Brother Hai Restaurant Walkthrough: Complete Beginner's Guide to the Vietnamese Horror Game

Getting Started with Brother Hai Restaurant

Welcome to the complete walkthrough for Brother Hai Restaurant, the viral Vietnamese indie horror game. Whether you're new to the game or looking to uncover all its secrets, this guide will help you navigate Anh Hai's pho shop and the mysteries that surround it.

Game Overview

Brother Hai Restaurant is a narrative-driven psychological horror game where you:

🍜 Run a Vietnamese pho restaurant
🔍 Investigate village mysteries
🐕 Care for your shop dog, Mr. Gold (Cậu Vàng)
👥 Interact with memorable characters
🌙 Survive increasingly strange nights
📖 Uncover the truth about your restaurant's past

Playtime: 3-5 hours for first ending, 12-15 hours for all content

Chapter 1: Arrival (Days 1-3)

Opening Sequence

Objective: Get oriented with Brother Hai Restaurant basics

Starting Actions:

Explore Your Restaurant
- Examine the main dining area
- Check the kitchen equipment
- Find the storage room
- Meet Mr. Gold outside
Learn the Controls
- WASD or Arrow Keys: Movement
- E/Enter: Interact
- ESC: Menu/Inventory
- Tab: Journal/Tasks
First Customer Service
- Listen to tutorial instructions
- Take first order
- Prepare pho in kitchen
- Serve and collect payment

Day 1 Goals

Morning Tasks:

✅ Clean the restaurant
✅ Check inventory
✅ Meet Mrs. Lan (first customer)
✅ Feed Mr. Gold

Key Interactions:

Mrs. Lan: Accept her advice about the village
Uncle Minh: Listen to his stories carefully
The Vendor: Purchase basic ingredients

Tips for Day 1:

💡 Read all dialogue carefully—Brother Hai Restaurant hides clues in conversations
💡 Pet Mr. Gold frequently—it affects later events
💡 Keep your restaurant clean—customers notice
💡 Don't rush—exploration is rewarded

Days 2-3: Establishing Routine

Daily Cycle in Brother Hai Restaurant:

Morning (6:00 AM - 12:00 PM):

Restock ingredients
Clean previous day's mess
Prepare for lunch rush

Afternoon (12:00 PM - 6:00 PM):

Lunch service (busiest time)
Multiple customer orders
Maintain food quality

Evening (6:00 PM - 10:00 PM):

Dinner service
Fewer but more talkative customers
Story revelations increase

Night (10:00 PM - 6:00 AM):

Optional investigation time
Supernatural events begin (Day 3+)
Mr. Gold becomes more alert

Chapter 2: Operations (Days 4-7)

Mastering Pho Preparation

Perfect Pho Recipe in Brother Hai Restaurant:

Broth Base (Most Important)
- Select fresh bones
- Simmer for appropriate time
- Season with correct spices
- Quality affects customer satisfaction
Noodle Selection
- Fresh bánh phở (rice noodles)
- Cook time matters
- Different customers prefer different textures
Toppings & Garnish
- Sliced beef (tái)
- Herbs (húng quế, ngò gai)
- Bean sprouts
- Lime wedges

Customer Preference System:

Uncle Minh: Extra herbs, well-done beef
Mrs. Lan: Light broth, extra vegetables
The Student: Standard with extra chili
Regular Customers: Remember their orders

Business Management

Finances in Brother Hai Restaurant:

Starting Capital: 500,000 VND
Daily Expenses: ~50,000 VND
Income per Bowl: 40,000-60,000 VND
Target: Profit of 100,000+ VND daily

Ingredient Management:

Purchase ingredients from vendor
Fresh ingredients = better reviews
Spoilage occurs if unused
Balance cost vs. quality

Reputation System:

5-Star: Excellent service, perfect pho
4-Star: Good service, minor issues
3-Star: Acceptable but forgettable
2-Star: Poor quality or service
1-Star: Major problems

Building 5-Star Reputation:

Consistent quality pho
Remember regular orders
Clean restaurant
Friendly interactions
Fair pricing

First Strange Events

Night 4: The Late Visitor

After closing (10 PM), mysterious customer appears
Important Choice: Serve them or refuse?
Recommendation: Serve and observe carefully
This begins Brother Hai Restaurant's horror elements

Signs Something is Wrong:

⚠️ Mr. Gold's unusual barking
⚠️ Lights flickering
⚠️ Strange sounds from storage
⚠️ Customer behavior changes

Chapter 3: Investigation (Days 8-12)

Unlocking the Mystery

How to Begin Investigation:

Find the old photograph in storage room
Talk to Uncle Minh about village history
Examine strange marks behind counter
Mr. Gold leads you to hidden areas

Secret Areas in Brother Hai Restaurant

The Storage Room Back Wall:

Push specific crates to reveal door
Contains old documents
Photos of previous owner
Clues about restaurant's past

