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Private tailor-made journeys of a life time
Jun 2, 2023
By Thach Ngoc
Pho is a popular traditional dish in Vietnam, and a steaming bowl of pho noodle soup is never far away. The dish consists of flat rice noodles in a light soup, chicken or beef with traditional spices, and is usually accompanied by lime, lime leaves, and chili. Because of the sophistication of this food, most people simply feel good no matter where or which vendor or restaurant they enjoy Pho.
Of course, while there are hundreds of places selling Pho in Hanoi, there are always some vendors and restaurants with unique and perfect Pho recipes that are the most popular places with local taste, and below is our list of where you can try the best Pho Restaurants in Hanoi!
According to history and stories, the origin of Pho was in Northern Vietnam, and it became well-known when people brought it to Hanoi in the last century, making it a snack, then breakfast, and now the food that Vietnamese can eat whenever they want, whether it is breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper, or snack.
There are 2 most popular types of Pho in Hanoi:
Pho Bo (Beef Noodles): The dish is served with medium rare beef and then added umami broth, usually accompanied by a poached egg. There are several beef meat options for gourmets: flank steak, fatty brisket, and tendons.
Pho Ga (Chicken Noodles): Split chicken breast is added to the broth made from bones with some spices such as spring onion, chili, and coriander
However, it seems like most people still prefer Pho Bo not only because of its taste but also the traditional essence of the dish, as many people believe that Pho Bo is the original Pho Hanoi.
The main ingredients of pho are noodles and broth with beef or thinly sliced chicken. Spices such as soy sauce, pepper, lemon, fish sauce, and chili are also included. Pho's broth is made from bone broth and does not contain MSG to create a sweet taste. Spices dominate the flavor of the broth. The beef is always carefully selected, and the spices are also carefully seasoned to please the most discerning diners.
The ingredients for making pho seem simple and can be found in popular markets throughout Vietnam, but it is not easy to create a unique flavor, passionate, and lingering in the hearts of Vietnamese cuisine. Pho is a dish that requires time-consuming and elaborate preparation. The chef must not only master each stage of making Pho, but also add a dash of passion and national pride to imbue the dish with Vietnamese soul and personality.
The main ingredients of Pho Bo
First and foremost, you need to know your tools. Pick up a soup spoon and a pair of chopsticks in your dominant hand. You will use one after the other when eating.
Yet, before you dig in, try the broth without any condiments. While you're at it, stick your face in the bowl and let the aroma hit your nose - it'll enhance the flavor even more. Usually, the broth is so good that you can skip most of the garnishes. It's almost criminal to add these other flavors and textures before giving it a chance on its own.
If you think more flavor is required, go ahead and have it. Add a wedge of lime or a few drops of fish sauce to taste. Tear some of the leaves up and toss in some bean sprouts. Chili peppers will increase the spiciness. With your chopsticks, stir the broth once more.
When you're ready to eat, pinch a few noodles between your chopsticks, making sure to include some leaves and a chunk of meat, then dig in. Simultaneously, take a spoon of broth and slurp it down with your other hand. Loudly. That’s how the Vietnamese do it. And once the noodles are gone (they usually go first), raise the bowl to your lips and polish it off.
Many locals claim that this small shop serves the best Pho in Hanoi. The word "Man" means "salty," which accurately and directly describes the taste of Pho here - it is salty! Most people, especially those who prefer a light flavor, believe that eating anything salty is difficult. However, many people who obviously do not like the salty taste continue to return to Pho Man for breakfast, despite the fact that in order to finish a bowl of Pho here, they must order two more glasses of iced tea and drink continuously while eating to alleviate the salty taste of the soup.
Why do the locals love Pho Man? The first reason, as stated by the owner, is that it is salty, which makes it distinct, memorable, and easy to become addicted to after giving it a second or third try. Another reason is the beef, specifically the beef heel muscle (the best part of beef shanks), or "loi rua" in Vietnamese. Many people return to Pho Man because the beef heel muscle is the best in town, as it is completely fresh, moist, and juicy, especially when cooked rare or medium-rare.
Address: No.1 Gam Cau Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Opening hours: 06:00 - 13:00
Price: From VND 80,000/ USD $3.5
Pho Man
Hang Vai Street is only about 500 m long; however, on this small street, there are two of Hanoi's most popular Pho restaurants, with Pho Khoi Hoi being the first choice for both locals and tourists.
