What's the Buzz About Ky Dong's Pho Ga - The Most Controversial Michelin-Listed Pho Spot?
Out of the 8 pho restaurants that made it into Michelin's Bib Gourmand 2024 selection, Ky Dong is arguably the one sparking the most debate among food lovers. Some find it just average, others even dislike it, while many others (including the Michelin inspectors!) rave about it.
One thing's for sure, though: this place is always packed! Even during off-peak hours, you'll find almost every table occupied, let alone during the lunchtime or dinner rush.
Why the Hype? Here's What We Found:
- Wallet-Friendly Prices: Starting from just VND 55,000 per bowl, it's accessible to most people.
- Decent Chicken: The chicken quality is good, not exceptional, but definitely worth the price.
- Lightning-Fast Service: Especially impressive considering how busy the place always is!
A Customizable Pho Experience!
The flexibility in ingredients is a huge plus, offering diners various choices. You can enjoy your chicken pho with glass noodles (miến), chewy rice noodles (hủ tíu dai), vermicelli (bún), egg noodles (mì trứng), or even instant noodles (mì gói)!
In my opinion, this is a humble yet well-rounded eatery, with consistent quality throughout, starting from the price and ending with the product. The main product, of course, is the pho!
Unbelievable Scale!
The owner has even had to address rumors in the press about selling up to 1,000 chickens per day during peak times. While the accuracy of that number is debatable, it speaks volumes about how incredibly popular this place is! The food scale is impressive!
Managing such a huge operation, serving customers from morning to night, is no easy feat. From that perspective, it's truly remarkable!
Southern Flavors with a Twist
The pho here seems to have a Southern Vietnamese influence. Although it's called "pho," the taste feels similar to some Chinese-Vietnamese chicken noodle soup (hủ tíu gà) places in Chinatown. The small, square pho noodles, sometimes called "square pho," are almost identical to the chewy rice noodles in appearance (only differing in texture).
The flavor profile isn't groundbreaking, but it caters to a wide range of palates. The standout element is the fried shallots (hành phi), a major difference from Northern Vietnamese pho. Fried shallots add an enjoyable richness to both dry and soup versions of pho. I think if you remove the fried shallots, it might be hard to tell this is Ky Dong's pho.
Overall, it's a down-to-earth restaurant that satisfies the needs of many customers and aligns with the service criteria of the Bib Gourmand. Whether you find it delicious or not is subjective, but with its massive customer base, it's a dream come true for anyone in the food and beverage industry.
Our Verdict:
- Food: 7.5/10
- Service: 8.5/10
- Ambiance: 7/10
Pho Mien Ga Ky Dong
📍 14/5Bis Ky Dong, Ward 9, District 3, Saigon | 📞 Hotline: 028 3843 5630
⏰ Opening Hours: 5:30 AM to 10:30 PM
🍜 Chicken Pho/Glass Noodle Soup from VND 55,000/bowl, Chicken Salad VND 100,000/plate
#saigondiningguide #saigondining_quan3 #saigondining_monViet #saigondining_Michelin
```