Markham's Weird Winter Vibes and the Best Pho I Found by Accident
okay so i landed in markham during this insane cold snap and my nose hairs literally froze on the way from the car. not exaggerating. the numbers said -3.96°C but it felt like -10.96°C, which is basically the universe telling you to stay inside and rethink your life choices. i checked the weather app and it's sitting there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. i didn't. but i also didn't care because i was hungry and had heard rumors about a pho spot that locals wouldn't shut up about.
i asked a barista at this tiny coffee shop near the pacific mall and she said, "you gotta try pho viet thanh on kennedy. it's like liquid warmth and the owner might yell at you in vietnamese, but it's worth it." that's not a review, that's a warning. and i love warnings.
walking in, the place smelled like star anise and grilled meat and something i couldn't place but wanted to bottle. the menu was all in vietnamese except for the prices, which i appreciated. i got the #12 with rare beef and tendon because someone once told me that's what you order when you want to "feel alive." i also got a thai iced tea because i'm weak for condensed milk.
the broth was so hot it burned my tongue in the best way. the owner, a tiny woman with a perm and a permanent scowl, watched me eat like i was on display. i heard her mutter something to her husband, and i'm pretty sure it was "this white boy is gonna die from the spice." but i survived. barely.
if you get bored, toronto and richmond hill are just a short drive away, but honestly, you could spend a whole weekend in markham and not hit the same dim sum place twice. i heard someone say that at the next table while i was trying to unstick my tongue from the roof of my mouth.
later, i wandered pacific mall and got lost in the chaos of bubble tea stands and anime shops. i bought a weird pastry that tasted like sweet bean paste and regret. also picked up a phone case with a cartoon cat flipping off the viewer. felt very on-brand.
one thing i didn't expect? how many people were out despite the cold. families, teens in oversized hoodies, old couples shuffling with carts full of durian. markham doesn't slow down for weather. it just layers up and keeps going.
if you're planning a trip, check out tripadvisor for more restaurant ideas, but honestly, the best stuff is the stuff you stumble into while freezing your butt off. yelp helped me find the pho, but the mall was pure accident. sometimes that's the magic.
would i go back? absolutely. but next time i'm bringing thermal underwear and a bigger appetite. and maybe a translator for when the owner starts yelling at me again.
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