Phở Thanh Cảnh

Oct 272013

Phở Thanh Cảnh
55 Nguyễn Cư Trinh street
District 1
(on corner with Cống Quỳnh street)

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Our last bowl of Saigon phở until we return in a few months

So what does one eat when he’s been living in Saigon continuously for nearly a year, and he wants to enjoy one last memorable meal with friends before heading back to the USA for several months?

Maybe I should savor my all time Saigon favorite, Hai’s cá kho tộ (spicy caramelized cat fish steaks)?

NO, Hai would be traveling with me and, hopefully, would be persuaded to make his signature dish for me in some USA kitchen (mmmn, but could he find the ingredients?)

Maybe some delicious tamarind-sauced ốc (snails) or vú dê nướng (bbq goat udder)?

NO, it would be an 18 hour flight. Better take care of the tummy. 🙂

Of course, there was only one real choice. The perfect bowl of phở bò (classic Vietnamese beef noodle soup).

My gut told me to enjoy my last last bowl of phở at one of my long-time favorites, Phở Lệ in District 3, Phở Phú Vương in Tân Bình District, or maybe Phở Hữu, just a short walk from our apartment in District 10.

But, wearing my Eating Saigon! hat, I felt compelled to try a new place – for my readers, of course. That way, I could critique my new Saigon eatery (and last until my return to Saigon in a few months). Oh, the sacrifices I make for my job! 🙂

Great beef and amazing beef broth!

So, off it was to that one phở establishment that had caught my eye several times while passing on the motorbike, but where we never quite found time to stop and consume a steaming bowl of phở bò at Phở Thanh Cảnh.

Happiness in a bowl

Well … clearly, the gods were looking after us that day. What a great final meal!

Of course, for phở there’s nothing more important to consider and enjoy than the richness and flavor of the nước lèo (the broth). Phở Thanh Cảnh delivered in spades!

Such a deep rich beef flavor in each spoonful. Clearly, the beef bones had been simmering for hours last evening in preparation for this morning’s meal. And, the beef was tender and plentiful. It turns out they’ve been serving phở here since 1968 (that’s 45 years!!) and have clearly found the secret to creating the perfect bowl of phở. I haven’t yet tried their phở gà (chicken phở), but it’s high on my list when we return to Saigon in just a few months!

The full price of 3 bowls of phở bò and drinks for Hai and I and our friend Hai (yes another “Hai”) was 143,000 vnd (just $2.50 USD/person).