On the morning of April 24, Pho Ly Quoc Su at 40 Dinh Liet Street was drawing more visitors than usual.
Passersby paused to snap photos after learning that South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his spouse Kim Hae Kyung had dined there the night before.
The visit was part of side activities during the couple's state visit to Vietnam, made at the invitation of Vietnam's General Party Secretary and President To Lam and his spouse.
The restaurant is a compact space, just 15 square meters, has five tables, and a kitchen tucked upstairs. While clean, the space can feel quite warm.
Before recent regulations banned pavement dining, the shop served between 300 and 400 bowls a day. Revenue has since declined with the loss of its sidewalk seating.
Mui said he felt proud that his restaurant had been chosen, given that it has not been open long.
To make his broth stand out, he has adjusted his recipe by reducing fish sauce and enhancing the broth's sweetness using beef bones, sa sung (peanut worms), and dried squid.
Hoang Quynh Trang, a Hanoi resident, visited after hearing the news of the South Korean president. She noted the clarity of the broth and the tidiness of the space.
Not expecting an exceptional meal given the location, she left surprised, rating the food as good and said she would return.
Each batch of broth begins with around 30 kilograms of beef bones, simmered for 18 to 20 hours. Aromatics such as ginger are added for fragrance.
Kim Won Ho (R), a South Korean visitor, came with a friend after reading about the presidential dinner. He described the pho as "excellent."
The flavors reminded him of Vietnamese-run pho restaurants back in Seoul, though the experience of eating it in Vietnam is something else.
"It was special to sit at the same table where the president and first lady dined the night before," he said.
That table has since become a popular photo spot.
Mui plans to print and frame the photograph taken with President Lee as a keepsake on the wall.
On Google Reviews, the restaurant holds a 4.4-star rating. Most diners praise the food quality and prices, though some customers have reported incorrect orders affecting their experience.
Mui said he remains committed to maintaining quality and improving service to better meet customer expectations.
