Pho Vietnamese Soup Is Not Chicken Noodle Soup. It’s better.
I can remember the first time I had pho (pho soup pronunciation is similar to “fuh”). I had recently made a great group of friends and it was my first year of college. We were a group of about six and I was the only non-Asian. I loved trying and eating food from their countries! During my first visit to a Vietnamese restaurant, one of the first things one of my friends told me was, “It’s not chicken noodle soup”.
I have so many fond memories of these cultural food experiences and my friends were (and are) such great people! Also, their food was so different from what I had grown up eating. And, oh my gosh, the food was good.
It was (and is) SO good.
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How Do You Eat Vietnamese Pho Soup?
I didn’t even know how to eat half the dishes I was exposed to at first.
How the heck are you supposed to eat noodles with chopsticks?
Wait, how do you hold chopsticks?
Why is my hand cramping up?
And why does that kid over there at the next table know how to do it and I don’t?
Am I really observing this kid so that I could learn how to hold chopsticks?
What is this ladle here for?
Wait, SCISSORS!?
I was so grateful my friends were with me so I didn’t look totally incompetent in front of all the other people eating at the restaurant.
My First Time Eating Vietnamese Pho Soup
Anyway, back to my first time eating pho.
Again, this is not chicken noodle soup.
I thought to myself…
What’s the big difference?
It’s only soup.
How can it be any different from chicken noodle soup?
I was wrong.
Pho is nothing like chicken noodle soup. The noodles … let me just say they are so much better than the ones you buy to make instant ramen.
They are thin and white and you can stuff so many of them in your mouth at once!
The broth – so good. And you can mix so many different sauces in there to change the taste to your liking!
I like the dark stuff. Not the hot stuff. What is it? Hoisin sauce. Yes, that stuff is good!
Oh! And don’t get me started with the bean sprouts.
Have I mentioned before that I’m all about texture? Such crunchiness. I love crunchy.
Oh, and basil leaves, too? You just pick them apart with your hands and throw them in your soup? Oh gladly.
I love basil.
Mmmmm I love green onions, too.
Can’t forget to squeeze in some lime juice!
Oh, so many flavors!
What Is It
Once again, as my friends informed me, pho is not chicken noodle soup! In fact, pho is Vietnam’s national dish and it is a typical breakfast item (Kansas City Magazine).
Wait … soup for breakfast?
Well, yes. In Costa Rica, where I was born, we eat rice and beans for breakfast. It’s called gallo pinto. It’s not bad. You should try it 😉
Anyway, a typical bowl of pho consists of bone broth, rice noodles (the thin ones – called vermicelli), rib eye beef (thinly sliced), basil leaves, and bean sprouts.
What Utensils You Need to Eat Vietnamese Pho Soup
So, I’ve been to pho restaurants that give you scissors with your order. Can you guess what this is for? I couldn’t at first haha.
The first time I went to a restaurant that gave me scissors, I had already been to several pho restaurants before so I figured placing the scissors right next to me must have been a simple mistake by someone at the front desk.
It wasn’t until I lifted my eyes from my oh-so-delicious food that I noticed other diners had scissors as well and, get this, they were actually using their scissors for their food!
They were using the scissors to CUT the NOODLES!
I thought to myself…
Oh dear me; how brilliant these people are. I’ve never used scissors for chicken noodle soup. This has got to be so much fun!
Remember that white ladle I mentioned earlier? Well, that can be used as a type of spoon. You use it to slurp up the broth when you’re not stuffing noodles down your throat.
And of course – chopsticks.
Hold the chopsticks in one hand and the scissors in the other.
Grab a generous amount of noodles with your chopsticks (that’s how I like to do it … the more you can stuff into your mouth the better … just be careful) and use the scissors to cut these noodles into smaller bite-sized pieces. In my opinion, it’s so much easier than eating spaghetti with a fork and spoon.
Differences Between What Is Made in North Versus South Vietnam
Interestingly, pho that is made and sold in North Vietnam is different from what is made and sold in South Vietnam.
It makes sense, however.
For example, food in the southern part of the USA typically tastes different than the food sold in other parts of the USA.
Take a second to think about barbeque. All you barbeque lovers out there know there is a difference between Kansas City barbeque versus North Carolina style barbeque.
Pho originated in Northern Vietnam. Some may argue that since it originated in the North, it is the true indicator of what pho should taste like (Tuoi Tre News).
