Top 5 best pho in Hanoi Old Quarter

People know Hanoi with its thirty-six ancient streets, with twelve passionate and beautiful flower seasons or with beautiful check-in places like a fairy scene. But what makes people miss Pho in Hanoi – the pride of the capital’s cuisine.

Pho can be considered as the “national dish” of Vietnam, especially in Hanoi. In the capital, from the small street to the big street, you can find pho anywhere. This is a daily dish in Hanoi, one can have it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Some people like traditional flavors, others like new ways of cooking. Only from the fluffy white noodle soup, can Hanoians make hundreds of attractive and attractive dishes from aroma to taste. If you want to enjoy the best traditional Pho bowls, check out our list of 5 Pho restaurants in Hanoi Old Quarter. You will certainly feel satisfied.

Overview Pho Hanoi

Pho is a traditional dish of Vietnam, can also be considered as one of the most typical dishes for Vietnamese cuisine. Pho is usually used as a breakfast dish, or for dinner. Pho is one of the outstanding street foods.

Pho Hanoi
Pho Hanoi

Origin of Pho in Vietnam

From the mid-1960s to before the 1990s of the 20th century, for many reasons, the most important reason being the subsidized administrative management of food and foodstuffs, in Hanoi and many northern provinces appeared meatless pho in restaurants. state-owned stores. Also since the subsidy period, in Hanoi, people often have the habit of adding more noodles to the broth. Along with the renovation period from the 90s, pho has become more abundant and Hanoians often eat pho with small pieces of dough.

In Hanoi, pho is a special dish of Hanoians who do not know since when. Pho is used exclusively as a breakfast or lunch and dinner gift, not eaten with other dishes. The broth of pho is made from the broth of beef bones: lump bone, tubular bone and clavicle. Meat used for pho can be beef, or chicken. Pho must be thin and chewy. The seasoning of pho is green onion, pepper, chili vinegar, sliced lemon.

Pho originated in the North of Vietnam, infiltrating the Central and Southern regions in the mid-1950s. The Vietnamese in the north migrated to the South in 1954 with pho and pho started to have differences.

The exodus of Vietnamese people in the post-Vietnam war period made Pho known in many parts of the world, especially Western countries. There have been many pho restaurants in the US, France, Australia and Canada. So far, born in Vietnam, pho has become a famous dish in many countries around the world.

The main ingredients in Pho Hanoi

The main ingredients in Pho Hanoi
The main ingredients in Pho Hanoi

The main ingredients of pho are pho noodles and broth along with thinly sliced beef. In the past, only fully cooked beef noodle soup, later, diners accept both rare pho, chicken noodle soup, pork noodle soup, and shrimp noodle soup.

“Banh Pho”, traditionally, is made from rice flour, coated in thin sheets and then cut into fibers.

The broth is generally made by stewing beef bones, the meat used for pho is beef or chicken, dried squid and spices including cinnamon, anise, ginger, cardamom, cloves, dried onions, spring rolls, shrimps. , dried ginseng, oxtail, coriander seeds, etc. The recipe of each specific broth for each noodle shop is kept quite secret.

It is also accompanied by condiments such as: soy sauce, pepper, lemon, fish sauce, chili, etc. These spices are added according to the taste of each user. In the southern provinces of Vietnam, pho is presented with additional ingredients called herbs such as onions, bean sprouts and coriander leaves, in which coriander is the typical leaf of pho.

Top 5 Best Pho In Hanoi Old Quarter

If you want to experience the traditional and truly delicious Pho taste, then you need to look to the old Pho restaurants. They offer a special Pho flavor that you can’t find anywhere else. Here is a list of heirloom Pho Hanoi restaurants you can refer to.

Pho Bat Dan – Phở Bát Đàn

Pho Bat Dan - Phở Bát Dàn
Pho Bat Dan – Phở Bát Dàn

The 49 Bat Dan heirloom noodle shop dates back to the 60s of the last century, it has existed and developed for more than 100 years. The entire century of existence of the shop remains the same, almost unchanged.

