Singaporean chef married Vietnamese wife: Pho is elegance among many layers of flavors

'A bowl of pho makes me feel comfortable, mixed with an impressive aroma, giving me the feeling that I can eat it every day without getting bored'.

Justin Lim celebrates Tet with his wife - Van Pham, daughter and mother-in-law. As an experienced chef with international cuisine , Justin got acquainted with Vietnamese cuisine thanks to his Vietnamese wife's family - Photo: NVCC

"Especially the pho broth, I felt the elegance but hidden within it were layers of flavors," Singaporean chef Justin Lim recalls the first bowl of pho he ate on his first visit to Vietnam.

Justin is currently the head chef of The Horse's Mouth, a gastropub-style restaurant in Singapore, and has his own cooking channel on YouTube @chefjustcookin .

He has over 22 years of professional kitchen experience, working with many different cuisines from traditional Asian to modern European, currently focusing on charcoal and wood-fired cooking styles.

In April this year, Justin Lim was introduced by The Straits Times as one of the faces of the “rising wave of Singaporean chefs” in the country.

Vietnam Pho Festival 2025: When Vietnamese pho flavor becomes a 'cultural ambassador' in Singapore

Pho: A dish of patience and balance

Experienced in international cuisine, Justin has a special connection with Vietnamese cuisine thanks to his Vietnamese wife.

“I was fortunate to experience Vietnamese cuisine not only at restaurants but also in my own home kitchen.

Justin Lim was once introduced by The Straits Times as one of the faces of the 'wave of Singaporean chefs shining' in this country - Photo: NVCC

What impressed me most was the freshness, harmony and soulfulness of each dish. Each dish was light but had many layers of deep flavor.

I love both everyday dishes and classic dishes. Besides pho, I especially like tre and goi cuon because of the balance of herbs, texture and accompanying dipping sauces,” Justin shared with Tuoi Tre Online .

From a chef's perspective, Justin Lim says pho is a dish that requires patience and balance.

“The broth must be simmered for many hours, but not hastily. It must be simmered gently so that the broth is clear, rich, and not greasy.

The blend of layers of flavor from onions, grilled ginger, spices such as star anise, cinnamon, and the use of fresh vegetables right at the table makes pho both technically sophisticated and culturally rich,” he said.

Justin believes it is not difficult to understand why pho has become an iconic dish because it encapsulates familiarity, closeness and identity.

“From street stalls to restaurants, pho is a dish that connects generations and reflects the Vietnamese culinary philosophy: elevating simple ingredients with care and balance,” explains the Singaporean chef.

He said he and his wife also like to eat pho in Singapore, and appreciate places that preserve the original taste of Vietnamese pho.

Vietnamese Pho is attractive to tourists

“I think the essence of pho should be kept as it is, because that is where the identity of the dish lies. Of course, when cuisine goes out into the world , there will be subtle adjustments, but the important thing is not to lose the soul of the dish.

In Singapore, where tastes are diverse and open, I believe that authenticity is always appreciated, so pho doesn't need to be 'localized' too much," Justin shared.

Currently living with his wife, children and mother-in-law, Justin also cooks pho with his mother-in-law at home.

“The biggest challenge is to keep the broth clear and flavorful while still being light and delicate. It takes hours of simmering to extract the essence from the bones.

For many home cooks, waiting patiently for 8-12 hours is a challenge. My advice is to use a large capacity pressure cooker. My family has an 8-liter electric pot, thanks to which the cooking time is shortened to only about 2 hours,” he said.

In 2025, Justin and his daughter returned to visit the Vietnamese cooking class he attended 8 years ago in Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: NVCC

Vietnam Pho Festival will be warmly welcomed

Speaking about the upcoming Vietnam Pho Festival in Singapore, Justin expressed his belief that Singaporeans will warmly welcome the Pho Festival. He and his family are also looking forward to this event.

“Singapore is a food-loving nation, and people here are always eager to explore new cuisines. Vietnamese cuisine is increasingly popular because it offers freshness and balance – elements that fit well with Singaporeans’ preference for food that is both delicious and relatively healthy,” Justin explains.

“For a Singaporean trying pho for the first time, I think the broth will be the biggest surprise,” he continued. “The strong yet light flavour, the elegant yet rich flavour, is very different from many other noodle soups in Asia.”

“In addition, adding herbs, lemon and chili at the table makes the dish more interactive, personal and unforgettable.”

Vietnam Pho Festival 2025 in Singapore
Connecting cultures, promoting cooperation

Vietnam Pho Festival 2025 in Singapore, organized by the Embassy of Vietnam in Singapore, Tuoi Tre Newspaper and Saigon Tourist Group in collaboration with the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City, the Liaison Committee of Vietnamese in Singapore under the direction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, will take place on October 18 and 19 at Our Tampines Hub, Singapore.

The festival was held in the context of Vietnam and Singapore upgrading their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, affirming the program's significance and stature.

With the message "Pho - Enjoying together, growing together", Vietnam Pho Festival 2025 hopes that the event will not only invite international friends to enjoy a typical Vietnamese dish, which was listed by CNN in the list of 50 must-try dishes worldwide in 2011, but also convey the desire to connect - share - accompany the development of Vietnam.

Through the festival, Pho will be introduced as a "cultural ambassador", serving as a bridge for Vietnam and Singapore, as well as international friends, to work together towards a prosperous and sustainable future.

The most important activity of the festival is to bring Singaporeans and tourists the opportunity to enjoy the "authentic" taste of Vietnamese pho. At Our Tampines Hub, attendees will be able to enjoy pho prepared directly by top artisans and chefs from Vietnam.

The main chefs of the 5-star hotels in the Saigontourist Group system, including four luxury hotels Rex Saigon, Majestic Saigon, Grand Saigon, Caravelle Saigon and the brand Pho Thu Duc Golf Restaurant (Vietnam Golf & Country Club), along with famous pho brands such as Pho Thin Bo Ho, Pho Ta, Pho Phu Gia, Pho Vuong, Ba Ban Pho... will bring diversity in cooking methods and ways of enjoying.

In addition to pho, attendees also have the opportunity to enjoy many other traditional Vietnamese dishes, prepared by Saigon Tourist's 5-star chefs, creating a vibrant "culinary symphony".

In particular, along with the Pho festival, a large-scale investment forum was also held, namely the Vietnam - Singapore Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Forum 2025, affirming the substance of the event. The forum took place right after the opening ceremony (morning of October 18), expected to attract about 150 businesses from both countries to participate.

At the forum, management agencies and businesses will discuss new cooperation trends in green processing and logistics, tourism and aviation services, import and export of Vietnamese agricultural products and specialties, digital transformation and e-commerce.

In particular, the Business Matching program (1-1 business connection) will create conditions for Vietnamese and Singaporean businesses to meet directly and seek practical cooperation opportunities.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dau-bep-singapore-lay-vo-viet-pho-la-su-thanh-tao-giua-nhieu-tang-huong-vi-20251015111641858.htm