Pho Le
A beloved institution for over 50 years, Pho Le is a well-known spot for pho enthusiasts in Ho Chi Minh City. Their signature dish is characterized by a rich broth, slowly simmered for hours from beef bones, resulting in a natural sweetness. The beef is carefully selected, always fresh, and cooked to perfection, maintaining its tenderness. The noodles have a pleasant chew without falling apart. A variety of toppings such as rare steak, brisket, tendon, and beef balls are meticulously prepared to satisfy even the most discerning palates.
Pho Le is a renowned name in Ho Chi Minh City’s culinary scene.
The restaurant offers a spacious and comfortable ambiance, perfect for gatherings with friends or family. Despite often being busy, the staff remains attentive and efficient. With prices ranging from 70,000 to 110,000 VND per bowl, it’s a delightful midnight meal in the heart of Saigon without breaking the bank.
Pho Bo Vien Hon Hung
Pho Bo Vien Hon Hung is a nearly 50-year-old family-run establishment, famous for its special satay beef ball pho, priced at approximately 80,000 VND per bowl. Their broth is a labor of love, simmered from beef bones and seasoned with a unique blend of spices, resulting in a robust and enticing flavor. The beef balls have a delightful chew, made by hand to ensure quality and a distinctive texture.
In addition to the traditional beef ball pho, the restaurant offers a range of options such as beef ball kuey teow, satay kuey teow, and combination plates with assorted offal like heart, liver, tripe, and brisket, catering to diverse tastes. Their signature dark soy sauce dip adds a touch of sweetness to the meal.
Pho Phat Tai
Conveniently located near the bustling Bui Vien tourist street, Pho Phat Tai is a round-the-clock pho joint. One of the few places in Ho Chi Minh City serving Northern-style chicken pho, their broth is delicately sweet, with tender meat and thin, golden skin. The chicken is also used in their rice and sticky rice dishes, imparting a natural yellow hue and a savory, fatty aroma to the grains.
Special chicken pho at Pho Phat Tai
Beyond chicken pho, they offer beef pho with a broth infused with ginger, onion, cinnamon, star anise, and the natural sweetness of sea cucumber. Accompanied by fresh basil, it evokes the flavors of traditional Hanoi-style pho. With an average price of 80,000 VND per bowl, including a generous array of toppings, it’s a satisfying meal.
Pho Cao Van
Pho Cao Van is a longstanding fixture in Ho Chi Minh City’s night-time pho scene, with over 70 years of history. Recognized as one of the Top 100 delicious dishes and restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City in 2024, it has cemented its place in the hearts of traditional pho aficionados.
What sets Pho Cao Van apart is their crystal-clear broth, brimming with natural sweetness from hours of simmering beef bones. The soft noodles are paired with tender beef and fresh herbs, creating a classic pho experience. While the restaurant may not be spacious, it exudes a cozy, old-school charm that makes diners feel right at home.
Pho Tau Bay
Pho Tau Bay has been a fixture in Ho Chi Minh City since before 1975, founded by a Northern migrant. The name “Pho Tau Bay” once belonged to a single restaurant at 433-435 Ly Thai To, which later split into two separate establishments. The “yellow shirt” restaurant at 433 maintains the Southern-style pho tradition, with a fatty broth, a subtle sweetness, and the aromatic notes of cinnamon and anise.
A hearty bowl of Southern-style pho
The “red shirt” restaurant at 435, on the other hand, stands out with its thicker noodles and broth infused with the aroma of grilled ginger. Open from 3:30 am to midnight, a filling bowl of pho at Pho Tau Bay will only set you back about 70,000 VND.
