Pho is one of the most popular and well-known dishes in Vietnam. Pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup, which is made from beef or chicken broth. The dish is the perfect comfort food which is warm, hearty, and deliciously refreshing. In Vietnam, Pho is the food for common people. But Pho is so attractive for western people because of its combination of simplicity and complex flavor.
There are different stories about the origins of Pho, but it is generally believed to have originated in early 20th century northern Vietnam, and since then become one of Vietnam’s most popular dishes. There are two different opinions about where Pho first appeared in Vietnam. Some believe that Pho came from Ha Noi but some other claim that Nam Dinh is the place that Pho was served for the first time in Vietnam.
The taste of Pho are various in different areas of Vietnam. In the North of Vietnam, Pho has the salty taste. Pho in the Northern provinces is served with beef or chicken broth with rice noodle, thinly sliced rare beef cooked quickly in the hot broth or sliced chicken, green onion, chili and lime. The taste of Pho in the South is sweeter than in the North. Besides from the sliced meat, the southern people also add meat balls. Pho in the Southern provinces and cities is served with side dishes like bean sprouts, basil leaves, mint and other kind of fresh herbs.
Pho is so popular that there are more than 400 restaurants that serve Pho in Ha Noi alone. The dish is also served in thousands of Vietnamese restaurants across the United States. You can eat Pho for breakfast , lunch or dinner. It is so convenient and most importantly it is very affordable.
In this post I will give some recommendations of the best Pho restaurants in my home town Ha Noi.
Many people believe that Ha Noi style Pho is one of the most sophisticated Pho to try. The average price for a bow of Pho in Hanoi is from VND 40,000 to VND 55,000 (about $2). Price may varies if you order side orders such as egg yolks or extra meat. These are some of the best Pho restaurants that have proven its quality through out the years:
- Pho Thin: 13 Lo Duc, Hai Ba Trung, Ha Noi
- Pho Ly Quoc Su: 10 Ly Quoc Su, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi
- Pho Bat Dan: 49 Bat Dan, Cua Dong, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi
- Pho Suong: 24 ngo Trung Yen, Dinh Liet, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi
- Pho ga Nguyet: 5B Phu Doan, Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi (the best Pho with chicken)
- Pho Bo Lam: 48 Hang Vai, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi
- Pho Ganh Hang Chieu: 4 Hang Ma, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi
- Pho Nho: 27 A Huynh Thuc Khang, Dong Da, Ha Noi
If you have chance to visit Ha Noi, you will not regret to try the most popular dish of Vietnam in one of these restaurants.
From Hanoi with love.
Anh Pham
