Despite being recognized for three consecutive years by the Michelin Guide, four pho eateries in Hanoi - Cham chicken pho, Nguyet chicken pho, Au Trieu beef pho, and Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su - continue to stir debate online, drawing both praise and criticism.

This is the third year Michelin Guide has published its Vietnam list. In 2025, Michelin awarded stars to 9 restaurants, recognized 63 establishments with Bib Gourmand (good quality, good value), and included 109 restaurants in the Michelin Selected category, alongside individual awards.

In Hanoi alone, nine pho restaurants were recognized. Although most of these places are long-standing and attract steady patronage, they remain controversial for various reasons.

Cham chicken pho: Praised flavor, debated prices

vn food.jpg
Cham chicken pho starts at 75,000 VND per bowl. Photo: Linh Trang

vn food1.jpg
 

Cham chicken pho has been on the Michelin Selected list for three years running. Michelin describes it as slightly more expensive than average, but notes the high-quality chicken and delicately seasoned broth.

Well known among Hanoi diners, Cham chicken pho has earned a reputation as one of the city’s priciest. Bowls range from 75,000 VND to 160,000 VND ($3 to $6.30 USD), and can go up to 200,000 VND ($7.90 USD) with added extras like drumsticks, wings, or young eggs.

Comments from patrons vary: “The bowl is hearty and the chicken is good, but the price should cap at 50,000 VND.” Others echo concerns that cheaper pho shops offer similar quality at 40,000–50,000 VND per bowl.

Owner Mrs. Cham says she personally prepares the chicken and uses the bones to simmer the broth for about seven hours with herbs. With over 30 years of experience, she can determine doneness by color alone. “I can slice 100 perfect chicken pieces - thick, uniform, tender but firm, with golden crispy skin,” she says.

The restaurant uses hand-cut pho noodles for a softer texture, though they spoil quickly and must be restocked throughout the day. Loyal customers, she notes, return for the consistent quality and fresh ingredients.

Nguyet chicken pho: Acclaimed food, criticized setting
A bowl of pho at Nguyet starts at 50,000 VND. Photo: Linhh Linhh/Pham Quynh Anh

Nguyet chicken pho, located on Phu Doan Street in Hoan Kiem District, has also made the Bib Gourmand list for three years. The shop is famed for its flavor and bustling clientele. Ingredients are prepped fresh - chicken is deboned and sliced upon order, and broth is clear and naturally sweet from pork bones.

Besides traditional soup pho, the restaurant serves dry chicken pho with a side of broth. Prices start at 50,000 VND ($2 USD).

Despite its reputation, the shop’s limited space (around 50 square meters) and proximity to a motorbike repair shop lead to complaints about oil smells and cleanliness. Customers have noted uncollected trash and an untidy environment.

Au Trieu beef pho: Flavorful broth, sidewalk dining debate

vn food2.jpg
Au Trieu’s cloudy, rich broth is its signature. Photo: The Bang

w tdn 3668 1 1578 (1).jpg
Customers dine curbside at Au Trieu pho. Photo: The Bang

For three years, Au Trieu beef pho has been a Bib Gourmand honoree. Unlike the typical clear Hanoi pho broth, its version is rich and opaque, made by simmering beef bones and meat for 25 hours.

Owner Mrs. Nga hand-slices the brisket while machine-sliced raw beef is pounded thin before being placed in bowls and topped with boiling broth.

The spacious restaurant can accommodate about 30 diners, but demand often exceeds capacity. Patrons frequently line up, serve themselves, and eat on plastic stools along the sidewalk - a scene that has sparked debate online.

Some say the flavor doesn’t justify the wait or discomfort: “It’s not tasty enough to warrant queuing or eating uncomfortably like that.”

Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su: International acclaim, local ambivalence

Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su has also earned three consecutive Bib Gourmand nods. Located at the intersection of Ly Quoc Su and Chan Cam streets, it boasts air conditioning, spacious seating for over 40 guests, and often sees lines - especially among foreign tourists.

The shop receives glowing reviews on global food apps and regularly appears in international media lists of top pho spots in Hanoi.

However, local Vietnamese diners on food forums often find the taste unremarkable, saying it lacks distinguishing features.

Michelin inspectors from 20 countries emphasize the unique identity of each cuisine. Restaurants are judged on five global criteria: ingredient quality, culinary technique, flavor harmony, chef’s personality in the dish, and consistency over time and across the menu.

Linh Trang