What's the owner's secret?

Thanks to Michelin, we've opened a new location.

Eight pho restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City have been included in this year's Michelin Guide's Bib Gourmand category, including: Pho Chao, Pho Hoa Pasteur, Pho Hoang, Pho Huong Binh, Pho Le, Pho Minh, Pho Phuong, and Pho Mien Ga Ky Dong.

Meanwhile, Hanoi has five pho restaurants named in this list, including Pho Au Trieu, Pho Ga Nguyet, Pho Gia Truyen, Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su, and Pho Khoi Hoi.

Ms. Dung is the owner of Chao Pho restaurant.

Following this, social media was flooded with shares of the recently published Michelin Bib Gourmand lists for Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, along with many questions about whether pho restaurants were more favored by Michelin's assessors, given their overwhelming number on the list. Many also wondered about the absence of banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches), hoping it would be included in other categories of this year's Michelin Guide.

One year has passed since Ms. Bui Thi Dung's (59 years old) Pho Chao restaurant in Binh Thanh District was honored by Michelin as a "delicious and affordable restaurant." The owner is thrilled and cannot hide her joy because this year, the restaurant has maintained its high standards.

"This time last year, after receiving Michelin recognition, my restaurant was two to three times busier than usual. After that, I rented additional space next door and expanded to better serve our customers. To this day, the restaurant regularly welcomes customers," the owner happily said.

According to Ms. Dung, 70% of the customers at her pho restaurant are foreigners. Throughout the past year, her family and staff have continuously strived to maintain the quality of food and service, upholding their standards to continue receiving Michelin recognition in the following year. The results have not disappointed the owner.

70% of the customers at this pho restaurant are foreigners.

Traditional and innovative pho dishes at the restaurant.

Describing herself as a relatively new restaurant, founded in late 2020 or early 2021, she was initially surprised to receive Michelin recognition. According to her, the restaurant caught the eye of the judges, possibly because it's a family-run business with a tradition dating back to 1986, offering delicious pho at affordable prices that meet Michelin's criteria. Additionally, the restaurant is creative and innovative in its pho dishes, famous for its "Phởtine," where pho is served with french fries and cheese.

"The restaurant's name is 'Chào' (Hello), as a welcome to both foreign and Vietnamese guests who come to enjoy traditional Vietnamese food. The name also reflects this welcome; when guests come here, they always receive smiles, warmth, and cheerfulness from the owner and staff," the owner proudly stated.

Having battled cancer for eight years, Ms. Dung confided that her initial purpose in opening the restaurant was simply to bring joy to her business. Throughout the years, she hasn't raised the prices of her dishes. Each bowl of pho here ranges from 50,000 to 90,000 VND. "Photine" specifically is priced at 90,000 VND.

The secret lies in the broth.

One afternoon, I visited Pho Le (District 5) and was surprised to see the restaurant packed with customers, with a constant stream of people coming and going, mostly foreigners. Mr. Hung, the representative of the pho restaurant, said that this was the second year they had been honored by Michelin, and he and his family were delighted. This proves that the restaurant has maintained its high standards over the past year, just as it has for over 50 years.

Mr. Hung said that since receiving Michelin recognition, the restaurant has attracted more customers, especially foreigners. These customers account for 30-40% of the total number of customers who visit and support the restaurant.

Pho Le is located in District 5.

"This year the economy is down, and without that support, the restaurant would have faced many difficulties. My restaurant has kept the same price for the past three years, with each bowl of pho ranging from 80,000 to 100,000 VND," the owner said.

Pho Le has another branch on Vo Van Tan Street (District 3), however, it has been closed since 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. If conditions are favorable, the owner plans to reopen the restaurant there in the near future.

"In your opinion, what is it about Pho Le that made it onto the Michelin list?" When I asked, the owner smiled and said the secret lies in the broth, which is prepared according to a unique recipe passed down through generations in his family. The harmonious combination of ingredients also makes Pho Le special.

Customers flocked to Pho Le restaurant.

Ms. Phuong, the owner of Phuong Pho restaurant, said that her restaurant also has its own secret recipe for cooking pho, especially the broth. The freshness of the ingredients combined with the rich broth has created a brand that has helped her restaurant thrive for over 40 years and receive recognition from experts and diners alike.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/co-den-8-quan-pho-o-tphcm-duoc-michelin-vinh-danh-chu-quan-co-bi-quyet-gi-1852406211758293.htm