"Making pho a national delicacy": a new pho shop in Thao Dien
On Le Van Mien Street in the Thao Dien area of Ho Chi Minh City, the pho specialty shop "Chi Mo" has opened. Chef Huynh Chi Khang is the person behind the popular Thao Dien shops "Roast & Smoke" and "Chico’s Pizza." The concept of his third shop is to elevate Vietnam's national food, pho, into a "national delicacy (a national-treasure-class specialty)."
最大の特徴は、ブロス（出汁）を3種類から選べるシステム。北部クリア、北部リッチ、南部スタイルの3つで、いずれも牛骨を24時間ローストしてから伝統的な手法で仕上げる。MSG不使用を徹底しながら、力強い旨味を実現している。
The difference among the 3 broths
| Broth | Style | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Bac Trong | Northern clear | A clear amber color. The aroma of star anise and cinnamon is delicate |
| Bac Dam | Northern rich | Rich beef-bone umami. The collagen lingers thickly on the lips |
| Nam | South | Slightly sweet, faintly spicy. The flavor of Ho Chi Minh City |
The types of meat can also be freely combined. A poached-egg topping is possible too, letting you have the experience of "building your own pho."
It's ambitious beyond pho too
The banh mi uses homemade pate, and the com rang dua bo (beef fried rice x sun-dried mustard greens from its own farm) uses vegetables sent directly from the chef's fields. Drinks include cocktails motifed on Vietnamese sweets, such as "Tau Pho" and "Ca Phe Trung."
Menu highlights
- 3 types of pho (broth x meat customization)
- Sourdough quay (fried bread of sourdough dough)
- Ca phe dua (black coffee x fresh coconut water)
- Homemade kombucha
- Various cocktails and mocktails
A space recreating a 1940s Vietnamese village
The interior is designed with the concept of "a house in a 1940s Vietnamese village." Rattan furniture, soft lighting, and a bright open-café-style drinks area line up. Outdoors there's a tropical courtyard, completely cut off from the city's clamor. High chairs for children and children's plates are also provided, making it easy to use with family too.
Reactions on social media
- "I want to try all three broths. Once isn't enough." (comment section of The Dot Magazine)
- "This umami with no MSG is unfair. I've trusted it since the Roast & Smoke days." (Jovel Chan blog review)
- "I'm glad it's open from 6:30 a.m. Morning pho in Thao Dien has become the best routine." (comment on Instagram @chimo.thaodien post)
Access guide for Japanese travelers
About 15 minutes by Grab from central District 1 (about 50,000 VND, 290 yen). Thao Dien is an area with many foreign residents, and there's an English menu too. For breakfast, 6:30 to 8:00 is empty.
Ho Chi Minh City's new cafésIt also pairs well as a meal after touring.CieL DiningIts casualness, different from high-end routes like, is characteristic of Thao Dien.Banh Mi FestivalAfter being inspired by, comparing Chi Mo's homemade-pate banh mi is also interesting.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 23C Le Van Mien, Thao Dien, Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh City |
| Hours | 6:30 to 22:00 (Sunday 7:00 to 22:00 / closed Tuesdays) |
| Budget | A bowl of pho about 80,000 to 150,000 VND (about 470 to 880 yen) |
| How to book | Instagram @chimo.thaodien |
| Access | About 15 minutes by Grab from central District 1 |
| With children | High chairs and children's plates available |
Ho Chi Minh City's pho scene is diversifying
路上のフォー屋台で3万VND（約180円）のフォーを食べる体験と、Chi Moで24時間ローストしたブロスを選ぶ体験は、同じ「フォーを食べる」でもまったく別のものだ。ホーチミンのフォーシーンは、屋台・老舗・モダンの三極化が進んでいる。
Summary: three broths in Thao Dien at 6:30 a.m.
Watching out for the Tuesday closure, aiming for the empty first-thing-in-the-morning slot is best. First taste the delicate broth with northern clear (Bac Trong), then challenge northern rich (Bac Dam) on your next visit. Go twice and you can experience the depth of Vietnamese pho.
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