Vietnamese Pho Among World's Top 100 Chicken Dishes

Chicken pho has earned a spot among the world's top culinary creations, ranking 61st on the "100 Best Rated Dishes with Chicken" list. This prestigious ranking is based on an extensive analysis of over one million user ratings, with more than 666,000 of them verified. Pho, a dish deeply ingrained in Vietnamese culture, is a flavorful noodle soup characterized by its rich bone broth, tender rice noodles, aromatic herbs, and thinly sliced meat. Food historians note its origins in the early 20th century, emerging from the fusion of local Vietnamese ingredients and French culinary influences during the colonial period in Nam Dinh Province and Hanoi. The etymology of "pho" is a subject of debate. One prevailing theory suggests a connection to the French beef stew, "pot au feu," due to shared flavor-building techniques like the use of charred onions and ginger in the broth. Another hypothesis points to the Chinese word "fen," referring to flat rice noodles, as a potential linguistic ancestor. In its chicken iteration, pho utilizes a variety of chicken parts, including both breast and darker meat, along with skin and fat, contributing to its unique texture and flavor profile. The broth of chicken pho is notably lighter and clearer compared to its beef counterpart. It is delicately seasoned with ginger, fish sauce, and shallots, and is typically garnished with an assortment of fresh herbs and other accompaniments. The emergence of chicken pho is thought to date back to the 1930s. This period saw limitations in the availability of beef in Vietnamese markets on certain days, specifically Mondays and Fridays, which likely spurred the adoption of chicken as a primary protein for the beloved soup. Beyond its global recognition, chicken pho has also been celebrated regionally, securing the 15th position on TasteAtlas's esteemed list of Asia's 66 best meat soups. The "100 Best Rated Dishes with Chicken" list is topped by Paraguay's "vori-vori," a distinctive soup featuring corn flour and cheese dumplings. Following closely are China's "guotie" (pan-fried dumplings) and South Korea's globally popular "fried chicken." Information Source: VnExpress International