Pho 501

Reviews

• Dragos B.

  star star star star star_border 8 June 2026

  Having eaten at Pho 501 a total of three times now, I believe I have a fair opinion when it comes to the quality, service, and the vibe. This Vietnamese restaurant is located at the corner of Edmonton Trail and McKnight Boulevard, placed beside a Pizza 73.
  
  The inside is cozy and inviting, with several big booths for groups, as well as some 4 person tables. On each occasion, the hostess and servers were kind and accommodating. The food did not take long to come out, but enough to tell it was fresh. The place was pretty dead each time I went - no doubt the location plays a big part of that, as it's a little off the beaten path.
  
  Let's get to some delicious Vietnamese food! Starting with appetizers, the Shrimp & Beef Skewers were tasty and a delight! These tender bites are one of the best skewer appies I've had in years - plenty of flavour here! On another occasion, I opted for the Wonton Soup, which surprisingly - don't get me wrong, Vietnamese restaurants do their thing well, but rarely branch out to other cuisines - was very good, with what seemed like house-made wontons and a salty but balanced broth.
  
  For the mains, I need to get one point across - this is some of the best pho in Calgary! The cuts of beef came out perfectly raw and still a little thicker cut, rather than the flat, tasteless strips most places dish out. The broth was heavenly! The server was kind enough to ask if I wanted anything extra, such as more cilantro or limes, thus I need to give it A+ for service! Not quite hitting the mark of the pho was the Pork & Spring Rolls on Vermicelli. The noodles were very dry and sticky, the pork shreddings were a little too crispy for my taste, and the spring rolls had a distinct fatty residue that I have had at other Vietnamese restaurants and haven't particularly enjoyed. Stick to the soups here!
  
  On the last occasion, my girlfriend and I had the pleasure of sharing a dessert - fried bananas in a phyllo-like pastry, almost like spring rolls but with bananas inside. We were so full, but it was delicious and I've been meaning to try replicating this one at home.
  
  To wrap it up, there are few places in town that do pho quite like Pho 501. If you happen to be in this Northeast Calgary neighbourhood or on your way up Deerfoot, this restaurant is certainly worth a stop.

• Sergey S.

  star star star star_border star_border 31 May 2026

  A pretty average Vietnamese spot - reasonably clean, reasonably cozy, with an okay menu and decent kitchen work.
  
  People working there are nice, and seem to actually care about their customers - which is good.
  
  Food, on the other hand, is quite average and similar - with very little difference between menu options, and excess of vegetables and salad leaves over the actual proteins and carbs.
  
  Not a bad place by any measure - nor something to recommend or crave.

• Julie S.

  star star star star_border star_border 29 May 2026

  Came on a Saturday night and it was pretty quiet.  There weren't a lot of other people in the restaurant.  We were seated right away and got a booth by the window.  
  
  The restaurant was clean and nicely decorated.  Nothing too fancy.  Looked it might have been recently renovated.
  
  We ordered #18 and #38 - beef, tendon, tripe, brisket and rare beef, essentially the same except #38 was with satay.  
  
  Good portions of meat and noodles.
  Broth wasn't too salty and the satay had a nice kick and left a decent tingle in the mouth after.
  The table had all the sauces you need:  hoisin, chili oil, fish sauce, soy sauce, and hot chili sauce.
  Enjoyed the food here.  The meat was good quality and there was proportionate meat to noodle ratio.  I would eat here again.  It is just a bit on the pricey side, hence the 3 star rating.

• Kait P.

  star star star star star 20 May 2026

  My favourite place for vegetable pho. The broth is really flavourful and they have a really good array of vegetables included. By far one of the best tasting in Calgary. The vermicelli dishes are also pretty good and the banana dessert is killer.

• Justine F.

  star star star star star 14 May 2026

  We live as far south in Calgary as you can go, and this little place in the NE is my favourite Vietnamese restaurant in town. The service is always good, and the food is even better. My favourite dishes are #51 and #54, lemongrass vermicelli bowls with onions; the flavour hits the spot and the onions add lots of flavour and moisture. Best bowls with onions in town.