Located on bustling Au Trieu street, Pho Tu Lun (Au Trieu pho) is famous for its delicious flavor, different from other pho shops in Hanoi.
Despite no advertising, the restaurant is still packed with customers. Even during rush hour, customers have to line up on the sidewalk to wait.
Sharing with Michelin Guide, Ms. Ngo Thi Phi Nga, 64 years old, the current owner of Pho Tu Lun restaurant, said that the restaurant's pho recipe is extremely simple. Ms. Nga is the granddaughter of Mr. Tu - the owner of the Pho Tu Lun brand that has been famous for over 80 years. She learned to cook pho since she was 13 - 14 years old.
More than 30 years ago, Mrs. Nga brought her grandfather's family recipe to Au Trieu street to open a restaurant after getting married. Currently, the original Pho Tu Lun restaurant is still on Hai Ba Trung street, with Mrs. Nga's mother and sister in charge of the kitchen.
Ms. Nga revealed that the current recipe has been slightly modified, and no longer has the rich flavor of the first version from her grandparents' time. However, in essence, Tu Lun brand pho still retains the soul of the pho dish that Hanoians have loved for the past 8 decades.
The ingredients of beef pho include beef marrow bones, tenderloin, grilled ginger, pho, herbs, spices such as star anise, cinnamon, green onions, fish sauce...
After washing the beef bones, boil them over low heat for about 4 - 5 hours, skimming off the foam and residue to make the broth clearer.
Contrary to the belief that fish sauce will make the pho sour, Ms. Nga affirms that she always adds fish sauce to make the broth rich and attractive. This is also one of the secrets to creating the distinct flavor of Pho Tu Lun. In addition, don't forget to add grilled ginger, cinnamon, and star anise to make the broth fragrant.
Slice the beef tenderloin into thin slices. If you want it rare, just put the meat in a bowl and pour hot broth, add green onions and coriander and enjoy. If you want the meat to be well-done, dip it in the broth to make the meat more flavorful.
With a simple recipe, the taste of pho depends largely on the ingredients as well as the seasoning ability of the cook. The main ingredient is beef, which must be fresh and carefully prepared to avoid any unpleasant odors. The broth must also include ginger or grilled onions, cinnamon, and star anise to give the pho its characteristic aroma.
