Phở Chiên Phồng, or Puffed Fried Pho
by Phở Cuốn 31, Hanoi, Vietnam
You might know pho as Vietnam’s famous noodle soup, but there’s another, very different version of the dish called phở chiên phồng.
I had never tried this version of pho before, but I had the opportunity to have it for the first time on a recent trip to Hanoi. I was visiting Tây Hồ, or West Lake, one of Hanoi’s most popular neighborhoods, known for its sprawling lake, tree-lined streets, cafés, restaurants, and more relaxed atmosphere. I stopped for lunch at Phở Cuốn 31, a restaurant specializing in this style of pho.
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| Phở Chiên Phồng by Phở Cuốn 31, Hanoi, Vietnam |
Instead of being served in a bowl of broth, squares of wide rice noodles are fried in oil until they puff up into a crisp, airy pillow, and are then topped with stir-fried beef and vegetables in a savory sauce.
The thinly sliced beef, bok choi, and onions are stir-fried in a sauce made of beef broth, fish sauce, soy sauce, and spices that taste similar to the broth of a rich bowl of pho soup. The stir-fry is ladled on top of the pillows of fluffy fried noodles, allowing the gravy to soak into them and infuse them with all of its rich, hearty, savory, stew-like flavors.
While I enjoy a good, wholesome bowl of pho, I almost might like this version even more. Sometimes I'm not really in the mood for soup, especially when it's hot outside. I also really liked the chewy, doughy texture of the puffed fried noodles.
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| Phở Chiên Phồng in Hanoi, Vietnam |
Location
Phở Cuốn 31 is located at 31 P. Ngũ Xã, Ba Đình, Hà Nội, Vietnam. The restaurant, which sells a variety of Vietnamese dishes, is located near the southeastern part of Tay Ho, or West Lake, close to the center of Hanoi.
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| Phở Cuốn 31 in Hanoi, Vietnam |
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