“Pho Ga Huyen Huong,” a chicken pho specialty shop in Hanoi’s Old Quarter right by Hoan Kiem Lake in Vietnam, was named a “MICHELIN Selected” in the 2026 edition of the Michelin Guide as one of Vietnam’s nine new additions. It’s a shop known for pricing that’s exceptional for a street-food pho—90,000 to 160,000 VND a bowl (about 540 to 960 yen; 10,000 VND is about 60 yen). The fact that pho, once a common person’s breakfast, has received international recognition as “upscale gourmet” is not to be missed for Japanese seeking a genuine bowl on a Hanoi trip. If you plan to stop by the lakeside, you’ll want to know the resolve for a line and a sense of the budget.
The gist of the source news: Hanoi’s most expensive chicken pho makes the Michelin list
In the 2026 edition, the Michelin Guide newly added nine restaurants in Vietnam under the “Selected” category, and as one of them selected the chicken pho specialty shopHuyen Huong. The address is 20 Bao Khanh Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. It’s in a prime location on the shore of Hoan Kiem Lake. Running the shop is Do Thuy Huyen of the founding family, a family-run business of over 30 years. The signature chicken pho is 90,000 to 160,000 VND a bowl. A plate of boneless steamed chicken is 355,000 to 560,000 VND (about 2,130 to 3,360 yen), an outstanding price range for a Hanoi pho shop.
Background and full picture: a 14–17-hour soup and the “too expensive pho” debate
Supporting the shop’s reputation is its long-simmered soup. Pork bones and chicken carcasses are combined with the water used to boil the chicken and simmered over 14–17 hours. Carefully selecting ingredients down to the chicken, kaffir lime leaves, spring onions, chili, and nuoc mam (fish sauce) is cited as the reason for the higher price.
On the other hand, this price has stirred debate. In April 2026, it became a talking point on social media when two special chicken phos (160,000 VND each), plus an extra plate of chicken (500,000 VND) and a glass of orange juice (80,000 VND), came to 900,000 VND (about 5,400 yen), splitting opinion over “this price is too high for pho.” The shop responded that “we clearly state the prices of every item on the menu and explain the details before ordering.” Opinion split between the fixed notion of a cheap street eat and a bowl that puts cost into ingredients and effort. That this same shop caught Michelin’s eye in the same year shows that Hanoi’s pho culture is not monolithic.
Data / comparison: price, location, and usage
Here’s a summary of the figures to keep in mind before visiting, within the range that could be corroborated. Yen conversion is 10,000 VND ≈ about 60 yen (as of June 2026).
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Shop name | Pho Ga Huyen Huong (chicken pho specialty) |
| Location | 20 Bao Khanh Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi (near Hoan Kiem Lake) |
| Chicken pho | 90,000 to 160,000 VND (about 540 to 960 yen) |
| Boneless steamed chicken (highest-priced menu item) | 355,000 to 560,000 VND (about 2,130 to 3,360 yen) |
| Approximate number of seats | About 70 seats |
| Wait time at peak | 30–60 minutes |
| Clientele | Vietnamese about 70% / foreigners about 30% |
| Michelin category | 2026 edition “Selected” (one of Vietnam’s nine new additions) |
Opening hours couldn’t be corroborated by a reliable source, so we refrain from listing them here. We recommend checking the latest local information or a map app before visiting.
Local and industry reaction
Local media are covering this selection as a phenomenon in which Vietnam’s national dish pho has spread from “shops that meet every budget” to “a bowl with upscale aspirations.” In word-of-mouth for tourists, some praise the good lakeside location and the soup with a solid broth, while reactions of surprise at the price also stand out. Summarizing the local views on pho, it can broadly be organized as follows.
- A supporting camp that considers the long-simmered soup and dedication to ingredients worth the price
- A tradition-minded camp that holds pho should be an inexpensive common food
- The industry-side view welcoming the Michelin selection as a tourism resource and a talking point
In that same Hanoi, owing to location and serving hours,a pho shop whose Michelin listing was reported the day after it closed—there are even such ironic cases, which shows the distance between pho shops and Michelin has narrowed all at once.
Implications for Japanese travelers and consumers
For Japanese wanting to eat a bowl of “genuine chicken pho” in Hanoi, Huyen Huong becomes one option. That said, this isn’t a shop to choose for cheapness. Converted to a Japanese sense, the signature chicken pho is about 540–960 yen—about the same as a bowl of ramen—but ordering extra chicken or steamed chicken sends the bill soaring. It’s safest to check the menu’s unit prices before ordering and grasp the prices of extra plates before you order.
The location is right by Hoan Kiem Lake, easy to work into an Old Quarter sightseeing route. Since waits run 30–60 minutes at peak, aiming for right after opening or a time that avoids the midday peak makes it more likely you’ll be seated without lining up. Since payment is often cash (VND) by default, having some prepared is reassuring.
Ripple effects on the industry and market
In Hanoi, chicken pho at a few tens of thousands of VND per bowl is the standard common food, and within that, Huyen Huong’s price of 90,000–160,000 VND is clearly on the high side. Even so, the significance of this news lies in Michelin naming it a “Selected.” Neither a star nor a Bib Gourmand (value rating), it was positioned as “a noteworthy restaurant” without docking points over price. The prime tourist location on the shore of Hoan Kiem Lake and the effort of a 14–17-hour prep are the two wheels supporting the high price. This one restaurant shows that pho can no longer be measured by the conventional yardstick of a cheap street eat alone.
Practical information and how to enjoy the area
The key points for a visit are as summarized in the table above. The area around Hoan Kiem Lake is where travelers gather, with plenty of options for cafés and souvenirs besides pho. Building your stops together with a lakeside stroll makes it easy to structure a half-day route. Sampling several pho shops in different price ranges lets you experience the breadth of Hanoi’s pho culture, spanning from common food to upscale restaurants.
Summary: the next action
If you want to enjoy chicken pho in Hanoi, Huyen Huong is a candidate as a restaurant to experience “upscale pho.” The three points to keep in mind before visiting are as follows.
- Order after understanding the price gap between the signature chicken pho and the extra plates
- Avoid the midday peak and dodge the 30–60-minute wait
- Prepare plenty of cash (VND) for payment
If you visit with time to spare as a set with lakeside sightseeing, you can savor a long-simmered bowl at your leisure.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Huyen Huong?
It’s at 20 Bao Khanh Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, right by Hoan Kiem Lake. It’s a location easy to work into an Old Quarter sightseeing route.
How much does the chicken pho cost?
The signature chicken pho is 90,000–160,000 VND a bowl (about 540–960 yen; 10,000 VND is about 60 yen). Since extra menu items such as boneless steamed chicken get pricey, we recommend checking the menu’s unit prices before ordering.
Why was it chosen by Michelin?
It was recognized for its soup—pork bones and chicken carcasses combined with the water used to boil the chicken and simmered for 14–17 hours—and a bowl with carefully selected ingredients, and was named a “Selected” in the 2026 edition of the Michelin Guide.
Related reading
- A Hanoi pho shop whose Michelin listing was reported the day after it closed
- O mai, Hanoi’s specialty candied sweets
- Lotus season at Hanoi’s West Lake
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