Where to Get the Best Pho in Hanoi

This restaurant serves only beef pho, offering 10 different combinations to choose from. The beef is fresh, and the broth is clear, light and delicately seasoned. Both deliver a rich, savory depth of flavor. The brisket with flank is thinly sliced, tender and enriched by the flavor of its fat, while the beef fillet offers a more elastic texture with a hint of juiciness. You can choose your preferred cut or try different combinations to experience the full range.

Despite its recent facelift, this shop remains packed with loyal local diners — and the reason is simple: its excellent chicken pho. The menu offers a wide range of toppings, from white and dark meat to various chicken offal. The Đặc Biệt bowl is generously loaded with tender chicken slices, gizzard, young eggs and other offal, all meticulously cleaned and free of any strong odor. The clear broth, simmered daily from whole chickens, is fragrant and naturally sweet, simply seasoned and lifted with scallions and lemon leaves. Soft, smooth noodles complete the bowl. Open from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., this joint is a favorite for both breakfast and lunch.

Tucked away with no visible signage, this shop serves only phở bò — yet it is truly exceptional. Each bowl features raw minced beef, tender flank and tendon gently cooked in a rich beef bone broth, accompanied by rice noodles, scallions and onions. The raw minced beef cooks in the hot soup, creating a juicy, flavorful bite. The shop’s simplicity is part of its charm — its name appears only on staff uniforms, letting the flavors and craft speak for themselves.

This small shop specializes in phở gà. At the entrance, you can watch staff prepare the chicken and assemble each bowl. While prices are slightly higher than average, the chicken is freshly prepared daily and of excellent quality, and the broth delivers a rich, natural chicken flavor. Diners can choose white meat, dark meat or a mix of both; the meat is firm and succulent. The flat rice noodles are smooth, while chopped green onions and coriander add aromatic depth. Arrive early for the best selection of chicken cuts, as the shop closes at 2 p.m.

If you’re a morning person, this beef pho spot is for you. It opens for only a few hours each day, usually from 5:30 a.m. until midmorning, when the beef cuts and broth sell out — so arrive early. Because of the short hours, quantities are limited, and the beef stock is made in-house daily, ensuring exceptional freshness. There are more than 10 different beef cuts to choose from. The signature heel muscle is cooked just right when served, slightly pink, soft and tender, with a pleasant contrast from the tendon’s gelatinous bite. The fatty flank is rich and buttery. For the full local experience, try your pho with eggs and fried dough.

Opened in 2009, this chicken pho shop has become a favorite among diners. Whether dining in or taking away, it’s consistently busy. The menu features a wide range of chicken cuts, including breast, thigh, wings and even offal. The tender chicken thigh is especially recommended and works well in both soup and dry noodles. Diners can also mix and match cuts, such as pairing thighs with wings or wings with chicken back. Open until midnight, it’s a popular late-night stop.

Khôi Hói, meaning “Bald Head,” takes its name from the owner’s hairstyle. With only one branch, this shop has built a strong reputation in Hanoi over more than a decade. Seating inside is limited, with small stools densely packed outside the entrance. Customers stream in continuously, and lines are inevitable during peak hours. The broth is simmered fresh at the entrance and delivers a rich, aromatic flavor, blending spices such as ginger, cinnamon and shallots. Sliced white onions and scallions are added, creating a deeply savory broth. The menu offers a variety of beef cuts, including rarer options such as shank, and customers can specify their preferred level of doneness.