Buzz
A well-known restaurant attracting thousands of customers owes its success to a chef with a not-so-impressive skill set. This seemingly ironic story is, in fact, true right in the heart of Hanoi!
The six-year saga of recipes and the departure of the renowned chef
For many restaurants, a skilled chef is the 'golden key' that defines the brand and ensures the memorable quality of the dishes. However, Phuong Nam is a unique case where the restaurant owner proudly asserts: 'Our success is due to a chef... who is not quite skilled enough'
Perhaps Phuong Nam is the only restaurant in Hanoi daring enough to admit that the deliciousness of its dishes is thanks to a chef... not overly skilled!
Back in the day, Phuong Nam had a very skilled head chef who had worked in many large and small hotels, both domestically and internationally. However, he couldn't establish a lasting connection with Phuong Nam.
'Talented individuals often want to leave their own mark, tweaking a bit here and there, being creative in different places. That's why those who are too skilled don't stay long at Phuong Nam because the customers here are discerning. Change something a bit, and they immediately 'complain': 'Did you change the chef? Why does the food taste different?'' – Thuy, the owner of Phuong Nam restaurant shared.
The dishes at Phuong Nam carry a unique flavor, and once customers get used to it, they can't accept any changes.
Thuy candidly admits: 'To be honest, the chef at Phuong Nam is not skilled enough to be creative or leave a unique mark. For all this time, Phuong Nam has stuck to the cooking formula established by the original Southern chef from the first generation. The deliciousness of Phuong Nam's dishes primarily comes from high-quality ingredients!'
That's why an overly skilled chef can't make Phuong Nam stand out in the hearts of customers!
If someone steps into the kitchen of Phuong Nam, they will see a detailed recipe board, meticulously outlining every proportion and step to create a dish to perfection. Six years ago, Thao – a talented chef from the South and the first chef of Phuong Nam – worked with Thuy to build this recipe.
Each dish has its own precise recipe, down to every proportion
Recalling those days, Southern cuisine was still a very unfamiliar concept to Hanoi diners. Thao brought the 'pure Southern' cooking style to the heart of the North. After each meal, both Thao and Thuy would stand beside the tables, inquiring and seeking input from customers to adjust the flavors for better suitability. This dedicated process of seeking customer opinions every year gave birth to each precise recipe.
3 Phuong Nam dishes confidently touted as the top-notch in Hanoi
Six years have passed, but Phuong Nam still maintains its approach from the early days: Loyalty to recipes based on customer feedback; always seeking customer opinions after each meal to enhance flavors and ensure high-quality, clean ingredients.
Phuong Nam has a habit of asking customers for feedback on the dishes after they have finished their meals
Customers visiting Phuong Nam are always introduced to the trio of dishes that the restaurant confidently believes no place in Hanoi has surpassed: simmered coconut, the broth of snakehead fish hotpot, and Trang Bang rice paper served with fermented fish sauce.
The snakehead fish hotpot broth and simmered coconut at Phuong Nam proudly claim the top spot in Hanoi
The secret to the delicious flavor, in addition to the handed-down cooking formula, involves two more secrets: using high-quality ingredients and only cooking enough for the day.
Phuong Nam's cooking secret can be summed up in one sentence: Delicious dishes come from excellent, top-notch ingredients
If you have the time, do drop by Phuong Nam to taste these top-ranking dishes. Experience the subtly sweet and sour flavor of fragrant river-leaf broth, the rich taste without being overpowering of fermented fish sauce, and the deeply savory and sweet profile of simmered coconut. See if this place truly offers a uniquely special taste compared to other Southern cuisine restaurants you've tried!
>>> Check out Phuong Nam's up to 30% discount this month
P.S.: Phuong Nam has 2 locations, one at 155 Bui Thi Xuan and the other at 2, Alley 69 Chua Lang. Conveniently visit the one near your area!
Hai Ly.
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