Phở Chào — Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City

This mornings breakfast pho bo tei, bowl 29 of my 30 different pho restaurants in 30-day challenge was a long walk from where I am staying, plus Phở Chào wasn't the easiest place to find, but I am glad that I persevered with the help of Google Maps, as the pho had one of the best aromatic, deep and full tasting broths at its base.

Located on a narrow residential street, far removed from the tourist areas of Saigon, I sat outside Phở Chào on a tiny and low chair, my order was quickly served along with generous amounts of fresh Asian herbs, raw chopped yellow chillies and copious lime wedges. The broth needed little adjustment to match my personal preference, the juice of five lime wedges, and the chillies brought it to perfection. I ordered the large, for 70,000 Vietnamese dong (€2.56) and I am glad that I did. Yes, it really was that tasty, and no, I am not bored of eating pho. On the contrary, atop of the challenge pho, that are all ordered as pho bo tei, I have eaten another 38 bowls with a variety of different ingredients or bases such as gà (chicken) or mixed bo (beef) that went from head to tail, literally as it had gelatinous traunches of oxtail, along with tongue, tripe and tendons.

It kind of feels like one of the best was saved almost for last, tomorrow will see me complete my 30 pho bo tei in 30-day challange before flying SGN to BKK, then on to AMS & finely TLS. Where I will return home to a pescatarian diet.

Now that I have had time to add the data to my quest spreadsheet I see that Phở Chào's exquisite pho bo tei has ranked joint 2nd, along with Pho Hein just one place behind my number one favourite, Pho Viet Nam who win hands down because of their out of this world homemade noodles.

I will happily return to Phở Chào in the future and highly recommend that all pho aficionados and gastronaughts visit too whenever they find themselves in Ho Chi Minh City. You will not be disappointed.

To level the playing field between high-end restaurants and humble streetfood pho vendors, I have scored each bowl of pho bo tei solely on taste profile, characteristics and the available accompaniments, with no merit given for ambience, comfort or service. I did, however, factor in cleanliness. The most expensive pho I tried was 630,000 dong (€23), the cheapest just 25,000 dong (€.0.91). Of course, my opinion, like anyone's is subjective, but by scoring like for like with fixed criteria, you get an honest opinion and no outrageous claims of, Best Pho in Saigon. To be truthful with such a claim, you would need to spend several years visiting the hundreds of pho establishments dotted all over this vibrant city.

Before leaving Phở Chào this morning, I got to meet a fine lady, the charming owner, with my professional and efficient waiter doubling as a...

Mama Dung started out in the northern city of Nam Dinh in 1986 armed with her grandmother's recipe for a light, clean and pure broth. Fast forward nearly 40 years and she has established herself amongst the elite as a pure genius in phở-novation with her small but powerful menu of signature dishes.

I can confirm that the phởtine is a must try! Not poutine and not pho but a combination of the two, golden french fries are topped with melted cheese curds, carrots, cilantro, onions and a phở gravy that is moorish. The side serving of beef broth for dipping brings this dish to another level and together is nothing short of outstanding!

The miến lươn niệu is rich and full of incredible flavour and the cơm rang dưa bò surpassed basic fried rice with beef expectations.

But what surprised me was Mama Dung's own gà tắm mắm sốt that was unforgettable.. The fried chicken had a perfect crunchy and crisp skin with a juicy and tender centre and flavoured in a sweet and sour caramelised fish sauce that sets it apart in the world of VFC!

With a bib gourmand under her belt two years in a row for good quality and good value cooking, one needs to include incredible hospitality too! Mama Dung is a queen of phở but she remains humble and genuine in her love for feeding the people - Vietnamese or Westerner, you are welcomed with a smile, fed like you're family and parted with a hug and for that she is...

. Five-Star Dining Experience at a Charming Vietnamese Pho Restaurant

This restaurant stands out as one of my absolute favorite spots for authentic Vietnamese pho and creative fusion cuisine during my time in Vietnam. Having dined here five times already, I can confidently say that every visit has been exceptional. The pho is not only delicious but also has a clean, well-balanced flavor that keeps me coming back for more.

Beyond the pho, I had the pleasure of trying an incredible fusion dish (whose name escapes me) as well as some off-menu specialties—each one was outstanding and a testament to the chef’s skill and creativity.

The ambiance is warm and inviting, perfectly complemented by the genuine hospitality of the owners. On one visit, one of the owners joined me for a beer while playing vintage records on an old machine, adding a personal and nostalgic touch to the evening. The other owner, Ma, was incredibly kind, guiding me through the menu with enthusiasm and warmth.

What truly made the experience special was how naturally welcoming they were—treating me like family even though I was there with a friend of theirs. With four more days left in my trip, I know I’ll be returning to savor more of their amazing food and wonderful company.

Highly recommended for anyone seeking an unforgettable dining experience with heartfelt hospitality and exceptional...