The 2021 Melbourne Pho Tour.

Not seen on Broadsheet. Maybe.

Pre-COVID Swanston Street, Mekong.

If you’ve never had pho in Melbourne (really?), I suggest you start with Mekong in the CBD. 

If you're scoffing, good, you've already been there, and have heard of the loud ‘clank’ of the bear-size-tourist trap doing its job. But tell me, If it’s so bad, how come it survived all the ‘unprecedented’ times?

Because of the giant blow-ups of Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Chua Lam the food critic, plastered over the mirrored walls. Because there’s a sign that says ‘Bill Clinton had 2 bowls’. (Note that they never specified Bill had 2 bowls at Mekong - just 2 bowls at some point in his life. What brilliant marketing.)

Here's a thought: do you think the celebrities went to Mekong because the food was good, or because it's the ONLY Asian noodle place available in the 90s CBD?

Trivia: the owner of Mekong isn't Vietnamese.
Trivia combo: the owner of Laksa King, however, is Vietnamese.

Anyway, Mekong provides the perfect starting point for our pho tour.

The not-so-good, not-so-bad rice noodles soup.
Shake hands and embrace the MSG.

I have Malaysian friends/relatives who have yet to outgrow the place.

Once you're done, lick your lips, have a sip of tea, let's get on the bus.

This is where we wave goodbye to the free subscribers.