Vietnam everywhere
Seems like Vietnamese food is all around us these days in my favorite city Vienna and non other than the entrepreneur Martin Ho & his life-partner Ivy Gebel joined the game with Ivy’s Pho House smack down in the middle of Mariahilferstrasse. They might be a bit late to the game but it is without a doubt the hippest entry with paper lanterns, old photographs and newspaper articles filling up the place floor to ceiling. Fighting against household names like Nguyen, Pho Lon Cho, Vietthao & by Chi this tiny shack tries to bring one of the most famous noodle soups in the world right into the heart of the 7th district.
The gist: It is all about the soup here which makes only sense in the version beef or chicken. The broth is delicious and heartwarming and will give you energy throughout the day, the noodles could be a bit crisper but all in all nothing to complain here. With soybean sprouts, fresh coriander and basil leaves you complete the classic Pho arrangement. I still miss that the meat is already in the soup which is not the traditional way and through that the meat gets very stiff the longer it swims in the broth. (additionally you should know that 90% of all restaurant in Vienna serve it this way). I was still a happy camper and would definitely come back for another dip. (Most restaurants serve a little plate with Hoisin & Red Chili or Sriracha Sauce which was missing here)
As a side note a small angry rant by me: The dim sum are a awful sack of frozen sadness sticking to the banana leaves inside the bamboo steamer making it impossible to eat them without tearing apart the outer shell. If you can’t do it right don’t do it at all. I make better dumplings at home in 30 min or less. By the way the best place in the world for dumplings is Din Tai Fung (all hail the dumpling masters)
At the end I don’t want to leave this on a bad note because if you are searching for yummy Pho this place will serve you well and with the fast and friendly service you will have a good time here.
Click – Ivy’s Pho House
Mariahilfer Straße 103
1060 Vienna
daily 11.30-22:00
