Pho My-Tam

We were the only customers there at 9pm on a Wednesday… likely due to its rather insalubrious (ie. sketchy) location. Friendly service, clean (though not fancy), and good value. Hue style phở was excellent — nice spicy, oily broth with lotsa assorted bits of meat. As one other reviewer mentioned, the sauce for vermicelli bowls was a bit lacking — needs a bit more salty/​sour/​sweet kick. Good quality condiments and fresh herbs/​bean sprouts for phở. Overall, not the best Vietnamese I’ve had, but decent, and a whole lot better than what you’d get at nearby fast food places or General Hospital cafeteria.

The phở is good but the fish sauce if you order the vermicelli is very lackluster. The mango smoothies are delish, but for some reason it took about ten minutes to get it!

Ahhhhhh Phở. Who doesn’t love a bottomless bowl of soup?!? Nobody I tell you, NOBODY! Broth, noodles, veggies and meat. Delicious.
So now, more importantly, how is Phở Bo on Barton?
Pros:
Good Value. I often have the Seafood soup and Phở Bo easily gives you more shrimp, calamari, crab etc. then any other Phở restaurant I’ve been too in Hamilton. ⁷⁄₁₀ on value.
Decent Food. Not the best Phở out there, but still rates a ⁷⁄₁₀ in my books.
Cons:
Location. It might be difficult for you to convince others that a restaurant located next door to Barton Jail has something to offer. But it does.
Ambiance. Ya … there isn’t any. Unless you dig vietnamese comedies which is usually what’s playing on their 1980’s 20 inch TV.
Cons aside, I’m not going to Phở Bo to revel in my affluent lifestyle and be treated like a King. I’m going because I have $ 10 bucks in my pocket and want a solid meal, not Subway. You will be out the door full and all in for the $ 10’er.
My favourite item. Appetizer. Grilled Calamari. Holy Sh*t people, this is by FAR the best calamari I have ever had. EVER. ANYWHERE. If you like calamari, get it.

Not really the best place to go for thai food. It tasted alright… quite small portions, watered down sauces and prices a little high. Better choices out there for sure.