Pho, the iconic Vietnamese dish, is known worldwide for its hearty beef broth and flat rice noodle. But in Vietnam, pho presents in many shapes and forms, with amazing flavors and textures. Let’s go with me on a trip to eat some delicious Vietnamese pho dishes.
Pho Cuon Ngu Xa
Most famous food places in Vietnam has a limited menu offering. If you sell pho bo – Vietnamese beef noodle soup, then pho bo would be the only thing on the menu.
When it comes to eating other pho dishes, people come to Ngu Xa, a Ba Dinh District neighborhood, not far from Hoan Kiem lake. This area is famous for having many restaurants serving different pho variations.
You will see the term pho cuon in most restaurants’ names. It means rice noodle rolls with beef and herbs. Unlike beef pho that is hot and great for a cold day, pho cuon would be the perfect summer pho.
Stir-fried beef and herb (usually fresh mint) are placed inside a thin rice wrapper. It is then carefully rolled and served with a fish sauce dipping sauce. They are light, fresh and a place of pho rolls will be gone in no time.
Another great pho dish is deep fried pho. Flat rice wrappers are cut into small squares and stick together. They will then go into the hot oil, deep-fried into puffy golden balls. Once ready, fried pho is served with stir-fried beef and vegetable.
Eating pho chien phong can be truly addicting. It is crunchy, slightly chewy, and full of flavors. It is also one of those dishes that fascinate you, make you wonder how they turn rice noodles into such a great treat.
Apart from pho cuon and pho chien phong, you can order many other pho dishes to try. But I highly recommend those two dishes. They are so different from what you picture in mind when it comes to pho. But all boasting great flavors and fun to eat.
Menu and Price
At Pho Cuon Chinh Thang, you will find a good variety of Vietnamese pho dishes. Some popular pho dishes includes:
- pho cuon – pho rolls with beef
- pho chien phong – fried puffy rice noodle
- pho xao bo – stir-fried rice noodle with beef
- pho ran trung gion – crunchy fried rice noodle with egg
- pho chua ngot – sweet and sour rice noodle
For the non-pho eater in the group, you can also order fried rice or fried egg noodle with beef. Some popular side dishes are potato fries, sweet potato fries, or nem chua ran – a famous deep-fried Viet snack made from ground pork and pork skin.
The price for all dishes is affordable with big servings. Most dishes are less than 5 dollars. A meal for two would range between 15 to 20 dollars.
If you come to Ngu Xa, you will find various restaurants that serve the same pho dishes. It is hard to say which one is the best. But I like Pho Cuon Chinh Thang. It feels less hustle and bustle compared with other pho places in the neighborhood. The food is great, and I always have a great time here.
Address
Pho Cuon Chinh Thang
Address: 7 Mạc Đĩnh Chi, Trúc Bạch, Ba Đình, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Opening Hours: 10 am – 10 pm Daily
Tips: It can be a bit tricky to locate the restaurant on GPS. So if you have trouble finding the restaurant, just ask local people walking on the streets. They will gladly direct you to the right place.
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