You Need To Know: Is Pho Gluten Free? [2023]

In today’s post, I’m talking about a question that’s asked a lot. Is Pho gluten free?

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission on products if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.

I think you’ll all agree with me when I say, it can be overwhelming trying to keep track of what foods are gluten free. [Especially when going out to a restaurant!] So today I’m going over the popular question -Is Pho Gluten Free? And is it safe for people with Celiac Disease. Keep reading to find out!

Is Pho Gluten Free?

A traditional Vietnamese noodle soup, pho is pronounced “fuh”—not faux. It first appeared in Vietnam in the 20^th century, pho quickly became popular—and is even considered to be the national dish of Vietnam today!

Pho is a combination of warm, savory broth and cool, bright toppings. You can add crunch with bean sprouts or julienned carrots. Basil, mint, and cilantro bring a freshness to the dish.

According to Wikipedia, pho is a Vietnamese noodle and broth dish. It features broth, thick rice noodles, herbs, and thinly sliced meat [usually beef]. While traditionally made with beef, there are many chicken based pho dishes too.

So, is it gluten-free? Based on what pho is made from, it can often be gluten-free and celiac-safe. But we have to talk about the components of pho, when it’s gluten-free, and how to double check your pho is gluten free pho at a restaurant!

What Is Gluten?

When talking about gluten-free Pho, it’s important we know what gluten is.

Gluten is a general name for the protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and triticale [a cross between wheat and rye].

Gluten is naturally occurring, but it can be extracted, concentrated and added to food and other products to add protein, texture and flavor. It can also be a binding agent to hold processed foods together.

Pho soup or the broth that the rice noodles are made in, is traditionally made with beef stock and fish sauce. Both beef stock and fish sauce are foods that aren’t always gluten-free.

What Are The Ingredients In Pho?

It’s hard to pinpoint an exact recipe for authentic pho, just because there are so many variations depending on the region. But these are the most common ingredients for a traditional pho:

Beef broth: Pho usually has a clear beef broth made from bones and meat that’s flavored with star anise and cloves for a subtle spice.
Rice noodles: These flat noodles are delicate in texture and usually cooked separately to prevent them from getting mushy.
Sliced beef: The beef is cut very thin and usually added to the bowl raw. When the hot broth is poured on top, it cooks the meat. You can also substitute the beef with cooked chicken or mushrooms and tofu.
Toppings: Fresh herbs, bean sprouts, lime wedges, and hot sauces all work well.

Is Pho Gluten-Free?

Sometimes, yes. It definitely can be gluten free. And if you’re making it at home, you have full control to make sure all the ingredients used are gluten free. But in a restaurant you always want to double check that all the sauces and broths used are also gluten free!

Pho noodles, also known as banh pho, are gluten-free as long as they are made from 100% rice and water.

Pho can be made gluten-free, however most restaurants serve pho that contains gluten in the broth from beef stock and fish sauce. Both beef stock and fish sauce are foods that aren’t always GF. So, it’s important to check to make sure what’s being used is gluten-free.

Ingredients You Want To Look Out For

Anything breaded – usually breaded in breadcrumbs/flour or fried in oil that has been contaminated
Soy sauce – unless it’s gluten-free soy sauce, most soy sauce is made with wheat. Full post on soy sauce here!
Hoisin – typically contains Gluten, but you can buy a GF version.
Egg noodles – egg noodles are not just made of egg but a combination of eggs and wheat flour. If egg noodles or other gluten containing noodles are prepared in the restaurant, you’ll want to ask about cross contamination if you suffer from Celiac Disease.
Fish sauce – this sauce is made of fish but some varieties can contain gluten. Again, you’ll want to make sure it’s gluten-free.
Any kind of broth: while uncommon, can be flavored with spices that contain gluten or thickened with flour, so you’ll want to make sure it’s gluten-free.
Any other sauce or condiment that’s not single ingredient. These are great places for gluten to hide and you’ll always want to check them. Sneaky names for gluten here!

In this post, I talked about if pho is gluten free. Short answer, sometimes yes. If you’re making it at home, it can easily be made GF but when eating out you definitely want to double check that all ingredients are gluten free. There’s nothing worse than accidentally getting glutened! I hope this helps!

Information from this blog should not be treated as a substitute for professional assistance from trained medical, health, and wellness professionals. Please discuss any changes to your diet, medication, supplements, treatments, diagnoses, and physical activity with your doctor before taking any action as a result of information from this blog.

Some of the links in this article are "affiliate links", a link with a special tracking code. This means if you click on an affiliate link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission. The price of the item is the same whether it is an affiliate link or not. Regardless, we only recommend products or services we believe will add value to our readers. By using the affiliate links, you are helping support our Website, and we genuinely appreciate your support.