I recommend Pho Gia Truyen Bat Dan for standout soup and quality beef, Pho Thin Lo Duc for creative stir-fried beef and Pho Ga Nguyet for a chicken version. If you’re looking for an exciting local experience, try to get into the quirky Pho Bung Hang Trong, where you can enjoy a lovely bowl of beef pho in someone’s bedroom.

Phở Gà Nguyệt is a popular chicken pho eatery that comes alive after dark. (© Linh Pham/ MICHELIN Guide Vietnam, Michelin)

Pho Bat Dan or Pho Gia Truyen Bat Dan is also a popular name with foreign tourists as it was mentioned in many online newspapers, blogs, vlogs, and even TV shows, channels, etc., as a typical suggestion for the best Pho Hanoi. Most of the tourists were happy with Pho Bat Dan which caused the long line queuing outside the restaurant almost every day. However, when it comes to the local taste, Pho Bat Dan is a familiar topic of argument: some Hanoians say it is good, and some claim that its flavor is extremely normal, not impressive!

When it comes to enjoying a bowl of pho in Hanoi, one simply cannot overlook the century-old treasure nestled at 49 Bat Dan Street as one of the best places to eat in Hanoi. This renowned establishment, featured among must eat restaurants in Hanoi, captures the attention of both locals and tourists alike. Pho 49 Bat Dan tantalizes taste buds with its irresistible flavors, accompanied by perfectly textured noodles and tender beef, creating an unforgettable experience that lingers in the hearts of diners for a lifetime.

No culinary tour of Hanoi is complete without a steaming bowl of pho, and Pho Gia Truyen Bat Dan is where the locals head for the best beef noodle soup in town. Featuring a rich and aromatic broth, with noodles that are simultaneously delicate and chewy, every bowl is a testament to the restaurant’s commitment to tradition. The line leading to this pho haven often spills onto the sidewalk, as eager eaters anticipate their turn to savor what some proclaim to be the zenith of Vietnamese comfort food.

To be perfectly honest, Pho Gia Truyen is not the most welcoming place or the most accommodating. But when you consider the line pouring out into the street and the quick and efficient way they deliver their pho, you’ll quite easily forgive them for those shortcomings. And that’s besides the fact that Pho Gia Truyen, a pho joint loved by locals and frequented by travelers, makes some of the most wonderful and comforting steaming bowls of pho in the Vietnamese capital.

Imagine at 6am in the cold Hanoi winter morning, you walked towards the restaurant, hungry for pho and then you realize there’s about 20 more local Vietnamese having the same idea as you. It’s amazing to see such a long queue so early in the morning and its no surprise that many hailed this place as having the best pho in Vietnam. Pots of delicious broth kept piping hot for the pho ~~ *drools*

Pho Gia Truyen is often hailed as the best place to enjoy traditional phở in Hanoi. This humble eatery has been serving up bowls of steaming, aromatic phở for decades, attracting both locals and tourists. The secret to their success lies in their meticulously prepared broth, which is simmered for hours with bones, meat, and a blend of spices to achieve a rich, flavorful base.

We can be hopeful that other Vietnamese restaurant owners, after witnessing the success of establishments like Gia and Anan Saigon in obtaining their first Michelin star (and the subsequent increase in business), will be encouraged to push their limits and elevate Vietnamese cuisine to the fine dining realm, even if it means charging their customers a bit more.

Locals form a long queue every morning at Pho Gia Truyen, the most famous place in the old quarter for a delicious bowl of Pho Bo. Pho Bo is arguably the most well-known of all Vietnamese soups. It was inspired by French settlers who commonly ate beef, where Vietnamese traditionally preferred pork, chicken, and fish (whilst using cattle as work animals).

Signature dishes: The bowl of pho, a contender for the best lunch in Hanoi, is clear, glistening with an amber color, and steaming hot. The broth is simmered from beef bones for many hours, without using MSG, ensuring a natural sweetness and fragrance of cinnamon, star anise, and grilled ginger. The pho noodles are slightly chewy, soft but not mushy.

When you arrive at this spot, you’ll instantly notice massive cuts of beef hanging like clothing, and several workers are chopping up the freshly cooked beef. What I loved about this place was how nonchalant things were. It was a quick-service restaurant, so after ordering my bowl, I didn’t have time to blink before it was sitting in front of me.

Pho Gia Truyen: No visit to Hanoi is complete without trying its most famous dish: Pho. Pho Gia Truyen is a beloved eatery known for serving some of the best Pho in the city. Located in the Old Quarter, this family-run restaurant offers a rich, aromatic broth, tender beef, and fresh herbs, creating a bowl of Pho that’s truly unforgettable.

