Mekong Vietnam
Phone 03 9663 3288
Let me set the record straight right from the start, I am a Pho Dzung man. It’s important to state this, as people are very loyal to their favourite CBD pho noodle shop, and this loyalty can be as divided as Ford or Holden. My preference for the Dzung is not necessarily because it is the best in town, but because it is the closet one to my work. However, being a fan of the noodly and beefy soup goodness that is the mighty pho, I am not averse to trying other places.
Mekong is located smack bang in Swanston Street. It proclaims to serve “original Vietnamese rice noodle soups” and is certainly one of the first, if not the first, Vietnamese noodle soup places in the city. The interior is typical pho-shop chic: bright lights, laminex tables complete with an array of condiments and ever present flask of tea, Viet-pop blaring on TVs, and a drinks fridge stocked full of coconut and tri-colour refreshment. Drawn by the cheap prices, this is a favourite student haunt, so be prepared for sharing tables or waiting.
Mellie tried the fish ball soup that came with egg noodles.
I tried the rare sliced beef and beef ball pho. And the verdict? Well, a sign outside Meking proclaimed that Bill Clinton once had two bowls of Mekong’s pho. If that’s the case, he must have as great a liking for MSG as he did for interns, for I found the MSG levels of Mekong’s soup to be too high for my liking. Of course, this made the soup very tasty indeed, but the effect of MSG is that it gives you an almighty thirst afterwards!
I realise that most, if not all pho shops put MSG in their broth, and that the amount can vary even from day to day. But on the day that I tried the above soup, I found that the MSG level was too much.
That said, it was a decent bowl of pho, with nice beef slices and beef balls. They were a little stingy on the sprouts and basil though, and I thought the fish balls in Mellie’s dish were a little sub-par (then again, fish balls are not Mekong’s speciality).
Mekong is still a good, cheap and fun place if you’re in the area. There are better pho places in the suburbs, particularly in Springvale, Richmond and other Vietnamese areas, and I still prefer Pho Dzung to Mekong. However, for a quick pho hit, Mekong can more than amply provide. Just drink plenty of water aftewards!
Written by Elegant Gourmand
Written by mellie on
March 15th, 2008 | Tags: pho, restaurants, Vietnamese | Category: Uncategorized
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March 15th, 2008 at 6:30 am
The MSG thirst is the reason I hardly ever drink the soup with pho. Even though I would dearly love to, I just know that I’ll regret it later!
March 16th, 2008 at 12:06 am
When you wander around Vietnam you see sacks of Ajinomoto MSG piled up outside restaurants. I figure the Japanese are flogging it hard there like the cigarette manufacturers who have been shunned in more developed countries.
I think that there are definitely better Viet venues in Melbourne than Mekong for Pho.
There’s also a Pho joint in Saigon which touts the ‘Bill Clinton was here’ sales pitch - and you know what? Their pho is ordinary too.
Mental note to self: Never eat Viet where celebrities have be known to dine.
March 16th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Hm, thanks for the review, but I think I’ll stick closer to the office with Pho Dzung!
March 17th, 2008 at 2:11 am
The best thing at Mekong is the char grilled chicken soup with rice noodles- a speciality of the house and not something I’ve seen at other pho joints. I would recommend giving it another go! Squeeze plenty of that brown sauce and chilli in it too…yum…I’m making myself hungry…
March 18th, 2008 at 3:16 am
I love Pho Dzung and that is usually where I tend to go. I definitely agree with you on the “way too much MSG” taste from Mekong…and I am Asian!
Also, it is a very personal thing, but I prefer the condiments at Dzung as well, and their fresh chilis have more bite, not to mention the very accomodating service from the guy who owns the joint. The rice paper rolls also don’t have this “premade, sitting in the back” taste to them.
March 18th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
I have to say- I like the Pho Dzung on victoria st, but the one time I had beef pho at the one in the city I found the rare beef slices were all stuck together as though they had been frozen or sitting presliced in the fridge for too long before being tossed in the soup…not a great effect. Good broth, but I don’t think its significantly better than Mekong- I think they are both average (and both equally fine for the $7.50 you pay for the soup).
March 19th, 2008 at 8:11 am
the one thing that riles me about Pho Dzung is that they’ve jacked up the price yet again.. it’s now eight fiddy for a medium. can we possibly be getting closer to the ten buck pho?? still, it’s not so much the soup that draws me in but the dude who directs you to a table, traffic-warden style! he’s got the moves!
March 20th, 2008 at 2:29 am
Ten buck pho is a very disturbing concept!! I appreciate a bit of showmanship too- I miss Que Hong (used to be a few shops down from Mekong) where the head waiter used to do fancy things with the straw tucked under the ring pull of your coke, and then tap it with the side of his palm with great flourish after putting it on the table. Its all in the details!! I don’t even remember what I ate there- but I remember him
March 20th, 2008 at 6:50 am
there is ten buck pho popping up on lygon.
that is terrifying.
October 4th, 2008 at 11:00 am
ever been to footscray’s hung/huong (can’t remem which) vuong? I think the pho there is much better than mekong and we get a larger portion too, I usually get the beef special and ask for the pickled onion as well they come in a separate container.
October 4th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Thanks for that Anon. I haven’t tried any of the Footscray Pho shops, but I’ll actually be down there in the next few weeks for a Fringe Festival show, so I’ll be sure to check it out. Thanks for the tip!