Pho Price Wars: A German YouTuber's Hanoi Experiment

Bernd Zehner, a German content creator, took a trip to Hanoi to experience Vietnam's most beloved dish. With numerous options, Bernd compared the cheapest and most expensive bowls of pho for his online audience.
August 28, 2024 | 16:36
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“I am in the capital of Vietnam and will enjoy famous dishes here, including pho. Hanoi Pho is great, prepared in many versions with different prices. That's what I want to explore. I will start my journey to find the best pho in Hanoi and wonder if the higher price will mean better taste?" This is the question Bernd Zehner posed to his 200,000 followers in his recent travel vlog.

In his video, Bernd enjoyed chicken pho at a famous restaurant in Hoan Kiem district. This is a familiar dining address for domestic and foreign tourists when coming to Hanoi, he claimed. The restaurant has been open for 15 years, and was ranked by the Michelin Guide as one of the best affordable restaurants (Bib Gourmand) in Hanoi in 2023.

At the restaurant, Bernd ordered a regular chicken pho, priced at EUR 1,8 (equivalent to VND 40.000-50.000). He recommended the viewers to first taste the broth, feel the flavor of the dish more clearly and then add spices according to their preferences.

“The broth is clear and has a mild sweet taste. The accompanying ingredients are also beautifully presented," he commented. After that, Bernd continued to squeeze more lemon juice, add a little garlic vinegar and chili sauce to the pho. "Just a little fresh chili can change the flavor."

The Western guest tasted the beef and praised it for its softness and deliciousness
Bernd Zehner, a German content creator, took a trip to Hanoi to experience local dishes. He shared the experiences with hundred thousands followers on YouTube (Photo: Bernd Zehner YouTube channel).

The foreign guest also praised that pho noodles when eaten with hot broth do not become soft but still ensure quality. The noodles absorb the flavor, are delicious and fragrant. The chicken thigh meat is tender and the skin is strangely crispy.

“I like the herbs and spices of the chicken pho here. Both the pho, meat and broth are delicious. Pho is very delicious, even the popular version costs less than EUR 2 but is loved by many diners," commented the YouTuber.

The next place Bernd discovered was a restaurant located in Ba Dinh district, specializing in serving fusion cuisine and ordered a special bowl of wagyu beef pho. The dish was EUR 36,37 (about VND 1 million).

According to his observations, the ingredients are kept separately and beautifully arranged. The hot broth is served in a large stone bowl. It is served with 4 different types of beef, sliced ​​into thin, bite-sized slices. Bernd couldn't hide his excitement and immediately dipped the beef slices into a bowl of hot broth, waited for the meat to cook. The guest was surprised because the beef was so fresh and greasy that even eating it alone was delicious.

“The beef is so tender that it melts in the mouth. This meat has both fat and crispy skin, and is quite delicious. I really like it,” Bernd said.

After adding beef, pho noodles and vegetables to the stone bowl, he seasoned it with lemon juice and fresh chili to make the dish more flavorful. The German YouTuber appreciates the flavor of pho broth, which has a natural sweetness mixed with a bit of richness, fragrant from simmered bones and many herbs. The noodles are thin but flexible, dipped in hot broth and still don't fall apart.

Bernd commented that the stone bowl beef pho was quite delicious and satisfied with the experience. However, he believes just eating this dish on the sidewalk is delicious and attractive enough.

“I recommend that if you want to enjoy pho in Hanoi, go to the sidewalk restaurants because the pho dishes there are delicious and reasonably priced. Or you can go to the chicken pho restaurant that I experienced. I rate this chicken pho dish as more enjoyable than the beef pho I ate today. Beef pho is delicious but expensive," he concluded.

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