Slurp Your Way Through The Best Pho in Hanoi
The first MOMENT I decided to make plans to visit Hanoi, Vietnam, I immediately went online to find the best Pho in Hanoi to try during my visit!
Growing up in Canada, I often ate Pho and was introduced to it at a young age, so I’ve appreciated the dish for many years; oh, and those countless video clips of watching Anthony Bourdain eat Pho, that sure added to my overall excitement to try it in Hanoi!
I spent a month in Hanoi, Vietnam, and ate my way through the capital, trying many Pho restaurants around the city. And yes, some days I ate Pho two days in a row; I love Pho!
A quick Pho tip: If you’re looking for a nearby Pho restaurant on Google Maps, try typing in “Phở” instead of “Pho.” The language lettering makes the difference, and many of those spots with Vietnamese letters are local favorites!
After trying plenty of spots during my month’s visit, here are my favorite Pho restaurants in the city; I recommend you try as many as you can when you visit!
Pho Thin Bo Ho
I remember when I took my first taste of Pho at this restaurant, and the boy chopping up fresh beef in the corner laughed as he saw the look of happiness on my face after I had tried his family’s famous Pho.
Located in an alleyway across Hoan Kiem Lake, this pho restaurant has been around for many years and is a staple in the city.
The menu is simple, offering three different Pho bowls with various beef cuts. I always went for their deluxe bowl, which features many beef cuts, and it was delicious. The fresh onions were as fresh as can be, the beef was perfectly sliced thin, and the broth—oh, the broth.
Another bonus to this shop is a friendly woman selling fresh Banh Quay. These are fried crunchy breadsticks to add to your Pho, giving it some extra texture. They do cost extra.
I can’t recommend this Pho restaurant enough, I came here three times during my month in Hanoi.
Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su
When I arrived at this pho restaurant in the Old Quarter, I noticed a few tourists in line, but that didn’t bother me. I had no problem waiting to eat a delicious steaming bowl of Pho, and thankfully, it was worth the short wait!
Entering the restaurant you see a few chefs behind the glass making the various bowls of Pho, this only made me more hungry!
I put this pho restaurant on my radar because it was featured in the Michelin Guide for 2023, and I was curious to see if it lives up to the hype!
This was an absolutely excellent bowl of pho. As soon as the lady served it to me, the broth had an aroma. The beef was exceptionally cut thin, possibly the thinnest I had tasted, and perfectly tender, too.
The menu offers a wide variety of beef pho bowls to choose from, and they also serve beer, for those looking for a drink with their pho!
Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn
When you arrive at this spot, you’ll instantly notice massive cuts of beef hanging like clothing, and several workers are chopping up the freshly cooked beef.
What I loved about this place was how nonchalant things were. It was a quick-service restaurant, so after ordering my bowl, I didn’t have time to blink before my order was sitting in front of me!
Trust me when I say the quality wasn’t lost despite the fast service; the Pho was perfect in every way it could be; a standout difference to me at this spot was how hot the broth was compared to other spots.
Phở Mạnh Cường
Slightly near the city highway, this pho restaurant caught my eye with its many photo reviews.
The restaurant is spacious with tables and wasn’t as busy as the previous places I mentioned above. Besides myself, there were only two other locals there, and because of that, I didn’t have high hopes for the pho because it wasn’t busy.
Was I ever wrong! I ate this bowl of pho like a man who just finished a 24 hour fast, it was delicious, the noodles were delicate, broth and beef were punching and onions fragrant, just like I like it!
They had a spicy hot sauce in a jar for those who prefer a kick, and the hot sauce stood out to me, it was unique!
If you’re looking for a calmer pho restaurant in Hanoi to visit with your family or a group, I suggest you come here!
Phở Sướng cô Mười
You know that saying “go where the locals are eating“? That’s exactly what I did when visiting this spot!
I went into the Hai Ba Trung area, where more locals reside, to try some of the pho restaurants there rather than only eating at the spots in the more touristy areas!
I’m glad I did just that! The steaming bowl came to my table, and my nose got a rush of fresh onions and beefy broth fragrant, the pho here was very tasty!
The eatery is spacious and clean and offers a wider variety of beef cuts for your bowl of Pho and a few Vietnamese drinks to order, too.
Phở Thìn
Locals told me that Pho Thin is a brand of Pho made famous in the city and now has locations across Vietnam. I first tried this Pho restaurant chain in Da Nang.