Pho Bat Dan still retains the traditional pho flavor with a fragrant and sweet broth cooked with beef bones and marrow, carefully selected beef that is clean and soft, and the noodles are tough and not mushy. What creates the strongest attraction for diners to this Bat Dan pho place is the image of a long line of people waiting to eat Bat Dan pho like in the subsidy period. Because of the special thing here, the name “waiting pho” was born. Therefore, although there are hundreds of thousands of different pho restaurants in the capital city, the reputation of Bat Dan Pho is forever spread by people as the most delicious and unique pho brand in the land.

Features of Pho Bat Dan

There are two features right at this Bat Dan Pho restaurant, that you will be “surprised” that the shop will have no service staff. It doesn’t sound as comfortable as today’s pho restaurants, because every place has a waiter to the table for guests. But not at Pho Bat Dan, all diners here must serve themselves completely. After waiting for a while for the customer’s turn to go through: order the food, pay for it, and bring the pho home.

The second special feature at Bat Dan Pho is that it doesn’t use spices or MSG, but just simmers the broth with bones with a little fish sauce. Through all this time, the restaurant still retains the authenticity of customers, still retains this flavor and cooking method from the past to now.

If you visit Hanoi, remember to add Bat Dan pho place to your self-sufficient Hanoi itinerary, to enjoy a bowl of Bat Dan pho once and feel the delicious and special taste of pho heirloom for more than 70 years. how are you.

Address Pho Bat Dan

  • Address of Bat Dan Pho restaurant: 49 Bat Dan Street, Cua Dong Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi Capital.
  • Opening hours: 6:00 to 10:00 and 18:00 to 20:30 on weekdays.
  • Reference price fluctuates: from 40,000 VND to 50,000 VND.

Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su – Phở 10 Lý Quốc Sư

Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su - Phở 10 Lý Quốc Sư
Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su – Phở 10 Lý Quốc Sư

Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su isn’t the only option, but it’s definitely the best. The taste of pho here is very special, both frugal, sweet and fragrant with a rustic aftertaste. While eating, you can feel the sophistication of the pho broth making every spoonful of broth in your mouth as if you want to stay there forever. Each piece of thinly sliced meat is presented very eye-catching, which is the ingenuity in each knife line. Biting a piece of meat and a little noodle soup, it seems that all sensations and senses come to life after a long winter break.

The restaurant is quite small, but it is very clean and has a cozy atmosphere. The menu of the restaurant is placed right under the glass of the dining table. The menu with pho is the main dish, but also has a variety of types such as rare beef pho, chicken noodle soup, special bowls. The price of Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su is quite high compared to the common ground of shops with the same brand. The lowest price of a bowl of pho is 70 000 VND.

About the service attitude of the staff

This is one of the famous pho restaurants but still retains an enthusiastic and professional service attitude. The staff at the shop have uniform uniforms, so it’s easy to identify, easy to call when you need something. Especially the professional bowl of pho, not causing unhygienic.

From the time of ordering to the time when pho is served, the longest is only about 10 minutes despite being crowded. The noodle making area is separated by glass to keep food hygiene and safety, there is only a small frame for the staff to serve pho.

Address Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su

Pho Thin Bo Ho – Phở Thìn Bờ Hồ

Pho Thin Bo Ho - Phở Thìn Bờ Hồ
Pho Thin Bo Ho – Phở Thìn Bờ Hồ

Thin Bo Ho Pho restaurant was born in 1954 and still retains its original simplicity, still nestled in a small alley on the famous Dinh Tien Hoang street. Over the past 60 years, although the city has gone through a few changes, the shop is still there, not much different from the original. Now few young people can understand the value of the oldest pho restaurant in Hanoi.

The quality of Pho Thin Bo Ho

Banh Pho is not soaked with preservatives, so it can only be used during the day, in return, the cake is soft and fragrant without being sour. The cooked or encrusted meat is cut into bite-sized pieces, the rare beef is gradually softened, rubbed with a large knife and placed in a bowl. The heat from the broth makes the meat cooked, and when brought out, the guests can keep the flavor in every fiber of the meat.

Pho Thin Bo Ho has a clear but still sweet broth, the beef is gradually softened, then marinated with pepper, ginger, garlic and a little fish sauce. In this way, the meat is fully spiced and more fragrant. Pho Thin Bo Ho has many different options, so diners are spoiled for choice according to their preferences.

