The Nostalgic Pho Restaurant of an 80-year-old Woman in Da Lat

Pho is not a famous dish in Da Lat, nor is it on the “must try” list for tourists. However, this city still has old pho shops. These restaurants attract diners through the nostalgic, old-fashioned features of the space and the gentleness and kindness of the owner.

This pho restaurant used to be famous on social networks because of its fancy design. It is a wooden house with a blue-painted facade, the signboard uses the familiar font of the 80s – 90s of the last century. Many young people come here to admire an old image of Da Lat and take a few commemorative photos. The 72-year-old owner is cheerful and welcoming, whether guests come to take pictures or enjoy food.

“The restaurant is small but enough to make me flutter, very close, it’s real, not simulated,” said Lan Chi (a tourist from Ho Chi Minh city).

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According to the owner, this wooden house was built by her parents 60 years ago. In 1994, due to difficult economic circumstances, the salary of the couple’s teaching profession was not enough to support their children’s education, so she quit her job and opened a shop selling beef pho, pork noodle soup, and some breakfast dishes. She named the shop after her daughter – Hai Uyen.

The 72-year-old lady impresses visitors with her kind face and bright smile. To any guest who came to the shop, she would say thank you in a warm, gentle voice, mixing a bit of Hue with a Southern accent – the common pronunciation of Da Lat people before 1975.

She often said: “Thank you for coming to my shop!” or “Hi, thank you so much for taking the time to stop by.”

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While meticulously making a bowl of beef noodle soup, the owner said: “In recent years, many customers have come to the shop because they are curious about the strange name sign. This sign was drawn by my husband in 1994. foreign language teacher who loves painting When I opened the shop, he designed, chose paint colors, and painted the sign himself. I have kept it that way for decades. The pictures hanging in the shop are also drawn by him.”

Previously, Pho Uyen sold many different dishes, but later, due to their advanced age, the two sisters only sold pho beef. It is open from 7:15 a.m. to 16:00 p.m. every day. They directly prepare ingredients, cook pho, and serve customers. The shop only hires an assistant.

The owner of the restaurant uses a charcoal stove to simmer the broth from the previous day until 4 am the next morning. “Nowadays, many places use electric stoves, but I still feel that the brazier helps the water to simmer the bones better, the fire is low, not too big,” the owner shared.

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Pho broth is quite fatty, quite different from pho in the North. The owner shared that she learned pho recipes from her relatives, read them in cookbooks, took notes from the internet, and then synthesized them to suit the taste of Da Lat people. Eaters can add pepper, bean sprouts, cilantro, lettuce, and basil. After eating pho, diners can order more desserts such as yogurt made by the owner.

According to many diners who have visited Pho Uyen, the pho itself is not too impressive, but just mouth-watering and easy to eat. On the chilly morning of Da Lat, a bowl of hot pho makes people feel warm. What makes diners give Pho Uyen 10 points is the attentiveness, enthusiasm, and affection of the owner.

For many years, the owner of the restaurant has always been warm and gentle. At the age of 70, she is still passionate about cooking pho and serving diners without ever complaining,” said Tri (Da Lat).

“I came to this restaurant because I was curious about the space of an old pho restaurant in Da Lat. When I arrived, I was captivated by the nostalgic feature here. The smile and voice and caring gestures of the owner also made me happy. With such lovely little things, the bowl of pho becomes more delicious”, commented Hoai An (Da Nang).

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