Dinner Time: Pho Van for a whole lot of Pho

Pho Van is an East Van classic for Vietnamese food, located on Fraser near 18th it is a landmark in the neighbourhood where restaurants are relatively few and far between. You'll see it's lights beaming from across the street so it is hard to miss, especially with that happy cow on the banner out front taunting you to come inside.

Inside the restaurant Pho Van glows with neon lights, a big screen TV and a lot of mirrors on the three walls that are not facing the street. For this reason it looks about three times larger than it really is. Sometimes the TV is playing pop music videos, other times I've seen it showing the mating habits of animals on the Discovery Channel. Whatever the case, you'll have a few distractions when you're waiting for your food which usually arrives in good time.

While my favorite dish at Pho Van is the Seafood Pho, I have also sampled more than a few items on this menu and so far I've found them all to be pretty decent. I'd recommend the Lemon Grass Chicken atop a vegetable broth if you are truly adventurous, it is a custom dish that requires a lot of patience and chopstick skill to get through the order.

If you're looking for a late night eat on the east side the Fraser street location is open until 11. Keep in mind that the prices here are good but they only accept cash so be prepared when you arrive.

Pho Van (Fraser)
3370 Fraser Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-872-2879

Photo: Ryan Weal