Platform Pho

23 RAILWAY PARADE, DARRA QLD 4076

Episode 6 of Beneath the Buzz - my review series spotlighting eateries that aren’t flooding your socials yet, but absolutely deserve to be on your radar!

the digest

Order

Seafood net spring rolls, fish sauce chicken wings, Wagyu pho, Viet phin iced latte with light condensed, Jasmine milk tea.

Pay

Around $10 for starters and $20 for a bowl of pho.

Consider

Both southern and northern style beef pho is served here; both are tasty but if you choose the northern style with the stir fried Wagyu, request the meat on the side so your broth doesn’t get too oily!

Reserve

Bookings by phone are recommended on the weekends; online ordering also available for takeaway.

Open daily for lunch and dinner except for Monday.

Travel

Car – Parks in front of the strip of shops and nearby streets

Bus – Stops adjacent on Railway Parade and Manburgh Terrace

Train – Darra station is opposite

full REVIEW

Word travels fast in Brisbane’s Vietnamese food scene, and Platform Pho’s opening was no exception. Sitting along Railway Parade in Darra, on what locals call ‘banh mi street’, I’d walked past it a few times on my way to Scott’s Road for a pork roll. But after a glowing review from my (hard-to-please) Dad, I finally stopped in.

Family-run from front of house to the kitchen, the Nguyens have over 20 years in hospitality under their belts and this marks the first venture of their own.

Inside, it’s a step up from your usual no-frills Asian local: modern finishes, individually wrapped chopsticks, deep soup spoons.. the little things matter! Prices are still grounded though, with their signature Wagyu beef pho sitting around the $20 mark.

The menu covers your classics, from pho to rice and noodle dishes, with a few surprises like Hainanese chicken rice and Northern Vietnamese specialties including Hanoi-style pho and net spring rolls. It’s not easy to execute both regional styles well, so I was curious to see how it would land.

We ordered the seafood net spring rolls, fish sauce chicken wings, two bowls of Wagyu pho, a Viet iced coffee and a phin iced latte ‘with light condensed’.

I’m happy to report everything delivered! The pho might just be the best all-rounder I’ve had in Brisbane, with a deeply rich, beefy broth layered with marrow and five spice, tender gelatinous cuts and quality meatballs. The spring rolls were crisp without being oily, with a luscious seafood dipping sauce, while the wings nailed that sweet-savoury balance with a generous hit of garlic.

Drinks held their own too – the phin iced latte stood out with its perfect condensed and fresh milk to coffee ratio.

My only constructive notes of the experience: the noodles were slightly overcooked, and I’d prefer dine-in coffees served in glass instead of plastic, but neither will stop me from coming back.

Service was warm and efficient and by the time we left, the place was packed with Viet families – always a good sign!

Safe to say, Dad’s tip was on the money and I’ll definitely be back to explore more of Platform Pho’s menu.

Visit their menu: Platform Pho