In a bustling city like Ho Chi Minh City that bustles even more at night, places to find food in the wee hours of the morning is never a difficult feat. And Pho Ha, a cosy little pho-focused eatery in District 1 just a short walk from where we stayed, proved to be a solid go-to to satiate our pho cravings from as late (or early) as 1am.

This late-night spot is a bit of an institution in Saigon. Before the arrival of Bitexco tower across the road, the street that Pho Ha sits on used to be packed with late night pho outlets serving Saigon’s later night revellers.

Having been around for the past 20 years, these folks know how to serve up a proper bowl of pho, so skip your McDonald’s and head over to Pho Ha for a delicious late-night bite instead.

Having knocked back a couple of beers, we were hankering for something hot, soupy and comforting, hence, a bowl of beef pho seemed to be the only logical choice.

Meaty and straightforward yet brimming with heady notes of spices—at only 50,000 VND a bowl—there really is no questioning why the locals here can have this every single day.

Delving into unfamiliar territory, we decided to order their Fried Pho with Beef (85,000 VND). The dish resembles that of the crispy noodles we often find in zi char stalls in Singapore with the only exception being that it did not come with much sauce.

Because there wasn’t much sauce to soften the noodles, the noodles did become a hassle to chew through and our jaws ached after a while. The only saving grace to this would be the strips of tender and well-seasoned beef and onions that helped to amplify the dish’s otherwise non-existent flavour.

Pho Ha
19 Hai Trieu, District 1,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: +84 91 394 49 43
Daily: 4pm – 2am

For more recommendations, read our Ho Chi Minh City’s guides to discover the best places to visit in the city.

A popular pit stop among the Vietnamese locals, Nhu Lan Bakery houses several food stalls in one. The establishment functions as a banh mi kiosk, a proper sit-down Vietnamese eatery as well as a delicatessen and meat grocer.

Every morning from as early as 5am, throngs of locals park their scooters right outside the eatery, grabbing themselves a quick bite before going about their day. Curious, and pining for a taste of what locals deem delicious, we decided to pay the humble eatery a visit.

They serve everything under the sun, from tasty, proper bowls of pho bo, to a massive selection of banh mi toppings and even some other local delicacies not commonly found elsewhere.

Outside is where you can get your hands on some freshly-made banh mi. Inside, however, they serve a pretty impressive variety of noodle and rice dishes from the classic pho, dry rice noodles to some pretty interesting, rarely heard of items as well.

Having read so much more about Vietnam’s many varieties of noodle dishes, we decided to wing it with their Rice Noodles with Fried Spring Rolls and Barbecued Pork (40,000 VND).

The dish features a colossal portion of rice noodles along with some pickled vegetables, spring rolls, barbecued pork, ground peanuts and a lime wedge. Like most Vietnamese dishes, it also comes with a platter of fresh herbs.

To get the ultimate combination of flavours and textures, you really have to mix everything together. We went with a dash of fish sauce, lime juice, chillis, garlic, fresh herbs simply torn in and sriracha for ours.

The result? A vibrant and addictive mix of fresh flavours that encompassed sweet, sour, salty and spicy.

Unsure of what else to get, we decided to go with our gut and randomly pointed towards one of the lesser intimidating items on the menu. Thankfully, what was served to us was the Rice with Fried Roast Pork, Braised Pork, Pickled Cabbage & Egg (40,000 VND).

Laced with a tangy, salty kick from the pickled cabbage, coupled with the fresh taste of coriander along with the smoky, meaty taste of the barbecued pork, this was honestly one of the most delightful we had—that isn’t pho.

The flavours reminded us of pig’s organ soup, especially with the heavy emphasis on pickled vegetables to counter the porky taste, just that this was much drier.

Stuffed from edge to edge with thin rice noodles, fresh vegetables and slivers of shrimp, we absolutely couldn’t get enough of their Pork & Shrimp Spring Roll (15,000 VND). The rice paper was a little stiff and tricky to nibble through, but besides that, everything was perfect.

We’re not fully sure what went into the dipping sauce, except that it was a mixture of sweet, tangy, savoury and nutty qualities. Come to think of it, hoisin definitely made up a majority of its flavour.

Nhu Lan Bakery
50 Ham Nghi, Ben Nghé, Quan 1,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: +84 28 3914 1338
Daily: 4am – 11pm
SGD to VND: S$1 : 16981.22 VND (aprox)

For more recommendations, read our Ho Chi Minh City’s guides to discover the best places to visit in the city.

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Hardly anyone can say no to a good bowl of pho, essentially a simple bowl of bone broth with a swirl of rice noodles topped with beef slices, Thai basil leaves, coriander and raw bean sprouts, this bowl spells total comfort—especially so on a cold, rainy day or after a boozy night out. Despite its unclear origins, it can be considered Vietnam’s treasured national dish.

