What is pho? You probably encountered the term ‘pho’ countless times before coming here. Well – what is pho? Stay tuned if you’re wondering what pho is made of or the ingredients often used. If you don’t know what pho even is, you’ll soon be in a world of constant cravings. You’re not alone because over 20,000 people ask this question on Google monthly.
What Exactly is Pho?
Pho is a Vietnamese soup ‘dish’ (usually in a bowl) with rice noodles, broth, meat, and assorted vegetables. Originating in Vietnam, pho is one of the more popular Vietnamese dishes that can be enjoyed at any time of the day. You can have pho for breakfast, lunch, and even dinner, which would be considered normal.
The history of pho goes back over a century, from 1900 to 1907. It’s believed that pho was invented around this time. However, it’s not certain because some believe pho originated from the French one-pot beef/vegetable stew pot-au-feu. Like choosing meat for your taco, you can do the same for your bowl of pho.
When you go to a pho restaurant, pho dishes will often be called:
- Pho Steak
- Pho Brisket
- Pho Shrimp
- Pho + Anything is Possible
From our personal experiences, people often go for the pho with brisket here in California. If you prefer a combination of brisket and shrimp, then that’s even better. In the end, your bowl of pho will be your wonderful creation. Pho broth is already incredible alone, but pho is unique because you can add flavorings to your content.
At most pho restaurants, you can add many little ingredients like:
- Bean Sprouts
- Hoisin Sauce
- Chili
- Chili Sauce
- Sriracha
- Lime Juice
- Chopped Onions
- Green Onions
- Mint Leaves
- Coriander/Cilantro
- Fish Sauce
- Thai Basil
You can figure out your magic pho ingredient by combining these ingredients. If you believe you have something that could improve the taste of pho that’s not on this list, the world is yours.
How is Pho Different From Ramen?
Both dishes are incredibly delicious, so there’s no need to debate whether one is better. Pho and ramen are both delicious in their own ways. Pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup, while ramen is a Japanese noodle soup. The texture of the noodles is different between the two. With Pho, the noodles are soft. As for ramen, the noodles are chewy and slightly thicker.
What Does Pho Taste Like?
There isn’t a single or main taste for pho. The taste of pho varies from meat to meat. For instance, pho with shrimp tastes completely different from pho with brisket. Whether it’s meat or vegetarian pho, the taste depends on what you add to your soup. You could add a spoon of hoisin sauce or two, and you’ll notice the difference.
However, we’d love to share our experiences with you, so this might be slightly biased:
Our Experience with Pho: Most of us normally get pho with brisket. We’ll add 1 to 2 spoons of hoisin sauce and about a spoon of Sriracha. We would then squeeze in a piece of cut lime, add some bean sprouts, and mint leaves that are ripped into tiny bits.
From our constant dining at pho restaurants, we’d like to say that the taste of pho is incredibly unique with a hint of beef, mildly sour from the lime juice, a little spice to heat things up, a random crisp of beansprout, and the freshness of the mint leaves all combined into one flavoring.
Are There Different Types of Pho?
- Pho Bo: Pho bo is the most well-known type of Pho. It’s made with beef broth and usually served with thinly sliced beef.
- Pho Ga: Pho ga is a variation of Pho made with chicken broth, and it’s usually served with thinly sliced chicken.
- Pho Chin: Pho chin is made with beef broth, and it’s served with thinly sliced beef brisket.
- Pho Tai: Pho tai is made with beef broth, and it’s served with thinly sliced rare steak.
- Pho Nam: Pho Nam is made with beef broth, and it’s served with thinly sliced flank steak.
- Pho Tom: Pho tom is made with shrimp broth and served with shrimp. It’s a popular version of Pho in the South of Vietnam.
Is Pho Soup Healthy?
Every restaurant or every bowl of pho made by someone is crafted using the ingredients they know best. Like healthy and unhealthy food, pho is the same way. You can consume healthy or unhealthy pho based on the ingredients in your bowl.
Without a doubt, many pho dishes have nutritious ingredients with high protein content. While some benefits include improving joint health and reducing inflammation, you’re still likely consuming high sodium and calories. It’s important when choosing a pho portion size.
Conclusion For “What is Pho”
Our team at Pho Blogger hopes that this pho guide will help you better understand this popular Vietnamese dish. There are plenty of pho restaurants around the world, and if you’ve never tried this dish before – please do.
Many people in California call pho “the perfect hangover food,” and we agree. When you’re hungover, it’s hard to have an appetite, but thinking about pho will do the trick.
You can learn more about eating this popular Vietnamese dish, pho, by watching “How to Eat Pho: You’ve Been Doing it Wrong” from Munchies down below: