Pho North Hollywood

There’s no denying that pho, the classic Vietnamese soup made with rice noodles and meat or vegetables in broth is delicious.

Popular pho locations

Many people talk about how great pho is in Bangkok, but there are actually quite a few more popular pho restaurants outside of that city! Some even say it’s better than those in Thailand!

Many people speak highly of Vietnamese cuisine, so if you ever feel like trying some pho or banh mi, then never hesitate to do so!

Phở has become very fashionable across America, with many top chefs creating their own recipes and variations. It’s definitely on every cook’s list of foods to try at least once in their life!

A classic recipe for pho usually does not include any rice, as most Asians prefer eating only noodles.

How to eat pho

Now that you have mastered the art of eating rice noodles, it is time to try another popular Asian noodle dish: pho!

Pho is a delicious broth made from chicken or beef meat, water, onions, tomatoes, basil, pepper, and other seasonings. The vegetables in pho are usually fresh cilantro sprigs, mint leaves, bean sprouts, and thin slices of tomato.

What is pho?

So what is pho, you ask? Well, it’s probably one of the most well-known dishes in America that doesn’t even have anything to do with Vietnam!

Phở (the name of the dish) comes from the Vietnamese word for soup, which is nuong. Nuông means strong or powerful as in strength of flavor or hunger satiated, depending on whether you are hungry or not. Therefore, phở translates to “strongly flavored broth.”

The term phở actually refers only to the stock base and not the vegetables or meat served with the broth. Some say this is because the other ingredients already taste good when they are cooked down in the broth, thus removing the need to make it more flavorful by serving them separately.

Another theory is that since there is no solid ingredient in phở, people tend to use their own personal preferences to determine how much salt, pepper, fresh herbs, and rice vinegar to add onto theirs, creating a variety of flavors.

Delicious pho ingredients

While some may not agree, there is no definitive proof that chicken or meat-based broth is needed to make authentic pho. Some restaurants do not use any kind of stock at all!

Pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup so most definitely includes noodles in its composition. And while it does sometimes include small pieces of raw beef or chicken mixed into the broth, this is not required for an excellent tasting pho.

The first thing many people notice about pho are the fresh herbs used to flavor the broth. Many variations have dried mint, cilantro, coriander, basil, and/or Thai basil in theirs. But you will almost always find spearmint, periwinkle (aka French green onion aka spring onion), and/or thai basil along with the others.

Another important part of the pho recipe is the fresh rice noodles. These are typically soaked in water before being tossed in the pot to cook where they take shape and taste delicious like the roll-shaped pasta you are probably familiar with.

Finally, the toppings for pho vary from restaurant to restaurant but usually include cucumber, bean sprouts, lime, pepper, and other aromatics such as galangal (similar to ginger) or turmeric.

Tips for eating pho

Now that you are more familiar with pho, you can start experimenting with it!

One of my favorite ways to eat pho is by adding one or two cups of rice along with your choice of meat and vegetables. Add some fresh herbs and sesame oil and you have a new way to enjoy this Vietnamese noodle soup!

You can also add avocado to make it more nutritious. The trick is to use just enough so that the texture does not get too thick-you want it to pour slightly when poured onto the plate.

Popular pho dishes

One of your hard chances to try phở is by trying one of its many popular dishes. Some of these include:

Phở gia - this is typically two or three components, including rice noodles, meat, vegetables, herbs, and sauce. The most well-known version has chicken broth as the liquid and soy sauce as the dipping sauce.

- this is typically two or three components, including rice noodles, meat, vegetables, herbs, and sauce. The most well-known version has chicken broth as the liquid and soy sauce as the dipping sauce. Bún bò lá thai - similar to pasta carbonara, this dish includes thin rice noodles in an eggy cream sauce with pork belly, peanuts, and other garnishings.

similar to pasta carbonara, this dish includes thin rice noodles in an eggy cream sauce with pork belly, peanuts, and other garnishments. Bun cha - This is another classic Vietnamese noodle dish that does not have a specific name but is known for having fresh basil leaves in the soup.

This is another classic Vietnamese noodle dish that does not have a specific name but is known for having fresh basil leaves in the soup. Cho xin nuói (bamboo leaf rice) - this is usually served once a year during the Chinese New Year celebration.

Fun facts about pho

Did you know that in Vietnam, they use bamboo to make some of their classic Vietnamese dishes? The thin slices are then dried and pressed into rice noodles! This is what gives them their shape and thickness.

Another fun fact is that most people add fresh herbs when eating phở or noodle soup, but not all cultures do! That is until very recently when Westernized countries like America got theirs!

Most notably, tú ron (beef brisket) is usually topped with coriander powder and cilantro. For chicken phò, people typically top it with basil and mushroom sauce. For pork bánh xèo, people often mix sweet mango chutney with roasted peanuts and sriracha!

Phở has become quite popular around the world due to its versatility as an edible canvas.

Pho is not rice

Many people get phở, or Vietnamese noodle soup, confused with plain old rice bowls. While there are some soups that are made of rice as a base, most are not!

Phô (the broth in phở) is usually made from chicken or beef bone broths which are then mixed together to form the base for the soup. These liquid components can be seasoned and/or enriched depending on what kind of flavor you want your diner to taste.

Most importantly, however, is the meat used to make the phở. Almost every region has their own style of making noodles and toppings, but all have one thing in common - fresh ingredients.

The meat you use for the phở should be cut into thin strips and should cook down slightly so it may be tasted in the finished product. Some like to call this infused flavor “umami” - the Japanese word for ‘deliciousness’. Others enjoy them because they contain zinc, iron, or protein. It depends on how each individual eats!

Once everything is properly mixed together and cooked, the whole mixture is served up in large shallow dishes or bowls so guests can pour themselves a good amount.