Hanoi stone bowl pho sounds so intriguing, let's try it right away!

Pho stone bowl brings interesting culinary experiences when allowing diners to enjoy in a hot stone bowl at 300 degrees Celsius, dipping pho noodles, meat, eggs... as they like.

View attachment 454
Photo: Nhật Minh

The name pho stone bowl is probably no longer unfamiliar to diners in Hanoi. Mr. Nguyễn Duy Đức (35 years old, Ba Đình) shared that he was impressed with the experience of eating pho in a stone bowl because he could adjust the doneness of the meat to his personal preference: “I usually order rare meat and adjust the cooking time to achieve the tenderness and aroma of the meat,” Mr. Đức said.
A bowl of pho stone bowl will include pho noodles, herbs, onions, rare and cooked meat, brisket, fatty meat... along with chili, lemon, dessert and a hot stone bowl. Chu Phương Linh, the owner of a pho restaurant on Thai Thinh street (Đống Đa, Hanoi), initially worried that regular pho bowls would not retain heat for long, especially in winter.
View attachment 455
Photo: Nhật Minh

The owner revealed that she took inspiration from Korean cuisine, seeing that Koreans often use stone bowls to keep food warm, so she decided to make pho stone bowl. The stone bowls are imported from Bình Định, wrapped in aluminum on the outside to prevent cracking and to be more durable when continuously exposed to high temperatures.
When diners order the dish, the cook pours the broth into the stone bowls and heats it on the stove for 7 minutes, reaching about 200 - 300 degrees Celsius. The boiling broth in the stone bowl will drop to about 100 degrees Celsius when served at the table, just enough for diners to cook and enjoy.
View attachment 456
Photo: Nhật Minh

“Usually, beef bones need to be simmered for 10 - 12 hours to extract all the nutrients. But I always have to monitor the pot during the simmering time; if the heat is too high, the broth will have a strong beef smell,” Ms. Linh added.
The process of adjusting the pho stone bowl broth also requires more meticulousness because when adding water to the stone bowl, it goes through another cooking process, which may cause the broth to taste saltier when boiling. The broth is simmered completely from beef bones, star anise, cinnamon, cardamom, and rock sugar to achieve a sweet taste.

View attachment 468
Photo: Nhật Minh

Regarding the pho noodles, Ms. Linh's restaurant uses hand-rolled fresh pho that is not dried and contains no preservatives. This type of noodle has the right chewiness so that when dropped into boiling water, it does not break and still remains soft.

View attachment 469
Photo: Nhật Minh
The beef must be chosen to have bright red color and is imported daily.

View attachment 470
Photo: Nhật Minh

Diners can enjoy this dish in two ways. The first way is to drop vegetables, meat, and pho all at once into the boiling stone bowl, waiting until it's cooked and then enjoying it like ordinary pho.
The second way is for those who prefer their meat slightly rare. Diners will place the pho and vegetables in afterward, and then eat the meat as it's cooked, similar to having a hot pot. This way, customers can adjust the doneness and tenderness of the meat to their taste. After adding food to the stone bowl, just wait for 5 - 7 seconds, and diners can enjoy it.
In addition to traditional beef pho, some pho stone bowl restaurants in Hanoi also serve Wagyu beef, oxtail, beef tendons, or goat meat... A portion ranges from 50,000 to 90,000 VND.

The information is sourced from: https://dulich.laodong.vn/am-thuc/t...oi-sung-suc-khach-tu-nau-tai-ban-1257138.html

PRICE AND LOCATION​

What is the price of pho stone bowl?​

Compared to traditional pho types, pho stone bowl has a higher price. On average, one serving will cost between 60,000 - 100,000 VND/bowl. The price is higher than traditional pho, averaging from 20,000 - 25,000 VND or even more.

At first glance, the price may seem quite high, but from the first taste, you will realize that the price for enjoying a quality bowl of pho like this is completely worth it.

Best places to eat pho stone bowl beef in Hanoi today​

How much is pho stone bowl in Hanoi and where is the best place to eat? If you are interested and want to enjoy the taste of Hanoi's pho stone bowl, you definitely can't miss the following places.

