How Chef Helen Nguyen Uses Dry-Aged Beef to Make Some of NYC's Best Pho — The Experts

At NYC’s Saigon Social, chef and owner Helen Nguyen makes her own pho broth using oxtail, brisket, beef shank, and dry-aged rib bones that she butchers at Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors' warehouse every 10 days. The meat is used in dishes like oxtail fried rice, shaken beef steak, and more.

Credits:
Producer: Daniel Geneen
Directors: Daniel Geneen, Murilo Ferreira
Camera: Murilo Ferreira, Nick Mazzocchi, Daniel Geneen
Editor: Howie Burbidge

Executive Producer: Stephen Pelletteri
Supervising Producer, Operations: Stefania Orrù
Supervising Producer, Development: Gabriella Lewis
Audience Engagement: Avery Dalal
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eater is the go-to resource for food and restaurant obsessives with hundreds of episodes and new series, featuring exclusive access to dining around the world, rich culture, immersive experiences, and authoritative experts. Binge it, watch it, crave it.

vietnamese soup pho

[TanukiSC]

Huge credit to her for wanting to learn the butchery skills they use and to understand how the different types and aging of meat impact her broth. You can tell she’s built a good relationship with them and I just love her commitment and enthusiasm. It’s no wonder she’s had so much success!

[TheMaryWriter]

This might just be one of my favorite videos from Eater. Nguyen's desire to learn and devotion to her craft is remarkable, and the entire time she never shows any ego--everything is being done because she loves to make good food. Very inspiring from beginning to end.

[ArielK]

Shout out to to LaFrieda's company as well as the many exalent butchers around this world. That help the restaurants like Chef Helen for getting best quality food for their customers.

[SoRooks]

This is the best example of ‘made with love’ I’ve ever seen. The passion, curiosity and carefulness in every step during the ENTIRE process is admirable.

[richiele]

LFG!!! Love Helen and what she has created! One of my GO TO spots whenever visiting NYC. Ya'll got it right!

[chriscr]

WOW... The Chef such a commitment to making the very best Pho she can. That Pho must be so fantastic!!! Great video highlighting this amazing Chef.

[Jeffshighonlife]

I could listen to this woman talk about food forever. You gotta respect her passion. You can tell she loves what she does

[lilaznpandabear]

She started the episode with the sun out, she didn't stop the sun did a 180, damn dedication 100%.

[oahzy]

Chef Helen is not only one of the best chefs in the city but also one of the kindest and most generous. NYC is a better place because of her and her incredible restaurant Saigon Social.

[fingerprince_]

Must take crazy commitment and work ethic to get that nerdy about the butchery on top of all the other hassle of running an NYC restaurant, looks like it really pays off though. That fried rice cooked in the rendered fat looks absolutely incredible!

[CBD..]

Pat’s proud look and smile while Helen was breaking down the meat 😊

[thomasaiu]

Chef Helen is so amazing in the sharing of her love of cooking and deep roots in her culture and relationships with her purveyors and learning and growing more and it’s very humbling to watch her she’s very humbled he respects and love of her food shows in all she does .

[randomcommenter]

This chef is a true saucier! And LaFrieda is the man! Both take so much pride in their work and it shows.

[nintandao]

I just made soup (homemade ramen) for the first time for the family at Christmas dinner last night, and it's given me so much more appreciation for the process
It's beautiful to see the passion Helen shows for the craft

[btlan]

Kudos to Helen. Happy to see someone who can speak English very well and instruct the younger VNmese generation to make Phở without washing the bones n meat 10 times!!!

[ktran]

Thank you chef Helen for your creativity and dedication!

[isabellawong]

When she talks about the broth, the colour and said it’s so beautiful you know this is a chef pouring her heart into this. Love it

[phyllisg]

Love the way she embraces all parts of the process towards creating her own Pho! This is how to become really good at something - embrace continous learning!!! Shes taken Pho to another level!

[WV.]

The dedication that chef puts into her pho is a testament in itself.
Then the realisation that this same amount of care is applied to the rest of her menu is truly mind blowing

[mon]

Ok more helen please! Her pho looks godly. And also more of the butchers- they seem really cool