The main difference between the two versions of pho is that the North uses flat noodles while the South uses thicker noodles.
Also, the North uses chili sauce, pickled garlic, and spring onions. The South uses herbs, mung bean sprouts, chili, and hoisin sauce (this is how I am used to eating pho).
In addition, pho made in the South is said to be fattier and more flavorful while pho made in the North has a lighter flavor.
Lastly, there are more topping options in the South’s variation.
Ordering at a Traditional Vietnamese Restaurant
So, my dad enjoys eating cultural food just like I do. One day, after I had felt a little more comfortable with how to eat my go-to Vietnamese food, I decided to take him to a local restaurant. Let me tell you this… I did not have my Vietnamese friends with me and I was SO lost. Culturally lost. I literally did not know what to do.
The tables were long and there was no “party for two” seats available for my dad and me.
Eventually, we found a spot where we could sit together.
After ordering our food, my dad and I started our conversation, and a whole family came to sit right next to us. I’m talking as if we had walked into the restaurant together and had been good friends. I thought to myself…
Oh my gosh… they are literally going to be listening in on our conversation!
I didn’t realize that my western mentality had programmed me to think that having your own space for you and your party is not the social norm in other cultures (but now I know).
My Vietnamese friend later explained to me that this is normal in Vietnamese culture. You eat with other people no matter how well you know them or if you know them at all!
We didn’t receive a paycheck once we were done eating. We sat there looking like fools (not really, but this is what I thought in my mind).
After a few awkward moments of sitting around staring at other people eating, we asked for the check and were told we need to walk up to the counter and pay.
I learned later that this is common practice. According to this article I read on LovingPho.com, they do this so that you do not think that they are in a hurry to have you leave their restaurant.
[FYI, if you are interested in pho soup pronunciation and the options you may want to order while at a Vietnamese restaurant, take a look at this very useful page].
Vietnamese Pho Noodle Soup Variations
Normally when you go to a Vietnamese restaurant here in the United States, you can order pho made with beef broth (which is made from beef bone marrow) or chicken broth (made from chicken bone marrow).
In particular, pho made with beef broth is called pho bo while pho made with chicken broth is called pho ga.
Actually, these are some of the types of pho that may be served at a Vietnamese restaurant:
- Pho Bo (Beef Pho)
- Pho Ga (Chicken Pho)
- Pho Ca (Fish Pho)
- Pho Muc (Squid Pho)
- Pho Heo (Pork Pho)
Vietnamese Pho Soup Fusion Food
Have you ever heard of a pho burger? Me neither. That is, until recently.
There is a restaurant in Vietnam called Relish and Sons that sells this. I found the photo here.
According to the picture’s description, the “bun” is made from fried noodles and the beef is slow-cooked with herbs and spices. It’s served with a side of sauces, herbs, and pho soup.
Very intriguing.
And hey! Guess what? Just like former MasterChef Junior, Matthew Smith, you too can make your own pho invention.
Although he used ramen for his variation, his recipe was inspired by his Vietnamese heritage. For example, he used star anise and lemongrass. You can find information on this here.
How You Can Make Pho
There are various pho recipes you can find online. I have found that these are the most common ingredients:
- Onions
- Ginger
- Star Anise
- Cinnamon Sticks
- Cardamom Pods
- Cloves
- Coriander Seeds
- Thinly Sliced Beef
- Sugar
- Salt
- Fish Sauce
- Thin Rice Noodles
- Mung Bean Sprouts
- Thai Basil
- Cilantro
- Lime Wedges
- Red Chili
- Hoisin Sauce
- Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce
Vietnamese Chicken Pho Soup Recipes
Here’s a 30-minute chicken pho soup that’s super easy. It does require an Instant Pot appliance, however. Check it out!
If that recipe does not work for you, take a look at this other Vietnamese chicken pho soup below:
OK, so maybe you don’t have an Instant Pot or maybe you’d rather not see a video.
Here are some other recipes for how to make pho soup:
- Beef Pho Soup by Delightful Plate
- Vietnamese Pho Recipe by Recipe Tin Eats
- Pho by Tastes Better From Scratch
Final Thoughts on Vietnamese Pho Noodle Soup
Vietnamese pho is my favorite soup. Have you tried a pho recipe before? Do you have any recommendations?
