Nationwide chain Pho set to open in Greenwich town centre

Restaurant chain Pho are set to open in Greenwich town centre at the former site of Kaspa’s and San Miguel.

The nationwide group have submitted an application and will be joining the local independents Pho Street located nearby on King William Walk and Pho City near Greenwich station.

If you don’t know the chain, firstly how? They’re everywhere from Scotland to Portsmouth with many in London, though as is all too common south east London sees things arrive some time behind the rest of the country let alone the capital.

Chains often seem to loath to open up in SE London. Remember when Pret were everywhere and they finally opened one in Greenwich when you couldn’t move for them elsewhere? I mean, you may not like Pret (though a few years back and being poor I did drink the filter coffee when it was 99p) but the lethargy in which so many chains take to reach boroughs like Lewisham, Greenwich and Bexley is odd when they’d be a success.

Of course no chains is not such a bad thing if good independents exist but in certain areas there often aren’t.

As for the chain Pho now looking to open I did find them hit and miss but it’s been a while.

Many choices

So is three places in one town too many Pho places? Hopefully not as pho (the food type that is) is great and I can’t get enough.

Also if you’re a fan of Vietnamese food (and you should be!) also check out Banh Mi Leo on Lovibond Lane near the station.

In east Greenwich you can also find Ben Tre on Trafalgar Road which seems to have good reviews.

Head to Deptford and you’ll find more Vietnamese cafes and restaurants. Hopefully this means demand is strong and good independents can survive alongside the chain.