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Apr 13, 2017 / 14:42

Delicious Rice noodle soup (Pho) "often hides" in the alley

In Hanoi, there are many nice and beautiful noodle soup restaurants,... on the new streets, but strangely, the delicious ones must be around in the old streets.

There are two to three delicious restaurants of noodle soup in the old streets. But I am sure the restaurants satisfying the "true tasters" must have their own secret, soul, charm and smell.
Foreigner visitors really like Pho.
Foreigner visitors really like Pho.
That is why the noodle soup brand with full of advertisement... is still underestimated to the popular one. Regarding to noodle soup of Mr. Tho from Nam Dinh, who went to Hanoi to settle down before 1954, wandering around one kilometer from Phu Doan street. Noodle soup from street hawkers was imprinted deep into the mind of the old cowboy of Hanoi. This is a dish for people who does not eat it, they enjoy it for the feeling of refreshing taste. At dawn, the burning flame by the street hawkers, the scent of cinnamon leaves spreading away, tantalizing even the people from one street away.
In the middle of the lane in the heart of Hanoi, there is a very small street passing from Au Trieu - Huyen lane to Phu Doan Street, before 1975 it was called Phu Doan Hospital. The street is narrow as lane, winding through the chophouse, grocery and tea shop before turning into the courtyard of the small house beside the cathedral. Next to the centuries-old staircase that leads down the street is the famous restaurant. Pho Oanh No. 3 Tho Xuong street, a normal restaurant but source of living for a family of 3 generations, associated with an once-famous brand- “Phu Doan hospital Restaurant”.
Ms. Oanh, the third generation of “Phu Doan hospital Pho Restaurant” brand diligently holds the large knife to cut the flanks,  tendon masterly without looking at the knife and just moves the knife observing clienteles through the camera system. After putting the noodles in the bowl, she cuts in a pile of meat after placing the crumbled flank in a calm manner. Then she sprinkles a little pepper with provocative aromatic, circling the hand on the bowl as the witch catches the soldiers.
Vietnamese Food Pho, The Best Traditional in Vietnam.
Vietnamese Food Pho, The Best Traditional in Vietnam.
With a loud voice, she always prepares seats for all the clienteles right from the coming time, inside and outside the yard and upstairs. She is so familiar with the clienteles that she can recognize the special taste of each clientele. Sellers and eaters recognize each other, the preferences of each individual tongue are thoroughly favored. Noodle soup with steak, flank, tendon, tripe, and fatty flank... less  or more noodle, clear or fat, less or more soup with or without onions ... The clienteles completely satisfy their own meal.
Right at the place supposed to be the "capital" of beef noodle soup, there are no shortage of famous names, bearing the village's brand like: Co Chieu - Hang Dong, Pho Vuong - Phung Hung, Pho Xep Hang- Bat Dan, Hang Vai, Pho Xich Lo, also known as salty noodles in Gam Cau, and so on. However, middle-aged children of the city must find Pho Oanh as a destination every morning. They also have their own reason. When going to a restaurant in the morning, people will hardly resist to a bowl of traditional Nam Dinh noodle soup with steak. They are still noodles, meat, onions,... everything is just enough, no eggs, not mixed dishes but that makes Pho in Hanoi so delicious.
Is this the reason why  Pho is still a very special dish, and Hanoi is still the true place of Pho in a noble but popular manner. Pho also has soul at whether ups and downs, in whichever corners, it will definitely not fade away...