What does pho taste like? Well, there are many types of pho. Let The Average Cook explain this to you!
Pho is a dish inspired by Vietnamese stalls. Mostly served as breakfast on the streets of Vietnam, it is a dish that many foreigners associate with the country.
Pho was originally served at street stalls, but has evolved and is now served at various high-end Vietnamese restaurants.
If you’ve ever popped into a bowl of pho at 9pm as a tourist in Vietnam, it’s normal. Pho is more than just a breakfast dish. It’s not the same as ramen, but both are noodles floating in soup.
The noodles used in pho are not the same wheat noodles used in ramen.
What does pho taste like? Due to the many ingredients used in the preparation of pho, the flavors can be quite complex.
A variety of spices can be used to prepare pho and can be seasoned to the maker’s taste. The taste of Pho is the perfect balance of salty, spicy, citrusy and sweet.
The pho tastes like chicken or beef broth, with hints of basil and ginger. Bean sprouts are sometimes added to bowls of pho to create a contrast in texture and add crunch to the dish.
Ramen is Japanese and comes in several varieties.
The ingredients don’t match, so the taste can’t be compared to pho. Let me briefly explain why a steamer of pho is not a bad idea when you visit Vietnam.
The Benefits of Pho

Pho is the national dish of Vietnam. It may look like a simple soup with just noodles and toppings. It has a reputation not only for its appearance and taste, but also for its high nutritional value.
The first advantage of pho is that it is gluten-free because it uses rice vermicelli.
This isn’t necessarily nutritious, but it’s good to know that you can try it without worrying about gluten. The herbs used in pho are very nutritious and it’s a great deal.When making pho, you must use spices and herbs such as basil and coriander.
Both are rich in polyphenols. These compounds may prevent the development of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease and other related diseases.
It is difficult to determine whether the amounts of herbs and spices used in pho are sufficient to represent their nutritional value, but in the long term, consuming pho can aid in the absorption of these compounds. I can do it.
Bone juice and ginger are used in the preparation of pho, both of which have nutritional value. Bone broth may help develop joints in the body.It contains collagen, glucosamine and chondroitin.
All of these compounds can promote joint health even in small amounts in the soup.
Ginger contains gingerol, a compound known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.It can also help reduce joint pain and inflammation.
Pho is an excellent source of protein, with one serving (1 cup) of pho containing about 15 grams of protein.
Proteins are important to the body because they act as building blocks and are used in the development of muscles, tendons, skin, hormones, and several organs.
How is Pho Used in Cooking
Just as oats are traditionally served for breakfast at home, this is the same status that pho holds among Vietnamese.
This is how you start your day. You can park your bike on the side of the road and buy freshly steamed pho from roadside stalls.
The name pho refers to the noodles used to prepare the dish. Anyone can make soup, and there are many different types of soup in Vietnam.
The noodles used for pho are rice vermicelli, so it has a light and transparent feel. Rice vermicelli is known as banh pho.
Other ingredients for making pho are ginger, herbs, spices such as basil, coriander, side dishes such as bean sprouts, chili peppers, radishes, onions, coriander seeds, chicken, beef his broth, and water.
There are several variations of pho dishes. There is pho ga which is chicken pho, pho chai (vegetarian pho) and pho bo (beef pho).
These are the different variations of pho dishes you can have. However, not all Vietnamese noodle soup dishes are called pho.
We also have some other noodle dishes that are not related to pho.
Read more: What is Rib Meat in Chicken?
Does Pho Taste Like Licorice?
There are two ingredients in pho that can produce that licorice-like taste. Star anise and fennel seeds.
The presence of these two ingredients can give the pho a licorice flavor.
Final Thoughts on What Does Pho Taste Like?
For a chef, sipping pho is a sign that you enjoy and appreciate the food. At special occasions and gatherings in Vietnam, families prepare bowls of pho to celebrate.
Eating pho is something I always enjoy doing and will always love it!