Pholklore

Pholklore is a casual Vietnamese street food venue at 238 Pakington Street in Geelong West, built around hearty pho, customisable vermicelli bun bowls and a creative cocktail list. It sits right on the busy Pakington strip, and the dog policy is simple: dogs are welcome at the outdoor seating areas, kept on a lead at all times, while the inside stays dog-free.

The dog setup

Aim for the front footpath and deck tables, which are the seats to request on the Pakington strip. The strip is lively, so it suits a dog that is settled around foot traffic rather than one that startles easily. The kitchen moves fast, so bring your own water bowl rather than relying on the floor to supply one.

Worth knowing

The menu leans modern Vietnamese with a twist: tom yum pho, laksa pho, pho chay, crispy pork spring rolls, rice paper rolls and banh mi, plus Vietnamese beers and pho-inspired cocktails such as the lychee martini. It is walk-ins only, so no reservations are taken.

Getting there and parking

Pholklore trades 12pm to 9pm every day, with the kitchen split across lunch (12pm to 3pm) and dinner (5pm to 8.30pm). Street parking on Pakington Street itself is tight, so the side streets such as O'Connell or Waratah are the better bet.

Pair it with

You are already on the Pakington strip with other dog-friendly options a short on-lead walk away, including The Cork Bar up the road. For a proper leg stretch, the Buckley Falls and Barwon River walk is a short drive away and makes a good counterweight to a rich bowl of pho.

Best timed slightly outside the lunch and dinner rushes, when an outdoor table is easier to land and the footpath is calmer. More ideas are in the Victoria dog friendly pubs guide and the Geelong West destination page.