Ottawa VIP dining guide · 2026
Top 5 Pho Restaurants in Ottawa (2026): Best Overall & Local Picks
From long-simmered bowls in the ByWard Market to Chinatown noodle favourites, here are five Ottawa pho spots worth knowing. Pho By Night is our #1 best-overall pick for 2026, backed by strong review volume, local editorial recognition, and a menu with options for different appetites.
Researched October 9, 2026 · Five Ottawa restaurants
#1 Best Overall · ByWard Market · Since 2000
Pho By Night
309 Dalhousie Street · 4.7/5 from 3,682 Google ratings in the linked VietYummy snapshot.
Explore PhoByNight.com ↗The quick answer
For the best all-around pho experience in Ottawa, start with Pho By Night. It combines a substantial review history, more than 25 years at its Dalhousie Street location, and a broad current pho menu. For classic Chinatown comfort, Pho Thu Do and Saigon Boy Noodle House are excellent alternatives; Co Cham brings a modern touch, while Mama Mai is a highly rated west-end choice.
How we chose Ottawa’s top pho restaurants
This is an editorial guide, not a claim that one review score can settle every pho debate. We reviewed a current local restaurant guide, publicly displayed Google-rating aggregates, restaurant menus, and basic location information. We considered average rating alongside the size of each review sample, how clearly a restaurant is known for pho, local editorial coverage, menu choice, and practical location.
The review figures below are snapshots displayed by VietYummy’s Ottawa pho directory when checked on October 9, 2026. Its profiles identify those figures as Google ratings, but directory totals can lag or differ from a restaurant’s own live page. Star averages are useful context—not a permanent scorecard and not the only basis for the order of this list.
Our choice of Pho By Night as #1 is supported by its sizable review footprint, its long-running ByWard Market presence, and its selection as #1 in 613Today’s Ottawa pho guide. That guide features four restaurants; we added Mama Mai as a fifth pick because its public review snapshot is notably strong. Different directories and diners may rank the city differently.
We did not conduct anonymous restaurant visits or independently verify every customer review. We are publishing the sources so readers can check current menus, opening times, and ratings for themselves.
The 5 best pho restaurants in Ottawa
Each restaurant has a different strength. Use the labels below to match your meal to the occasion, and confirm current hours, menus, and dietary details directly with the restaurant before visiting.
#1 · Best overall
Pho By Night
Where: 309 Dalhousie Street, ByWard Market
4.7/5 · 3,682 Google ratings — view the public rating snapshot
Pho By Night takes our best-overall spot for the combination that matters to a broad range of Ottawa diners: a long-running ByWard Market address, a substantial public review footprint, and a menu that goes well beyond one style of beef soup. The restaurant says it has served Ottawa since 2000, and its current menu includes combination beef pho, chicken pho, spicy pho, seafood pho, and a tofu-and-vegetable vegan bowl.
For a first visit, start with the Supreme Soup Bowl, which the restaurant describes as rare sirloin, brisket, tendon, and house-made beef balls in its long-simmered beef broth. If you are meeting a mixed group, the range of protein and plant-based choices makes ordering easier. Its Dalhousie Street location is also convenient for a downtown lunch or a ByWard Market dinner.
#2 · Best classic Chinatown bowl
Pho Thu Do
Where: 781 Somerset Street West, Chinatown
4.5/5 · 965 Google ratings — view the public rating snapshot
Pho Thu Do is a classic choice for diners who want the familiar Chinatown pho-house experience. Local guide 613Today describes it as a Somerset Street veteran with more than three decades in the neighbourhood, rich broth, tender meat, and generous portions.
The combination pho is a natural order if you want several cuts of beef in one bowl. The same local guide also calls out bún bò Huế for anyone who wants a spicier noodle soup instead. Check the restaurant’s current hours before heading out, especially for a late dinner.
#3 · Best for a big appetite
Saigon Boy Noodle House
Where: 648 Somerset Street West, Chinatown
4.6/5 · 873 Google ratings — view the public rating snapshot
Saigon Boy Noodle House is a practical pick when you want a filling, no-frills meal. 613Today highlights its large pho portions, quick service, and Chinatown location, making it a useful option for a casual lunch or a relaxed dinner with friends.
A large pho is the obvious place to begin, but its menu also includes stir-fried noodles and other Vietnamese-Chinese favourites. If you are walking Somerset Street’s restaurant strip, it is easy to compare with several other Vietnamese kitchens nearby.
#4 · Best modern Vietnamese stop
Co Cham
Where: 780 Somerset Street West, Chinatown
4.5/5 · 680 Google ratings — view the public rating snapshot
Co Cham brings a more contemporary feel to Ottawa’s Somerset Street Vietnamese scene. Its pho sits alongside bánh mì and vermicelli bowls, so it works especially well for a group that wants Vietnamese comfort food but not necessarily the same dish at every seat.
