Pho (or more precisely phở) is the quintessential Vietnamese noodle soup that you can find everywhere in Ho Chi Minh City (and now even outside Vietnam). I am dedicating a review to Pho Tau Bay because it has been one of the best I ever had in Vietnam.
Pho Tau Bay literally means “airplane pho” and there is a backstory. The restaurant was originally named as Pho Nhan (after the owner’s name), however, Mr.m Nhan was always wearing a pilot hat back then, hence, people started to call him tau bay (airplane). Soon it became the official name of the joint. I also found evidence that back in the day in Saigon mthere was a small chain of Vietnamese restaurants called with the same name. Difficult to say which came first.
The visit
I went to district 10 using Grabcar. It was a 20-minute ride from district 1 with normal traffic. The restaurant occupies a classic commercial space on the ground floor of a residential building with metal stools. At the address there area actually two separate restaurants with the same name. Apparently they all originated from Mr Nhan’s family. The one that I went had the staff wearing yellow shirts. The other one has red shirts and the pho is a bit different.
Ingredients were neatly arranged on the kitchen table next to the entrance. Everything was really tidy and in a restaurant this is a good sign.
Here’s my bowl. They have pho with beef (pho bo). The beef slices were quite line and they also add some minced beef on top. I have not seen doing this in any other joint, it must be their signature touch.
On the table I was also provided with the usual “add-ons”: lime, chili, herbs, and some sauces. The broth was clear but full of flavor and so was the meat. It was an excellent pho.
I was also offered their customized wet tissue but, as usual, it was not complimentary.
The check
I spent 62,000 VND, 60,000 for the bowl of pho (normal size) and 2,000 for the wet tissue. It is 2.70 USD. And it was delicious. Price were posted on the wall: 70,000 VND for a big bowl and 60,000 for a normal-sized one.
Where in Saigon:
433-435 Ly Thai To Street, Ward 9, District 10, opposite to Nhi Dong Hospital.