Pham Thi Luyen, 39, from Phu Tho, and her husband Tran Thanh Chung, from Thai Binh, moved to UAE in 2005 and settled down there.

Wishing to spread the value of Vietnamese culinary culture, in early 2022 they decided to open a restaurant serving traditional Vietnamese dishes.

The menu is diverse but Luyen said the main dish is pho (noodles served with beef or chicken), the Vietnamese traditional dish now famous all over the globe. 

“Vietnam has many world-famous dishes, but we chose pho as the restaurant’s signature dish. When talking about pho, international friends automatically think of Vietnam,” she explained, adding that pho is a symbol of Vietnamese cuisine.

In addition, she serves bun cha (Grilled Pork and Vermicelli Noodles), nem ran (spring rolls) and banh cuon (steamed rolled rice pancake).

Luyen said the pho she serves is northern-style. She wants to preserve the typical flavor of pho so that diners have the feeling as if they are eating in Vietnam.

She believes the freshness and high quality of materials determine the quality. Therefore, she uses the beef from a local prestigious supplier in the country, certified for its quality and hygiene.

Meanwhile, other ingredients and herbs such as star anise and cinnamon, used to make broth, are imported from Vietnam. As for noodles, she makes from a delicious Vietnamese rice variety.

“We cooperate with one food company and order it to make noodles with our recipe. So, we have fresh noodles every day,” she explained.

“To make a delicious broth, it is necessary to use materials at reasonable ratios. For example, to make 50 liters of pho broth, we simmer 15 kilograms of beef bones for 14 hours and add some spices,” Luyen said.

The master chef of the restaurant has 30 years’ experience in cooking and 20 years’ experience in serving in UAE. The pho served by the restaurant both bears the traditional dish and fits foreign diners’ taste.

Luyen and her husband own four Vietnamese pho restaurants in Abu Dhabi, with 100 workers. Each restaurant provides 130 pho servings and other dishes each day.

The woman from Vietnam also decorates her restaurants with rustic items typical of Vietnamese culture, such as conical hats, lanterns, and straw-made roofs.

Thao Trinh