Our Story

Pho 99” was founded in 1999 by Mr.Huynh and his wife, Mrs.Bui. Pho 99 soon becomes a staple of Vietnamese cuisines, with many locations across the Lower Mainland and in The States. Despite the lack of information about the chain on its early days, what is known is Mr.Huynh had a deep passion for Pho, considering it “the national soul and beauty of Vietnamese cuisine”.

In 2011, R.Tran, an engineer student at SFU, started working part-time at Pho 99, which was later joined by his brother, D.Tran, in 2016. Inspired by Mr.Huynh’s dedication and expertise, they developed a love for Pho, and a passion for one day owning a Pho 99 store. Under Mr.Huynh guidance, The Brothers worked hard to learn everything they could about Pho, developing the skills and knowledge that would be necessary to run their own restaurant one day. They wanted to follow in Mr.Huynh’s footsteps; and because of their deep appreciation for the beauty of Pho, they knew that they had big shoes to fill.

In December 2019, Pho 99 opened a new location at Simon Fraser University (Burnaby Campus). This brought back so many memories of The Brothers’ time as students here, and it felt like they had found the Pho 99 store they had been dreaming of. In March 2022, Mr.Huynh entrusted the keys to The Brothers, confident that they would carry on the legacy of Pho 99 SFU.

Since taking over, The Brothers and their team have been working tirelessly to create a better dining experience at Pho 99 SFU: enhancing customer service, upgrading and improving recipes, and always sourcing high-quality ingredients to make their dishes uniquely exceptional.

Our house Beef broth is made by simmering briskets for 3-5 hours, then 3 kinds of beef bones (knuckle, ribs, and bone marrow) are added for another 20 hours, finished with charred onion, ginger, and 7 natural spices (star anise, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, coriander seeds, fennel seeds, peppercorn) for an aromatic layer. This process results in a rich, flavourful, satisfying broth that contains NO MSG, ensuring that each sip is a memorable experience.

With the students and residents embracing the Pho 99 SFU with love and support, The Brothers and their team are always grateful for the opportunity to deliver delicious Vietnamese cuisine to the community.

Pho 99 SFU has also committed to giving back to our community in the years to come, by organizing charity events, and donating a portion of our profits to support various organizations that benefit the community. We believe in the importance of contributing to the well-being of our community, and strive to make a positive impact whenever we can.

(Learn more about our Event mission here.)