A Vietnamese restaurant in Seoul, South Korea welcomes many Korean diners and international tourists - Photo: YC
At Vietnamese pho restaurants in Korea, it is easy to see that the way of cooking and serving is not exactly the same as in their home country, this adjustment is to adjust to the taste of Koreans. However, the current trend is gradually changing...
Vietnamese Pho "popular" in Korea
Ms. Yen, owner of Pho Choen restaurant (Seoul) - said that many Koreans are not used to the strong smell of cardamom, cinnamon, and star anise like Vietnamese people, so to suit a lighter taste, the pho broth at the restaurant is adjusted to have a light taste, with less strong smell of spices.
Despite the adjustments, the flavor of pho still retains 90% of the original Vietnamese pho in Vietnam. Recently, a large number of Korean diners have sought out pho restaurants that retain the authentic Vietnamese flavor, the aroma of beef, fish sauce and coriander.
Usually, pho restaurants serve side dishes such as pickled onions, pickled radish, and some even kimchi, but more and more pho restaurants are starting to serve herbs.
"This proves that not only are variations of pho popular, but pure Vietnamese pho restaurants also have their own place.
I think this is the result of the vibrant tourism between the two countries. Many Koreans come to Vietnam to travel and study, and they learn the original taste and become fond of Vietnamese pho," Ms. Yen shared.
Pho Choen restaurant not only attracts the Vietnamese community but also many Korean and international guests to enjoy, because of the sophistication and uniqueness in each flavor.
Running a Vietnamese restaurant business that is quite successful in Korea and also using pho as the main dish to develop the system, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tuyen - owner of Pho Khoe restaurant in Seoul, said that pho has become a part of the dining culture of many Koreans, from office workers to students.
Koreans usually eat pho without herbs and because it is spicy, spicy pho is very popular.
"Koreans love to eat a lot of bean sprouts. The way to cook the soup is similar to Vietnamese broth, such as stewing bones. The beef must be soft and thinly sliced. The only difference is the noodles.
They also like the strong taste but not without the strong taste of fish sauce. Many customers also like spicy food and add a little lemon and bean sprouts to their pho bowl," Mr. Tuyen added.
A bowl of Vietnamese pho at a Vietnamese restaurant in Korea with lemon and herbs - Photo: YC
According to pho restaurant owners, although the flavors of pho in Korea are quite diverse, the restaurants all have in common the use of ingredients such as fish sauce and some other spices imported from Vietnam to keep the flavor of the dish as close to the original as possible.
"The only regret is that because the main source of raw materials is frozen bones, the flavor of pho broth in Korea cannot be as clear as in Vietnam," Ms. Yen shared.
Vietnamese - Korean culinary exchange
Mr. Duong Duc Huan, head chef of the Majestic Hotel, a member of Saigontourist Group, said that when introducing Vietnamese pho at the Vietnam Pho Festival in Korea 2024, the hotel will introduce four different pho dishes.
In addition to two excellent pho dishes, which are favored by many Korean tourists staying at the hotel, namely rare beef rib pho and chicken pho, the group also prepared spicy crab pho and two-bowl pho (Gia Lai dry pho).
"We learned that Koreans like spicy food and our variation of spicy crab noodle soup promises to be well received.
Even the chili sauce served with it, we also have a "multi-level spicy" version, like the Korean way of eating. These flavors are made with typical pho noodles, so they still retain the unique characteristics of Vietnamese cuisine," Mr. Huan expressed.
Majestic Hotel will "please" Korean guests at Vietnam Pho Festival with variations of pho dishes - Photo: QUANG DINH
According to business people, one of the reasons why Vietnamese pho is gradually becoming popular in Korea is the diversity in Korean eating habits.
Not only enjoying pho for lunch and dinner, many Koreans consider pho as a hangover soup. After a drinking session, a hot bowl of pho helps drinkers feel the comfort and coolness in each noodle, helping them recover quickly.
Currently, the Vietnamese community in Korea is 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, not only stopping at the Vietnamese community, pho gradually becomes a part of the cultural discovery journey of Korean people, especially those who have had the opportunity to visit Vietnam.
Mr. Nguyen Dinh Dung, Counselor of the Vietnamese Embassy in Korea, emphasized: "Developing pho restaurants in Korea is not only a business activity, but also a cultural bridge to help people of the two countries understand each other better.
This is why cultural events like the Vietnam Pho Festival will play a part in promoting the bond and understanding between the two countries through this traditional dish.
Pho is not just a dish, but also a bridge that brings people of the two countries closer together, thereby bringing values of love, culture and unforgettable memories in the hearts of every diner."
Vietnam Pho Festival 2024 in Seoul, Korea will take place on October 5 and 6, 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 Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.
The program is supported by the Embassy of Vietnam in Seoul (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), the Trade Promotion Agency (Ministry of Industry and Trade), the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City, the Association of Vietnamese in Korea, and the Association of Vietnamese Enterprises in Korea.
After the first successful event in Tokyo, Japan, Vietnam Pho Festival 2024 chose Korea as the next destination on its journey to promote Vietnamese cuisine internationally.
The program will be launched in July 2024 with many rich and attractive contents. The highlight of Vietnam Pho Festival 2024 will be the Vietnamese Pho Festival taking place over two days with a scale of about 70 booths, including more than 30 pho booths and cuisine of many famous and long-standing pho brands from Vietnam.
The festival also dedicates space to introduce pho as well as its characteristics, a series of exchange activities between Vietnamese and Korean cuisine...
Within the framework of the festival, there is also a business matching activity, creating opportunities for Vietnamese businesses operating in the food, foodstuff, and culinary sectors to participate in direct trade connections with Korean import-export businesses.
Vietnam Pho Festival 2024 also receives support from the Department of Cultural Diplomacy and UNESCO, the Department of Northeast Asia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnam - Korea Friendship Association, the Korea - Southeast Asia Economic Cooperation Association (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea), the Korean Cuisine 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
Comment (0)