Pho stone bowl - Delicious and unique dish

1. Pho stone bowl Hùng Vương – the best pho stone bowl in Hanoi​

• Address: 37 Hùng Vương, Điện Bàn, Ba Đình, Hanoi.
• Price: 60,000 - 70,000 VND

When visiting this stone bowl pho address in Hanoi, 100% of diners agree to give a score of 10/10. This is also the top destination for both domestic and foreign tourists who want to enjoy a highlight dish of Vietnamese cuisine. In fact, 37A Hùng Vương is one of the first stone pho shops. Until now, it still retains the ancient traditional flavor that has made Hanoi's name.

View attachment 458 Pho stone bowl at 37A Hùng Vương

2. Pho stone bowl Viet Hung urban area​

• Address: A5 - BT07, Viet Hung urban area, Long Bien, Hanoi.
• Price: 70,000 - 90,000 VND

The reason that pho stone bowl is so attractive is due to its ability to retain heat for a long time. You will be able to personally put the beef into the bowl and adjust the spices to your liking. Add a little chili sauce, lemon, fish sauce, and wait for 3 minutes, and you will have an aromatic bowl of pho.

View attachment 459 The restaurant has a spacious front

3. MAISON - Famous pho stone bowl in Hanoi​

• Address: 36A Hoàng Cầu, Đống Đa, Hanoi.
• Price: 65,000 - 70,000 VND

MAISON restaurant has long been famous for traditional dishes, including Hanoi stone pho. The pho in the bowl is kept at a temperature of 300 degrees Celsius. When adding meat, it still retains its translucent, sweet flavor without being greasy. Each slice of meat is tender and delicious, harmonizing with the spices that will make you unforgettable. This Hoàng Cầu stone bowl pho shop is also a familiar choice for many food enthusiasts.

4. Pho stone bowl Thai Thinh​

• Address: 98 Thái Thịnh Street, Nga Tư Sở, Đống Đa, Hanoi
• Price: 80,000 - 100,000 VND

The restaurant has a clean and beautiful space, delicious pho with an attractive clear broth, although the serving quality has not improved much, the food is quite tasty, suitable to many tastes.

View attachment 460 The store specializes in pho at 47 Hùng Vương

5. Pho stone bowl Võ Chí Công​

• Address: 16 Võ Chí Công Street, Hanoi
• Price: 60,000 - 70,000 VND

Another location worth noting for enthusiasts of pho. The restaurant has a unique pho recipe with a special broth flavor and a clear broth that is not sweet from monosodium glutamate.

View attachment 461 Spacious restaurant on Võ Chí Công street

6. Pho stone bowl Nguyễn Văn Lộc​

• Address: 16LK6D - C17, Nguyễn Văn Lộc Street, Vietnam-Europe Village, Hà Đông, Hanoi
• Price: 100,000 - 120,000 VND

7. Pho stone bowl Bát Đàn​

• Address: Triều Khúc, Thanh Xuân, Hanoi
• Price: 75,000 - 90,000 VND

The restaurant has a relatively small and narrow space but the employees and the owner are quite enthusiastic. Moreover, the pho has a fragrant taste that stimulates the palate, a bowl of pho has all the necessary ingredients, with thickly sliced meat that is satisfying and definitely worth a try.

View attachment 462 Well-presented dish attracts customers

8. Pho Bát Đá Mỹ Đình​

• Address: 16 Lê Đức Thọ Street, Mỹ Đình, Cầu Giấy, Hanoi
• Price: 80,000 - 100,000 VND

Not only the central area has these specialties. You can also visit pho stone bowl shops in Cầu Giấy or the new urban area in Mỹ Đình, which also has specialized pho shops with relatively affordable prices compared to the general market. The restaurant has a clean space and the food is rated quite delicious.

9. Pho stone bowl Song Khánh​

• Address: 98 Thái Thịnh Street, Nga Tư Sở, Đống Đa, Hanoi
• Price: 60,000 - 70,000 VND

The pho of this restaurant has a slightly strong taste at first but when you eat the second spoon, you feel the light and characteristic taste, the clear broth with super attractive accompanying ingredients.

View attachment 463 Delicious dish in the style of Hanoi

10. Pho stone bowl Linh Đàm​

• Address: 03 TT1A Bằng Liệt Street, new urban area Tây Nam Hồ Linh Đàm, Hoàng Liệt Ward, Hoàng Mai District, Hanoi
• Price: 70,000 - 90,000 VND

The restaurant cooks according to a traditional pho recipe with super delicious flavor, always attracting a large number of diners due to its unique taste that is not common like other pho shops.

