Phở (pronounced like ‘fuh?’) is a traditional rice noodle soup and one of the most iconic Vietnamese food. Pho is normally served as a bowl of flat-rice-noodles in beef broth, with some beef slices or other options like tripe or chicken etc.

There are a few variations of pho depending on the regions in Vietnam. The pho in Hanoi is called phở Hà Nội or phở bắc (northern pho), which is normally served with green onions; whereas the middle and southern regions are using some other herbs with the pho instead.

A new found friend brought me to one of the locals’ favourite to try the pho when I visited Hanoi in July 2008. The place is Pho Thin, located at 13 Lo Duc St.

Photo of Pho, traditional Vietnamese rice noodle soup at Pho Thin Restaurant in Hanoi

The restaurant was packed on the Saturday morning. The customers were sitting shoulder to shoulder while some others lining up for their seats. It’s not difficult to understand the crowdiness after tasting the pho, because it was really good.

The rice noodles were smooth and chewy, and the broth was rich in flavour despite looking mild and clear… and their chillies were nice too. Simplicity to its best, worth recommended.


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13 Responses to “Pho Thin Restaurant, Hanoi, Vietnam”

  1. kyon on August 23rd, 2008 at 6:53pm

    look different than the pho i had at my place. we have carrots, bean sprouts along with the green onions. maybe is the soutern pho, or maybe the pho i had was fake haha..

  2. Emilie on August 23rd, 2008 at 9:59pm

    i’ve eaten pho in many places but i’ve never seen carrots.

  3. Yein Jee on August 23rd, 2008 at 10:54pm

    I have eaten some pho with bean sprouts… some were with sprinkles of roasted nuts, but can’t recall any with carrots as well. Not sure if those with carrots are fake though; Vietnam is a populated country… there must be some culture or cuisine that we haven’t learned about yet.

  4. cole on August 24th, 2008 at 4:20am

    Love Pho

  5. bb on August 25th, 2008 at 11:17am

    used to love pho too, but not as much anymore…
    i eat it with bean sprouts and onions, but they also serve me a small lime (using the squeezed juice) and some herbs.
    lol, does anyone here drink all the soup when you’re finished with the noodles?
    i used to, but now that i know the soup is made of pure msg, i don’t anymore =P

  6. Yein Jee on August 25th, 2008 at 2:39pm

    I’ll drink all the soup if it taste good and natural. I can differentiate quite well between natural flavour and those with msg or additive.

  7. kyon on August 25th, 2008 at 7:50pm

    i remembered at least one time my pho has carrots. they serve the rice noodle in soup, and then serve the meat and side dish separate with different things like green onions, brean sprout, carrots and nuts.

  8. cole on August 26th, 2008 at 4:07am

    Once again,…a “yummy” looking photo of that pho YeinJee. Very tasty looking.

  9. Anonymous on August 27th, 2008 at 4:28am

    bb, it’s not all msg. the flavor comes from the beef bones or chicken to make the soup.

  10. Yein Jee on August 27th, 2008 at 12:02pm

    For this particular restaurant, anon#8 is right. They brewed the soup in a large (really large) pot which could be seen when entering the restaurant. I can’t guarantee that they were not using msg at all, but they certainly used lots of natural ingredients to give that aroma and taste.

  11. bb on August 27th, 2008 at 12:06pm

    anon#9…hehe, i know not all msg. i was just exaggerating a bit. but you have to admit, it’s MOSTLY msg, lol.

  12. bb on August 27th, 2008 at 12:08pm

    oh, and i don’t mean the pho in the restaurant yeinjee went to.
    i haven’t even been there.
    i’m just talking about the ones i eat where i live, lol.

  13. rex on September 3rd, 2008 at 2:46pm

    when i was working in Taiwan,i met a beautiful vietnamese woman and we became good friends.she cooked “pho bo”and tastes good.i like it so much……….


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