Brian Jeffrey
Zom Marie, a popular Thai singer and YouTuber born in 1992, boasts over 3.3 million followers. On her recent trip to Ho Chi Minh City, she enjoyed shopping, sightseeing, and trying local foods, particularly the well-known “Michelin pho.”
During her visit, Zom Marie stopped by a famous pho restaurant located on Pasteur Street in District 3, which has earned recognition in the Michelin Bib Gourmand category for its fantastic cuisine at affordable prices.
The group ordered three large bowls of beef pho, along with fried and fresh spring rolls. As Zom Marie doesn’t consume beef, she chose a bowl of chicken pho instead.
The meal commenced with the fresh spring rolls, which captivated the group with their colorful appearance. Zom Marie expressed delight at their freshness and taste, nodding in approval after sampling them.
The pho, however, was the highlight of their dining experience. The manager from Zom Marie’s team revealed they picked the priciest option to enjoy a variety of beef cuts, while Zom Marie felt pleased to have a chicken pho option.
Following the restaurant’s suggestions, she added herbs, bean sprouts, and spices to elevate the dish’s flavor. Upon tasting the broth for the first time, she described it as “delicious” with a fragrant aroma, and noted how the thin noodles absorbed the flavors beautifully.
She complimented the chicken for its tenderness and noted the fried dough sticks (quay) for their enjoyable texture.
The total bill for the meal amounted to 586,000 VND (around 800 Thai Baht), which the team found to be a fair price for the quality. “I’m quite satisfied and full from this pho meal,” remarked the team manager, mentioning that Zom Marie couldn’t finish her sizable portion.
This pho restaurant has been operated by Pham Thanh Tan since 1968, with Tan as the third generation to take over the family business.
“My grandmother began selling pho from a simple pushcart on the sidewalk of Pasteur Street. Over the years, the restaurant grew, and the tradition was passed down from my mother to me and my family,” Tan explained.
The pho served here features a Southern style, known for its slightly sweet broth enriched with spices such as cinnamon, ginger, and star anise.
On the menu, customers can find five primary pho varieties: brisket, rare beef, tendon, flank, and flank with fat, priced at 90,000 VND for regular bowls and 105,000 VND for large servings. Additional offerings include beef tripe pho, beef meatball pho, chicken pho, fresh spring rolls, fried spring rolls, and steamed buns.
Guests can also customize their meals by ordering extra rich broth, poached eggs, or scallions.
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Photo credit: Zom Marie
