A Belfast-based Vietnamese restaurant chain is to open a major new location in Dublin, with plans to open more in the future, according to reports.
The Dublin InQuirer’s Sam Tranum reported that Madame Pho is to open on the city’s Exchequer Street in the near future.
Fu Xue told the Dublin InQuirer that the company plans to be in Dublin for over a decade, and want to open several restaurants in the city.
There are multiple Madame Pho locations in Northern Ireland, all in or near Belfast. They operate at St Anne’s Square, Botanic Avenue, Lisburn Road and have recently opened on the Ormeau Road.
They also have locations in Dundonald and Lisburn, the former being one of four recent openings by the company in the space of six weeks.
Speaking to Mr Tranum, Peng Lin, the company’s marketing director, said doing business in Dublin has “more madness” and is generally more expensive.
He added that he believed there was room for expansion as there were not many Vietnamese restaurants in Dublin
Madame Pho serve a wide variety of Vietnamese food, including the famous noodle soup dish it is named for. Guests can also try Banh Mi baguettes and Ca Ri curry.
In 2020, the Belfast Telegraph’s Joris Minne described their Pho as “wholesome… you can feel the health benefits as it flows down your throat, and the additional lime, chopped chillies and coriander on the side allows you to spice it up, and it does need a bit of a gee-up”.