Where To Find The Gold Coast’s Best Pho
Danielle Read
Contributor | Urban List
My ultimate idea of comfort food on the Gold Coast is a piping hot bowl of pho. Particularly in the cooler seasons when you can see the steam dance up into the air. Talk about a vibe.
What actually is pho, though? Basically, it's a traditional Vietnamese broth and noodle combo topped with fresh, zesty and sometimes spicy vegetables and herbs. Then a neat lineup of thinly sliced protein. Think: beef, chicken or tofu.
There's something that feels equal parts nourishing and induldgent about drinking down pungeant broth adorned in bean shoots, fresh mint, coriander sprigs and some type of irresistable protein. Add in a monstrous amount of noodles and you've basically described my dream meal.
So what makes a Gold Coast pho joint one of the best? Authentic flavours are a non-negotiable, obvi. A quaint locale, tucked away to transport yourself to the backstreets of Hanoi is ideal. And the freshest produce from local suppliers really takes the cake, in my opinion.
Bring your appetite, and a healthy dose of broth cravings. Here are eleven of the best places to head to for pho on the Gold Coast/Kombumerri Country in 2026.
How we choose: Culinary excellence, consistent service, cultural relevance, vibey ambiance, sustainability where possible, and real-world buzz from our team and community.
Best Gold Coast Pho At A Glance
North Gold Coast Pho
Viet Au Kitchen
100–106 Old Pacific Highway, Oxenford QLD 4210
& Shop 2, 33 Tallebudgera Creek Rd, Burleigh Heads QLD 4219
Image credit: Viet Au | Instagram
It’s in the name. Viet Au is Vietnamese street food for the Aussie palate, with menu items like chips and protein shakes sitting alongside banh mi and goi cuon (Vietnamese spring rolls). As far as their pho goes, the Burleigh locale ladles out seven irresitible options. From rare beef and chicken three ways, to crispy pork, wagyu and even a mushroom and tofu option. While the flagship Oxenford store offers beef and three chicken options.
And, yes, when they say ‘packing’, they mean packing. These are big bowls with very generous servings of noodles, meat, red onions, coriander, bean sprouts, and shallots, so come with an empty stomach (especially if you want to grab a Vietnamese coffee on the flip side).
INSIDER INTEL
- Like all good Vietnamese restaurants, the standard trio of condiments—chilli, Sriracha, and hoisin—are served separately
- It's by the same team behind Hope Island's beloved Panda's Kitchen
Can Tho Kitchen Bar
465 Oxley Drive, Runaway Bay QLD 4216
Image Credit: Can Tho Kitchen | Instagram
Tucked into an unassuming Runaway Bay shopping centre, Can Tho Kitchen Bar’s menu is stacked with certified Vietnamese classics—bun bo hue, banh xeo, and, of course, pho. Choose between options like pho bo, which pairs tenderly cooked beef brisket with a garnish of rare beef, or pho ga (chicken thigh and basil).
Once you’ve devoured your bowl, order one of Can Tho’s Vietnamese-inspired cocktails. My pick's the Viet Coffee Espresso Martini which is topped with the best dairy-free creamer I've tried on the Coast.
INSIDER INTEL
- The banana cake brûlée is extremely moreish
- When you’re recommending Can Tho to your friends, it’s pronounced ‘gung turh’
quán 55 & bar
55 Brooke Avenue, Southport QLD 4215
Image credit: quan 55 | Instagram
There’s only one pho option at quán 55 & bar, but it’s well worth the trip. A Chirn Park staple, quán is all about traditional influences blended with contemporary flavours. And the tiny eatery heaves. The team are genuinely so warm and even the fiddle leaf figs are happy to be here. Honestly, some seriously maintained leaves. It's that level of attention-to-detail that doesn't get lost on me.
Expect noodles, beef brisket, and razor-thin slices of eye fillet cooked to rare by the broth. Each bowl comes with a red onion, basil, and bean sprout garnish plus chillis and condiments (thoughtfully served in a side dish for those who can’t handle the heat).
INSIDER INTEL
- The stock pot used to prepare the pho broth is the same pot used by the restaurant owner’s mother-in-law in her restaurant, and it’s been handed down over more than 20 years
PHO 333
42 Nerang Street, Southport QLD 4215
PHO 333 feels bright and modern, but don’t worry—walls patterned with Vietnamese murals still give dining here a decidedly traditional feel. And, yes, the pho is excellent. With five pho options, including a tendon pho and the house special, pho hu tieu (meatballs), it’s definitely worth a visit or three.
INSIDER INTEL
- Bonus points to PHO 333 for its broth. This is a sweet recipe straight out of Saigon that’s loaded up with flavours like ginger and cinnamon, and, wow, does it hit the spot on a cold winter day
Queen Bakery
Shop 4/129 Queen St, Southport QLD 4215
An underdog on the pho front, Queen Bakery is one of the Gold Coast's best kept secrets. This joint is one of the newest eateries to pour seriously moreish broths into giant bowls, plop in a noodle nest and top with delish spring onions, herbs and sliced beef.
