“We were days from closing. We didn’t even think anyone would notice.”
Pho 7AM is a tiny, family-run Vietnamese food spot tucked behind a bus depot in East Manchester. They serve plant-based pho, banh mi, and iced coffee out of a converted shopfront that’s easy to miss — unless you know where to look.
After months of rising costs and quiet evenings, the owners, Lan and her mum, had started packing up boxes. They had already begun telling regulars they’d likely be closing before the end of the month.
Then Hidden Manchester published a short piece about “5 spots worth leaving your postcode for.” Pho 7AM was the first on the list — we posted a moody photo of their steaming pho bowl, linked their opening hours, and shared Lan’s story of learning to cook with her grandmother.
“I didn’t even know the post went live. The next morning we had a queue out the door.”
Lan says that within a week they’d seen more new customers than the previous three months combined. A food blogger picked it up. A journalist reached out. And regulars started bringing friends — proud to say they’d been there “before it blew up.”
“It was the first time we felt seen. Like we were part of the city’s story — not just feeding it.”
Pho 7AM stayed open. They’ve added new menu items, started offering takeaway on weekends, and are now running a monthly supper club featuring local guest chefs.
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