Welcome to Brother Hai's Pho Restaurant! This guide will teach you everything you need to know for a successful first playthrough - from basic controls to avoiding common mistakes.
Not Just Cooking
This is a horror game disguised as a cooking sim. Expect dark themes.
Protect the Dog
Cậu Vàng's survival is tied to one of the endings. Pet him often!
You're Undercover
The cheap pho price (15K VND) is a clue - you're not a real business owner.
4 Different Endings
Your choices accumulate. There's no single "ending choice."
| Key | Action | Category |
|---|---|---|
W / A / S / D | Move character | Movement |
Shift | Run/Sprint | Movement |
Left Click | Interact with objects and NPCs | Interaction |
Right Click | Camera zoom | Camera |
Mouse | Rotate camera view | Camera |
Tab | Pause menu / Journal | Menu |
Esc | Emergency teleport (if stuck) | Menu |
E / Enter | Confirm selection | Interaction |
Start in your bedroom above the restaurant. Take a moment to look around - notice the family photos on the wall (they'll change based on your choices later). Head downstairs to the restaurant.
Familiarize yourself with the cooking station. Ingredients table near entrance, bowls on the right, broth pot against the wall. The order matters: Bowl → Noodles → Meat → Toppings → BROTH LAST.
Adding broth before toppings fails the dish!
Lunch rush begins. Customers announce their orders verbally and show a visual reminder above their heads. Focus on accuracy over speed for your first day.
Customers pay in Vietnamese Đồng. You must give correct change. The game uses realistic 1-2-5 denominations. Wrong change damages your reputation.
Financial mistakes hurt your reputation!
Dinner service is slower but customers are chattier. This is when story details emerge. Pay attention to dialogue - it's not filler, it contains clues.
Close the restaurant. On Day 1, not much happens at night, but this is when dog thieves start patrolling. Keep Cậu Vàng close!
Losing Cậu Vàng to thieves triggers a bad ending!
Phở Tái
Rare beef
Phở Bò Viên
Beef meatballs
Phở Chín
Well-done beef
Phở Tái Chín
Rare + well-done combo
Phở Đặc Biệt
Special (everything)
"không hành"
= No green onions
"thêm rau"
= Extra vegetables
"thêm ớt"
= Extra chili
"ít nước"
= Less broth
1 bark
Check nearby - something to interact with
2 barks
Danger warning!
3 barks
Hidden collectible nearby
Continuous
Dog thieves approaching!
Adding broth before other ingredients
Dish fails, must restart, customer waits longer
Always follow the sequence: Bowl → Noodles → Meat → Toppings → Broth LAST
Ignoring Cậu Vàng (the dog)
Dog wanders, gets stolen by thieves, triggers Bad Ending #1
Pet the dog at least 3 times per day, keep him in sight, respond to barking
Skipping NPC dialogue
Miss crucial story information and investigation clues
Read all dialogue carefully. NPCs provide hints about the mystery.
Wrong change given to customers
Reputation drops, trust decreases, limits ending options
Double-check math. Pho is 15K VND. Practice with common denominations.
Neglecting night exploration
Miss investigation clues, documents, and character interactions
Explore the village at night starting from Day 3. Many secrets only appear after dark.
Accepting protection money demands immediately
Locks you into certain story paths, may miss True Ending
Refuse Bố Đời's demands, but make sure to gather evidence to protect yourself.
Rushing through the game
Miss hidden mechanics, documents, and character development
Take your time. This game rewards thorough exploration and attention to detail.
Forgetting to save
Losing progress when bad endings trigger
Save before Days 4, 13, and 17 (major decision points)
When things get hectic, focus on these tasks in order of priority:
| # | Task | Why It Matters | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check on Cậu Vàng (pet the dog) | Prevents Bad Ending #1 | 3x daily minimum |
| 2 | Take customer orders accurately | Income and reputation | Every customer |
| 3 | Cook pho correctly | Customer satisfaction | Every order |
| 4 | Give correct change | Reputation maintenance | Every transaction |
| 5 | Talk to key NPCs | Story progression | When they appear |
| 6 | Explore at night | Investigation clues | After Day 3 |
| 7 | Collect documents | True Ending requirements | Throughout game |
Focus: Learn Mechanics
Focus: Balance Business & Exploration
Focus: Prioritize Investigation
Focus: Make Informed Choices
Create manual saves at these points to give yourself flexibility:
Before Day 4
First strange event
Before Day 13
Major supernatural event
Before Day 17
Ending path locks in
Before Final Choice
Last decision point