Phở Lệ

Phở Lệ is a pho restaurant at 413-415 Nguyen Trai Street in An Dong Ward, District 5 of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in the Cholon area, the city's historic Chinese-Vietnamese quarter. The restaurant is known for a sweeter, clear broth and generous cuts of beef, a style associated with the southern way of making pho. The broth is simmered with beef bones, charred onion and ginger and spices, and it is served over rice noodles with a plate of fresh herbs, bean sprouts, lime and chilli on the side. Signature orders include phở tái nạm, with rare beef and flank, and phở gân, which adds tendon cooked until soft and gelatinous. Diners can adjust the bowl with hoisin and chilli sauce, though many prefer to taste the broth first. The room is large, simple and informal, with fast service and a mix of local families, workers and visitors. Noise is moderate and there is no dress code. The restaurant does not take reservations, and walk-ins are the norm; mornings and early evenings are the busiest periods. Hours are generally from about 06:00 to 22:00 daily, though visitors should confirm locally. A typical meal costs roughly 70,000 to 130,000 VND per person, in the budget category. Drinks include iced tea, soft drinks and coffee. Its location on Nguyen Trai makes it a convenient meal stop when visiting Cholon's temples, such as the Thien Hau Temple, and the Binh Tay Market, and it offers an alternative to the better-known pho shops in District 1. Cholon is a short ride from the central district, and visitors often combine a pho breakfast with a morning walk through the area's old shophouses and herbal medicine shops.