Huyen Huong Restaurant Hanoi: Authentic Chicken Pho Experience

HANOI Original

Hanoi's Culinary Gems

Do they live up to the hype?

It wasn't intentional, but as the two most prominent cities in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are often compared.

It seems younger generations tend to gravitate towards Ho Chi Minh City, the economic hub. However, individual preferences vary greatly depending on environment and personal taste. (Some are forced to go north for work but prefer it, while others find the north dull and move south.)

But there's one thing they all agree on...

It's Hanoi's fierce culinary pride! More precisely, the sentiment that "when it comes to food, Hanoi is king."

As a staunch Ho Chi Minh City enthusiast, I've often found myself playfully challenging this with locals, saying, "Ho Chi Minh City has so many delicious spots you just don't know about!"

They'd concede a little, but always come back with, "Still, the original is Hanoi." They hold particularly strong pride for pho and bun cha.

To be fair, the bun cha in Hanoi is consistently amazing, no matter where you go. In Ho Chi Minh City, I've occasionally had less-than-stellar experiences.

Having conceded one point, it was time to verify the other.

This is the spot. While it looks quite small from the front, there’s a staircase to the second floor hidden around the back.

Here's a look at the menu. Normally, I'd go straight for the Beef Pho, but it was clear from the options that this place specializes in chicken. So, I opted for the Normal Chicken Pho. It was morning, and I wasn't super hungry, so I skipped the 'Special' size.

First, I quenched my thirst with a refreshing coconut.

Soon after, my Hanoi pho arrived.

Wow, this place is genuinely delicious! The chicken meat was incredibly tender and chewy. I was amazed by its texture.

I wish I had ordered the 'Special' size!

Personally, I usually prefer beef over chicken, but this chicken pho was so good, it might just convert me.

Definitely adding a 'Special' sized bowl to my list for my next visit.

This Hanoi gem is located near Hoan Kiem Lake, an area I’ve noticed is full of great finds. The operating hours are:

6:15 AM - 2:00 PM

4:30 PM - 9:30 PM

They open quite early, making it a perfect spot for breakfast. I'm not usually a breakfast eater back home, so I wasn't super hungry, but when traveling internationally, I always try to make an effort, even if I can't eat much.

Anyway, this trip allowed me to discover new charms of Hanoi that I hadn't noticed before. I realize now that my previous trips were too short, focusing mostly on Sapa and Ha Long Bay.

To truly compare, I need to explore more of Hanoi's culinary scene. I have so many go-to restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City that I confidently recommend, but I'm still getting to know Hanoi's best spots.

It looks like I'll have to return soon.

I'll go back, uncover more of Hanoi's best restaurants, and really dive into the differences. Stay tuned!