Where to Find the Best Pho in Hanoi
Pho has been in the spotlight quite a bit in recent years, and that’s no bad thing! This has meant that people all over the world have been trying this much-loved Vietnamese classic, quickly joining the dish’s ever-devoted long line of fans. If you’re ready to taste some of the most authentic pho out there, here are the X places in Hanoi to head to.
What is Pho?
If you’re still new to the world of pho, here’s a quick explanation…
Pho, which is pronounced “fuh”, is a Vietnamese rice noodle soup with a slow-cooked, crystal clear broth that is then topped with a colorful array of garnishes. Other condiments are then layered over this, giving you so much texture and flavor with every bite.
Many travel to Vietnam primarily for the purpose of savoring an authentic bowl of pho, with Hanoi being famous for this specialty.
Where about in Hanoi should you go to find the best pho?
Taste your way through this list:
Pho Thin
Located on a tree-lined street in the historic French Quarter district of the city, Pho Thin is mainly frequented by locals, who have no doubts that this is where they can find some of the best pho in town.
What makes this pho special?
Everyone has their own way of making pho, adding in a unique ingredient to give it their own personal twist. Instead of tinkering with the ingredients, Pho Thin prepares their meat in a slightly different way – it is stir fried with garlic before it’s added into the broth, rather than being added in raw. This might not seem like much, but it completely changes the overall flavor of the dish, making it unlike any other pho you’ll taste in Vietnam.
The garlic adds a deep smokiness and caramelization that lingers on the tongue after each bite. Guests also have the option of customizing their pho even more, with ingredients such as:
- Lime
- House-made hot sauce
- Pickled chillis
- Quay (fried dough sticks to soak up the broth)
Madame Hien
Situated in a 19th century French villa that has been restored to perfection, Madame Hien was created by Vietnam’s most revered French chef; Didier Corlou. Elevated versions of authentic Vietnamese street food is what you’ll find on the menu here, celebrating Vietnamese culture in such a delicious way.
What makes this pho special?
In addition to a classic beef pho, which they make with wagyu beef, Madame Hien also experiments with a few other one-of-a-kind flavors, ensuring that the pho you eat here is one you will never forget.
The foie gras and lemongrass pho is a popular option, and the Scottish salmon pho is also said to be delectable. If you want a little bit of everything, you can opt for a pho with beef, prawns, squid, and seven vegetables, or go for one that has been flavored with celery leaf.
Pho Gia Truyen
Pho Gia Truyen truly is Vietnamese street food at its best. You may need to use a translation app to help you order your food, but the pho you will be rewarded with makes the extra effort more than worthwhile.
What makes this pho special?
With its simple table and plastic stools, Pho Gia Truyen may not initially look like much, but wait until you taste their pho. The only item on this restaurant’s menu is beef pho, and they really know what they’re doing when it comes to this.
A variety of beef cuts are used in this pho, with the meat always perfectly tender and still blushing pink in the middle. The clear and flavorful broth complements this beautifully.
After your meal, treat yourself to a stroll around the neighborhood, where you will come across the OROGOLD Hanoi store. Stop by for a VIP facial, free product demonstrations, and expert skin care advice.
Duong’s Restaurant
Constantly voted as one of the top restaurants in the city, Duong’s Restaurant is run by Hoang Duong, whose culinary skills have been showcased on Iron Chef Vietnam and Top Chef Vietnam. Classic Vietnamese cuisine is the focus here, and although the menu regularly changes with the seasons, pho is a dish that is always served up.
What makes this pho special?
The pho that you will find at Duong’s Restaurant features quite traditional flavors, but you have the choice of chicken or seafood, in addition to classic beef. Served with herbs, hot sauce, fresh lime and fresh chilli, this is definitely a flavorful soup.
However, there is no denying that the fine dining element holds some appeal too…
While many of the best phos in the city are served up at small street joints who only specialize in that one dish, Duong’s offers up a variety of different appetizers, sides, and mains that you can enjoy with your pho.
Some of the restaurant’s other must-try dishes include:
- Char-grilled sugarcane pork
- Banana flower salad
- Traditional grilled fish
- Grilled eggplant with spring onion sauce
- Black sticky rice in coconut milk
Pho Suong
Thanks to its increasing popularity, Pho Suong was able to open a second location in Hanoi, and both serve up the most delicious pho. Although this may not be a large restaurant, huge numbers of visitors flock here daily, so be prepared to queue.