Since the days of the Vietnam War, Pho has spread far and wide across the globe to be enjoyed by many, but there’s definitely something about having it in its home country that makes it so much better than at anywhere else.

CHEAP

Regardless of what kind of dish it is, it is always the cheapest in its land of origin. Being located right at the source means getting fresh ingredients as soon as possible and as cheaply as possible. For as little as 20,000 VND (approx. S$1.20) you can get the cheapest, freshest and tastiest bowl of pho you’ll ever have.

EMOTIONALLY GROUNDING

For most locals, not only is pho breakfast food, but it is also comfort food. There’s something about how the noodles and broth combine in a bowl of pho that grounds you in the moment. It’s the way the locals start every day proper, and it’s the way that it gets you into the groove of this vibrant morning country.

POT MASTERS

It goes without saying that the Vietnamese really know how to make the perfect soup stock. Every chef has their own carefully formulated spice mix using ingredients such as cardamom, fennel, anise, cinnamon, cloves, roasted onions and sliced gingers. They really do take the time to meticulously clean the bones to impart that full body flavour without being overwhelming.

Every bowl of soup is a labour of love — clean, refreshing, savoury and satisfying.

RUSTIC CHARM

There’s something undeniably homey about huddling over a bowl of soup by the roadside at 7am before the sun fully rises and watching the quiet streets come alive. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Cast aside your worries about unclean food and sit in front of a squat table or milk crates with the rest of the locals and immerse yourself in the experience.

STORY IN A BOWL

As the nation’s unofficial national dish, it’s no surprise that Vietnam’s rich history is reflected in this simple bowl of noodles. The two distinctive pho variations came about as a result of Vietnam’s turbulent history — in Hanoi’s variation, pho retains its original traditional rustic purity, while in Saigon’s variation, it is much more colourful and much more polished, very much like the cities themselves.

ZERO WASTE

These street vendors are also proficient in nose-to-tail dining, meaning little to no food waste is generated. All the parts of the animal (usually cow or chicken) are utilised, be it in the broth or as a topping itself. Certain vendors also allow you to pick the particular cut of meat you’d like, making it perfect for the adventurous eaters who’d like to try more unusual cuts of meat.

For more recommendations, read our Ho Chi Minh City guides to discover the best places to visit.

Walking down the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, one might find it a challenge to identify exactly which pho stall is truly the best especially with the sheer amount of street-side stalls, food stands and restaurants selling it.

But perhaps one of the best and most highly recommended pho places in Ho Chi Minh City to visit is Pho Phuong 25 in District 1. Having heard so much praise being sung by both locals and tourists, we did not hesitate to pay this humble corner stall a visit—we were far from disappointed.

For a truly authentic and out-of-this-world beef pho experience when in Ho Chi Minh City, you really have to drop by Pho Phuong 25.

Based on the only menu that was given to us, it seemed that the eatery only had one item on the menu but served with different varieties of beef cuts and offal.

Feeling a mad hankering for all things beef, we opted for the Large Bowl (75,000 VND), a monster-sized bowl that comprised all sorts of beef types from the tender brisket, to semi-rare beef slices and even cartilage and soft tendon as well.

The first thing that hits you—besides how enormous the entire bowl is—is the fragrant scent of beef broth that you just know packs unbeatable flavour. Served alongside it is an entire tray of fresh basil, lime wedges and chilli.

Brimming with an insanely concentrated beef flavour along with a heady back note of warm spices and fresh herb, the broth was pretty clean tasting yet super flavourful. Every component from the rice noodles to the individual beef slices was cooked perfectly and each mouthful was just literal comfort at its best.

Crucial to a bowl of pho bo (otherwise known as beef pho) is the addition of raw garnishes and truly, the experience was elevated tenfold when we tore bits of basil leaves into the mixture along with some lime juice and chilli.

We may not have gotten the real deal when it came down to ordering up a glass of their Vietnamese coffee but the one thing that we can admit to is that it tasted really good. Like drinking a liquified version of Kopiko.

Besides offering tasty bowls of pho, we really liked the overall atmosphere of the eatery. Featuring both indoor and open-air seating, you could easily bask in the aroma of simmering beef broth and freshly plucked herbs surrounding the entire eatery.

And another interesting thing to note if you’re a foodie is that just around the corner nestles one of the most popular street food restaurants in the whole of Ho Chi Minh City—the widely praised Lunch Lady.

Pho Phuoung
25 Hoàng Sa, District 1,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Daily: 6am – 9pm

For more recommendations, read our Ho Chi Minh City’s guides to discover the best places to visit in the city.