Is The Costco Instant Pho Tasty?
The SnapDragon Vietnamese Pho is a multi-bowl instant noodle pho option. It doesn’t need refrigeration and can be put in a pantry, ready to be pulled from when you like. The Costco SnapDragon pho is like any other instant noodle brand, basically.
In judging any pho, the biggest issue we have with instant pho is how much salt is used as preservatives. The SnapDragon pho is no different with lots and lots of salt. This isn’t so great for someone who’s reaching for pho as a healthy option.
The next thing that’s immediately noticeable when you pull out your first bowl is how small the portion size is. It’s roughly 220 calories per bowl which is a great calorie count, however, for someone who’s looking to get that ‘full’ feeling in their tummies, a small bowl like this is probably not going to get you there.
When you open the bowl, you also get hit with lots and lots of plastic. Toronto Pho is majorly committed to being an eco-friendly brand. We’ve eliminated as much plastic as we can from our day-to-day operations and takeout and delivery. We’ve switched to paper and more eco-sustainable options.
To us, the amount of plastic wrap on the individual ingredients of this very small bowl of pho is totally unacceptable.
The Costco pho also has barely any protein in it. If you want a meaty bowl of pho – like we’ve found so many of our customers do – this isn’t that. You will have to cook any meat or protein independently and add it in yourself. The vegetables are also merely garnished. No whole vegetables.
So what does the Costco pho taste like – as expected, it’s an imitation of the real thing. And, to be completely honest, as an imitation, it’s not terrible. The flavour is fairly alright. It’s not going to blow anyone away, however. It is more or less ‘good enough'.
In a rush, this might be something worth considering but it’s hard to argue SnapDragon Costco pho is anywhere close to comparable to real authentic pho prepared by the chefs who are thoroughly trained in how to do it.
Why Toronto Pho Is Better
We do not normally subscribe to the idea of instant pho at home. True pho was never meant to be ‘instant’. There is so much lacking in a bowl of instant pho from Costco that it makes it a different meal altogether than what you’ll find at Toronto Pho. Here’s why we’d argue Toronto Pho is better.
- Big, fair portion sizes. We can’t believe how small some of these instant pho bowls are. Ordering from Toronto Pho, you get a large bowl and more than your money’s worth.
- Less salt. Pho is a very salty dish to begin with, however, we do not need to use any preservatives and do our best to limit the sodium content within reason.
- More eco-friendly. We do not need to push a ton of plastic onto our customers. Even should you order takeout or delivery, we are packaging everything in paper and eco-friendly options.
- Lots of protein. Instant pho means you have to prepare protein on the side. It’s an extra step that can add a ton of time and effort on something that should be quick to prepare.
- Lots of whole vegetables. You have to have whole vegetables. ‘Whole’ is where you get the most nutrients and we offer a ton of vegetarian and vegan options!
- Real, authentic taste. Our pho is prepared by top-quality chefs, homemade-style. You won’t be disappointed. Furthermore, you can let us know what you don’t want in it or anything you want added in. You can customize your bowl according to how you like it.
Instead of reaching for instant pho, drop by Toronto Pho for a true bowl of pho.
Find out where to get the best pho soup and traditional Vietnamese food in your area. Or order online for pickup or delivery through our easy to use app available for both Android and iPhone smart phones. We serve delicious authentic pho and other Vietnamese dishes late nights 7 days a week.
