I do sometimes wonder how I’m not at least moderately famous with gems like this. Then I immediately remember (and genuinely don’t care anymore) that these blogs may never get read. And honestly? That realization was freeing.
Once I got past feeling like a total failure and a loser, everything else went downhill—in the best possible way. No pressure. No audience chasing. Just writing because I actually enjoy it. Even if this all ends up being an autobiography for myself, I’m good with that.
Phew.
That one came straight from the therapist’s chair.
Anyway… back to Pho
I remember when people used to pretend to like sushi, pho, dim sum, and whatever else was trendy at the time. They’d make sure you knew they were going, had gone, or had just returned from eating “the best ever,” while clearly forcing enthusiasm.
Well… look at me now.
That’s me.
I love pho.
I love sushi.
Turns out trying things for yourself beats talking about them from the sidelines. Funny how that works.
FOFO, indeed
Other than Google, there’s a foolproof way to spot a great place to eat: look at the line—and more importantly, who’s in it.
This one was packed. And not with tourists holding cameras and guidebooks—this line was full of Asians, which is always a very good sign. A quick Google check confirmed what my instincts already knew: this spot was serving some of the best pho in the Hanoi Old Quarter.
Turns out it wasn’t just “one of the best.”
It was #1 on the list.
Rich broth, perfectly cooked noodles, tender meat, zero nonsense. The kind of bowl that makes you slow down halfway through because you don’t want it to end.
I’ll talk about #2—aka Obama Bun cha version of Pho (and yes, it absolutely nailed it too). But this one?
Pho 10 was undoubtedly the benchmark.
Sometimes the line tells you everything you need to know.
I’ll talk about #2—aka Obama Bun cha version of Pho (and yes, it absolutely nailed it too). But this one?
I’ll talk more about #2—aka the Obama Bún Chả version of pho—later in the blog (and yes, it absolutely nailed it too). But this place deserves its own moment.
The visit gave rise to the now-iconic “Combo Obama”, which includes:
Bún Chả (grilled pork with noodles and herbs)
Crab spring rolls
A local Hanoi beer
Simple. Perfect. Universal.
This spot became famous after Barack Obama shared dinner here in 2014 with Anthony Bourdain, during an episode of Parts Unknown. Obama was president at the time, Bourdain was doing what he did best—using food as a bridge between cultures.
Plastic stools.
Cold beer.
No security theater.
No ego.
Just two people eating great food in Hanoi, proving once again that the fastest way to connect across cultures isn’t politics—it’s dinner.
The food lives up to the story.
The story lives up to the moment.
Some meals are famous because they’re good.
Others are famous because they mean something.
This one managed to be both.
Honestly, visiting this restaurant wasn’t about Barack Obama for me—it was about Anthony Bourdain.
Vietnamese food—and pho in particular—was something Bourdain genuinely loved. He talked often about Vietnam as a place that shaped him, not just as a cook but as a traveler. What always stuck with me was how far he was willing to go for food: wandering down side streets, eating at hole-in-the-wall spots, and staying out until absurd hours just to find something real. The ironic part is that once he found something real, it turned into a tourist trap.
That mindset influenced how I travel. I’ve always tried to do the same—skip the polished places, follow instincts, watch where locals eat, and say yes to places that don’t look impressive on the outside.
So sitting there, eating Vietnamese food in Hanoi, felt less like a tourist stop and more like paying quiet respect to someone who showed a lot of us how to travel differently—through curiosity, humility, and a love of good food.
For me, that’s what made the place special. I try to live life the way he did, as he was such an absolute travel legend.
Here was my experience eating the “Bourdain” combo!
Only a few things make me happier than finding these kinds of places that fuel more travel.