Recently, I'd spent some time vacationing in Hanoi, Vietnam, and though we had arrived at the near end of the monsoon season (the city even suffered a flood a week before the trip), oddly enough, my constant state during my time there was often in scorching conditions. The ever dusty streets, constant honking noises from horrible traffic, and stale hot air were mercilessly upon us the moment we stepped out of our hotel every day, even during the nights. That being said, as removed as we were from our regular comfort zones, it did not deter me and my fellow foodies to brave the odds and embrace many of the city's offerings of exotic street food.
Being a quintessential identity to Hanoian cuisine, one of our main priorities on the must-try list of street food was Pho (phở). Pronounced as "fer", to those unfamiliar with what Pho actually is - it is a lovely dish consisting of a good chicken soup or beef broth, a handful of rice flour noodles, with Asian herbs and greens like coriander, and bean sprouts, and to top it off, pieces of delicately thin slices of beef (or chicken depending on the soup base)
Being our first time in the country, and having done only minimal pre-travel reading about the capital, we decide to get local knowledge as to where we could find the best Pho in the city, and sought the generous help of our hotel manager, who thankfully spoke English that was fairly fluent.
According to him, the best local Pho was located in the heart of the Old Quarter where most of their good eateries were located. Oddly enough, he could not remember the name of the place, but he knew the exact address. So with that, we tried our luck to go in the later hours of the lunch period, but apparently their business was so good that they were already closed and we were told to come back at 6pm for their dinner service.
Fast forward to the evening and by that time we were starving for some seriously good Pho. After a long walk that got this travel weary foodie thinking that this quest was almost like a pilgrimage for holy Pho, we finally reached our destination - 49 Bat Dan St, otherwise known as Pho Gia Truyen.
To our delight and dismay, there was a huge crowd of people already there, lining up for their share of beefy goodness in a bowl. As one can see, even though the state of the establishment was far from inviting and comfy, the power of the mighty Pho spoke for itself.
We quickly staked out a table just outside the entrance and settled down while the other half of our travelling foodies got in line. Whether it was the street or uneven length of the legs, our kiddy table was tilted toward one end so we had to be extra careful with our food. Being that conditions were so unfavourable for any amateur photographer, I hope readers can excuse the quality of these pictures. So without further ado, I bring you beef Pho done two ways.
THE RAVE OF THE DAY:
Phở - Tai (Rare) / Chin (Well done)
As I felt myself perspiring faster than I could replenish my water intake, I tried a little soup with certain caution, thankful that it was not very oily. The taste of the soup itself was very "clean" and "pure", the flavour was distinctly and authentically a true Asian beef broth, combined with it's herbs and vegetables, made this a joy to savour despite the torrid heat of Hanoi.
The smooth and silken noodles are absolutely delightful and the beef itself is tender. One can easily see that the meat of the rare ones are slightly more pink than the ones that are well done. Another detail to add is that because the meat of each individual slice is cut very finely, one need not fear of having a piece of overly tough beef that would promptly tire one's jaw and ruin the rest of the dish.
For the adventurous lot, you can enhance and customise your Pho by squeezing a hint of citrusy lime, adding a touch (or a big spoonful) of Chinese chili sauce, and tossing in a few fresh mint leaves to provide some extra zing that lifts the flavours and really bring it to another level. The combination of salty, sweet, sour and minty goodness can all be tailored to suit one's personal taste buds.
After our Pho was done, we ended off our dinner with a simple bottle of icy cold and sweet Coke to quench the heat before we set off to discover more of Hanoi.
Overall, I have to admit that it was worth the effort, discomfort and the heat to get a taste of this Pho. No kidding folks, that's how good it was. So if you're not afraid of a little hot weather or sitting on kiddie chairs and tables out in the open, don't forget to drop by 49 Bat Dan street and give this a good go if ever you find yourself in the norther parts of Vietnam, somewhere along Old Quarter.
