options. We don’t serve one pho — we serve a family of pho, each with its own character:
- Pho Tai (Rare Beef) — thin slices of eye of round, added raw and cooked in seconds by the boiling broth. Silky, tender, the most ordered bowl in the house.
- Pho Bo Vien (Beef Meatballs) — dense, springy Vietnamese-style beef balls that absorb broth beautifully. A favourite with regulars who want something more substantial.
- Pho Tai Chin (Rare + Well-Done Beef) — a combination bowl that gives you both textures and flavours. The well-done brisket is braised separately and adds a completely different dimension.
- Pho Ga (Chicken Pho) — a lighter, golden broth with poached chicken. Clean, comforting, perfect for a cold Ottawa winter day or when you want something gentler.
- Special Combination Pho — for the dedicated pho enthusiast. Multiple cuts of beef, multiple textures, one extraordinary bowl.
Each bowl is available in regular and large sizes. First-timers often underestimate how satisfying the regular is — regulars (the people, not the size) almost always go large.
Beyond pho, our 150+ dish menu means there is always something new to try. Vietnamese spring rolls, lemongrass dishes, broken rice plates, vermicelli bowls — but that’s for another visit. Today is about the pho.
Why Chinatown Is Ottawa’s True Home for Pho
People ask us sometimes: why is the best pho always in Chinatown? It’s a fair question. The answer is layered.
First, it’s community. The Vietnamese diaspora in Ottawa concentrated in this neighbourhood, and cooking for community means cooking to a standard that cannot slide. When your regulars grew up eating the real thing in Vietnam — when they’ll absolutely notice if the star anise is wrong or the noodles are overcooked — you don’t cut corners. The neighbourhood keeps you honest.
Second, it’s supply chain. Chinatown has the ingredients. Fresh herbs, proper rice noodles in multiple widths, the right cuts of beef from butchers who understand what you’re making, fish sauce brands that Vietnamese cooks actually use at home. You can’t make authentic pho without authentic ingredients, and this neighbourhood has them.
Third, it’s tradition. The restaurants that have survived on Somerset Street for decades have done so because they maintained their standards while everything around them changed. Vietnam Palace is proof of that. Over 35 years is not a marketing claim — it’s the result of doing things right, every day, even when no one is watching.
When you eat on Somerset Street, you’re eating at the intersection of immigration history, community pride, and culinary tradition. That combination produces food that you can’t manufacture elsewhere.
Want to learn more about where we come from and what drives us? Read the Vietnam Palace story here.
What Ottawa Regulars Know (And First-Timers Discover)
The most honest endorsement for our pho comes from the people who’ve been eating here for years. There are regulars who have been coming to Vietnam Palace since the early 1990s. Their children grew up eating our pho. Some of those children now bring their own kids.
What do they order? Usually the same thing, every time. A large Pho Tai. Extra lime. They know exactly where to sit. They know which staff member will top up their broth without being asked.
First-timers have a different experience — the discovery. We’ve watched hundreds of people take their first sip of our broth and visibly recalibrate what they thought pho was. That reaction never gets old.
664 Google reviews tells its own story. That volume of feedback doesn’t accumulate without consistent quality and consistent care. Read the reviews yourself — the words that come up most often are authentic, rich, real, and best in Ottawa.
This is what we’re here to do. This is what Somerset Street restaurants at their best are supposed to deliver.
Visiting Vietnam Palace: What You Need to Know
We’re located at 819 Somerset Street West, Ottawa — in the heart of Chinatown, easy to reach by bus, bike, or car. Street parking is available on Somerset and on the side streets. OC Transpo routes running along Somerset Street make us easily accessible from anywhere in the city.
We welcome walk-ins, but if you’re coming with a group or don’t want to wait during peak hours, we strongly recommend reserving a table in advance. Weekend evenings and weekend lunches fill up quickly — word has gotten out about the best pho in Chinatown Ottawa.
Ready to experience the most authentic bowl of pho in Chinatown? Book your table at Vietnam Palace here, or call us directly at 613-238-6758.
We’re open for lunch and dinner. We look forward to welcoming you to the table that Ottawa’s Chinatown has been gathering around for over three decades.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pho in Ottawa’s Chinatown
What makes pho in Ottawa’s Chinatown different from pho elsewhere in the city?
Chinatown restaurants on Somerset Street have been serving the Vietnamese community since the late 1970s. That means the standards are set by people who grew up eating authentic pho — not by a marketing brief. The access to authentic ingredients, the depth of cooking tradition, and the community accountability all produce a fundamentally different result. Vietnam Palace has been part of that tradition for over 35 years.
How long does it take to make the broth for authentic pho?
A properly made pho broth requires many hours of simmering — often starting the night before service. Beef bones are roasted first, then simmered slowly with charred aromatics and a spice sachet. The fat is skimmed throughout and the broth is never rushed. This is why authentic pho tastes so different from shortcuts: time cannot be replicated.
What is the most popular pho at Vietnam Palace on Somerset Street Ottawa?
Our most ordered bowl is the Pho Tai — thinly sliced rare beef in our house bone broth with rice noodles. Many regulars also love the Pho Tai Chin (combination of rare and well-done beef) and our Special Combination Pho for the most complete experience.
Is Vietnam Palace good for groups and families?
Absolutely. With 100+ dishes and options ranging from pho to vermicelli bowls, spring rolls, and lemongrass dishes, Vietnam Palace has something for everyone. We recommend booking ahead for groups of 4 or more, especially on weekends.
Where is Vietnam Palace located in Ottawa’s Chinatown?
Vietnam Palace is located at 819 Somerset Street West, Ottawa — in the centre of Chinatown. We’re steps from the major Chinatown landmarks and easily accessible by OC Transpo bus routes that run along Somerset Street. Call us at 613-238-6758 for directions or to make a reservation.
Does Vietnam Palace take reservations?
Yes! We strongly recommend booking ahead, especially for weekend visits. You can reserve your table online here or call us at 613-238-6758.
Vietnam Palace Restaurant | 819 Somerset Street West, Ottawa | 613-238-6758 | Book a Table | View Our Menu