For chicken pho, Pho Tien and Pho Nguyet are the top recommendations. For beef pho, Hang Vai Street is a prime destination with two eateries, Pho Lam and Pho Khoi Hoi.
1. Pho Tien
Location: 103 Nguyen Truong To Street, Ba Dinh Ward
Pho Tien has been included in the Michelin Selected list three times: 2023, 2025 and 2026. The chicken pho eatery has a spacious dining area and free parking.
Michelin praises its soft noodles, and recommends trying the offal options, such as unlaid eggs and intestine, and to pair their meal with the fried dough sticks.
A bowl of pho at Pho Tien is topped with a generous amount of chicken. Photo by Ngoi Sao |
Pho Tien specializes in chicken, with options to order it with pho, vermicelli, or glass noodles. A bowl costs around VND60,000 ($2.30) on average. The draw at this eatery is in its firm meat, crunchy skin, and sweet broth. The chicken thigh pho is the shop’s bestseller and tends to sell out early.
2. Pho Nguyet
Location: 5B Phu Doan Street, Hoan Kiem Ward
Open since 2009, Pho Nguyet has become a familiar address for chicken pho lovers. The Michelin Guide has recognized it in the Bib Gourmand category every year since 2023. The list honors restaurants serving delicious food at affordable prices.
Bowls here are generously filled. The broth is clear and fragrant, with a natural sweetness, and the chicken is firm rather than crumbly.
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Diners can customize their pho by adding condiments like chili sauce and lime juice. Photo by Ngoi Sao |
Since becoming a tourist draw, the shop has extended its hours, serving from 6:30 a.m. until late or until it sells out.
Customers can choose their cut from breast, back, thigh, and wing at prices ranging from VND55,000 to VND90,000 ($2.10 to $3.40) per bowl. Alongside the soup, the mixed dry noodle dishes have also become crowd favorites.
3. Pho Lam
Location: 48 Hang Vai Street, Hoan Kiem Ward
This year, Pho Bo Lam continues to feature on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list. The 30-year-old shop is famous for its pho loi bo (beef shank), a cut of meat known for its crunchy texture that never turns tough. The noodles here are narrow and thick, and have a chewy texture without turning mushy.
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A rare and premium cut, the beef shank is the shop’s bestseller. Photo courtesy of Instagram/yourtastemate |
Pho Lam opens only in the morning from around 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Weekends are usually crowded. A bowl here costs around VND60,000 ($2.30), and depends on the topping.
4. Pho Khoi Hoi
Location: 50 Hang Vai Street, Hoan Kiem Ward
Pho Khoi Hoi (Bald Khoi) has been open since 1992 and earned a place on Michelin’s Bib Gourmand in 2024. The shop is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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The pho at Pho Khoi Hoi is praised for its size and plenty of scallions. Photo by Ngoi Sao |
Tendon and brisket are the two cuts that keep customers coming back. The brisket is slow cooked for three hours, while the broth is simmered from bones for a full 20 hours.
Offering cuts from well-done, brisket to shank, most bowls cost between VND40,000 and VND90,000 ($1.50 to $3.40) depending on the amount of toppings.
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