About Brother Hai's Pho Restaurant
A Vietnamese Horror Cooking Experience
Game Overview
Brother Hai's Pho Restaurant (Tiệm Phở Của Anh Hai) is a short, narrative-driven pixel horror game that uniquely blends Vietnamese culture with psychological horror elements. Created by indie developer Marisa0704, a student from Hanoi University of Science and Technology, the game went viral on Vietnamese social media in November 2024.
Set in Dan Phuong District, Hanoi, you play as Anh Hai (Brother Hai), running a pho restaurant at "10 Dan Phuong." What starts as serving Vietnam's beloved noodle soup quickly descends into a nightmare as increasingly disturbing customers arrive. The game became so popular that Vietnamese players began searching for the restaurant on Google Maps, not realizing it was entirely fictional!
This game combines business simulation, horror storytelling, and action RPG elements. Your moral decisions—serving honestly, feeding your dog Mr. Gold, responding to strange customers—determine one of four endings, with only one bringing peace and redemption.
The Story
You are Brother Hai, the owner of a small pho restaurant in Vietnam. Your days are usually filled with the comforting aroma of beef broth and the cheerful chatter of regular customers.
But tonight is different. Strange customers begin to arrive, each with increasingly disturbing requests and behaviors. As you serve them your famous pho, you start to uncover dark secrets about your restaurant, your past, and the sinister forces at play.
The game explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the supernatural elements deeply rooted in Vietnamese folklore. Every bowl of pho you serve brings you closer to the horrifying truth.
Vietnamese Cultural Context
Phở Culture 🍜
Phở (Vietnamese pho noodle soup) is not just food—it's a cultural icon representing Vietnamese identity. Small family-run pho shops like Brother Hai's are the heart of Vietnamese street food culture, where community bonds are formed over steaming bowls of beef broth and noodles.
Vietnamese Folklore 👻
The game draws from Vietnamese ghost stories and "Ma Đói" (hungry ghosts) legends— spirits who cannot find peace and wander seeking resolution. The disturbing customers reflect traditional beliefs about unfinished business between the living and the dead.
Historical Note: The game is inspired by real Vietnamese cultural elements, though not based on specific true events. Many players have compared it to Detention(Taiwan) and Silent Hill for its atmospheric horror rooted in Asian cultural storytelling.
Gameplay Features
Cooking Mechanics
Prepare authentic Vietnamese pho for your customers while managing your restaurant.
Horror Elements
Experience psychological horror that builds tension through atmosphere and storytelling.
Multiple Endings
Your choices matter! Discover 4 different endings based on your decisions.
Pixel Art Style
Beautiful retro pixel graphics that blend nostalgia with horror aesthetics.
Vietnamese Culture
Authentic representation of Vietnamese street food culture and folklore.
Short Experience
A focused 30-60 minute experience perfect for horror game enthusiasts.
Game Information
Developer
Marisa0704
Platform
Itch.io (Browser & Download)
Genre
Horror, Simulation, Cooking
Playtime
30-60 minutes
Ready to Experience the Horror?
Dive into Brother Hai's world and discover what lurks behind the steaming bowls of pho.