“Patriotic” chicken pho restaurant causes a stir on National Day September 2nd in Hanoi

(Dan Tri) - On the occasion of National Day, September 2, a chicken pho restaurant in Hanoi caused a stir with a bowl of pho decorated with a red flag with a yellow star, causing diners to flock to enjoy it.

In the bustling atmosphere welcoming the 80th anniversary of National Day September 2, a small chicken pho restaurant on Dang Tien Dong Street ( Hanoi ) suddenly became a meeting place for many diners.

What makes the restaurant stand out is the special chicken pho bowl: On top is a red flag with a yellow star created from the pho noodles, carrying the patriotic spirit and creativity of the cook.

A bowl of chicken pho decorated with a red flag with a yellow star impressed many diners on National Day.

When the bowl of pho was served, many people were surprised by the prominent flag image on the bowl. From the red background to the yellow star in the middle, every detail was meticulously handcrafted. This special idea came from the desire to convey patriotism through a familiar dish.

Sharing with Dan Tri reporter, Ho Duc Manh (born in 1997, restaurant owner) said: “Every time on National Day, I have very special feelings, especially when watching the parades. At that time, I thought, why don’t I express that feeling through a bowl of pho - a dish that is closely associated with Vietnamese people.

I want customers to feel national pride when eating pho, not just simply enjoy a bowl of chicken pho every day."

Mr. Manh revealed that to create the red flag with yellow star, the restaurant only makes pho noodles in small batches, about 10kg at a time. The red color is dyed from natural flower powder, a powder made from flowers, often used in cooking to create color, while the yellow color of the star is extracted from turmeric essential oil.

To make a special bowl of pho, the restaurant staff has to sit for hours cutting the pho noodles and attaching the gold star by hand. The process of making the flag requires patience and precision in every detail.

The manufacturing process is quite elaborate: After having the pho noodles, the workers cut them into flag shapes and attach a star in the middle. This job requires meticulousness and requires specialized staff.

“If just one detail is off, the flag will no longer be complete. We have to handcraft each flag to ensure it looks the best when placed in a bowl of pho,” Duc Manh revealed.

Ms. Nhien - a restaurant employee, one of the people who directly cut and decorated the flag - shared: "Some customers wonder why the red color on the flag is not as dark as the real flag.

In fact, all colors are made from natural ingredients, yellow from turmeric, red from natural flowers, so they are a bit pink, not bright red. We keep the natural colors, not as eye-catching as bright red, but they are both beautiful and good for customers' health."

Despite the elaborate preparation, the price of a bowl of pho remains the same, from 30,000 VND to 50,000 VND depending on the portion. Customers can choose pho soup, mixed pho, chicken thighs, breast, wings... as on the daily menu.

“All bowls have flags, customers do not need to request anything special. I think just a small flag is enough to convey the message,” said Mr. Manh.

Since the launch of the “patriotic” pho, the number of customers coming to the restaurant has increased significantly, especially young customers. Many people share the feeling of excitement when they can both fill their stomachs and check-in with the unique dish, creating a delicious and fun experience.

“Young customers enjoy taking photos and making TikTok videos. Older people also laugh when they see it, some even say they never thought they would have a bowl of pho with a flag. For me, that alone makes me happy,” the restaurant owner confided.

Minh Chau (left) and Phuong Linh happily took a souvenir photo with a bowl of pho la co (flag pho) during their first experience.

Minh Chau and Phuong Linh (born in 2002) learned about the restaurant through TikTok so they decided to try it. When the bowl of pho was brought out, the two young people could not hide their curiosity at the prominent red flag with yellow star. Before that, when they saw it online, they thought the red part was made from meat.

“At first, I thought it was a piece of meat cut into a flag shape. When I tasted it, I realized it was actually pho noodles. It was really surprising and interesting,” Minh Chau shared.

Ha Anh (born 2006, Hanoi) said that this was a familiar restaurant, where she often brought her friends to eat. However, when she saw that the restaurant suddenly became famous for its bowl of pho decorated with a red flag with a yellow star, she invited her group of friends to come back to enjoy the food and take souvenir photos.

“I have eaten here many times, but today, the feeling is much more special. The bowl of pho is not only delicious, but also brings a very special pride, making us want to keep this moment,” Ha Anh said.

Ha Anh (4th from right) and her friends returned to their familiar pho restaurant to enjoy a special bowl of "patriotic" pho.

Many other diners expressed similar feelings. For them, a bowl of pho is not just a dish, but a complete experience: delicious, beautiful, and rich in cultural meaning, evoking national pride on National Day.

Restaurant information

Address: 81 Dang Tien Dong, Dong Da, Hanoi

Reference price: 30,000-50,000 VND

Opening hours: 6am-1:30pm and 5:30pm-10pm daily

Photo: Le Phuong Anh

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/quan-pho-ga-yeu-nuoc-gay-sot-dip-quoc-khanh-29-o-ha-noi-20250820081010389.htm