In the book “Delicious Dishes of Hanoi”, writer Vu Bang carefully and meticulously described pho in a realistic and sophisticated way. Hanoians like to start their morning with a hot bowl of pho. As Vu Bang described, this is a dish that anyone can eat. It is a delicate gift of Hanoi, with great symbolic meaning in a special moment.
When talking about pho in Hanoi, people cannot help but mention pho Tu Lun.
The 80-year journey of a traditional pho brand
When talking about Hanoi pho, one cannot help but mention Pho Tu Lun - a traditional pho brand that has become an indispensable part of the lives of the people here. Pho Tu Lun attracts diners with its rich traditional beef pho flavor and a simple, rustic space that bears the mark of Hanoi.
Located on Hai Ba Trung Street, the restaurant is named Pho Tu Lun - a name associated with the small stature of the first owner. After more than 8 decades, Pho Tu Lun still retains the secret recipe for making pho, passed down from generation to generation. Today, although it has reached the third generation, the restaurant has become a familiar destination for Hanoians and tourists from all over.
After more than 8 decades, Pho Tu Lun still retains the secret recipe for making pho, passed down from generation to generation.
Pho - the quintessence of Hanoi cuisine
As soon as you step onto the sidewalk where the pho restaurant is located, you can already smell the rich aroma of the broth simmered from stewed bones, mixed with the scent of cinnamon and cardamom spreading in the air.
What makes Pho Tu Lun so appealing is the rich flavor of traditional beef pho. Unlike other pho restaurants in Hanoi that usually have clear broth, Pho Tu Lun has a “characteristic” cloudy color, hiding the sweetness of simmered meat and bones.
Pho Tu Lun broth is simmered from beef bones for many hours, combined with secret spices to create a unique flavor, "causing nostalgia" for anyone who has ever enjoyed it. Each drop of hot broth mixed with soft and chewy pho noodles and slices of sweet and tender beef, creating a perfect symphony of flavors, awakening all the senses of diners.
Pho Tu Lun has a "characteristic" opaque color, hiding the sweet taste of stewed meat and bones.
The owner of Pho Tu Lun said that the shop has always kept intact the traditional pho recipe passed down from her grandfather and parents. She pays special attention to the meat selection process, ensuring the freshest quality.
Pho Tu Lun uses two types of beef: rare and well-done. Rare beef is taken from the loin and rump, and after slicing, is lightly pounded to soften and retain its sweetness. Well-done beef is boiled thoroughly and sliced into long, thin pieces.
The beef cooked at Pho Tu Lun reaches the perfect softness but still retains the toughness and uniformity in each fiber of the meat, without being crumbly or mushy. This is the unique point that creates the Pho Tu Lun brand that diners will remember forever.
Pho Tu Lun uses two types of beef: rare and well-done.
Pho Tu Lun restaurant opens from early morning until 7 pm, ready to serve pho addicts anytime, anywhere. The busiest time is early morning, when people start their day with a hot bowl of pho, and late afternoon, when hunger pangs seek solace.
The menu of Pho Tu Lun is simple but extremely “expensive” with three main pho dishes: well done, rare and rare well done. Prices range around 70,000 VND, depending on the customer’s request.
Enjoy a hot bowl of pho at Pho Tu Lun
The highlight that makes diners “miss” is the crispy fried dough sticks served with it. Each golden, crispy fried dough stick, when combined with hot pho, creates an “explosive” symphony of flavors in the mouth that you will never forget.
Pho Tu Lun is not just a dish but also a symbol of meticulousness and carefulness in every step of preparation. Enjoying a hot bowl of pho here, diners will feel the sophistication of Vietnamese culinary culture, along with the love and passion of Pho Tu Lun family for this traditional dish.
Pho Tu Lun restaurant opens from early morning until 7 pm, ready to serve pho addicts anytime, anywhere.
Traditional pho flavor captivates diners
Pho Tu Lun has a small, simple space with rustic wooden tables and chairs. The space is simple but brings diners a feeling of closeness, warmth and typical Hanoi.
For Hanoians, Pho Tu Lun is not just a simple pho restaurant but also preserves childhood memories or peaceful mornings. With the delicious traditional beef pho flavor and a simple, rustic space, Pho Tu Lun has become an unmissable destination for tourists when coming to Hanoi. Coming here, diners can not only enjoy delicious pho but also have the opportunity to experience the unique culinary culture of Hanoians.
Open for many years, the pho restaurant has become a familiar address for many diners.
Having been open for many years, the pho restaurant has become a familiar address for many diners. Ms. Nguyen Thanh Hang (Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi) said she has been eating here for more than 30 years: "Today, I brought my close friend who has been away from Hanoi for a long time back here to eat Pho Tu Lun. The taste of the pho is still the same as before, the broth is rich and the beef is very tender."
Pho Tu Lun is one of the oldest and most famous pho restaurants in Hanoi. After more than 80 years, this small pho restaurant still retains the traditional pho flavor, contributing to enriching the culinary scene of the capital.
Pho Tu Lun is one of the oldest and most famous pho restaurants in Hanoi.
