Last September, information spread all over social networks that Chi Pu had opened her first pho restaurant in the Chinese market, specifically in Shanghai. This was one of the singer's first activities in the country of a billion people after participating in the show "Sisters Who Make Waves and Ride the Wind" season 3.
According to the information she shared on social media, the pho restaurant is located in one of the famous neighborhoods in Jing'an District, Shanghai, and is named "La Ganh". In a post, Chi Pu shared: "After many months of preparation, my restaurant is about to open in Shanghai. We are very happy to share the best Northern pho with you." She also introduced the two co-founders of this pho brand, Chengling Zhang and Helen Trinh.
Chi Pu and two co-founders in a series of promotional photos.
Chi Pu’s post received tens of thousands of interactions on social media platforms. Many Vietnamese and Chinese fans simultaneously sent congratulations on the opening as well as expressed their desire to enjoy it in person.
It is known that Pho La Ganh restaurant opened for testing at the end of September and officially opened in mid-October. The restaurant operates throughout the Chinese National Day holiday from September 29 to October 6.
Small, cozy space attracts many diners as well as fans to support.
Chi Pu's pho restaurant is currently in the trial period, so it only serves a combo including beef pho, fried breadsticks, poached eggs, and lotus tea. The pho is served in a tall bowl, with white pho noodles, large slices of beef, and lots of green onions. In addition to fried breadsticks, they also serve poached eggs. Not to mention, the condiment tray is kept original with garlic vinegar, fresh chili, and chili sauce. Another point that is popular with Vietnamese pho enthusiasts is that among many pho restaurants in China serving Southern style pho, Chi Pu's restaurant cooks it Northern style. However, the broth has probably been changed a bit, with a lot of fat added to suit local tastes.
The average price at Chi Pu’s pho restaurant may surprise many Vietnamese people. But with the high cost of living in Shanghai, 200,000 VND for a bowl of pho is completely understandable.
A combo includes beef pho, fried breadsticks, poached egg and lotus tea.
After experiencing it, many diners have given compliments, calling this the most authentic Vietnamese pho restaurant they have ever known. The naturally sweet broth, the moderately chewy noodles and the large amount of meat are the big plus points of the pho bowl at Chi Pu's restaurant.
"The purpose was to go for a walk and happened to pass by so I stopped by Chi Pu's newly opened pho restaurant. The restaurant is in trial operation so they only serve one fixed meal but it's very delicious, the service is lovely, they showed me how to eat and cared to see if it suits my taste," a Chinese customer shared.
When arriving at the restaurant, diners can look at the menu, order and pay by scanning the QR code or using an app on their phone. This method is very popular in restaurants in China. Through many reviews, diners said they were quite impressed with the small but cozy space of the restaurant. From the dining table, diners can observe the cooking area. The staff introduced the broth, which is simmered from beef bones for 6-8 hours, cooked with Vietnamese flavors.
From the dining table, diners can observe the cooking area.
According to customers' posts on Weibo, the restaurant is very crowded, often requiring a wait during peak hours. Many Chinese people rate the bowl of pho as having a lot of meat, the noodles are chewy and soft, and the broth is quite suitable for their taste. Many people expect the restaurant's menu to have more diverse Vietnamese dishes in the near future.