Having tried it before, I thought I’d give it another go in Hanoi to see if the quality varies from location to location. In Da Nang, it was my favorite bowl of pho there.
Well, it didn’t disappoint, the broth was rich, the noodles were soft, and there was a generous amount of fresh spring onions, just like the other location I went to!
Make sure to buy a few breadsticks to throw in your bowl of pho, they also sell those here.
They also serve another flavourful bowl type of pho which comes with a red broth and a pouched egg on top with a runny yolk, I recommend trying it as well; I didn’t catch the name, but show them my photo to order!
Quán Phở Gà Ta Hương
This is a very popular pho restaurant amongst locals, specializing only in pho ga (chicken pho).
As soon as you get there, it’s hard not to notice the massive cyphers filled with chicken broth and the many employees chopping up pieces of freshly cooked chicken.
I had two different bowls here: one traditionally served with spring onions and soft noodles and the other with fresh coriander, perfectly fried onions, and noodles.
Both were very tasty. The coriander and fried onions combo really stood out to me. Despite spending three months in Vietnam, I hadn’t tasted another similar bowl. I recommend you try it!
Types of Pho
- Pho Ha Noi (Hanoi-style Pho): The most original style of pho from northern Vietnam, known for its clear broth with a thin layer of oil and chopped fresh spring onions.
- Pho Sai Gon (Saigon-style Pho): A southern Vietnamese variation that’s typically sweeter and served with more condiments and fresh herbs. Popular in the West.
- Pho Ga (Chicken Pho): This is a lighter version with chicken broth and meat. It’s sometimes served with lean or regular chicken and includes different parts of the chicken.
- Pho Chay (Vegan Pho): While this pho type isn’t common because pho without beef or chicken is uncommon, vegan pho is gaining popularity. It’s made with only vegetarian ingredients.
Pho Condiments in Hanoi
Banh Quay: Crispy fried break sticks to add into your pho for some texture.
Lime wedges: Ideal for those who prefer a sour citrus balance.
Fresh chilis: My favourite addition, add some heat, but without taking away from the broth.
Garlic vinegar: Those who prefer a more garlic tangy broth will love this.
Chili sauce: Not all places serve chili sauce because it’s less common in Hanoi.
Hanoi Pho vs Saigon Pho
Before visiting Hanoi, I’d never tried Pho Ha Noi. When I ordered my first bowl of pho in Hanoi, I was confused as to why it didn’t look or taste similar to the pho I’ve become so used to back home in Canada, which was Saigon Pho I later learned.
Here’s the difference between the two styles of pho in Vietnam!
- Hanoi: Clearer and lighter broth, made primarily from beef bones. Less sweet, more savory flavor.
- Saigon: Darker and thicker flavorful broth, with a sweeter taste in flavour.
- Hanoi: Wider and flatter rice noodles, usually only one type available.
- Saigon: Various types of noodle widths are used in Saigon.
- Hanoi: Typically only beef, with fewer beef meat cuts.
- Saigon: Wide variety in meat choices and doneness levels (rare, medium, well-done).
- Hanoi: A simple presentation, focusing on the broth, noodles and fresh spring onions.
- Saigon: Larger bowls with more ingredients and customization options.
- Hanoi: Minimal accompaniments, typically only green onions, with fresh chilis, sometimes lime.
- Saigon: Many herbs and vegetables, including bean sprouts, basil, cilantro, chili and lime. Hoisin sauce and chili sauce are common additions.
After chatting with locals in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, I discovered there are actually two types of pho in Vietnam. Interestingly, the version that’s popular around the world is Saigon Pho. This is because many Vietnamese from Saigon have moved abroad and opened pho restaurants in different countries.
On the flip side, Hanoi locals tend to stay in their city and don’t move around as much. That’s why Pho Saigon has become more well-known globally than Pho Ha Noi, even though the Hanoi version is considered the original and most authentic type of pho.
It’s funny how things work out sometimes, isn’t it? The more traditional version stays close to home, while the revised version has become famous globally. However, both are famous today.
If you’re curious, I prefer the pho in Hanoi; the simple flavors of the pho in Hanoi only add to the dish’s richness, and the spring onions are a great singular addition for me. This is despite eating the Saigon style for many years back home in Canada!
Once you’ve tried my many recommendations of pho restaurants, could you come back and tell me which pho restaurants in Hanoi you prefer and whether you prefer northern or southern pho? Enjoy!
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