Vietnam:  Time for Pho

Pho Do Thi – 25 Dundas St E, Mississauga, ON L5A 1V9
Country: Vietnam 
Must-try dish: Stir-Fried Beef and Veggies with Egg Noodles – Mi Xao Bo Rau Cai
Dinner guests: Mad Max 
The high: Going into the restaurant, seeing the wall of clocks and being greeted by the smiling face of the woman behind the cash. 
The low: You can go without the fried Spring Rolls, and the fresh ones had too many noodles in them. 

Baby, it’s cold outside. When the temperature drops, there’s nothing better than a steamy bowl of pho to warm your insides. 

Pho Do Thi is located in an area considered Missisauga’s “most ethnic corner” because there are several food spots from all over the world. Located in a small strip mall, the sign above the door indicates that there’s bubble tea and the lights are on inside the restaurant but all the tables and chairs are pushed to one side of the space to allow diners a path to access their takeaway food. Although the decor was minimalistic, there was an entire wall of clocks of all shapes and sizes that made Pho Do Thi unique from any other Vietnamese restaurant ever. 

Sadly, the closures of restaurants across the Greater Toronto Area have ensured that restaurants can’t offer an in-house dinning experience. Despite this, the woman who took our order and helped cook the food had a big smile on her face and was helpful in making the decisions for the evening’s meal. Pho was a must, but there was flexibility on everything else. 

This is what made the cut: 

• Beef Spring Rolls – Cha Gio Thit Bo
• Shrimp and Pork Fresh Rolls – Goi Cuon Tom Thit
• Rare Beef – Pho Tai
• Stir-Fried Beef and Veggies with Egg Noodles – Mi Xao Bo Rau Cai
• Vietnamese Crispy Pancakes with Shrimp, Pork and Bean Sprouts – Banh Xeo
• Bubble Teas (Milk Tea and Mango Tea)

Although Pho Do Thi is known for its noodle soups, and they are very tasty indeed, the trio fell in love with Stir-Fried Beef and Veggies. This dish was recommended by the woman working in the front of house because that’s what she would have ordered for herself for dinner. It’s exactly what you would expect – it was flavourfulful without being spicy. 

Big praise also needs to be awarded to the Vietnamese pancake, which is nothing like you would expect, but so tasty. It’s a generous medley of shrimp, pork and bean sprouts sandwiched between two hardshells. Full disclosure: You must use your hands! 

Please do your part in ordering directly from restaurants when getting takeout. Not only do you typically get a saving, but the restaurant also benefit. As much as delivery companies are amazing and convenient, they take a large cut in the profit a restaurant would make for a meal and these small businesses need everything they can get to stay afloat during the pandemic so that we can keep having our bellies filled now and forever.  

Eat with you soon,

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)