Lines in rain for Vietnamese singer’s Shanghai pho

Chi Pu arrives at her restaurant early to welcome her Chinese celebrity friends and guests. The official opening last Friday followed a three-week soft opening.
Chi Pu, 30, is an actress and pop singer. She was honored on the Forbes' list of the Asia Pacific's 100 most influential digital stars in 2020.
She made her debut on the Chinese market with her appearance in "Sisters Who Make Waves," a popular reality show in China. Her musical performances throughout the show gained a lot of attention from local audiences, and she took sixth place in the official competition out of dozens of stars.

Many fans had been in line outside the eatery since Thursday evening to show their support for the singer, despite the fact that the restaurant didn’t open until 11 a.m. on Friday.

The restaurant’s co-founders Chengling Zhang and Helen Trinh were also present.
Its name "La Ganh" (Carrying Poles) was inspired by the traditional Vietnamese tool of the same name -- bamboo shoulder rods with goods hanging from on each end used by mobile street vendors to carry their wares.

A unique combo including a bowl of pho bo (beef noodles), a poached egg, a set of Vietnamese-style bagel twists, a cup of lotus tea, and a cell phone popsocket with a photo of Chi Pu printed on was available for orders during the grand opening.
Many eaters visited the restaurant during its soft opening and uploaded their reviews on social media platforms.
"There was a lot of meat, the broth tasted good, and I ate up everything," a netizen wrote on Weibo. "The restaurant only serves one type of pho now, but there will be more added later."

The restaurant can accommodate ten guests at a time, so many had to queue in the rain outside.
Chi Pu frequently went outside to greet and thank her customers.

The singer also served customers herself on opening day. She talked with them, asked their opinions on the dishes, and took photos with them.

Several of the singer’s Chinese celebrity friends also dropped by to show their support, including actress-singer Celina Jade and supermodel Qu Ying. Others, including host Wu Xin, sent cards of congratulation.
The Chinese stars got close to Chi Pu after they competed alongside each other in "Sisters Who Make Waves."

The restaurant has often been fully booked since its opening.

The pho broth is made by simmering ox bones, herbs, and spices for 12 hours.

It costs customers 59 yuan ($8) for a bowl of pho during the ongoing opening period, 19 yuan for a cup of lotus tea, 7 yuan for a set of bagel twists, and 5 yuan for a poached egg.
Eaters will have to pay 90 yuan for a bowl of pho after the opening period ends.

Accessories such as tote bags and metal badges are also available for sale at the eatery.

The restaurant is located in one of the most crowded neighborhoods in Shanghai’s Jingan District.