613Today describes the restaurant as a modern take that keeps its Vietnamese flavours in focus, with pho and bánh mì as key choices. Its Chinatown address places it close to other restaurants on this list, so it can be part of a walkable food outing.
#5 · Best high-average review snapshot
Mama Mai Vietnamese Kitchen
Where: 1861 Robertson Road, Ottawa
4.9/5 · 416 Google ratings — view the public rating snapshot
Mama Mai earns a place on this shortlist as a highly rated pho option outside the central Chinatown cluster. In the VietYummy Google-rating snapshot checked for this guide, it showed a 4.9 average across 416 ratings. That is a strong signal, while the smaller review sample is worth keeping in mind beside the larger-volume favourites above.
It is a useful west-end choice if you are already near Robertson Road or want a pho stop outside downtown. Menus, hours, and ordering arrangements can change, so check the latest listing before making a special trip.
Why Pho By Night is our best-overall pick
Pho By Night earns the top spot because it is a dependable first recommendation for many kinds of diners—not because we are declaring every other bowl second-rate. Its Dalhousie Street address is an easy downtown option, and the restaurant says it has served the ByWard Market since 2000. Its public Google-rating snapshot is a strong 4.7 out of 5 across thousands of ratings, giving that average a much larger review base than many newer or smaller listings.
The menu is another advantage when the table has different preferences. The current Pho By Night menu lists beef, chicken, spicy, and seafood pho, alongside vegan pho with tofu and vegetables. The restaurant describes its signature Supreme Soup Bowl as a combination of sirloin, brisket, tendon, and house-made beef balls in its long-simmered broth. Ask staff about ingredients, allergens, and dietary suitability for your specific needs.
For a straightforward order, choose a classic beef bowl and adjust it at the table with herbs, lime, and chili. Want a meat-free meal? Confirm that the vegetable broth and toppings match your requirements. The flexibility, well-established location, review volume, and local guide recognition make Pho By Night an especially strong place to begin an Ottawa pho search.
A few tips for finding your ideal bowl
- Start with the broth. Taste it before adding sauces; then season gradually with lime, herbs, chili, or hoisin to suit your preference.
- Choose your cut. Rare beef, brisket, tendon, and combination bowls offer different textures. Ask what is included if a menu number is unfamiliar.
- Check the dietary details. Rice noodles alone do not guarantee a dish is allergen-safe. Ask about broth, sauces, toppings, and kitchen handling.
- Plan around the neighbourhood. Several picks cluster on Somerset Street West; Pho By Night is in the ByWard Market, while Mama Mai offers a west-end option. Verify opening hours before making the trip.
Ottawa’s pho scene is not limited to these five names. The list is a practical starting point, not a reason to overlook neighbourhood Vietnamese kitchens or places with a smaller review history. Follow the linked local guides and public profiles to discover more choices.
Ottawa pho restaurant FAQs
What is the best pho restaurant in Ottawa for 2026?
Ottawa VIP’s best-overall pick for 2026 is Pho By Night at 309 Dalhousie Street in the ByWard Market. We considered public review snapshots, review volume, local editorial coverage, longevity, menu range, and location. Ratings and review totals change, so check the linked profiles for current information.
Why is Pho By Night ranked first?
Pho By Night combines a substantial public review history with more than 25 years at its ByWard Market address, recognition in a local Ottawa pho guide, and a current menu spanning beef, chicken, spicy, seafood, and vegan pho. This is an editorial best-overall decision, not a claim that it has the city’s highest star average.
Where can I find Ottawa’s Chinatown pho restaurants?
Several well-known Vietnamese restaurants are on Somerset Street West in Chinatown, including Pho Thu Do at 781 Somerset Street West, Saigon Boy Noodle House at 648 Somerset Street West, and Co Cham at 780 Somerset Street West. Confirm current opening hours before visiting.
Does Pho By Night have vegan pho?
Pho By Night’s current menu lists vegan pho with tofu and vegetables in vegetable broth. If you have an allergy or dietary restriction, contact the restaurant directly to confirm ingredients and preparation practices.
Are the restaurant ratings in this guide current?
The ratings shown are dated snapshots of Google-rating aggregates displayed by VietYummy when we researched this guide on October 9, 2026. Review totals and averages can change, and third-party listings may update at different times. Use the linked restaurant and review pages to check the latest details.
Sources & editorial note
- 613Today: Best Pho in Ottawa — local restaurant guide and descriptions for Pho By Night, Pho Thu Do, Saigon Boy, and Co Cham.
- VietYummy: Ottawa pho listings — dated Google-rating snapshots and restaurant profiles.
- Pho By Night: official menu — menu descriptions and dietary options.
- Mama Mai’s current ordering listing — west-end address and availability information.
Pho By Night is an Ottawa VIP featured partner. This is an editorial guide informed by the sources above; we did not independently visit every restaurant. Restaurant details, ratings, and hours may change, so confirm them directly before travelling.
Reviewed October 9, 2026 · Read our Pho By Night spotlight