Is Pho Good for Hangovers?
Why Vietnamese pho is the ultimate morning-after remedy
Science, tradition, and 26 years of serving late-night pho in Ottawa's ByWard Market
Quick Answer
Yes, pho is excellent for hangovers. The bone broth rehydrates and restores electrolytes, ginger settles nausea, warm liquid soothes the stomach, and rice noodles provide gentle energy. In Vietnam, pho is the traditional hangover cure — and for good reason. It works.
The Science Behind Pho as a Hangover Cure
You are dehydrated, nauseous, exhausted, and your head is pounding. You need something that addresses all of these symptoms at once. Enter pho — a warm bowl of slow-simmered bone broth, rice noodles, fresh herbs, and ginger that has been used as a hangover cure across Vietnam for generations.
Hangovers are caused primarily by dehydration, electrolyte loss, inflammation, and low blood sugar. Alcohol is a diuretic — it makes you urinate more, flushing out water and essential minerals. It also irritates your stomach lining and depletes your glycogen stores. Pho directly addresses every single one of these issues, which is why it feels so remarkably restorative the morning after.
At Pho By Night in Ottawa's ByWard Market, we have been serving late-night pho to the after-bar crowd for over 26 years. We have seen firsthand how a bowl of our halal-certified bone broth can transform someone from miserable to smiling in 20 minutes. It is not magic — it is science and great soup.
6 Reasons Pho Cures Hangovers
Here is exactly why a bowl of pho is the best thing you can eat when you are hungover.
Rehydration
Alcohol dehydrates your body. Pho broth is warm, salty, and absorbs faster than cold water. One bowl provides roughly 400ml of electrolyte-rich liquid that your body desperately needs.
Electrolyte Restoration
The sodium, potassium, and minerals in bone broth replace what alcohol flushed out of your system. This is why you feel so much better after drinking broth — it directly addresses electrolyte imbalance.
Nausea Relief
Ginger is a proven anti-nausea remedy used for centuries. Pho broth is made with charred ginger, and you can add extra fresh ginger slices. Clinical studies show ginger is as effective as some anti-nausea medications.
Gentle Energy
Rice noodles provide simple carbohydrates that your depleted body can process easily. They give you energy without the heaviness of bread or fried food that might upset a sensitive hangover stomach.
Liver Support
Bone broth is rich in glycine, an amino acid that supports liver detoxification. Your liver is working overtime to process alcohol — glycine helps it do its job more efficiently.
Comfort Factor
Sometimes you just need something warm, soothing, and familiar when you feel terrible. The steam, the aroma of star anise and cinnamon, the ritual of adding herbs — pho is comfort in a bowl.
What to Order for a Hangover at Pho By Night
Not all pho bowls are created equal when it comes to hangover recovery. Here is what we recommend from our menu:
Pho Tai (Rare Beef)
The classic choice. Clear broth with thinly sliced rare beef that cooks in the hot soup. Light, easy to digest, and packed with protein. Add extra ginger and lime from the garnish plate.
Pho Ga (Chicken Pho)
Even lighter than beef pho. Chicken broth is gentler on the stomach, and shredded chicken provides lean protein. Perfect if you are feeling particularly fragile.
Just the Broth
If you cannot face solid food yet, ask for a bowl of our bone broth on its own. Sip it slowly with ginger and lime. Once your stomach settles, you can always add noodles later.
Vietnamese Iced Coffee
Once you have eaten some pho, our ca phe sua da (Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk) provides caffeine, sugar, and a mood boost. The combination of pho followed by iced coffee is the ultimate hangover protocol.
Pho vs Other Hangover Foods
People reach for all kinds of food when hungover — greasy breakfasts, fast food, sports drinks. But pho outperforms most of them because it addresses multiple hangover symptoms simultaneously.
A greasy breakfast sandwich might satisfy a craving, but the heavy fats can make nausea worse. Sports drinks restore electrolytes but lack the protein, amino acids, and anti-inflammatory ginger that pho provides. Plain toast provides carbs but no hydration. Pho is the only hangover food that delivers hydration, electrolytes, nausea relief, gentle energy, and comfort in a single bowl.
Even compared to other Asian soups, pho holds up well. Tom yum's spice can irritate a sensitive stomach. Ramen's heavy tonkotsu broth can feel too rich. Pho's clear, gentle bone broth is the sweet spot — flavourful enough to be satisfying, light enough to not make things worse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about pho and hangovers.