Influenced by Chinese philosophy and Buddhism, Vietnamese cuisine is rooted in five cardinal flavors, each tied to one of the five natural elements: spicy represents metal, sour represents wood, bitter corresponds to fire, salty is water, and sweet is earth. Every dish, or at least every meal, should strike a balance of those flavors and elements.
If this is your first time ordering Pho, see a helpful guide (with pictures) on Pho Meats Guide.
Pho Meat Guide
The most popular meats are brisket, eye round steak, rough flank, tendon, tripe, meatball, and oxtail.
But what are they, what do they look like, and what does it taste like?
See our full guide.
