Welcome to another journey through the culinary delights of Frankfurt. Today, dear foodies, we’d like to invite you to experience the flavors that have long held a cherished place in our memories.
When we first moved to Frankfurt, our kitchen was still a work in progress. In those days, eating out became a necessity. And soon, we found our go-to spot for simple, affordable everyday meals – Pho Ha Noi restaurant. Specializing in Vietnamese cuisine, they offer light and vibrant dishes full of fresh vegetables and aromatic herbs. Their staff are very friendly, with hospitality as comforting as the dishes they serve. So, join us as we reminisce about our favorite go-to dishes from this beloved establishment.
Restaurant Profile
- Name of the Restaurant: Pho Ha Noi
- Adress: Berger Str. 85, 60316 Frankfurt am Main
- Style: Vietnamese Cuisine
- Price: around 20 – 30 EUR per Person (incl. drinks)
For drinks, we highly recommend their homemade iced tea, if you are in the mood for something truly refreshing. We often go for the passion fruit mint soda. It strikes a perfect balance between sweet and saur, with the zing of passion fruit and the invigorating coolness of mint. Served chilled with ice, it’s a great summer sipper that guarantees to refresh.
If you prefer on the warmer side, Pho Ha Noi also has a selection of hot teas, made from ginger, lemonade, and mint based on your choice. Simple, but each sip is like a gentle pick-me-up that sooths you with a moment of warmth and tranquility.
You can kickstart your meal at Pho Ha Noi with an array of appetizers, including the famous Vietnamese Spring Rolls (also known as “Cha Gio”, which we featured in our post about Vietnamese hotpot). Today, we’ll turn to a lighter, more refreshing option – the Vietnamese Summer Rolls (No. 3 C).
Also known as fresh spring rolls or rice paper rolls, they feature thin, translucent rice paper wrapping a mix of vibrant ingredients – crisp lettuce, crunchy bell pepper, refreshing cucumber, aromatic herbs like cilantro and mint, tangy pickled carrots and kohlrabi, all intertwined with delicate rice noodles. For protein, Pho Ha Noi offers a choice of beef, chicken or shrimp. While all are delicious, we’ve found the shrimp to be the best, with its savory saltiness and a hint of sweetness that just pair perfectly.
Eat these rolls with the tangy dipping sauce, infused lime, rice vinegar, and fish sauce, for a rich umami flavor. You can also choose hoisin sauce (savory, slightly sweet and garlicky) or peanut sauce (creamy, nutty, slightly sweet).
Light, refreshing, and brimming with flavors, these rolls capture the beauty of simplicity with their delicate balance of sweetness, sourness, saltiness and umami, with a hint of mint that awakens the senses!
Pho Dac Biet (No. 13) is a remarkable Vietnamese dish. At its heart, it’s a bowl of comfort that offers warmth and satisfaction with its flawless blend of flavors and textures.
The soul of this dish lies in its broth. Meticulously brewed over hours with aromatic spices such as star anise and cloves, it’s delicately savory, sweet and earthy with an infusion of beef and chicken flavors. The light seasoning allows you to sip the broth down to the last drop without feeling an overwhelming saltiness. But you can always enhance the taste with garlic-infused fish sauce or fresh chiles for extra flair.
The rice noodles, silky and smooth, form a soft yet substantial foundation, gracefully entwining with other ingredients like tender beef, firm chewy beef balls, and succulent chicken. Their meaty flavor adds richness to the soup, complementing the soothing broth and noodles.
The soup is generously topped with fresh herbs such as Thai basil, cilantro, mint, crisp bean sprouts and tangy onions. They lend a refreshing herbal brightness to every slurp, making it a very fragrant, savory, and comforting dish.
Bun La Lot (No. 23) is truly a must-try at Pho Ha Noi, especially on warmer days. It features a refreshing blend of rice noodles, fresh salads, herbs and homemade beef rolls wrapped in fragrant betel leaves.
The highlight is undoubtedly the beef rolls. Crafted with a fine balance of lean and fat, the minced beef tastes very soft, juicy and aromatic. Freshly made from scratch, the rolls have a tender and puffy texture that’s miles away from stiff pre-packaged fare. When grilled, the betel leaves turn crispy and impart a distinct herbal note that blends with the rich, aromatic beef.
The beef rolls are served warm, while the rest cold. The dish is paired with Nuoc Cham – a sweet, tangy sauce made of fish sauce, lime juice, garlic, water and more.
To fully appreciate its divine flavors, start by drizzling some of the Nuoc Cham sauce over the bed of rice noodles and salad. Mix them well to let the flavors intertwine. Then dip the beef rolls into the remaining sauce for a blissful crescendo as the rich flavors meld together, culminating in a savory explosion with each heavenly bite!
The dishes at Pho Ha Noi are not about stunning extravagance that ignites your taste buds. Instead, it’s about the gentle harmony of comforting combinations, akin to a tranquil stream flowing beneath the quaint Huc Bridge. While there may not be grand waves crashing, the flavors slowly seep into your heart, much like the elders’ recounting of ancient tales, unfolding unhurriedly, mindfully, and ever so memorably.
