Pho

Pho is Vietnam's most famous dish. It is a warm, comforting noodle soup with a clear, flavorful broth, soft rice noodles, and thin slices of meat. A plate of fresh herbs, bean sprouts, and lime is served alongside so you can add your own toppings. Pho is eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Vietnam.

How Pho Is Made

The most important part of pho is the broth, which is simmered for many hours. Beef bones, ginger, onions, and spices like star anise and cinnamon are cooked slowly to create a rich, clear broth. Flat rice noodles are cooked separately and placed in a bowl. The hot broth is poured over the noodles and thin slices of raw beef, which cook instantly from the heat of the broth.

Eating Pho

Pho is served with a big plate of fresh toppings. Bean sprouts, Thai basil, cilantro, jalapeño slices, and lime wedges are placed on the table for you to add. Hoisin sauce and sriracha are popular condiments. In Vietnam, people slurp their noodles loudly, which is perfectly polite. Pho is considered a comfort food that warms you up on cold days.

Fun Facts

• Pho broth can take up to 24 hours to make from scratch.
• The word pho is pronounced like "fuh."
• Pho is so popular in Vietnam that there are pho restaurants on almost every street corner.

Did You Know?

Pho was created in northern Vietnam in the early 1900s and may have been influenced by both Chinese and French cooking!