Ms. Ha’s “jogging chicken” pho restaurant is open all day. This is a popular address for people living and working around Vo Chi Cong Street (Hanoi).
Every day, the chicken pho restaurant located on Vo Chi Cong Street (Tay Ho, Hanoi) of Ms. Trinh Thi Thuy Ha sells more than 800 bowls.
This is a familiar address to many people and office workers around the area for the past 10 years. During rush hours in the morning and noon, customers come in and out, and the rows of tables are filled.
Ms. Ha learned the chicken pho craft from her mother. Previously, she sold on Quan Hoa street (Cau Giay, Hanoi) then moved to Vo Chi Cong street. Ms. Ha affirmed that for many years, her family has only used free-range chickens, imported from acquaintances in Tuyen Quang. “This type of chicken has thick, sweet and fragrant meat,” said Ms. Ha.
Ms. Ha chooses chickens that have laid 2-3 batches, weighing 2-3kg. According to the owner, this chicken has thick, sweet meat without being too fatty. On average, the restaurant consumes more than 100 chickens every day.
Whole bones and chicken breasts are simmered for many hours to make broth. “During the simmering process, I have to remove the foam many times so that the water is not cloudy and clear. In addition to the spices such as fish sauce, salt, dried onions, and grilled ginger, I add a few other ingredients that are my own secret. Do not add anise or cinnamon to the broth,” Ms. Ha said.
The kitchen has two large pots of broth, always boiling and emitting steam. Before peak hours, staff will pre-slice and divide the thigh meat, breast, tripe, gizzard… into different trays.
Most of the diners who come to the restaurant are regular customers who have been eating for many years. They are people living and working around the area. Recently, this pho restaurant has appeared a lot on Hanoi culinary groups. The restaurant is rated well for its chicken with firm, sweet meat, crispy skin, and little fat. The price of pho here is 40,000-50,000 VND/bowl, quite generous.
The broth at the restaurant is mostly commented to be palatable but not special. The minus point of this restaurant is that the space is quite narrow, customers have to sit on the sidewalk.
Mr. Khang (Cau Giay, Hanoi), a regular customer of the restaurant, shared: “I often eat here, the bowl of chicken pho is quite filling, the broth is sweet. However, sometimes I have to wait a long time for my turn to eat.” .
Another diner had a mixed opinion that the pho here had a strong MSG flavor. The chicken was tough and the service took a long time, so I won’t be coming back to eat here again.
($1=24,000 VND)
Photo,Video: Internet (Vinlove.net)