What makes this pho special?
The pho here is simple yet flavorful, and there are usually around four to six options on the daily menu board to choose from. They all consist of beef pho, but make use of a variety of cuts and cooking techniques, from half-done brisket to well-done flank.
Condiments are provided on every table, enabling you to spice up your pho to your liking.
Pho 10
Originally Pho 10 Ly Quoc Sur, this restaurant became so popular that it opened up two other locations in the city, and is now fondly referred to simply as Pho 10. Service here is fast, so don’t expect to lounge around after your meal.
What makes this pho special?
Everything is always cooked exquisitely at Pho 10 – there’s never anything that could be done any better. However, what makes the pho here even more special is the fact that there are six different types of beef pho that you can choose from, each one prepared in a different way.
You should also try ordering an egg with your pho – this will be served in a small bowl of broth, which lightly cooks the egg as it steams. The rich, runny yolk really adds something extra-special to the flavor of the pho.
As an added bonus, the chefs at this restaurant prepare the meals behind glass doors, meaning that you can watch the pho-cooking process take place.
While many of the pho restaurants on this list are only open in the evenings, Pho 10 opens at 6am. This may seem unusually early to some, but pho is a popular breakfast food in Vietnam, so expect to see crowds here early in the morning.
Pho Chay
If you don’t eat meat, then you’re probably feeling a little left out at this point. After all, many of the more traditional pho eateries in Vietnam only serve up beef versions of their famous noodle soup, leaving vegans and vegetarians watching on hungrily.
Don’t worry, head to Pho Chay instead.
What makes this pho special?
“Chay” means vegetarian in English, and vegan pho is exactly what this street-side cafe specializes in. Although it doesn’t contain actual beef, the traditional pho here tastes wonderfully authentic, while their “special” pho, which contains faux chicken and plenty of mushrooms, is equally popular.
Their dry pho is worth tasting too, featuring tofu prepared in different ways and flavorful chunks of seitan.
While you’re here, make the most of the other vegan Vietnamese delights on offer – the fried spring rolls always get incredible reviews.
Pho Bat Dan
While some of the newer pho restaurants in Hanoi have been experimenting with different ingredients and cooking techniques, Pho Bat Dan is all about keeping things traditional.
This restaurant is famous for queuing culture, something that was popular with local restaurants back in the 80’s – being a self-service restaurant, you need to queue to order your food and then take it to your table yourself. This means that you would be best off visiting Pho Bat Dan with another person, so that one of you can reserve a table while the other orders.
What makes this pho special?
If you want to try a super-traditional version of Vietnamese pho, then this is where to go. The bones for the broth here are stewed for hours, giving the broth a deep sweetness that many other restaurants aren’t able to achieve.
The beef is also deliciously tender, melting away in your mouth with each bite.
Pho Ga Cham
Prefer chicken to beef?
More and more restaurants are now cooking up their own version of chicken pho, but pretty much all pho-lovers would agree that the best bowl to be found is at Pho Ga Cham.
What makes this pho special?
The ingredients used in this chicken pho are always of the highest quality, and this is something that you can definitely taste in the soup. Each serving is extremely generous, containing at least five large pieces of chicken.
Also included in each bowl are meatballs and plenty of spring onions, but you can also add on a few extras to make your bowl extra-special, such as eggs or fried dough sticks.
Don’t be put off by the price here either – yes, it may seem to be double that of other pho restaurants, but you really are paying for what you get here!
Pho Cuon Huong Mai
Here’s something a little different for you – pho cuon. The word “pho” actually refers to the noodles, while “cuon” means roll, with the dish pho cuon basically being pho rolls. You will find this dish all over the city, but Pho Cuon Huong Mai is known for serving up the best.
What makes this pho special?
This isn’t technically pho. Instead, the rice batter that is normally used to make noodles is instead rolled up like a spring roll. It is filled with beef and a variety of different herbs, the same that you would top a bowl of pho with, giving you all of those traditional pho flavors but with a completely different texture.
Once you have tried your first authentic bowl of pho, you’ll easily be able to understand why this has become one of Vietnam’s most popular dishes, as well as why it has really taken off all over the world. These bowls of noodle soup may seem quite simple, but the flavors in each one are deep and complex, leaving you always wanting more!