Pho Khoi Hoi is open all day, from early morning until late at night. The most unique aspect of Pho Khoi Hoi is that it offers a variety of beef Pho options that you won't find at other popular Pho restaurants in Hanoi, including eye round steak, brisket, flank, shank, beef heel muscle, and even bone marrow or tendon. Pho with brisket/flank/bone marrow is the signature here, but you can mix it up.
There is a tip for getting the best Pho in town: eat Pho at Khoi Hoi restaurant before 10:00 a.m., as people believe the soup flavor is best in the morning. If you can't get up early in the morning, you can still come to Pho Khoi Hoi for dinner in the afternoon or evening, as the difference between morning and afternoon Pho here isn't that clear.
In fact, you may have to eat Pho here every day to notice the slight difference in Pho broth flavor because the husband cooks it in the morning and the wife cooks it in the evening, using the same recipe but different chefs to create distinct flavors.
Address: No.50 Hang Vai Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Opening hours: 06:00 - 21:30
Price: From VND 60,000/ USD $2.5
Pho Khoi Hoi
Pho Lam is an authentic Hanoi Pho restaurant serving old-style noodles (thick and small) in a light broth (no fat at all). The majority of the customers here are Hanoi locals who find themselves attracted to the typical Hanoi Pho flavor of Pho Lam.
Like Pho Khoi Hoi, there is a tip for eating the perfect Pho at Lam restaurant: you should eat Pho here before 9 a.m. This tip is given because of the high quality of the beef and broth available here. Because Pho Lam is so popular from the time it opens until it is sold out, the signature beef brisket point, beef heel muscle, and beef tendon may run out quickly, so if you arrive late, your options for beef are limited.
Furthermore, if that day is exceptionally busy, the restaurant may have run out of the original broth, which had been cooking since midnight, forcing them to replace it with the new broth, which cannot be cooked in sufficient time. As a result, the soup's quality may not be preserved perfectly. Despite having to get up so early, a bowl of hot and savory Pho at Lam restaurant, which provides a perfect view of the traditional Pho Hanoi taste, is definitely worth it.
Address: No.48 Hang Vai Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Opening hours: 07:00 - 22:00
Price: From VND 60,000/ USD $2.5
Pho Lam
Many people believe that because it is called Pho Ly Quoc Su, it must be located on Ly Quoc Su Street. However, the original Pho Ly Quoc Su restaurant no longer resides on Ly Quoc Su Street; they have been relocated to 27 Phung Hung Street for many years but have retained the Pho Ly Quoc Su brand because it is so well-known among locals.
It is important to note that there is no franchise Pho restaurant of Pho Ly Quoc Su in Hanoi; their family has been cooking and selling Pho for many generations, and they do not sell or franchise their brand name. So, if you want to try the local flavor and the original Pho Ly Quoc Su, come to 27 Phung Hung Street.
Address: No.27 Phung Hung Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Opening hours: 06:00 - 19:00
Price: From VND 50,000/USD $2.2
Pho Ly Quoc Su
Pho Bat Dan, also known as Pho Gia Truyen Bat Dan, is a popular name among foreign tourists, having been mentioned in numerous online newspapers, blogs, vlogs, and even TV shows, channels, and so on, as a typical suggestion for the best Pho Hanoi. The majority of tourists were pleased with Pho Bat Dan, which resulted in a long line forming outside the restaurant almost every day.
However, when it comes to local taste, Pho Bat Dan is a familiar source of contention: some Hanoians claim it is good, while others claim its flavor is extremely ordinary and unimpressive! Despite locals' dissatisfaction with the taste of Pho Bat Dan, the long line of foreigners and native residents outside the restaurant has not vanished, and there is no indication that it will be reduced.
The signature of Pho Bat Dan is Pho with medium-rare eye round steak (Pho Tai) in which the raw beef is tenderized, put on the top of the bowl of Pho then cooked by pouring the super-hot broth on it, which helps the beef soft, juicy and never be over-cooked.
Address: No.49 Bat Dan Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Opening hours: 06:00 - 10:00 and 18:00 - 20:30
Price: From VND 50,000/ USD $2.5
Pho Bat Dan
This is also a popular Pho restaurant in Hanoi among tourists, but it differs from Pho Gia Truyen Bat Dan, which has only one address on Bat Dan Street and has never been franchised. Pho Thin has franchised restaurants not only in Vietnam, but also in Tokyo, Japan, and Melbourne, Australia.
The Beef Pho at Pho Thin is not prepared in the traditional manner. While traditional Pho is a combination of savory broth with almost no fat and perfectly cooked beef, which creates the most elegant and lightest flavor for the dish, Pho Thin makes Pho in a unique way that impresses you with the green spring onion covering the entire surface of the bowl, the beef was stir-fried rather than simmered, and the broth was so fatty due to the stir-fried beef.
