Michelin Guide has officially announced the list of 181 restaurants and eateries in Vietnam honored in 2025.
This year's list includes 109 selected locations in the Michelin Selected category - the input standard for the journey to conquer Michelin stars.
Among the 4 new addresses Michelin has chosen in Hanoi, Pho Cuon Chinh Thang restaurant - a popular restaurant on Mac Dinh Chi street (Truc Bach, Ba Dinh) - is participating for the first time.
Interestingly, the family of the owner Vu Thi Chinh did not know that their restaurant had been named. Because Michelin's anonymous assessors assessed the restaurant independently, no restaurant was informed when someone would "go to the polls".
When Lao Dong reporter contacted, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Khanh - Mrs. Chinh's son, representative of the beverage shop, initially thought it was a mistake.
"Yesterday, I looked at the list on social networks, but only saw about the first 20 restaurants mentioned, I didn't see any of my restaurants. Now that I know there are more items, my restaurant must be in the back, Mr. Thang shared.
Mr. Thang said that his family's hanging pho restaurant has always focused on serving customers on the spot. Without investing in advertising, media, not knowing prestigious titles in the culinary industry - all this family restaurant aims for is delicious cooking and decent service.
The restaurant started selling rolling pho in 2000. This address is known as the first place in Hanoi to "revive" the wonder wonder village in Ngu Xa village. The famous dishes that make the restaurant famous include fried porridge, fried porridge, stir-fried porridge... with prices ranging from 50,000 VND to 80,000 VND.
A plate of synthetic pho with three types - fried to an enlarged amount, fried eggs and fried until crispy - can be enough for 2-3 people to eat. In particular, egg fried pho is considered by many diners to be a "burning treat".
The special thing is that the rolling pho is only made when ordered by customers, the beef is hot and stir-fried, fresh and rolled on place, keeping the warmth and the flavor of the mixture very round. In addition, the restaurant also serves other dishes such as beef ceiling, stir-fried beef with garlic, goose rolls, squid rolls...
After more than 25 years of serving diners, with modest premises in a peaceful small street, Pho Cuon Chinh Thang is always crowded with customers, especially on weekends.
Mr. Khanh shared that although the restaurant first opened at 10am, many diners had arrived at the restaurant at 9am to wait to enjoy.
To serve customers most attentively, the family must prepare ingredients from 6am, starting stir-frying beef and stewing pho at 9:30am, ready to serve customers on time.
"We focus on serving customers best, the dishes must be more and more delicious, not guaranteed. The restaurant has never promoted anything, customers just come by word of mouth, Mr. Thang shared.
Many famous food bloggers such as Ninh Tito, Will in Vietnam, Phuc Map, Jenny Huynh have visited the restaurant and given positive compliments.
Regarding future development plans after the restaurant is honored by Michelin, Mr. Thang shared: "About a higher-end segment or an increase in price is something my family has never thought of. Because if the model is upgraded to a luxurious restaurant style, it will unintentionally create barriers for customers to access. Everyone wants to push their brand up, but I think it is better to keep a reasonable price and expand the service, he said.
"Currently, the restaurant in Ngu Xa is a bit overloaded, we are also planning to open more facilities to serve customers more attentively. This intention was before being honored, not because Michelin chose a family to think about.
In a Hanoi with many attractive culinary addresses, perhaps it is the rustic style and the focus on the quality of the dish that have made this family-run pho restaurant catch the "green eye" of Michelin Guide reviewer.
