Pho, Vietnamese noodle soup

Phở – Vietnam’s National Dish

Source: Taste Atlas

Pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup, Vietnam’s national dish, street food, comfort food, and a way of life. It is also one of the most beloved Vietnamese dishes in the western hemisphere due to its complex, unique flavors, and elegant simplicity.

Although it is classified as a soup, pho is served as the main course and the two bowls of it never taste the same. It is traditionally made with chicken or beef broth, where the bones simmer lazily for at least three hours until the broth is perfect.

Image by Trang Pham from Pixabay

The addition of herbs and spices accentuates the flavors, and the chewy rice noodles, juicy beef slices, and crunchy sprouts elevate the dish to another level. There are two main types of Pho in Vietnam – one is Pho Bac, made in the northern parts of the country, with a clear, simple, delicate flavor and spices, without the herbs and garnishes found in Pho Nam, which is made in the southern parts of the country, with added spices, bean sprouts, various toppings, fish, and hoisin sauce.

It is believed that pho derived from the French pot au feu, but regardless of the legend’s truthfulness, pho still remains a staple of comfort food – warm, hearty, and delicious.

Phở | Vietnamese noodle soup | ShutterStock

Types of Phở:

  1. Beef Pho (Phở bò)
  2. Chicken Pho (Phở gà)
  3. Stir-Fried Pho (Phở xào)
  4. Mixed Pho (Phở trộn)
  5. Pho Rolls (Phở cuốn)
  6. Vegan Pho (Phở chay)
  7. Sour Pho (Phở chua)
  8. Seafood Pho (Phở hải sản)

WHERE TO EAT the best Pho in the world ::: Những tiệm Phở ngon nhất hành tinh

Pho Quynh | TasteAtlas | Recommended authentic restaurants

Phở Quỳnh

323 Phạm Ngũ Lão, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The beef slices are tender on each bite and the soft gelatinous tendons simply melt in the mouth.

Entree Kibbles: Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su

Phở 10

10 Lý Quốc Sư, Hanoi, Vietnam

Aside from an incredible stock from one of the bubbling pots and some shavings of beef flank, it was the goldmine of giblets that made this pho the hero for me on that particular morning. Chewy, soft, gristly, a variety of textures. Breakfast of champions.

Phở Bát Đàn Hà Nội, a century of gastronomic discovery

Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn

49 Bát Đàn, Hanoi, Vietnam

This is in my opinion: the best Pho I’ve tasted in Vietnam. The soup has just the right amount of sweetness and the beef slices are tender and delicious

Phở Hòa Pasteur

260C Pasteur Street, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

This popular restaurant has been serving delicious phở to the locals since it opened in 1968. The food is appropriately affordable and their delicious hallmark broth is a masterclass of balanced flavours.

Mr. Nguyễn Trọng Thìn, founder of Phở Thìn 13 Lò Đúc

Phở Thìn

13 Lò Đúc, Hanoi, Vietnam

Negotiate your way to the rear of this narrow, rustic establishment and sit down to some excellent pho bo (beef noodle soup). A classic Hanoi experience that hasn’t changed in decades

Long Phung Vietnamese Restaurant – A little piece of Saigon in Singapore

Long Phụng

159 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore

Yellow plastic chairs, easy-wipe tables and staff shouting out orders: down-to-earth Long Phung serves up some of Singapore’s best Vietnamese food. The pho is simply gorgeous, its fragrant broth featuring just the right amount of sweetness.

Phở Sương

24B Ngõ Trung Yên, Hanoi, Vietnam

The light and sweet broth is the highlight of Pho Suong, which is made from stewing beef bones and meat for hours. The beef is also on point, well done steak is not dry and manages to retain a certain level of moisture. Each piece of beef is carefully thin sliced, tender and meaty

Phở Lệ

413 – 415 Nguyễn Trãi, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Best Pho in Ho Chi Minh: Pho Le – The beef slices are tender while the broth is a little more on the sweeter side

129 Avenue de Choisy, Paris, France | Phở Bánh Cuốn 14

Phở Bánh Cuốn 14

129 Avenue de Choisy, Paris, France

Factor in a wait at this small, simple restaurant (also known as Pho 14) – it doesn’t take bookings and is wildly popular with in-the-know locals for its authentic and astonishingly cheap pho; this steaming Vietnamese broth is richly flavoured with cinnamon and incorporates noodles and traditional beef or chicken.

Quán Ăn Ngon Restaurant | Facebook: @ngon.restaurants

Quán Ăn Ngon Restaurant

18 Phan Bội Châu, Hanoi, Vietnam

Spicy beef pho for eaters who are ‘a little bit more adventurous’. Fair warning: It does have a kick. A mound of bean sprouts, a wedge of lime and sliced jalapenos are served with every bowl.


Thiên Xuân Travel
Park 2, 208 Nguyen Huu Canh Street, Ward 22,
Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
📨 booking@thienxuantravel.com
☎️ +84 888 890 898 — 0938 558 228

Office in the United States
14114 Beech Glen Dr, Houston, TX 77083
☎️ +1 (281) 906-2744

Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup
Image by Vu Pham Minh from Pixabay

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