Why is Hà Nội phở appreciated?

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A bowl of phở includes five essential ingredients: flat rice noodle, meat, broth, herbs, and spices. There are three main kinds of phở: (1) phở nước: broth is poured into a bowl of rice noodles with meat, herbs, small sliced onion leaves, long sliced onion stem and spices (pepper, chili, pimento sauce, fresh chili, and garlic soaked in vinegar); (2) phở xào: rice noodles, meat, and vegetables are fried to a turn; (3) phở áp chảo: rice noodles fried to a turn before adding meat and spices. Among them phở nước is the most common which comes in two varieties: phở bò (beef) and phở gà (chicken). Phở bò is preferred by phở connoisseurs in Hµ Néi.

Phở bò can be underdone, well done, tái nầm, tái gầu, or sốt vang. To make well-done phở bò, beef is boiled and left to cool, then drained and cut into thin slices. To make underdone phở bò, all the fat and tendon is removed and the lean meat is sliced thinly, put in a ladle and dipped into the pot of boiling broth, then placed in a bowl of rice noodles and served with herbs, spices, and broth. For phở tái lăn, beef is not blanched but fried quickly and added to the bowl of herbs, spices, and broth. Phở sốt vang has a different taste because beef with a lot of tendon, stewed in wine and spices is used.

Hà Nội phở is distinguishable from that of other provinces because of its fresh, soft noodles and its clear, sweet broth which is made using sá sùng (sea leech), tsaoko, cinnamon and ginger along with beef bones. How to prepare these ingredients in the correct proportion is a well-guarded secret of the famous restaurants in Hà Nội.

It is important to know how to enjoy a bowl of phở in the correct way. It should be served in a china (never glass or plastic) bowl. When eating, one hand holds the chopsticks while the other holds a spoon. Take some noodles in the spoon, put on a slice of meat, dip the spoon in broth and then enjoy. It is odd to eat phở and drink beer, wine, or any other soft drinks. 

You are unlikely to find good phở in a big hotel. Most Hanoian phở restaurants specialize in a particular kind of phở (for example, phở bò). Many of the best phở restaurants have very basic tables, chairs, and decor but are full of customers. Some famous restaurants specializing in phở bò are Phở Bát Đàn (Bát Đàn St, Hoàn Kiếm District), Phở Thìn Bờ Hồ, Phở Biên (Lê Văn Hưu St, Hai Bà Trưng District).

Recently, there has appeared a chain of restaurants called Phở 24 which sell both phở bò and phở gà and which are beautifully decorated and offer table service. However, phở in these places is not traditional Hà Nội phở due to the use of different herbs.