McDonald’s Vietnam gives its pho burger Vietnamese name

McDonald’s Vietnam said that as part of its efforts to draw inspiration from Vietnamese flavors, the company studied pho, one of the country’s most iconic dishes, and developed a burger inspired by its distinctive taste.

McDonald’s Vietnam first launched the pho-flavored burger in 2020.

The new name for its return was inspired by the familiar Vietnamese practice of naming pho restaurants after their owners.

The company said the approach reflects its understanding of and respect for Vietnamese culture and local habits.

McDonald’s Vietnam said its efforts went beyond the product’s name, as the company conducted research into pho to develop the burger’s signature sauce.

The sauce draws on four characteristic ingredients — star anise, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves — to create a distinctive pho flavor.

It is paired with freeze-dried Thai basil and sawtooth coriander, two herbs commonly found in Vietnamese pho, adding familiar aromas to the burger.

The filling combines beef with a round fried egg.

With 49 restaurants after more than a decade in Vietnam, initiatives such as the pho burger demonstrate the efforts of foreign businesses to integrate into and celebrate local culture and values.