Be Vietnamese for One Day at “Phở With Phriends”

On the first day of March, a chilly Sunday in NYC’s Chinatown, the aroma of long-simmered beef broth swept down the street outside of Time Again Bar. A line of hundreds snaked down the block and they were all there for one thing — a piping hot cup of phở to warm the stomach and the soul. 

EnVi got the chance to check out “Phở With Phriends,” a popup event organized by four “phriends”: Vanessa Nguyen, Dustin Huynh, Thy Tran, and Richard Giang. This group of friends, all actively involved in the NYC culinary scene, sought to serve 200 servings of phở, inviting everyone to grab a red stool and “be Vietnamese for one night.” This “pho-ndraiser” donated all profits to immigration protection services and mutual aid, the cause especially pertinent to mass deportations by ICE and the increasing deportations of pre-1995 Vietnamese immigrants who majorly arrived as refugees. 

Brisket, Bolero, and a Line Down the Block

The event was originally scheduled the week prior, but had to be postponed due to the historic blizzard that overtook the northeast. It was a tough call, as they had to figure out how to freeze and store thirty pounds of brisket and thirty pounds of broth. To the surprise of the four friends, the postponement of the event brought even more buzz to it, racking up their RSVP count to a whopping 800 within a week.

“I think it was divine timing,” said Vanessa Nguyen, the event and creative lead.

When the day finally arrived, the crowd showed up and showed out. The windows of the venue were decked out in flyers of four red stools — the event’s signature logo — alongside memes hyperspecific to the shared joke of everyone being Vietnamese for one night. 

Vietnamese bolero music blasted from a speaker as the line moved, relaying their orders one by one to the window. Then, they could head inside, where they were first greeted at the door by prints designed by Nessa Nguyen, who collaborated with the “phriends” in creating stickers of the red stools logo of the event.

A Party with a Purpose

Making their way into the venue, the warm smell of phở grew more intense. Guests were then ladled a cup of rich, dark broth, rice noodles, generous slices of brisket, garnished with green onions, jalapeños, and an optional squirt of sriracha. You could enjoy your phở inside, where episodes of Anthony Bourdain’s travel documentaries played on the TV and a playlist blending Vietnamese and Latin bolero blasted over the speakers. Or you could take your food outside, where many huddled together on red stools, clinking frosty beer bottles, the rising steam from the phở even more prominent against the cold air. Traditional coconut and pandan jellies called rau câu were also served at the event and they made for a nice, sweet treat after the savory phở. 

As cups of phở were handed out and the tall pot of broth waned, the party was at “Phở With Phriends” was still going strong. Imperial Lion Dance, a Vietnamese lion dancing team from Massachusetts, hyped up the crowd with their award winning routines, as well as dancing to Bad Bunny songs. The curation of Vietnamese and Latin music was intentional, as Vanessa spoke to the ties between Vietnamese and Latin culture and the shared experiences of the global south. She was inspired by the recent Bad Bunny Superbowl performance, making connections between the white plastic chair and the Vietnamese red stool.

“Phở With Phriends” closed out with karaoke, making it the ultimate Vietnamese party, as the team celebrated the success of their “pho-ndraiser.” The event was something that had always wanted to be pulled together by the four friends, but the scale, timing, and cultural relevance of it especially made the moment feel special. 

Beyond the Broth

This was not the first food-based fundraiser that Vanessa has organized, with some of her past popup events donating to food relief in Gaza and advocating for SNAP benefits. “Phở With Phriends” was taglined with the motto: “Community isn’t complete until everyone eats.” The gathering projected that message throughout the day, bringing people together over food and culture while raising funds and awareness towards immigration protection. With the recent boom of Vietnamese restaurants, eateries, and businesses in NYC, we’re reminded of the invaluable contributions of immigrants to food culture and the communities that grow around it.

Why specifically was phở the main character of the event? Vanessa pronounced phở as her most sentimental food. 

“I will share a bowl of phở with you if I care about you,” she said. 

Phở especially is a dish that requires meticulous and long hours of labor, from the overnight simmering of the beef bones, to the hand assembling of the ingredients, all to create a balanced and hearty bowl. To Vanessa, phở is the physical representation of how food and love intertwines. 

What’s next on the horizon for “Phở With Phriends?” With the success of the event, the four friends are looking forward to bringing Vietnamese food again in another potential popup. 

Vanessa suggested a block party cookout. 

“Imagine everyone dancing. Bam, Jersey music. Bam, Bad Bunny. And there’s a giant cookout grill in the middle of it. Like summer, full swing. Bò lá lốt (grilled ground beef wrapped in betel leaves). I want to have skewers grilling.”

As the snow thaws and spring dawns upon us, perhaps we can expect a summer gathering that feels just as warm as the cups of phở that started it all.

Interested in other cultural happenings and events in NYC? Check out our coverage on Joy Flower Pot’s grand opening party!