A good friend invited us to join him at Pho Aroi (official Facebook page) to “try the best Pho in Bangkok.” I’m a fan of pho (say that 10 times real fast) and I’ve had some tasty pho in Bangkok. That being said, I hadn’t experienced anything that impressed me to the point of making claims like “best in Bangkok“. But when my friend gives his highest praise I listen.
I listen because he’s always right.
Let’s dig in!
He was certainly right in this case. Because after trying both their beef and chicken pho served in super-sized bowls I would happily give Pho Aroi my highest praise as the place that serves the best pho in Bangkok. If you’re a fan of pho this article is for you!
The Menu
Pho Aroi’s Menu (as of 17FEB23)
Pho Aroi’s menu offers much more than pho. There are plenty of favorite dishes to round out your meal should you crave more than noodles. Their prices are also very reasonable (especially considering how expensive Vietnamese food seems to be in Bangkok) and their portions are very filling.
Pho Aroi’s Menu (as of 17FEB23)
During our visit, we were 7 guests who had no problem tackling the entire menu. But for this article, I intend to focus mainly on the things that really impressed me. Why not kick it off with their most impressive dish, their phenomenal pho!
Phenomenal Pho!
Pho Aroi offers both beef or chicken bowls of pho. Both are delicious, but unless you don’t eat beef, you should absolutely get the beef pho.
Special XL Beef Pho (250 baht)
What makes this pho so incredible is the rich broth that comes from slow cooking the Australian marrow bone for 22 hours which includes 2.5 hours of cleaning the bones so the broth remains clear and “funk free“. They use grass-fed Cape Grim Tasmanian beef sourced from The Accidental Butcher for their meat cuts. They also offer options to upgrade to Australian Wagyu MBS4-6 or Grade A Australian Tenderloin (with regular free upgrade promotions when you order the Special XL Beef Pho (250 baht).
The soup is served with all the usual condiments (long-leaf coriander, basil leaf, bean sprouts, and Sriracha and hoisin sauces). The broth is rich and herbal, and if you try it just before you add the hoisin sauce you’ll get that little tingle in the back of your throat. I guarantee that as soon as you taste this broth you’re going to love this pho.
PRO TIP: If you have a gluten intolerance Pho Aroi is willing and able to make a gluten-free version of their beef pho just for you at no additional cost. Simply give them a day’s notice beforehand!
A chicken option…
Chicken Pho (120 baht)
For a lighter pho, or for those who don’t eat beef, their Chicken Pho (90 baht) offers a delicious and filling alternative. The broth is cooked slowly for 4 hours to pull all of the sweetness from the chicken bones and seasoned delicately with radish and herbs. The broth isn’t nearly as intense as the broth from the beef pho, but it definitely lands this dish in the comfort food category.
Pure comfort soup…
It’s also loaded with chunks of tender chicken. Don’t let the inexpensive 120 baht price tag fool you. This dish comes with a lot of food and flavor!
It goes without saying that when ordering at Pho Aroi you simply must order the pho. The question you need to ask yourself is, “Chicken or beef?”
Tasty bánh mì!
I can never turn down an opportunity to try a bánh mì. Because you never know when you’ll find a good one, and maybe have a story to tell about it.
Vietnamese Baguette with Pork (130 baht)
On the menu as Vietnamese Baguette with Pork Hams and reasonably priced at 130 baht, Pho Aroi’s bánh mì is a good one for sure. They bake their own baguette buns to be crispy on the outside and a little chewy on the inside. Then their homemade pâté, made with chicken liver, pork fat, and spices is generously spread on the buns.
The sandwich is then filled with slices of ham, cucumber, pickled carrot, coriander, and a special butter.
A tasty bánh mì!
Even if you don’t have the appetite to eat one after you’ve devoured your giant bowl of pho, order one to take with you!
Rounding out the meal…
If you want to round out the meal with some popular Vietnamese dishes, Pho Aroi has you covered. We had enough folks at the table to enjoy some of the finger foods like their savory betel leaf wrapped beef, and fresh spring rolls stuffed with shrimp, pork, and herbs. We also tried their crispy Vietnamese pancake filled with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts and their steamed rice rolls with seasoned ground pork and minced wood ear mushrooms.
Special menu…
On their special menu, they offered Broken Rice and Grilled Pork (180 baht) and a Vermicelli and Pork Noodle Bowl (150 baht). The broken rice dish is known as cơm tấm in Vietnam and is extremely popular as a calorie-packed breakfast.
A chat with the owner…
Tony (Chef/Proprietor) and Me
During our visit, I had a chance to talk with Tony, the proprietor, and chef of Pho Aroi. Tony’s family migrated to America with his family from Vietnam at the end of the conflict. He grew up as an American with a passion for cooking and eating Vietnamese food and sharing it with his friends and family.
He became a doctor and worked for a well-known prescription sunglasses brand. His job was to travel and live abroad training optometrists who would order and prescribe the products. For the past 14 years, he has been living in Thailand with his wife, who is also a doctor. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit his job was affected by the resulting economic downturn.
Pho Aroi is born.
Happy guests…
He and his wife decided to channel his passion for cooking and feeding others his homemade Vietnamese food into Pho Aroi. The reason to focus on pho was that he felt Bangkok was missing a really good pho, that also provided a lot for a little price. He wants guests to know before ordering that they should “elevate their expectations of quality.”
That’s because he has made such an effort to source only the best ingredients and not take any shortcuts in the kitchen. His goal is to ensure that even guests who elevate their expectations won’t be disappointed. It only takes one spoonful of broth from his pho to understand where he’s coming from…
I’m hungry. Where is it?
Pho Aroi is located at the entrance of the For You Park complex in the Bangna area. If you find yourself heading to Central Bangna via the highway you should absolutely stop and visit.
But you don’t have to visit to enjoy the food as my friend discovered Pho Aroi first through delivery. He felt it was the best in Bangkok based on that experience alone. They take great care to pack the pho in such a way that it travels well and you can create your own tasty experience.
If you want your food delivered you can order directly through their Facebook page messenger, the Facebook WhatsApp button, or call the shop to place an order at +66613851900.
For large orders or booking tables (especially on weekends) you can email admin@phoaroi.com.
These past couple of years their pho has been so successful that they’ve been able to open 2 additional branches:
A new Pho Aroi opened at The Walk (Kaset-Nawamin) on January 1, 2022. So if you are in the Lat Phrao area be ready to have your tastebuds elevated!
And their newest branch, which is even more convenient, had its grand opening on February 17, 2023, and is located on the 4th floor of THE STREET RATCHADA which is just a few minutes walk from the Thailand Cultural Center MRT station Exit 4.
Welcome to THE STREET RATCHADA!
I want to hear from you!
Should you decide to experience Pho Aroi, I’d love to hear your feedback in the comment section below, directly to me, or via message on either the Chow Traveller Facebook page or Chow Traveller Instagram (and feel free to like/follow these pages if you want to learn about more foodie gems). However you choose to reach out, I’d love to hear from you!
