A Vietnamese restaurant in Seoul, South Korea, welcomes many Korean customers and international tourists - Photo: YC
At Vietnamese pho restaurants in South Korea, it's noticeable that the cooking and serving methods aren't exactly the same as in Vietnam; these adjustments are made to suit Korean tastes. However, the current trend is gradually changing...
Vietnamese pho is becoming popular in South Korea.
Ms. Yen, owner of Choen Pho restaurant in Seoul, said that many Koreans are not used to the strong aroma of cardamom, cinnamon, and star anise like Vietnamese people. Therefore, to suit their milder tastes, the pho broth at her restaurant is adjusted to have a light and less pungent flavor.
Despite adjustments, the flavor of the pho still retains 90% of the original Vietnamese pho served in Vietnam. Recently, a large number of Korean diners have sought out pho restaurants that preserve the authentic Vietnamese flavor, with the aroma of beef, fish sauce, and cilantro as accompaniments.
Typically, pho restaurants serve side dishes such as pickled onions and pickled radishes; some even include kimchi. However, more and more pho restaurants are starting to add fresh herbs to their menu.
"This proves that not only are variations of pho popular, but authentic Vietnamese pho restaurants also have their own place."
"I think this is a result of the booming tourism between the two countries. Many Koreans come to Vietnam for tourism and study, and they discover the authentic taste and develop a fondness for Vietnamese pho," Ms. Yen shared.
Choen Pho restaurant attracts not only the Vietnamese community but also a large number of Korean and international customers who come to enjoy the refined and distinctive flavors.
Vietnamese restaurants are quite successful in South Korea, and pho is also the main dish used to develop the chain. Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tuyen, owner of Pho Khoe restaurant in Seoul, said that pho has become a part of the eating culture of many Koreans, from office workers to students.
Koreans typically eat pho without herbs and, being fond of spicy food, spicy pho is very popular.
"Koreans love eating a lot of bean sprouts. The way they cook the soup is similar to Vietnamese broth, simmering bones, and the beef must be tender and thinly sliced; the only difference is the type of rice noodles."
"They also like a rich flavor, but not one without a strong fish sauce taste. Many customers also like spicy food and want to add a little lime and bean sprouts to their bowl of pho," Mr. Tuyen added.
A bowl of Vietnamese pho at a Vietnamese restaurant in South Korea, served with lime and herbs - Photo: YC
According to pho restaurant owners, although pho flavors in Korea are quite diverse, restaurants all share a commonality: they use ingredients such as fish sauce and other spices imported from Vietnam to maintain a flavor that is as close to the original as possible.
"The only slight regret is that, because the bones are mostly frozen, the pho broth in Korea can't have the same delicate flavor as in Vietnam," Ms. Yen shared.
Vietnamese and Korean cuisine exchange
Chef Duong Duc Huan of the Majestic Hotel, a subsidiary of Saigontourist Group, said that during the introduction of Vietnamese pho at the Vietnam Pho Festival in South Korea in 2024, the hotel will showcase four different pho dishes.
Besides the two excellent pho dishes, which are very popular with Korean tourists staying at the hotel – rare beef pho and chicken pho – the group also prepared spicy crab pho and two-bowl pho ( Gia Lai dry pho).
"We researched and learned that Koreans like spicy food, and we believe that our variation of spicy crab pho will be well-received."
Even the chili sauce we use as an accompaniment has "multiple levels of spiciness," just like how Koreans eat. These flavors are combined with our signature pho noodles, thus preserving the unique characteristics of Vietnamese cuisine," Huấn explained.
The Majestic Hotel will cater to Korean guests at the Vietnam Pho Festival with creative variations of pho dishes - Photo: QUANG DINH
According to businesspeople, one of the reasons why Vietnamese pho is gradually becoming popular in South Korea is the diversity in Korean eating habits.
Besides enjoying pho for lunch and dinner, many Koreans consider it a hangover remedy. After drinking sessions, a hot bowl of pho provides a comforting and refreshing sensation, helping them recover quickly.
Currently, the Vietnamese community in South Korea numbers approximately 300,000 people, many of whom have chosen to open pho restaurants to both preserve their homeland's culture and introduce it to the locals.
However, pho is not limited to the Vietnamese community; it has gradually become an integral part of the cultural exploration journey for Koreans, especially those who have had the opportunity to visit Vietnam.
Mr. Nguyen Dinh Dung, Counselor at the Vietnamese Embassy in South Korea, emphasized: "Developing pho restaurants in South Korea is not just a business activity, but also a cultural bridge that helps people of the two countries understand each other better."
This is why cultural events like the Vietnam Pho Festival will play a role in fostering connection and understanding between the two countries through this traditional dish.
Pho is not just a dish; it's a bridge that brings people from two countries closer together, fostering values of friendship, culture, and unforgettable memories for every diner."
The Vietnam Pho Festival 2024 in Seoul, South Korea will take place on October 5th and 6th, 2024, with the theme "Enjoy Pho, Discover Vietnam".
The program is co-organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper and Saigontourist Group, under the direction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City.
The program is supported by the Vietnamese Embassy in Seoul (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), the Trade Promotion Agency (Ministry of Industry and Trade), the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, the Association of Vietnamese People in Korea, and the Association of Vietnamese Businesses in Korea.
Following its successful inaugural event in Tokyo, Japan, the Vietnam Pho Festival 2024 has chosen South Korea as its next destination on its journey to promote Vietnamese cuisine internationally.
The program, launched in July 2024, features a variety of rich and engaging content. The highlight of the Vietnam Pho Festival 2024 will be the Vietnamese Pho Festival, taking place over two days with approximately 70 stalls, including more than 30 stalls showcasing pho and other cuisine from many well-known and long-established pho brands from Vietnam.
The festival also includes a space to introduce pho and its unique characteristics, as well as a series of activities showcasing culinary exchanges between Vietnam and Korea…
The festival also includes business matching activities, creating opportunities for Vietnamese businesses operating in the food, beverage, and culinary sectors to connect directly with Korean businesses involved in import and export.
The Vietnam Pho Festival 2024 also received support from the Department of Cultural Diplomacy and UNESCO, the Northeast Asia Department - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnam-Korea Friendship Association, the Korea-Southeast Asia Economic Cooperation Association (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea), the Korean Culinary Association, and the Association of Vietnamese Alumni in Korea.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/pho-viet-tai-han-quoc-ngay-cang-gan-phien-ban-chuan-vi-2024091914264513.htm
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