A good bowl of phở is one of those things you start craving and can’t quite shake. If you’ve been searching for pho in Thornhill — the kind with broth that tastes like it actually simmered all day — this guide is for you.

At Thien Vietnam, the broth starts before the sun is up. We roast the spices, char the onion and ginger, and let the bones go low and slow for hours. By the time the lunch crowd arrives at Promenade Shopping Centre, it’s ready. Below, we’ll walk through the bowls on our menu, how they differ, and how to order like a regular — whether it’s your first bowl or your fiftieth.

What makes a real bowl of phở

Phở lives or dies on its broth. A shortcut bowl tastes flat and salty; a proper one is clear, deeply savoury, and a little sweet from the bones. There’s no faking the difference once you’ve tasted both.

Three things matter most:

  • Time — our broth simmers for hours, not minutes. That’s where the body and clarity come from.
  • Aromatics — charred onion and ginger plus toasted star anise, cinnamon, and cloves give phở its signature warmth.
  • Freshness — the herbs, bean sprouts, and lime that finish the bowl are prepped the same day, so they actually taste like something.

It’s the same approach we’ve used for more than twenty years across our family’s restaurants — a standard we brought east when we opened in Thornhill. You can read more about our story if you’re curious how we got here.

Our phở, bowl by bowl

Phở isn’t one dish — it’s a family of them. Here’s how to think about the options when you sit down:

A steaming bowl of beef phở with rice noodles, herbs, and lime

  • The house special phở — our most loaded bowl, with a mix of cuts for people who want a bit of everything. A good first order if you can’t decide.
  • Beef phở — the classic: clean broth, tender sliced beef, rice noodles. If you’re new to phở, start here.
  • Beef ball phở — same broth, springy house-style beef balls instead of sliced beef. A favourite with kids.
  • Beef & beef ball phở — exactly what it sounds like, for the best of both.
  • Bún bò Huế — the spicier, lemongrass-forward cousin of phở from central Vietnam. Bolder, a little fiery, and worth trying once you’ve fallen for the classic.

Good news if you’re watching the bill: beef phở is one of our weekly $12.95 lunch specials, served Monday to Wednesday — an easy, low-commitment way to find out whether we’re your new pho spot.

Not sure which to pick? Ask your server — we genuinely like the question, and we’ll steer you toward the right bowl.

Beyond phở: other noodle soups worth a look

If phở isn’t calling your name today, you’re not out of options. Our soup section runs well past the phở bowls.

A bowl of Thai Tom Yum rice noodle soup with shrimp, mushrooms, and herbs

  • Thai Tom Yum rice noodle soup — sour, hot, and fragrant, with shrimp, mushrooms, and lime. A bright change of pace from the Vietnamese bowls.
  • Vermicelli bowls — not a soup at all, but a Thornhill lunch favourite: grilled meats, fresh herbs, and rice vermicelli with a side of nuoc cham to pour over.

You’ll find the full line-up, including appetizers and our Thai and Chinese dishes, on the full menu.

Finding us at Promenade Shopping Centre

We’re on the 1st floor of Promenade Shopping Centre in Thornhill (Unit i) — easy to reach from both Bathurst Street and Centre Street, with free parking on-site. If you’re coming from Vaughan, Richmond Hill, or Markham and searching for pho near you, we’re a short drive either way.

We’re open every day from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., weekends and most holidays included, so a bowl of phở is rarely more than a few minutes away. Dine in, take it to go, or call ahead — whatever fits your day.

Come in for a bowl

Hungry now? Thien Vietnam serves Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese classics daily at Promenade Shopping Centre in Thornhill — dine in, take out, or order for delivery across Vaughan, Richmond Hill, and Markham.

  • Authentic pho — broth simmered from sunrise, refined over 20+ years
  • Three cuisines, one kitchen — Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese under one roof
  • Open daily — 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Promenade Shopping Centre
  • Dine-in, takeout & GTA delivery — however you like to eat

Browse our menu to plan your order, or contact us to reserve a table or call ahead at (905) 889-6688. We’ll have a bowl waiting.