Pho in France - It's As Good As Home

Pho, of course, is the classic soup noodle fromonly one. The restaurant offers a healthy
Vietnam. It is one of the most popular noodleselection of pho options as well as other
dishes in the world, enjoying millions of steadyVietnamese and Asian culinary treats.
followers in all culinary corners on earth. DespitePho Banh-Cuon 14's menu is what you would
being an unusual dish in world standards and oneexpect from a good pho restaurant, with choices
that is so obviously designed for the Asian palate,of various combination of beef meat slices and
pho has found its own special place in the globalorgans. After choosing your preferred beef cuts,
cuisine. There's always been a relationshipyou can choose between a grand bowl or a petit
between Vietnam and France, so it is no surprisebowl, though the difference is not that much;
that this noodle dish has become popular in Franceeven the petit bowl is extremely gratifying given
too, a country whose culinary features are largelythe affordable price. During off-peak hours, the
different from those of Vietnam's.restaurant is usually full. In fact, finding a table can
Vietnam and Francesometimes be a challenge, especially during
Pho can be traced back to the 1880s and tobreakfast and lunch times.
northern Vietnam. Its spread in popularity wasAnother popular and well-reviewed pho location at
propelled when Vietnam was divided in 1954,the 13th is Le Bambou, located at 70 rue
when northern refugees brought the staple dishBaudricourt. Their pho tastes great, and the dishes
with them to the south. Years later in 1975, phoare reasonably priced. Also, Le Bambou has a
followed a larger wave of refugees outside ofnoticeably larger menu than other restaurants in
Vietnam, and from there, traveled to the Unitedthe area, though in terms of authenticity, Pho
States and other continents, and to Europe whereBanh-Cuon 14 still wins more praises from
it reached the borders of France.true-blue pho fans alike.
It is said that pho is more than just a culinaryThe Chinatown area in Paris is not the only place
visitor in France. Several food experts haveto find great pho. This hearty noodle dish can also
likened it to the famous French pot-au-feu orbe found in another Asian community in Paris,
"feu," which, in fact, is a likely origin of the namelocated around the metro Belleville quarter. The
"pho." This means that even before the dish itselfarea lies at the junction of the 11th, 12th, 19th,
reached the French territory, the two alreadyand 20th arrondissement and is an area full of
went way back, particularly during the 100-yearSoutheast Asian restaurants offering cuisines
period of French colonization in Vietnam.from Thailand, China, and Vietnam since the 80's.
The French pot-au-feu is a steamy stewWith more French nationals learning to appreciate
consisting of a broth, beef flank, and a variety ofVietnamese pho on top of the already existing
vegetables that ranged from root to leafyViet clientele, pho restaurants are doing good
varieties. In most aspects, it is very much like thebusiness. One popular Vietnamese restaurant in
Vietnamese noodle dish. But there are strongBelleville is the Hawaienne where you can enjoy
differences between them. Pot-au-feu is usuallygreat-tasting Vietnamese food including pho. The
eaten in a guided manner, and anywhere in Francerestaurant is located at 15 rue Louis Bonnet at
where you order the dish, the waiters will instructthe 11th arrondissement.
you on how it should be enjoyed. On the otherObviously, pho restaurants in France are not
hand, eating pho is a bit more freewheeling andlimited to the Asian quarters in the country. Like
adventurous. Back in its native Vietnam, themany places outside of Vietnam including the U.S.,
noodle is sold out on street kiosks and the trueCanada and Australia, you will find Vietnamese
pho experience is eating the whole lot in a smallrestaurants where Vietnamese live as they are
and noisy restaurant surrounded by people andscattered in various places around France. When in
the telltale aroma of beef broth.Paris, check out the My-Tho Vietnamese
Pho in FranceRestaurant, Le Lotus Bleu, among many others.
In France, pho is especially famous in Paris'You will also find the Pho 83 at 17 Avenue Colbert
Chinatown found in the 13th arrondissement. Thein Toulon, France. Aside from that, pho
area is considered as the main quarters of Asia inrestaurants, or Vietnamese restaurants in general,
the country, and is teeming with Asian culture andcan also be found in shopping malls for that quick
business activities. It has become a culturalfood stop in the middle of a shopping spree.
landmark home to both Asian and French natives,France, being a country very much in tune with
all of which are bound together by a love for theits own culinary personality, is much too fond of
distinct Asian culture, and of course, the cuisine.the classic Vietnamese pho. This is quite evident,
Here you will find various noodle houses and allgiven all the pho restaurants in the country, and
sorts of Asian restaurants, including a number ofthe equally proliferating number of people in these
pho restaurants such as Pho Banh-Cuon 14 justrestaurants. This means that even though you're
right at the entrance of Chinatown. Located atin France, there's no reason not to enjoy a
129 Avenue de Choisy, not far from Tolbiac, thissteaming bowl of Vietnamese pho. Pho is, after all,
restaurant is one of the most popular phoa global Pho-nomenon.
restaurants in Paris, though it is certainly not the