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🍜 Introduction
Vietnam is full of different kinds of pho restaurants.
Most people are familiar with beef pho (Phở Bò) and chicken pho (Phở Gà), but during a recent trip to Hưng Yên, I came across something I had never seen before:
Phở Trâu Bát Đá – Hot Stone Water Buffalo Pho.
Instead of being served in a regular bowl, the pho comes in a heated stone bowl that keeps the soup boiling hot.
After living in Vietnam for several years, I had never seen this style of pho in Hanoi, so I decided to give it a try.
📍 Restaurant Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Restaurant | Phở Trâu Bát Đá |
| Google Maps | https://maps.app.goo.gl/4gcnsVhYtMMjAkie6 |
| Opening Hours | 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Phone Number | 0989 006 977 |
| Price Range | 30,000–100,000 VND |
| Main Dishes | Hot stone water buffalo pho, buffalo dishes, fried rice |
🏠 First Impressions
The large “PHỞ BÁT ĐÁ” sign immediately catches your attention.
According to the signboard, the restaurant also serves:
- Buffalo dishes
- Buffalo hot pot
- Fried rice
- Other local Vietnamese dishes
The place feels very local rather than tourist-oriented.
🍻 Atmosphere
When I visited, several local customers were already drinking beer in the middle of the day.
This gave me the impression that the restaurant is not only a pho shop but also a place where locals gather for food and drinks.
I also noticed a few customers who appeared to be Indian. Since they arrived by motorbike, I wondered if there might be an industrial area or factory nearby.
📖 Menu
🍜 Hot Stone Pho (Phở Bát Đá)
Based on the restaurant’s name, the pho appears to be made with water buffalo meat.
| Menu | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Phở bát đá | Rare water buffalo meat and one egg | 60,000 VND |
| Phở bát đá | Rare water buffalo meat, lean buffalo brisket (Nạm), fatty buffalo brisket (Gầu), and one egg | 70,000 VND |
| Phở bát đá | Rare water buffalo meat, lean buffalo brisket (Nạm), fatty buffalo brisket (Gầu), buffalo tail, and one egg | 80,000 VND |
| Phở bát đá đặc biệt | The 80,000 VND version plus two eggs according to the menu | 100,000 VND |
🍲 Traditional Pho (Phở truyền thống)
| Menu | English | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Phở tái | Rare sliced meat pho | 30,000–40,000 VND |
| Phở tái bắp | Rare meat and shank pho | 40,000–50,000 VND |
| Phở bắp lõi | Beef shank center pho | 40,000–50,000 VND |
| Phở bắp lõi gầu | Beef shank center and fatty brisket pho | 50,000–60,000 VND |
| Phở tái nạm gầu | Rare meat, lean brisket, and fatty brisket pho | 40,000–50,000 VND |
| Phở tái lăn | Stir-fried meat pho | 40,000–50,000 VND |
| Quẩy | Vietnamese fried dough sticks | 10,000 VND per plate |
The menu lists two different prices for some dishes, but it was unclear whether the difference was due to portion size or the amount of meat.
🍚 Fried Rice Is Also Available
Although it was not clearly shown on the menu board, the restaurant also serves fried rice.
Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo.
I specifically ordered the small size, but the portion was still surprisingly large.
I honestly wondered how big the regular size must be.
If you are dining alone or with just one other person, I would recommend ordering:
“Cơm rang nhỏ” (small fried rice).
❓ What Makes the 100,000 VND Special Pho Different?
The menu clearly states that the special version includes:
“2 trứng” (two eggs).
Since the 80,000 VND version already comes with one egg, it seems that the special pho is simply the 80,000 VND version with an additional egg.
However, the menu does not provide any further explanation, so there may be other differences as well.
If you are curious, it may be worth asking the staff before ordering.
🥩 I Ordered the 80,000 VND Version
The ingredients were served separately and included:
- Rare water buffalo meat
- Buffalo brisket
- Buffalo tail
- Egg
- Herbs
- Rice noodles
- Fried dough sticks
In front of me was a boiling hot stone bowl.
You add the ingredients yourself and finish cooking the pho at the table.
🔥 The Hot Stone Bowl Is the Most Interesting Part
The stone bowl stays extremely hot and keeps the soup warm until the very end.
Watching the raw meat slowly cook in front of you adds a fun interactive element to the meal.
I have eaten many different kinds of pho in Vietnam, but this was my first time trying hot stone pho.
At least for me, this is something I have never seen in Hanoi.
💬 How Did It Taste?
To be honest, my impression was:
“It’s good enough, but not something I would go out of my way to eat again.”
The biggest issue for me was the texture of the meat.
It was a bit tough.
I am not sure whether that was because it was water buffalo meat or simply the way it was prepared, but it was noticeable.
The price, at 80,000–100,000 VND, is also slightly expensive compared to many local pho shops.
🤔 Would I Visit Again?
If I happened to be in the area again for work, I would probably think twice before returning.
However, if you:
- Enjoy trying unusual foods
- Want to experience a different style of pho
- Are looking for unique local dishes in Vietnam
then I think it is worth visiting at least once.
📝 Final Thoughts
Phở Trâu Bát Đá in Hưng Yên may not be the most delicious pho I have ever had, but it was certainly one of the most unusual.
The experience of eating pho from a heated stone bowl made the meal memorable.
If you are traveling through Hưng Yên and want to try something different from the usual bowl of pho, this place might be worth a stop.
