Phở Phú-Vương #1
333E Lê Văn Sỹ
(corner of Hem 333)
Tân Bình District
Phở Phú-Vương #2
120 Nguyễn Thái Bình
Q. 1
******************
Impending doom … or at least delay for my dinner at Phở Phú-Vương #1
The horizon has turned jet black. The continuous rumble of thunder is growing louder. The dragonflies are swarming at the edge of my 4th-floor balcony. I’ve unplugged my laptop, just in case of a near lightning strike. Clearly, in just moments, a huge downpour will flood Saigon streets, knee-deep in many places. And now my biggest fear. I’ll have to delay my motorbike ride – perhaps for an hour or more – to my new favorite Saigon phở eatery. Life can be cruel.
Phở Phú-Vương #1 is that good!
My new favorite phở at Phở Phú-Vương #1
Now it’s true that different Saigon phở eateries can be “the best phở ” at different times, depending upon your mood and a few other factors as I’ve discussed previously in “The Best Phở in Saigon“. However, in recent times for me, Phở Phú-Vương #1 has called out to me whenever I just had to have that perfect bowl of phở.
Perhaps the phở at Phở Phú-Vương #1 should better be called Reunification Phở.
A huge kitchen to prepare perhaps the best Phở in Saigon
They boast that their phở begins with the basic and classic phở foundation from old Hanoi in the north, and then introduces the best elements of Saigon’s southern phở flavor preferences. Marketing perhaps? The ideological foundation of their actual soup recipe perhaps? An attempt to overcome still-lingering regional mistrust and suspicions through culinary peace gestures? Who can be sure?
What is clear, is that the phở is some of the best I’ve ever eaten! On my most recent visit there, I chose my usual – phở tái nầm – phở with a combination of both rare roast beef and well-done beef brisket. Both were really flavorful and very tender. And lots and lots of beef. The nước lèo (the broth) was simply superb with a rich beefy flavor. Clearly, as Hai would say, they used “lots of bones” in simmering the broth. A little, but not too, sweet. The essence of ginger was also clearly there. I slurped up the broth to the bottom of the bowl – long after the noddles and beef had disappeared.
An additional, unique treat at every table was the pitcher of brightly orange-colored dipping sauce. As best we could decipher, its ingredients were some combination of fish sauce, ground chili peppers, garlic and soy sauce. Very very yummy as a dip for the mass of beef in the soup.
Unique and yummy dipping sauce for all that beef!
A great bowl of phở, combining the best of north and south Vietnam. Perhaps peace was at hand.
Phở Phú-Vương #1, a large, well-managed, well-lighted and clean Saigon restaurant. A must stop for anyone seeking some of Saigon’s best phở.
A clean, well-lighted place
Not inexpensive at about 55,000vnd ($2.75 usd) per bowl, but well worth it.
The downpour has now begun, I’m even more hungry than when I began writing this blog, and dinner at Phở Phú-Vương #1 is yet hours away. Woe is me 🙂
Time for Phở Phú-Vương #1, 5:30 am til midnight
Phở Phú-Vương #1
UPDATE – February, 2018: Phở Phú – Vương has recently opened its second location – Phở Phú – Vương #2. I’ll be posting details soon. (Preview – it’s just as good, if not better, than Phở Phú-Vương #1)
UPDATE – February, 2019: Phở Phú – Vương #1 original site is under construction/destruction. I’m not sure if it will eventually return to this site [339 Lê Văn Sỹ – corner of Hem 337] or not. BUT, as of now, it has relocated down the street to 333E Lê Văn Sỹ- corner of Hem 333. By the way, it’s still the best phở in town!
Phở Phú-Vương #1
333E Lê Văn Sỹ
(corner of Hem 333)
Tân Bình District
Phở Phú – Vương #2
120 Nguyễn Thái Bình
Q. 1
View Phở Phú Vương in a larger map
Thanks so much for your recommendations. We are planning to visit Vietnam for a week in September 2016 and will be in Saigon for 2 days. We were worried as we heard mixed reviews about food places from friends. Some of them said the food was not as good as Vietnamese food in US & Canada. So I am excited to check out for myself and explore Saigon with your recommendations.
Great blog! I love to read all the great info here—my mouth is watering and I can barely wait for my visit in two weeks. And great to know that’s dipping sauce, ha! I tragically had added it to my pho, surely to the astonishment of nearby observers.
Unfortunately Google Translate is no help with that menu. Certainly there are a few other worthy items to try, any suggestions?
Thank you very much for recommending this place 🙂 Here I had the best phở of my holiday. I liked it so much I ate 2 bowls 🙂 First I was at 339 Lê Văn Sỹ, but another P part of the street, so I could not find it..but after asking I luckily found it.
Richard
So glad you found it and ate TWO BOWLS! I’ve often been tempted for the 2nd bowl 🙂
Thanks SO much for this recommendation! My wife and I are in Vietnam for our honeymoon from the UK and in Saigon for a couple of days, we had a couple of disappointing meals from recommendations from our guidebook so when we found your blog we were pretty excited and this place lived up to our expectation. We’d never have gone if it wasn’t for your blog so we hope you keep it up! Thanks again
Jack and Harriet
Thank you Jack for your supportive words … and so glad your enjoyed the phở here! Hope you will have time to enjoy a few more Saigon eating adventures while you’re here.