Pho 10 on Ly Quoc Su is not trying to be the most remarkable pho in Hanoi; it is trying to be reliable, consistent, and good, and at this it succeeds. The restaurant is a few minutes' walk from St. Joseph's Cathedral, in a neighborhood that sees both Vietnamese regulars and tourists who've wandered over from Hoan Kiem Lake. The stock is properly made — long-cooked bones, charred ginger and onion, star anise and cinnamon — and the beef sliced to order. The portions are correct.
The system is the same as at any serious pho counter: arrive, sit wherever you find space, state your preference (tai for rare beef, chin for well-done, a combination for both), receive your bowl, customize with the lime, chili, and fresh herbs on the table. There is no hovering over your decision; the kitchen moves fast and there are people behind you. Eat before 9am for the best experience — the broth is freshest in the first hours, and the restaurant gets progressively more crowded through the morning. It closes once the daily batch of broth is finished.