The Far East
May 8th, 2007
Pho Hoang Noodle House - (03) 9558 4064 - 36 Buckingham Ave Springvale 3171
Springvale Road is the worst Road to drive, anywhere in the world. I think you’ll agree. No matter what time of day your driving, the experience is always the same, pure hell! Today was no different. At least we had a reward at the end of the line.
Behind the low lying shops on Springvale Road, Springvale, is a maze of back streets and under cover malls. Inhabiting this are dozens of eateries and food vendors. Thai, Cambodian, Chinese, and Vietnamese. I lost count but there are at least six Pho shops with in a block of each other. King Whale Seafood Restaurant looms large over the district, in all it’s canary-yellow-double-story-car-park splendor. King Whale is penciled in for another time.
We tried Pho Hoang. This is a small, mirror walled, very worn tabled establishment, with a steady stream of soup punters. (I don’t think they get many tourists like us out here.) They do soup and only soup, but with many variations. Bun Bo Hue was on the list, as was Bo kho. There was also a Cambodian soup.
The quality was good with flavorsome stocks, fine noodles, ample accompaniments and the largest plate of salad stuffs I’ve seen anywhere.
It was well worth the battle of Springvale Road. We’ll be back.
Happy birthday Asha! (fellow noodle hunter)
May 11th, 2007 at 10:46 am
I don’t know that I can have you dissin Springvale or Springvale Rd. This was the Mug’s stomping ground for his first 18 years.
I certainly witnessed the conversion to a southeast-asian cornucopia. I remember the first wave of Vietnamese refugees in the mid-70’s. We were only 500 metres from the refugee hostel (which has since become a gated community for coffin dodgers). Soon there was the appearance of a noodle shop, then 2 and then 3 next to the milk bar at the corner of our street. It was certainly a change from Friday night fish and chips.
May 11th, 2007 at 11:07 am
In no way was I disrespecting Sringvale. In fact, I have decided that I will retire there, and live out my days driving a scooter down the corner to eat rare beef noodle soup and play Chinese chess in the mall.
But Springvale Road is F##@%d!
May 11th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Can I please take this opportunity to give my recommendation to your readers for the Whale King. Yes it is tacky, at least from the outside, and no they do not have whale despite my protestations of false advertising. The Yum Char is excellent with quality well known favourites. But for me the outstanding dish was the offal soup. It was served from a stainless steel pot on a trolley at your table allowing you to see the full range of animal bits on offer. The clear broth was rich and meaty but only lightly spiced. But for the offal lover it was a delight. Not only was there the usuals (liver, heart and tripe) but this baby had it all including spleen, tendon and congealed pigs blood blocks and not only from the pig no animal was excluded there were bits from chickens and cows as well. I guess that’s what I’d imagined as a kid that meat pies were filled with. Sorry to gross you all out with that reference to meat pies. Please despite what I have said do try the Whale King!