It's about the Pho Yo! Hanoi Hannah
No matter whether it’s in Dubai or Australia, it seems that using an pseudonym to name an Asian Street Food joint is all the rage these days.
So far we have Mr. Miyagi’s, Miss Tess, Miss Wang and in Melbourne, Saigon Sally, Tokyo Tina and Hanoi Hannah.
For those that need to know these things, Trịnh Thị Ngọ, also known as Thu Hương and Hanoi Hannah, was a Silky-voiced propaganda broadcaster and Vietnamese radio personality best known for her work during the Vietnam War, when she made English-language broadcasts for North Vietnam directed at United States troops. She passed away last year at 87 years of age.
Walking into the tiny space that is Hanoi Hannah in Windsor none of this is of any concern.
With a hip-hop soundtrack blasting, Air Max's dangling from the ceiling and some pretty cool service, Hanoi Hannah Express offers up some seriously good Vietnamese fare that hits the spot. All the usual suspects are there from Spring Rolls to Cold Rolls, Soups and Bowls all served with a smile and reasonably priced.
On this the visit the two Chargrilled Chicken Cold Rolls (AED 24) were really, really good. Bursting with flavor the chili & vinegar sauce is super punchy and makes each mouthful an absolute lip smacking pleasure.
Pho is my bro
Their signature Spicy Beef Brisket Pho (AED 38) brings to the table a large bowl of broth that has some great flavors going on. No it’s not at the level of a 100 year old broth that’s handed down from generation to generation in Hanoi’s Historic Quarter but it’s a very nice take on this magnificent dish all the same.
Cooking in the Old Quarter - Hanoi
Served with some beautiful basil, crispy bean sprouts and some tangy lemon to the side, these add-ons add some welcome aromatics and citrus to the broth while a dash of chili provides some heat without going overboard. If there was to be any criticism to be made, it would be that the noodles were slightly over. Not mushy but pretty soft. In all this was a very nice rendition of Vietnam’s national dish.
There are other varieties including the Tender Beef, the Poached Chicken and the Crispy Pork Pho, while there’s also something for the Vegetarians to cheer for in the form of a Mushroom Pho.
So the recipe for success seems simple: quality fresh ingredients, reasonable price point and good service.
With that on board they really could have called the place anything.