Pho Anh Vu Scarborough is an east-end outpost for authentic Vietnamese food.

The franchise currently consists of five restaurants across the GTA, with this one having opened in October 2023.

Co-owner Jim describes this particular location as a family operation. His wife, mother and in-laws are all part of the senior staff.

Jim's mother, who manages the kitchen, has the most restaurant experience of anyone in the family, having spent more than 25 years in the hospitality industry.

Of course, her skills aren't the only ones being put to good use. Jim himself worked as a server throughout university and Jim's brother-in-law, a builder by trade, personally oversaw the construction of the dining room.

"This whole building was an empty box before he came along," Jim recalls.Though being part of a larger business means abiding by the company's rules, Jim's brother-in-law was able to put his own spin on Pho Anh Vu's standard dining room.In addition to the artificial cherry trees, which can be found in all five locations, a colourful canoe and a wooden street-stall were added, giving the space a personal touch. Start your meal with a plate of Shrimp Rolls ($7.95/small, $14.95/large). These bite-sized appetizers have a chewy rice paper coating and a crunchy centre, filled with lettuce and cooked shrimp.

A side of peanut sauce gives you the option to add a touch of salt to this veggie-forward dish.

The Fish Sauce Fried Chicken Wings with Sticky Rice ($15) taste a little like honey-garlic wings, albeit with a saltier finish.

Adorable heart-shaped cucumber slices and a generous pile of coleslaw are served on the side, along with the aforementioned sticky rice.

The Mango Salad with Grilled Shrimp ($15.95) is a sweet, savoury and spicy dish composed of shrimp, red peppers, crispy peanuts and, of course, a mountain of shredded mango.

Jim says that it's one of his favourite things on the menu.Grilled Pork, Spring Rolls and Shrimp on Sugarcane with Vermicelli Noodles ($20.95) is a meal for those looking to sample everything the restaurant has to offer: meat, veggies, noodles and more.

My only complaint was that the dish had so many components that I didn't have time to savour each one.

Special Oxtail Beef Pho in Hot Stone Bowl ($31.90) is one of the most expensive items on the menu, but also one of the most unique.

This meal comes to the table bubbling and steaming, with a tower of raw ingredients in tow. Diners can dump everything into the simmering broth, or pick and choose meats and veggies to create a soup that suits their tastes.

Since this was my first time trying stone bowl pho, I added my desired ingredients with a light hand. The thinly sliced beef changed from pink to brown in seconds and the noodles came out perfectly cooked. All in all, it was an enjoyable, if somewhat daunting, experience.Jim describes the Soda Chanh ($5.50) as a Vietnamese take on lemonade. This bubbly beverage is lighter than its North American counterpart, but sure to please any citrus lovers at the table.Coffee with Condensed Milk and Ice ($5.95) is a sweet iced coffee with three aesthetically pleasing layers. Be sure to grab a picture of it before taking a sip — you have to stir this tricolour masterpiece if you want the full flavour."We want every meal to feel special," Jim says, "so we prioritize two things: the quality of our ingredients and the quality of our service."

Pho Anh Vu Scarborough is located at 3280 Midland Ave, Units 27 and 28.