A British traveler’s culinary journey in Ho Chi Minh City started with Hanoi-style chicken pho, which he described as “astonishingly delicious.”
Joe, a first-time visitor from England, recently traveled to Vietnam, choosing Ho Chi Minh City as his destination to explore traditional Vietnamese cuisine. He began his journey with a bowl of the iconic pho at a restaurant on Street 10, Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City.
The eatery, specializing in Hanoi’s signature chicken dishes, including its renowned chicken pho, came recommended by a local friend.
Joe visits a local eatery in Thu Duc City to try Hanoi-style chicken pho.
Joe was impressed by the spacious restaurant with its open kitchen, allowing diners to watch the chefs prepare the dishes.
“From the counter, you can see trays of shredded chicken, which look amazing, along with golden, crispy chicken wings. The quality is evident even at first glance. That’s probably why my friend said the chicken pho here is exceptional—it looks as good as it tastes,” Joe shared.
He ordered a bowl of chicken thigh pho with a side of fried dough sticks (quay). When the steaming bowl arrived, Joe couldn’t contain his excitement, exclaiming, “This looks so good!”
The British tourist observes the open kitchen where chefs prepare the iconic dish.
“The broth’s clarity reflects the simplicity of Northern-style pho,” Joe observed. “It’s not overly seasoned but retains a natural richness.”
The boneless chicken thigh pieces were sliced into bite-sized portions, their golden skin gleaming invitingly. Before diving in, Joe added a squeeze of lime and some slices of chili for extra flavor.
“The flat Northern-style pho noodles resemble rice noodles but are incredibly soft and smooth. Even without sipping the broth, the taste of the noodles and the subtle richness from the chicken skin are delightful,” Joe remarked.
He praised the broth’s depth, describing it as flavorful, aromatic, and naturally sweet from the slow-cooked chicken and bones.
“The chicken is tender yet firm, likely free-range, and tastes far better than what you’d typically find back home. Honestly, the chicken here is a hundred times better because of the unique boiling technique that locks in the flavors and natural sweetness,” he added.
Joe was impressed by the clear broth, tender chicken, and golden skin of the chicken thigh.
Joe was so impressed that he finished every bite, even dipping his fried dough sticks into the remaining broth.
The total cost of the meal, including a cup of coffee and fried dough sticks, came to 105,000 VND (~$4.30). Estimating the chicken pho itself to be around 70,000–80,000 VND (~$2.90–$3.30), Joe found the quality well worth the price.
“This is the best pho I’ve ever had, and I’ll definitely come back to enjoy it again,” he concluded.
The Hanoi-style pho noodles and rich broth left Joe eager for a second visit.
Nguyen Thanh Thuy, the owner of the chicken pho restaurant, revealed that the eatery has been open for five years, serving authentic Hanoi-style chicken dishes like pho and vermicelli (mien).
The chicken pho is particularly popular with both locals and tourists, priced between 50,000 and 80,000 VND depending on the cut (shredded chicken, thigh, or wing).
The family-run restaurant prepares its chicken pho with carefully selected ingredients and a slow-cooked broth.
The chicken vermicelli soup with bamboo shoots and meatballs is also a favorite among diners. Photos: JoeyP, Pho Ga Pho Co
Thuy emphasized the importance of carefully selected ingredients:
- Fresh chickens raised on rice, weighing 1.7–1.9 kg after cleaning, ensure tender, flavorful meat with crispy, golden skin.
- Northern-style pho noodles are thinly rolled and cut into fine strands.
- Condiments and dipping sauces are made in-house, following a family recipe to preserve the authentic Hanoi flavor.
The broth is simmered entirely from chicken bones for 12 hours, without using MSG.
On average, the restaurant serves around 50 chickens on regular days and up to 80 on weekends.
Vietnamnet.vn
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