Thanh Thanh

As the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. The same applies to Thanh Thanh, which has been dishing out some of the city’s best bowls of pho since 2010.

Besides a few fresh coats of paint and a newly reupholstered lounge seat, the Vietnamese restaurant remains much the same as when it first opened. And there’s a reason for this – owner Quang Tran believes that if things are working well, there’s no need to change them.

The pho broth is based on his mother’s recipe. Fragrant and zesty with a strong depth of flavour, the combination of ingredients remains a fiercely protected family secret.

Though the restaurant is best known for the pho, the menu covers a number of traditional Vietnamese dishes. The combination rice with pork, pickled vegetables and a fried egg is a particular favourite among regulars. For something sweet and refreshing, you can’t go past a creamy avocado smoothie or an icy three-colour bean drink.

While you’re there, you might even catch a glimpse of Tran himself, who leaves the kitchen every now and then to check that customers’ bowls are empty – his way of making sure that things are just as they should be.