Fire up Looking for someone who cooks good pho in 2025

Contestants participating in the 2025 Pho Cooking Contest had a memorable night in their 12-hour journey of simmering bones to create the most delicious and quintessential broth.

The moment more than a dozen pots of pho were lit simultaneously signaled the intense competition had truly begun - Photo: HUU HANH

Before that, from 6pm on September 18, 26 contestants of the contest “Finding the best pho cook” simultaneously lit the fire (gas stove) to start the pho cooking competition. Dozens of flames burst into steaming pots of pho broth.

Looking for a good pho cook and "secret" pots of broth

It was a drizzling night. But inside the competition venue, the atmosphere was unusually hot.

The steam, smoke and aroma from the pots of broth blend together to create a vivid picture. Each pot of pho has its own soul, carrying a distinctive flavor accumulated from years of experience, from the skillful hands and heart of the cook.

Father and son Co Nhu Cau work tirelessly to prepare the broth, which is also an important element of a bowl of pho - Photo: HUU HANH

When asked the secret to making the pot of water so fragrant, the contestants just smiled and answered with two short words: "secret". While waiting for the water to boil, the contestants took the opportunity to light the charcoal and put onions and ginger on it to grill.

The fragrant smoke spread out, mixed with the smell of the broth, filling the whole space with fragrance.

This year, among the 26 contestants gathered at Van Thanh Tourist Area to participate in the competition, there are many professionals.

The organizers of the contest "Finding the best pho cook" feel proud and also a bit worried because the responsibility is quite heavy.

There are many Vietnamese chefs who have successfully built restaurants around the world participating in the pho cooking competition, making the competition for the title of Hoa Anise more intense, such as contestants Dao Thi Hang and Luong Tien Dat from Australia.

Mr. Vuong Van Tung, Pho Tung Troc, Hanoi, won the Silver Star Anise Award in 2022 and now continues to compete with the goal of winning the Golden Star Anise Award.

Cooking Pho Like a "Fancy Girl"

Mr. Hai, owner of Lac Hong restaurant with two branches in Nam Dinh, came to the competition for the first time and happily said that the group of three people brought two suitcases of ingredients to cook, only buying bones and fresh beef in Ho Chi Minh City. The main chef is Nguyen Duc Tong, from Van Cu village - the origin of pho.

Chefs from all over the country are ready to conquer the championship title - Golden Star Anise of this year's competition - Photo: HUU HANH

Mr. Hai shared that the purpose of Lac Hong restaurant coming to the contest was to see how the professional judges evaluated Lac Hong pho.

“In the future, I want to gradually build the Nam Dinh pho brand. We are researching and testing dry pho products to easily export and bring Vietnamese pho to the world.”

At another corner of the table, Co Nhu Cau and his son were preparing the spices to start cooking the pho broth. They looked so affectionate.

Mr. Cau, originally from Nam Dinh, said that since he was young, he has been attached to pho and brought Nam Dinh pho to all regions of the country by working as a chef for restaurants and eateries.

So he learned a lot of experience. Currently, Mr. Co Van Cau is the chef of Pho Phat Tai restaurant.

His son is a freshman, taking advantage of the days before school starts to come help his father cook.

He likened: “Pho is like a capricious girl. The person who cooks pho must follow her personality to be able to make a delicious bowl of pho.” According to him, the first important factor is that the ingredients used to cook pho must be fresh. Therefore, he brings the spices to cook pho, even the spring onions, from the north.

Journalist Cao Huy Tho talks with contestants - Photo: HUU HANH

Ms. Do Thi Tam is the contestant from the farthest land: Bac Ninh. She is just a housewife of 4 children, and has never participated in a culinary competition.

She said she didn't study anything but mainly seasoned with the feeling of a mother's heart. Seeing her children eat pho and complimenting her mother's delicious cooking was the motivation for her to join this contest.

She shared: “By participating in the contest, I want to exchange and learn experiences with good pho chefs. I am also planning to open a cultural and culinary eco-zone and pass on culinary cultural values ​​to my children."

As soon as the fire is lit, the chefs start to rush with the steps to quickly complete the most perfect pot of pho broth - Photo: HUU HANH

Owner Le Trung Tu, 37 years old, of the Pho Ba Nau chain with 5 locations in Ho Chi Minh City, serving customers 24/7, is a contestant in this competition for the second time.

Explaining his return, he said: "This year, there is a Vietnamese pho festival in Singapore, which is in line with the development goal of my restaurant, which is to bring the Ba Nau pho brand to the world, the first country being Singapore. So I entered the competition with the goal of getting a ticket to Singapore."

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HOANG LE - To Cuong

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/noi-lua-di-tim-nguoi-nau-pho-ngon-nam-2025-20250919000022015.htm