Madame Ngo

What makes Madame Ngo Berlin’s best Pho address?

The three giant cooking pots in the display window of number 30, from which thick steam rises, and the three red glowing letters above the entrance door – PHO – immediately make it clear what is simmering here. Behind it is one of the city’s most renowned restaurateurs: In the Berlin gastronomic scene, everyone probably knows Duc Ngo, who runs a total of nine other restaurants in addition to Madame Ngo. The concept is quite clear: during the day, predominantly healthy and freshly prepared soups, the Pho, are served; in the evening, culinary delicacies with French influence complement the offerings, and the establishment becomes a brasserie.

The Pho itself is not a dish quickly put together. Dozens of poultry carcasses and several soup chickens simmer for ten hours for seventy liters of broth, repeatedly skimmed until the broth is crystal clear. The result is evident in the bowl: subtle strength from chicken and onions, light seasoning of star anise and ginger — this is the North Vietnamese Pho from Hanoi or Nam Dinh; the one from South Vietnam is richer, spicier, and also a little sweeter. In addition to the national soup, there are other Vietnamese classics: grilled pork belly or summer rolls filled with shrimp, tofu, pork, or omelette. Vegetarians, for example, can enjoy marinated tofu with rice noodles.

What is the atmosphere like at Madame Ngo?

The restaurant itself is housed in a former pharmacy on Kantstraße. The shabby-chic establishment with exposed brickwork and an open kitchen creates an atmosphere somewhere between Hanoi’s street food and Berlin’s restaurant culture. You can enjoy your Pho either like in a classic Vietnamese fast food restaurant at the counter with a view of the slightly hectic preparation kitchen and the three oversized steel pots, or in the somewhat more relaxed back part of the store. It’s not surprising that the establishment is listed in the Michelin Guide Germany 2025. Madame Ngo has also long held a firm place in the Berlin culinary scene: Even celebrity chef Tim Raue endorses the restaurant and recommends the Bun Bo Nam Bo. If you want to come spontaneously, however, you should consider that the place is almost always fully booked. So: reserve a table.