Located in the center of Hanoi, the beef noodle shop of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Phuong (71 years old) has surprisingly cheap prices, surprising first-time visitors. At the shop, each bowl of rare or well-done pho costs 25,000 VND. Even, depending on the needs of customers, Mrs. Phuong is still willing to make bowls of pho for 15,000 VND or 18,000 VND.
Mrs. Phuong's pho restaurant has been open for nearly 30 years, located at the beginning of alley 50 Hang Bun (Ba Dinh, Hanoi). The restaurant is small and simple, the pho counter in front of the alley is just a stainless steel table, a pot of broth, a few trays full of meat and onions. Plastic tables and chairs are arranged on both sides of the alley wall.
Ms. Phuong said that the restaurant only sells rare and well-done pho. The current price has only been applied for 2 years. Previously, she used to sell pho for 3,000 VND, then prices escalated, she gradually increased it to 5,000 VND, 8,000 VND, 10,000 VND, 15,000 VND, 20,000 VND. "I took advantage of the small alley space right in front of my house to open the restaurant, so I didn't have to pay rent. Previously, the restaurant mainly served the people in the alley, but later it gradually became more crowded, from office workers to flower and vegetable vendors, street vendors, and motorbike taxi drivers," Ms. Phuong shared.
Most of the customers at the restaurant are regulars, so when they come, they often chat happily with the owner. Ms. Phuong also knows by heart the habits of each customer, who likes less noodles, who likes rare meat, who doesn't eat onions...
"In winter, I sell about 50kg of pho noodles every day, equivalent to more than 200 bowls. In summer, it's a little less, about 40kg of pho noodles. I open the shop at 5:30 a.m. and stop when it's sold out," said Ms. Phuong.
Ms. Phuong said that for nearly 30 years, she has maintained the traditional flavor of pho. The broth is simmered from beef bones for 18-20 hours. This broth also boils 20kg of cooked meat and blanches about 7kg of rare meat. Diners commented that the restaurant's pho broth is light, clear, not too rich or special but delicious.
At 25,000 VND, the beef is still guaranteed to be fresh and delicious. The meat is tender and flavorful. Customers who want to eat more meat can order 35,000 VND, quite full.
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Mrs. Phuong's restaurant serves customers homemade garlic vinegar, chili sauce, fresh chili but does not use lemon or kumquat.
"I display my products here so that everyone who comes can see the quality of the meat. I'm willing to take a small profit rather than give customers poor quality products. They're all regular customers and long-time neighbors," said Ms. Phuong.
Ms. Huong (44 years old, Gia Lam), a street vendor, has been a regular customer of the restaurant for 20 years. She has been eating Mrs. Phuong's pho since it was priced at VND8,000/bowl. "In Hanoi, no one sells beef pho as cheaply as hers. Up to now, street vendors like us still order bowls for VND15,000 or VND18,000. She is very happy to serve. Every day, she asks if we want more or less pho noodles so she can make it for us," Ms. Huong said.
This is not a pho restaurant with a special flavor in Hanoi, but it is a pho restaurant that retains many traditional and rustic features. Here, customers include many classes, but the majority are elderly, middle-aged and workers. They come because the restaurant is familiar, the prices are cheap, the owner is friendly, respectful and loves all customers.
"A bowl of pho here is cheap but warms the stomach and heart," a customer commented.
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