Address: No.13 Lo Duc Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Opening hours: 06:00 - 20:30
Price: From VND 65,000/ USD $2.8
Pho Thin Lo Duc
Pho Thin Bo Ho or Pho Thin Dinh Tien Hoang is also known as Pho Thin, as is the restaurant mentioned above. However, it is owned by a different person who only serves traditional Pho. This small vendor is a reliable address with many loyal customers, having over 70 years of cooking and serving Pho experience.
In 2019, Pho Thin Bo Ho was honored to serve Pho for experts and journalists at the DPRK-USA Hanoi Summit, marking the first time that a small vendor was chosen to represent Pho Hanoi at an international political event. Thanks to this event, the small vendor Pho Thin Bo Ho can reclaim its place on the Pho Hanoi map as a traditional Pho vendor with nearly a century of experience.
If you have a trip to Hanoi, you should get up early and eat breakfast at Pho Thin Bo Ho, where you can have a bowl of rare beef Pho with some crunchy Quay, a poached egg, a glass of iced tea, and enjoy the fresh air of Hanoi morning while admiring the peaceful beauty of Ho Hoan Kiem (Ho Guom or Sword Lake), which is right across the street.
Address: No.61 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Opening hours: 05:00 - 13:00 and 06:00 - 20:30
Price: From VND 50,000/ USD $2
Pho Thin Dinh Tien Hoang
Pho Suong is probably a familiar name in the hearts of Hanoians. Currently, the shop has 2 establishments, one is located in Trung Yen lane, Dinh Liet street, and the other is in Nguyen Hong. The broth is the highlight of Pho Suong restaurant, it has a sweet taste, but still has a strong smell of bones and meat.
Besides, beef is also rated as the best in Hanoi noodle shops. The cooked meat is not dry and hard, but still retains a certain softness and moisture, making everyone who eats must nod and praise it. The price of Pho Suong is quite reasonable, a delicious, full bowl of Pho but with a mid-range price is still acceptable.
Address: 1/26 Nguyen Hong Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi
Opening hours: 6:30 – 21:00.
Price: From VND 40,000/ USD $1.70
Pho Suong
Located on Hang Giay street, in the center of the old town, Pho Vui is quite small, with few tables and chairs, but customers still flock to it thanks to its "top notch" pho quality. Thanks to the investment from taste to processing and serving, Pho Vui was named in the list of 6 must-visit pho restaurants when traveling to Hanoi suggested by The Culture Trip.
The menu here has many dishes such as rare, ripe, re-encrusted, rare, wine sauce, etc. In addition, the restaurant also has more beef, bare beef tendons, it is also quite fun to eat. The broth is also seasoned quite richly, with a moderate fatty taste. According to the evaluation of many diners, the pho here is more flexible and tougher than some other shops. In particular, a bowl of Pho Vui will have a lot of onions and green onions, so when eaten, it smells very fragrant.
Address: 25 Hang Giay Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Opening hours: 7:00 – 22:00
Price: From VND 50,000/ USD $2
Pho Vui
If your exploration of Hanoi's Old Quarter leaves you late at night and your stomach starts rumbling again, take a detour to the edge of the old town and arrive at Pho That. Open from 5pm to 4am, this is an ideal place for you to rest and recharge with a delicious bowl of Hanoi Pho.
The menu of the restaurant is diverse, but there are 3 most popular dishes, the most "expensive" are rare pho, cooked pho, and pho with wine sauce. According to the owner's share, in just a few hours in the evening, the shop sold out about 300 bowls of pho. Many people come here to eat because of the beef noodle soup, bucket..., but some people love the taste of pho with wine sauce. To create this dish, first, beef is cooked with red wine and spices before being added to the pho broth. This process gives the meat its distinctive orange color and makes it tender and flavorful.
Address: 48 Tran Nhat Duat, Dong Xuan, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi
Opening hours: 17:00–04:00
Price: From VND 50,000/ USD $2
Pho That
Many people believe that traveling to Hanoi without trying the authentic Pho Hanoi means you did not come here, and this is true in a certain way because cuisine is an important cultural characteristic of any country, and Pho represents Vietnamese cuisine. If you are planning a full-day Hanoi tour, make a note of one of the top things to do here: try a bowl of Pho Hanoi, when you have the opportunity to stay in our capital, you will never regret it. However, there are many delectable street foods in Hanoi just waiting for you to try. Pack your bags and join us!
