Bernd Zehner is a German content creator currently traveling in Hanoi to experience the local cuisine.

“I’m currently in Vietnam’s capital and will be enjoying the city’s famous dishes, including pho. Hanoi pho is fantastic, prepared in many variations at different price points. That’s what I want to explore .”

"I'm going to start a quest to find the best pho in Hanoi , and I wonder if higher prices mean better taste?", Bernd wrote on his personal YouTube channel, which has over 200,000 followers.

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Bernd enjoyed chicken pho at a famous restaurant in Hoan Kiem district. This is also a familiar dining spot for both domestic and international tourists visiting Hanoi.

A German tourist said he found two pho restaurants in Hanoi, one serving chicken pho that he considered delicious and inexpensive, and the other serving the expensive beef pho that he knew of there.

The first place he visited was a chicken pho restaurant in Hoan Kiem district. The restaurant, which has been open for 15 years, was listed by the Michelin Guide as one of Hanoi's best and most affordable restaurants (Bib Gourmand) in 2023.

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A 50,000 VND bowl of chicken pho with tender, juicy thigh meat and plenty of blanched scallions, as experienced by a German YouTuber.

At the restaurant, Bernd ordered a regular bowl of chicken pho, priced at 1.8 Euros (approximately 50,000 VND). He said that the first thing to do before eating is to taste the broth. This helps diners better appreciate the flavor of the dish and can add seasonings according to their preferences.

"The broth is clear and has a slightly sweet taste. The accompanying ingredients are also beautifully presented," he commented.

Then, Bernd added more lemon juice, a little garlic vinegar, and chili sauce to the pho. He remarked, "Just a little fresh chili changes the flavor."

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The Western tourist was amazed by the flavor of the broth in the street-side chicken pho.

The Western visitor also noted that the rice noodles, when eaten with the hot broth, didn't become soggy but maintained their quality. The noodles absorbed the flavor evenly, tasted delicious, and had a fragrant aroma. The chicken thigh meat was tender, and the skin was chewy and crispy, offering a unique taste.

"I love the herbs and spices in the chicken pho here. The noodles, the meat, and the broth are all delicious. The pho is great, even the budget version costing less than 2 Euros is loved by many diners," the German YouTuber commented.

The next place Bernd explored was a restaurant located in Ba Dinh district, specializing in pho dishes that blend traditional and modern styles, with prices ranging from 220,000 VND to 950,000 VND (prices on the menu).

Here, the German customer ordered a special beef pho served in a stone bowl. He observed that the ingredients were kept separate and beautifully arranged. The piping hot broth was served in a large stone bowl.

The pho is served with four different types of beef, sliced ​​into thin, bite-sized pieces.

A close-up of the beef pho that Bernd enjoyed in Hanoi. The broth is served in a special stone bowl at a high temperature to blanch the meat and keep the broth hot.

Bernd couldn't hide his excitement, immediately dipping slices of beef into the hot broth, waiting a moment for the meat to be rare before enjoying it. The guest was surprised by the freshness and richness of the beef; it was delicious even on its own.

“The beef was so tender it melted in my mouth. And this cut of meat had both fat and a chewy, crispy skin, which was quite delicious. I really liked it,” Bernd said.

After adding the beef, rice noodles, and vegetables to the bowl of stones, he seasoned it with lime juice and fresh chili peppers to enhance the flavor.

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The Western guest tasted the beef and praised it for being tender and delicious.

The German YouTuber praised the flavor of the pho broth, noting its natural sweetness mixed with a hint of richness, and the fragrant aroma from the simmered bones and various herbs. The pho noodles were thin but chewy, remaining intact even when dipped into the hot broth.

At the end of the meal, Bernd commented that the beef pho served in a stone bowl was delicious and he was satisfied with the flavor. However, he thought that a bowl of pho served on the street was also delicious and appealing.

"I think this chicken pho is really worth trying. The beef pho I had today was delicious, but it was more expensive," the German customer expressed.

Photo: deliziös

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