Phở Hòa Pasteur

This famous pho restaurant has been my go-to for the last 20 years, and in all that time, I’ve never had a bad bowl. While it’s become much more popular with tourists in recent years, the quality has remained consistently excellent. The broth is always rich and flavorful, and the meat is perfectly tender. Despite the many great pho places in Saigon, this one still stands out as my favorite. It’s a classic that never disappoints.

Went here multiple times during my stay due to close proximity to hotel. Tried both the pho with meat and pho without meat. Both had rich, flavorful broths; I personally enjoy mine with the provided basil, peppers, lime, bean sprouts and other herbs. Noodles were good as well. Towards my last few visits I switched to no meat — to me, the chicken was a bit chewy. It might look crowded but there are multiple levels with many smaller rooms and seating/tables. They take both card and cash; reasonable prices as well.

I was recommended this famous pho place in my recent visit to HCMC. It was relatively straightforward as you'll be given a menu with visuals and prices. The place wasn't air conditioned but it didn't bother me as it was well ventilated. While it wasn't an upmarket restaurant, the cleanliness was not a concern at all. I ordered the mixed combination pho which consisted of beef ball, beef slices, brisket, tripes and tendons. A good bowl of pho lies in the quintessential broth as this one didn't disappoint. You can expect a light and clean tasting soup without losing the flavorfullness of the ingredients. The beef ball had a good bounce in texture and tasted amazing. The minced beef, beef slices and brisket all were tender to every bite and loaded with beefy goodness. One ingredient that equally impressed me was the pho noodles which turned out to be deliciously springy and paired so well with the broth. The tendons weren't the most soft I had but it was a good addition nonetheless. I came on a separate occasion in the late evening and I noticed the broth was more intense in flavors and I was offered chicken to replace some of the beef parts that were presumably sold out. Overall I would recommend this pho joint to anyone who is visiting HCMC and would love a good bowl of pho.

A local Vietnamese friend recommended this place, known as the best pho in the hearts of locals. It was quite busy, but the food lived up to its reputation. I tried both the Beef Family Combo and the Beef Noodle Bowl – both were delicious. The broth was incredibly fresh and flavorful, making the whole experience even better. Definitely worth finding this spot!

Michelin bib gourmand We tried the #12 "Combination All Kinds of Beef" (VDN 105,000), which comes in one size. The broth was clear and seemed free of MSG, or at least it tasted like it. It was flavorful on its own that no extra sauce was needed. However, I wasn't a fan of the hoisin/oyster sauce—it tasted a bit off. We also ordered the fried dough sticks, but I wouldn’t recommend them. They were quite hard to chew, possibly because they weren’t served hot. Each order includes five pieces, but you only pay for what you eat, so there's no pressure to finish them all. The #20 Fresh Cold Summer Roll (VDN 30,000) was also on our list, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I’m more accustomed to the spring rolls back home in Manila (Pho Hoa), where they’re cut into bite-sized pieces, made with soft veggies like lettuce, and served with a sweet peanut sauce for dipping. Recommended for: those who enjoy a "cleaner," more homey-taste-like pho broth with a natural flavor, rather than a heavily seasoned one Wait time: We visited on a Friday around lunchtime, and even though the restaurant looked quite busy, we were seated immediately (party of 3). There's plenty of seating available on the second floor, and possibly even a third floor. Portion size: quite generous, 2 people can share 1 bowl Crowd: around 70% locals & 30% tourists Location: from Ben Than Market - 7 mins by Grab car / 29 mins walk

I first ate at Pho Pasteur in 1998, when I worked in Vietnam for a while. Now, in December 2024, I'm happy to note that it has grown to 3 floors from the original ground floor setting. The quality of the pho is still delicious and brought back many wonderful memories from the late '90's. Still quality ingredients and the air-conditioning on the upper floors was a marked improvement. It is a must-visit if you're on the foodie tour of Vietnam.

This was our favorite Pho in all of Vietnam. Came here for breakfast and we were the only non Vietnamese in here. This is always a good sign. The Pho was fantastic Hanoi style which I like. Lots of herbs and Quay at the table. Place was clean and it was cheap. Highly recommend coming here for a great meal!

I came to try this spot on a recommendation, and the beef Pho definitely lived up to the hype! I opted for the meatball Pho with a side of tai beef, and I was not disappointed. The broth was served hot, rich, and packed with flavor, while the rice noodles had just the right consistency—soft yet still slightly chewy. The meatballs were perfectly seasoned with a blend of spices that gave them a satisfying texture. This dish is the epitome of quintessential Vietnamese cuisine, and it’s no surprise it’s a favorite with everyone who tries it!