Quick Bites:
🍝 What we ate: Cooked beef rice noodle soup, Crispy chicken rice noodle soup, Fried pork rib with tomato rice, Vietnamese coffee
🍷 Best for: If you’re looking for a comforting meal or something to keep you warm this winter
🌅 Location perks: It’s right beside Woolies so you can grab a dessert or some needed groceries afterwards!
⭐ Vibe: Simple, unpretentious, casual
📍 Where? Beresford Ave., Beresfield
💰 Price: $
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Beresfield’s busiest little pocket — the one with Woolies, a pizzeria, a fish and chip shop, and what is arguably the best pho in Newcastle — doesn’t quite feel like the rest of the city. There are no ocean views here, no trendy café strips or bustling markets. But tucked away from the radar of most Novocastrians is Pho Huy, a Vietnamese gem that serves bowls of pho so good they’ll warm your heart and your tummy on even the chilliest winter day.
Pho Huy is a family-run Vietnamese restaurant serving up authentic, no-fuss dishes that speak for themselves. The space is simple and practical; in fact, it’s far from Instagrammable. But as we all know, some of the best meals come out of humble kitchens like these. That’s certainly been my experience, and eating at Pho Huy was no different.
Whenever I think about Vietnamese food, my mind goes back to a short but unforgettable trip to Ho Chi Minh City (or Saigon) a few years ago. One of my close friends from Manila had been admitted to a hospital there (she was already better when I got there, thank goodness!) and needed someone to help her navigate her way through. Vietnam? How could anyone hesitate? It was a spontaneous two-hour flight from Manila, and somewhere between booking tickets and packing an overnight bag, I found myself landing in the middle of Saigon’s chaos: motorbikes buzzing past like swarms of bees, street vendors calling out, and the scent of something charred and fragrant wafting through every corner.
Those few days were intense, but in between hospital visits and errands, I found pockets of peace in bowls of pho. Sitting on tiny plastic stools on the side of the road, I slurped noodles from steaming bowls while scooters passed by only inches away. The broth was light yet deeply flavourful, the beef tender, and every sip felt restorative. That taste and feeling stayed with me long after the trip.
Fast forward to today, and Pho Huy’s pho took me straight back to those streets.
What I ate
Cooked Beef Rice Noodle Soup (Pho Bo Nam, $16.90)
Let’s start with the broth, because this is where Pho Huy truly shines. Clear and light, yet rich and full of flavour. There are savoury, sweet, and aromatic notes layered together. I can just imagine the star anise, cloves, and maybe a hint of cinnamon patiently and gently infusing the broth. It’s not heavy or oily, just silky and deeply satisfying. The cooked beef slices are tender and soak up all the goodness of the broth, while the noodles have that perfect soft-but-chewy bite. Every spoonful feels like a hug and it’s one of those bowls you want in between your hands on a cold, winter’s day. I highly recommend getting this dish. Not to mention, the serving is so generous! I would finish my own bowl any day, but you can also share it with a friend.
Crispy Chicken Rice Noodle Soup (Pho Ga Da Gion, $18.90)
And then there’s the crispy chicken. Personally, one of my favourite childhood comfort foods is fried chicken, so I’ll take anything that will bring me back home. The chicken arrives golden and visibly crisp, its coating shattering slightly with every bite to reveal juicy, tender meat inside. It’s so juicy and it’s just simple delicious. Paired with an umami noodle soup, this meal goes full nostalgic.
Fried Pork Rib with Tomato Rice (Com Suon, $17.90)
The fried pork rib are porkchops marinated in a sweet sauce almost resembling a BBQ marinade. It’s tender and has a charred taste to it, which elevates the flavour even more. It’s my first time tasting tomato rice and I was quite surprised! It was a bit sweet but paired well with the charred flavour of the pork. This meal came with a small side salad and its own condiments.
Side note: I highly recommend taking advantage of the free side condiments to elevate the flavours.
Vietnamese Coffee (Ca Phe Da, $6.50)
Of course, I couldn’t leave without ordering Vietnamese coffee. Strong, dark, and poured over ice with a swirl of condensed milk, it’s the perfect way to round off the meal. I love Viet coffee because it’s bold enough to wake you up but sweet enough to feel like dessert at the end of the meal. This one didn’t disapppoint. Hot tip: the coffee is very intense so sometimes, I pour a bit of water along with the ice. If you don’t palpitate or get easily anxious like I do, then you might want to keep it as is!
Should you eat here?
Please, please, pelase! Pho Huy isn’t trying to be trendy or trying to reinvent Vietnamese food. It’s simply doing what it does best: serving honest, traditional dishes with quiet confidence. It’s the kind of place you visit once and instantly makes your local favourites list. I know it’s on mine.
So if you haven’t been yet, make the drive to Beresfield. Order the pho. Order the chicken. Sit back, sip your coffee, and let the food work its magic. It’s truly the perfect season for it.
Monday – Friday: 10 am to 8:30 pm
Saturday: 11 am – 8 pm
Sunday: Closed
Facebook: Pho Huy
Phone: (02) 4063 2997
