When mentioning Hanoi, pho is always the first dish that many tourists look for when setting foot in the Capital. Below are famous pho restaurants that you should not miss.
Pho Khoi Hoi 50 Hang Vai
Pho Khoi Hoi has long become a part of the memory of the people of the Old Quarter. The restaurant's name originates from the familiar nickname of the restaurant owner - Mr. Khoi. For many years, this place has always been crowded with customers because of the family-inherited pho flavor and the hospitality of the restaurant owners.
The dish that made the restaurant famous is pho core bo. The core is sliced into bite-sized pieces, crispy but still soft and naturally sweet. The broth is clear, light and cooked according to a private family recipe. The price of a bowl starts from 70,000 VND.
Pho Mao alley 25 Tran Xuan Soan
Hidden in a small alley, Pho Mao is a 30-year-old address loved by many people for its traditional pho flavor.
The broth is clear, rich, with few spices, and the pho noodles are small and soft. The most prominent dishes are tái lăn, tái nhừ, and crispy nạm. The restaurant is usually crowded during peak hours, many people have to wait to have seats. Price from 40,000 VND per bowl.
Pho Co Chieu 48 Hang Dong
Appearing about 40 years ago, Pho Co Chieu is famous for its secret to cooking broth entirely from bones and beef, without using anise, cinnamon or cardamom like many other pho restaurants.
Another special point is that the restaurant only uses homemade garlic vinegar, not serving lemon or kumquat. The menu is diverse with rare, cooked, gau, nạm, corn and many special portions. The restaurant is open from 6 am to 11 pm.
The shop owner is a descendant of the Co family in Van Cu village (former Nam Dinh) - the famous cradle of the pho profession. From the early years of the 20th century, the family brought the family-inherited pho stall to Hanoi to make a living and preserve the traditional flavor to this day.
Pho Suong Trung Yen alley
Located in a small alley connecting from Dinh Liet street, Pho Suong has been a familiar address for Hanoians for decades. Vietnamese-born chef Christine Ha also visited the restaurant to enjoy it during her return to Vietnam in 2023.
The restaurant is famous for its liquid broth, large, soft pho noodles, and many diners commented that it is very "delicious". The restaurant has a small space, only about four tables, so it is often fully booked. Price from 60,000 - 80,000 VND per bowl.
Pho Huy 6C Cua Dong
In the middle of the crowded Old Quarter, Pho Huy stands out with a traditional red sign. The space is not large but always bustling with diners.
The broth is clear, light but still has a strong beef bone flavor, fragrant with ginger and onion. The pork slices, lean meat, pork belly, or turtle core are all carefully selected, soft and fresh. In particular, rolled pork and crispy pork belly are two dishes loved by many people.
The restaurant has changed location many times before stabilizing in Cua Dong street. This is also one of the few pho restaurants in the Old Quarter that serves until 4 am, meeting the needs of both locals and tourists for late-night meals.
Pho Ganh Hang Chieu
Nearly 30 years ago, the small pho stall at the corner of Hang Chieu street became a familiar late-night snacking address for Hanoians with simple carrying poles and a few simple plastic tables and chairs.
Currently, the restaurant has moved to 56A Nguyen Sieu with a more spacious space but still retains the old flavor. Diners can choose tái, chín pho or vang sauce. The restaurant is open from 3 am to 10 am, priced from 50,000 VND per bowl.
Pho 49 Bat Dan
This is one of the most famous pho brands in Hanoi with a long history.
The broth is cooked entirely from beef bones with fish sauce and family recipes, creating a characteristic light sweetness. A full bowl of pho with many choices such as tái, nạm, gầu... served with quẩy and garlic vinegar, true to the old Hanoi pho style.
The restaurant is also jokingly called "waiting pho" because it is always crowded with customers. When customers are too crowded, people have to queue and serve themselves. The restaurant is open from 6am - 10am and 6pm - 8:30pm, priced from 50,000 VND per bowl.
Pho Bac Hai - 22 Hang Bo
Located on Hang Bo street, Pho Bac Hai is a familiar address for many people in the Old Quarter with more than 30 years of preserving the traditional beef pho flavor. The restaurant serves tái, nạm, gầu, chín and sốt vang dishes with uniform prices from 40,000 VND/bowl.
The highlight of the restaurant is pho with vang sauce with soft, rich tendons. Besides, hot dogs are made right on the spot in the area behind the restaurant, always hot and crispy and are also a source of supply for many famous pho restaurants in the Old Quarter.
Pho That Tran Nhat Duat
The name "Pho That" is like an affirmation of quality. The restaurant is only open from late afternoon to late night and is famous for its rare cooked dishes, beef shank, and vang sauce.
Fatty broth, rich in beef bone flavor. The pho with vang sauce impresses with its soft tendons and strange beef ribs. Spacious space, convenient for parking.