Pho Bat Dan, a legendary restaurant in Hanoi with nearly 70 years of history, is a must-visit for any foodie exploring the city. It’s so well-known that you’ll see it featured on Korean, Japanese, and English food shows. The restaurant has a simple, no-frills look from the outside, nestled quietly in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

Another exceptional place to enjoy Pho, and it’s located just a few doors away from the excellent pho restaurant that I’ve just listed above. This pho place is fantastic and very popular with locals and visitors, so be prepared for queues when it’s busy. The broth in this pho is very light, yet packed with aromatics and flavour.

The culinary guide recommends Phở Gia Truyền, located on Bat Dan street, which has numerous hearty options such as phở tái nạm (slices of flank steak), phở tái (round steak) and phở chín (brisket). Visitors should add crispy quẩy (fried dough sticks) and order trứng gà (golden egg yolk) for the ultimate hunger obliterating meal.

Accordings to locals, this family-run eatery serves one of the best Phở bò (beef noodle soup) at breakfast and in the evernings. Locals are willing to line up to order (pay upfront) and pick their own bowls of the noodle soup, knowing that the marvelous beef stock is good to the last drop!. The lines usually move quickly.

Pho is a chicken/beef based broth with rice noodles and thinly cut slices of beef or chicken. This Vietnamese staple is usually eaten for breakfast, but they’re so common now you can find them served all day in Hanoi. For great Pho, head over to Pho Gia Truyen, which is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in the Old Quarter.

Whether you prefer the refined, delicate flavors of Northern pho or the bold, aromatic complexity of Southern pho, one thing is certain: pho represents the heart of Vietnamese cuisine. The next time you find yourself in Vietnam, make sure to indulge in both styles to fully appreciate the diversity of this iconic dish.

If there is one dish you must eat during your trip to Vietnam, it’s a steaming bowl of phở bò. No dish is more synonymous with Vietnamese cuisine than this delicious beef noodle soup. And in Hanoi, the most famous pho bo joint is Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn, or just Pho Gia Truyen as it is typically referred to.

There’s no better way to start the second day of this Hanoi itinerary than with a bowl of pho. It’s a Vietnamese national dish and something you’ll probably be having more than once in Vietnam. Pho is a beloved noodle soup dish that originated in the north but is now popular throughout Vietnam.

Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn was actually the site of my very first bowl of pho in Vietnam!. Trust me when I say it was almost a religious experience. I’m not sure if my judgement was clouded since it was my first bowl, or if it was just THAT good – but this bowl of pho was life-changing.

This is probably the most popular place to get a steaming bowl of beef pho in Hanoi. I had high expectations for this place, which is probably why I enjoy Pho Thin better. But Gia Tuyen is absolutely a place you should go at least once to enjoy a solid, traditional bowl of pho.

One of the most famous pho spots in Hanoi, Phở Gia Truyền Bát Đàn is a place where you’ll often find locals queuing up for a bowl of their legendary pho. Known for its rich, aromatic broth and tender slices of beef, this no-frills eatery is a must-visit for any pho lover.

To experience the real Hanoi culture of pho, this is a definite go-to place. Gia Pho Bat Dan has one of the best broths at a reasonable price in Vietnam. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you could stay there or come back for its signature pho throughout your trip.

Largely regarded by the locals as the best pho in Hanoi, Pho Gia Truyen Bat Dan is always crowded. It starts selling very early in the morning—around 6am—and sell out quite quickly as well. As such, it’s advised to get there before 9am so as not to be disappointed.

We tried a few different places for pho in Hanoi, as one naturally does, but this spot had us coming back again and again. It is easily one of the best restaurants in Hanoi. Beef pho is the only item on the menu here, which is usually a sign that a place is good.

In the north of Vietnam, Pho is much more of a heartier dish than in the south. For me personally, I much prefer the lighter, fresher Pho of the south. But if you’re after a good Pho in Hanoi, our favourite is Pho Gia Truyen.

The food here is cheap, reliable and it’s busy almost every day. The place is very popular with the Vietnamese locals, and the tourists have caught on as well. The broth is clear, light and served with lots of tender beef.

At Pho Gia Truyen, you’ll notice a large slab of beef hanging in the kitchen, which the chefs skillfully slice into 3 different cuts for pho: flank steak, round steak, and brisket.

Banh Mi: Vietnamese baguette sandwiches filled with various meats, pâté, vegetables, and sauces. Some of the best places to try Banh Mi are Banh Mi 25 and Banh Mi Pho Hue.

There you can savor the delicious Pho Bo (beef noodle soup) at Pho Gia Truyen, which is renowned for its rich and aromatic broth.

I, however, decided to head to Pho Gia Truyen Bat Dan again, for some steaming Pho and explore more of the city!