Tucked away deep in the 13th arrondissement, this little eatery with a pink façade and a normcore feel draws in all those who know how to tell a real pho from a fake one. Because the soups at Ngoc Xuyen are about as authentic as they come, with a different soup served every day of the week: on Tuesdays, it’s the chicken-bamboo version; Wednesdays are crab soup; and there’s a pickled fish soup on Fridays… The day we went for lunch, after an unusual pair of minced pork rind summer rolls, we opted for the everyday pho: a very flavorful broth filled with rice noodles, slices of raw beef and beef offal meatballs, all seasoned with soy sauce, Thai basil and lime – pho-midable! // M.R.
FEELING THIRSTY? Jasmine tea (€2) or classic Saigon beer (€4.20 for 330 ml).
PRICE: À la carte €22-28.