11. Goat pho stone bowl in Hanoi​

• Address: 75 Đại Cồ Việt, Lê Đại Hành, Hai Bà Trưng, Hanoi
• Price: 80,000 - 150,000 VND

The restaurant specializes in goat pho with a unique recipe; the goat meat is carefully processed so it doesn't smell at all. Additionally, the broth is clear and sweet, and the goat meat is extremely tender.

12. Pho stone bowl Lê Đức Thọ​

• Address: 16 Lê Đức Thọ Street, Mỹ Đình, Cầu Giấy, Hanoi
• Price: 90,000 - 130,000 VND

Although the prices at the restaurant are somewhat higher than average, the richness is worth it. Moreover, the pho's aroma and tenderness, with its super delicious broth, will leave everyone addicted after the first taste.

HOW TO MAKE DELICIOUS PHO STONE BOWL PROPERLY​

Basic ingredients to cook pho stone bowl​

• Beef shank bones
• Fresh pho noodles
• Oxtail, beef shank
• Shallots, onions, basil
• Coriander, herbs, scallions, bean sprouts
• Star anise, cinnamon, fresh ginger, coriander seeds
• Fish sauce, sugar, black pepper, seasoning, lemon, chili…

Steps to perform​

Step 1: Prepare the bought ingredients as above​

• First, for the bought oxtail, soak it in diluted salt water for 2 hours to remove impurities. Next, wash it and cut it into small pieces.
• The beef shank bones should be thoroughly washed and parboiled in boiling water for about 5 minutes to release all impurities. After that, remove the bones, wash them and cut them into 10 cm pieces.
• Toast star anise, coriander seeds, and cinnamon in a pan until fragrant and place them in a sealed cloth bag.

View attachment 464 Toast fragrant star anise and put it into a bag

• Roast the onions, shallots, and ginger until fragrant, scraping off the black outer skin. Then pound the shallots and ginger, and cut the onion into 4 pieces.
• The beef should be washed thoroughly, soaked in ginger water for about 15 minutes, then removed to drain and thinly slice.
• Bean sprouts and other herbs should be picked to remove the wilted parts, washed thoroughly, soaked in salt water for 15 minutes, then drained.

Step 2: Cook a rich broth for the pho​

• The pot used to cook pho should be cleaned, filled with water, and then place a stone base on top. Next, put the prepared beef bones into the bone basket and place the basket in the pot. You can add more water to fully submerge the bones. The proper ratio of bones and water is 3: 7 for naturally sweet broth.
• After that, connect the pho pot to the power source, turn on the circuit breaker and adjust the temperature knob to the highest level to boil the water quickly.
• After about 30 – 45 minutes, when you see the water in the pot boiling, reduce the heating element of the pho pot. Or reduce the temperature so that the water in the pot simmers gently. At this point, skim all the impurities off with a ladle, and open the cover to release steam to keep the broth always fragrant and clear.

View attachment 465 Simmering bones to make pho broth

• After simmering the bones for 3 – 4 hours, add the oxtail and the star anise and coriander cloth bag to simmer together. You should keep the oxtail separate to avoid mixing with the bones, which makes it difficult to retrieve when finished. Simmer the oxtail and bones for another hour, then remove the basket containing the bones and oxtail.
• You can either pour the broth into a smaller pho pot or leave it in the original pot. Proceed to season the broth to your liking and keep it simmering gently.

Step 3: Complete the cooking process​

You heat the stone bowl in an oven at 200 degrees for 5 minutes and then take it out. During this process, make sure to use heat-resistant gloves to avoid burns. You ladle the cooked pho broth into the bowl, then place the stone bowl back on the gas stove to boil the broth. You arrange fresh pho noodles, fresh herbs, bean sprouts, thinly sliced beef, tender oxtail, lemon, and chili on a plate. Thus, the pho stone bowl is ready to be enjoyed.

View attachment 466 Completing the delicious Hanoi beef pho stone bowl

To enjoy this dish, you should squeeze a few drops of lemon juice into the broth. Add pho noodles, oxtail, beef, bean sprouts, and fresh herbs. The boiling pho broth will cook the beef to a slightly rare and more fragrant state.

View attachment 467 Enjoying pho stone bowl the right way

We hope that with the above information about pho beef stone bowl, you will be able to cook and enjoy this unique dish. Thank you for your interest and following this article, please share your experience in the comment section below!