Therefore, Pho Thin Bo Ho was honored as the dish serving the 2019 US-North Korea Summit in Hanoi. That day, Bui Chi Thin’s grandson, Bui Chi Thanh, was honored to receive a certificate of merit from Hanoi City. In the same year, Pho Thin Bo Ho entered the Top 10 favorite pho brands.

Pho Thin Bo Ho’s address

  • Address: 61 Dinh Tien Hoang, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
  • Opening hours: 05:00 – 13:00 | 18:00 – 20:30 daily
  • Price: 40,000VND – 55,000VND

Pho Bo Lam – Phở Bò Lâm

Pho Bo Lam is a long-standing pho brand, serving the best beef core noodle soup in Hanoi. The shop is a familiar destination of the people of Hoan Kiem district, attracting many tourists to visit Hanoi.

The outstanding feature of beef noodle soup is the clear, rich broth. The sweetness of the broth comes from the simmering beef bones, not the seasoning. The bowl of broth is not too hot, just enough to cook the onions and meat without burning the tongue. The beef here is quite soft, cooked evenly due to long blanching in hot water, so it has an eye-catching pink color. Beef core is soft, has a very unique taste. The thick, chewy noodles are true to Hanoi’s style, cut from a large noodle soup, and look quite square. Add the green, crispy spring onion stalks, creating a delicious bowl of pho that is unmatched.

A bowl of Pho Lam is not cheap, but it is worth the money. Moreover, the enthusiastic and fast service staff adds to the clean space of the restaurant. However, peak hours can be a bit crowded, with no seats, you will have to wait quite a while.

Pho Bo Lam address

  • Address: 48 Hang Vai, Hang Bo, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
  • Phone: 0903 244 893
  • Opening hours: 7:00 – 22:00

Pho Ganh – Pho Gánh

Pho Ganh - Pho Gánh
Pho Ganh – Pho Gánh

In the top of the famous delicious Hanoi noodle shops, it is impossible not to mention that it is Pho 61 Hang Ngang. When coming here, diners will feel the rustic and familiar features.

With a variety of menu items, you are spoiled for choice with your favorite dishes. Almost everyone who comes here is also attracted by the traditional main dish, which is cooked and rare pho. In addition, if you want to change the taste, you can also order a delicious wine sauce.

With the taste of sweet and fragrant broth simmered from the bones, blended with soft chewy vermicelli noodles and thinly sliced meat to fit your mouth. All have created a particularly delicious bowl of Pho, which stimulates the taste buds immensely.

Another plus point of the restaurant is the service attitude of the staff is very enthusiastic and friendly. When you arrive, please sit in the waiting row to be served by the owner in turn.

  • Address: 61 Hang Ngang – Hang Dao – Hoan Kiem – Hanoi

Note When Eating Pho Hanoi

Note When Eating Pho Hanoi
Note When Eating Pho Hanoi

Although rich in nutrients, if eaten improperly, it can make you obese or increase blood pressure. Here is a healthy way to eat pho that everyone should know:

  • Using bone broth: Eating pho with broth that uses “pho seasoning” instead of bone broth will make the content of saturated fat and salt in pho even higher, causing adverse health effects. Bone broth will be sweeter and more delicious.
  • Eat less noodle soup: Eat less noodle soup to reduce starch, thereby helping to lower blood sugar.
  • Eat a lot of vegetables: Eat with sprouts, onions, herbs to provide fiber in the body and control blood sugar. These herbs also make your bowl of pho more flavorful and appealing.
  • Replacing beef pho with chicken noodle soup helps to reduce protein intake as well as create a feeling of fullness faster.
  • Limit the use of chili sauce, chili oil, satay to reduce salt because these can be harmful to the heart. In a bowl of pho, which already has a lot of salt, you should limit these chili oils to reduce saltiness and enjoy the original sweetness of Pho.
  • Do not eat too many pho in one meal, eat too many meals in a week, because this can cause your weight to increase rapidly.

Conclusion

Pho Hanoi is one of the most attractive traditional dishes here. If you have a chance to go to Hanoi or Vietnam, you should try this dish. Each type of Pho will bring a completely different and new taste to you. Hopefully, our list of 5 Pho restaurants in Hanoi old quarter will make your trip more enjoyable!

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