I swear the pared back interiors have something to do with letting the authentic flavours shine. There are two pho to choose from. Beef and chicken. The protein is seriously loaded on here and bowls are topped up to the brim.
INSIDER INTEL
- There are some incredible bahn mi options here too
- Welcome the owner Jessica to the neighbourhood - she is a true pro!
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Soi.38 Thai Kitchen
38 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
I couldn’t write about the Gold Coast’s best pho without name-dropping Ming Ming’s Express - also known as Soi.38 Thai Kitchen, depending on who you ask. This longstanding eatery is famous for its signature pho, available in four varieties: stir-fried beef, stewed and rare beef, chicken, and tofu.
This place is technically Asian, so don’t expect pureplay tradition here. There's a mix of panang curries, tom yum soups and even laksa on the menu. Each bowl of pho comes loaded up with shallots, red onion, bean sprouts, coriander, and lime, all soaked in a velvety broth flavoured with cloves and star anise.
INSIDER INTEL
- If you like your pho with a bit of zest, this is the spot to get it
South Gold Coast Pho
O-Me-Ly Vietnamese Restaurant
15–24 Queensland Avenue, Broadbeach QLD 4218
‘Ô mê ly’ is Vietnamese for ‘I’m so happy’, and this Broady eatery does not disappoint. O-Me-Ly Vietnamese Restaurant is a no-frills joint that skips the décor for seriously good pho—pull up a plastic chair indoors or out, and order one of four phos, which include vegetable, rare beef, beef ball and chicken options.
My favourite: the Northern-style pho bo, which blends slivers of rare beef with shallots, onions, and a rich broth simmered for 13 hours. Add a hot Vietnamese coffee or green tea for the perfect warming meal.
INSIDER INTEL
- There's also laksa if your lunch date is feeling Thai and you're on the Vietnam train
Mermaid Hot Bread
Shop 9, 64 Karbunya Street, Mermaid Waters QLD 4218
The little sister to previous institution, Miami Hot Bread (which sadly closed in May 2026), Mermaid Hot Bread continues the legacy with crispy pork bahn mi, fresh rice paper rolls and the much applauded pho with thinkly sliced beed and a generous portion of rice noodles. Served piping hot and with the sweetest smile.
INSIDER INTEL
- This pho is as warming and fragrant as they come, loaded to the max
- Raid the sweets cabinet while you're here
See more
BunLee Bun + Brew
26 James Street, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Image Credit: BunLee Bun + Bar | Instagram
What do you get if you cross Burleigh’s beach culture with Vietnamese street food? Answer: BunLee Bun + Bar. This James Street cafe skips the lengthy menu to focus on light flavours and fresh ingredients, and it works oh so perfectly.
The banh mi are, unsurprisingly, the star, but I’d be lying if I said the chicken pho didn’t have me daydreaming about my next visit. A new addition to the menu, it’s a spice-stacked bowl of round noodles, shredded chicken, mint, chilli, and bean—grab a cold-pressed juice too if you can’t handle the heat.
INSIDER INTEL
- Chicken pho is the only pho dish on the menu, but it genuinely slaps
My Saigon Tuckshop
45 Taree Street, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Hidden among the industrial backstreets of Burleigh, My Saigon Tuckshop isn’t exactly easy to find—and I love that. If you’re expecting a dish layered with sauces and spices, think again. My Saigon’s pho is served Hanoi-style—a pared-back combo of beef, noodles, onion and basil that’s enhanced by its simplicity.
Fans of strong flavours, stay calm. Each pho does come with a side of hoisin, Sriracha, and chilli for extra punch. While some pho restaurants on the Gold Coast have come and gone, this place has been around since 1996, and that gives you an idea of their supreme flavours coming out hot.
INSIDER INTEL
- Despite its hidden locale, its a local favourite, with menu items regularly selling out after midday
- The jumbo pho is the iconic serving size literally no one regrets
Lam’s Kitchen Bar
The Strand, 72/80 Marine Parade, Coolangatta QLD 4225
If you like your Vietnamese with a side of ocean views, Lam’s Kitchen Bar delivers, featuring front-row seats to Coolangatta Beach. This place is often packed and the reason is simple. Their meals are phenom.
Choose between beef, Wagyu beef, poached chicken, vegetable and tofu, crispy-skinned chicken, grilled chicken, a seafood combo, and the spectacular deluxe Wagyu (served in a hot stone bowl). I love the authentic Northern style pho—meat, onions and shallots in a light, savoury both.
Already feasted at one of Cooly's other amazing restaurants and after something smaller? Slurp down either of Lam’s two baby broth bowls (one with just pho and onion, the other with a near-raw egg on top).
INSIDER INTEL
- If you're told to come back, please do - there's good reason why this place often overflows
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