The Basement (Unlocked Day 10):

Accessed through kitchen trapdoor
Requires finding the key (in office drawer)
Critical to "Revelation" ending
Contains most significant lore

Mr. Gold's Secret Spots:

Follow him during investigation phases
He sits near interactive objects
Bark patterns indicate importance:
- 1 bark = examine nearby
- 2 barks = danger/supernatural
- 3 barks = hidden collectible

Document Collection

15 Hidden Documents in Brother Hai Restaurant:

Restaurant Receipt (Counter drawer)
Old Menu (Wall frame, remove to find)
Family Photo (Storage room, behind boxes)
Land Deed (Office file cabinet)
Newspaper Clipping (Kitchen bulletin board)
Letter #1 (Basement, desk)
Letter #2 (Basement, hidden compartment)
Letter #3 (Behind kitchen cabinet)
Village Map (Uncle Minh gives after trust builds)
Medical Records (Basement, locked drawer)
Construction Plans (Storage ceiling space)
Diary Entry #1 (Bedroom, under mattress)
Diary Entry #2 (Kitchen, inside rice container)
Diary Entry #3 (Basement, final room)
Final Revelation (Complete all investigations)

Customer Investigation Thread

Key NPCs for Information:

Uncle Minh's Story Arc:

Day 1: Pleasant introduction
Day 5: Mentions "the incident"
Day 8: Reveals partial truth
Day 12: Complete history (if trusted)

Mrs. Lan's Warnings:

Day 2: Subtle concerns
Day 6: Direct warning
Day 10: Offers help
Day 14: Critical information

The Student's Research:

Day 4: Asks about history
Day 7: Shares urban legend
Day 11: Provides key connection
Day 15: Final puzzle piece

Chapter 4: Revelations (Days 13-16)

The Truth Emerges

Day 13 Major Event:

Supernatural activity intensifies
Multiple strange customers
Mr. Gold becomes protective
Save your game before this night

Investigation Choices:

Option A: Confront the Truth

Continue investigating
Face scary encounters
Unlock "Revelation" ending path
More challenging but rewarding

Option B: Focus on Business

Ignore supernatural elements
Maintain restaurant operations
Unlock "Cycle Continues" ending path
Easier but incomplete story

Option C: Prepare to Leave

Gather belongings
Reduced customer service
Unlock "Escape" ending path
Shortest path but least satisfying

Critical Decisions (Days 14-15)

The Basement Final Room:

Requires all documents collected
Puzzle solution: Arrange photos chronologically
Reveals Brother Hai Restaurant's true history
Point of no return for "Revelation" ending

The Confrontation:

Late-night customer returns
Choice 1: "Who are you?"
Choice 2: "What do you want?"
Choice 3: "I understand now"
Each leads to different dialogue branches

Mr. Gold's Role:

Stays with you if well-cared for
Abandons you if neglected
His presence affects final choices
Affects emotional impact of endings

Chapter 5: Resolution (Days 17-20)

The Four Endings Paths

Path 1: The Continuation (True Ending)

Days 17-20 Actions:

Continue serving customers normally
Accept the village history
Make peace with the past
Choose to stay and honor memories

Final Day Requirements:

Restaurant reputation 4+ stars
Mr. Gold trust level: High
Key documents: 12+ collected
Community relationships: Positive

Ending Trigger: Choose "Stay and honor the memories"

Path 2: The Revelation (Secret Ending)

Days 17-20 Actions:

Complete ALL investigation tasks
Find hidden basement room
Solve the final puzzle
Uncover complete truth

Final Day Requirements:

ALL 15 documents collected
Basement fully explored
All character conversations exhausted
Hidden achievement unlocked

Ending Trigger: Access final room, choose "Face the truth"

Path 3: The Escape

Days 17-20 Actions:

Reduce customer service
Pack belongings
Avoid supernatural encounters
Plan departure

Final Day Requirements:

Decision made by Day 18
Minimal investigation
Low emotional investment

Ending Trigger: Choose "Leave everything behind"

Path 4: The Cycle Continues

Days 17-20 Actions:

Focus solely on business profit
Ignore all warnings
Dismiss supernatural events
Prioritize money over truth

Final Day Requirements:

High profits maintained
Low investigation score
Ignored character warnings

Ending Trigger: Choose "Continue as if nothing happened"

Advanced Tips & Strategies

Optimal First Playthrough

Days 1-5: Focus on learning mechanics
Days 6-10: Balance business and exploration
Days 11-15: Prioritize investigation
Days 16-20: Make informed ending choice

Speed Running Brother Hai Restaurant

Current World Record: 2 hours 34 minutes ("Escape" ending)

Key Skip Techniques:

Optimize pho preparation time
Skip optional dialogues (after first playthrough)
Pre-plan investigation route
Minimize business management

100% Completion Checklist

✅ All 4 endings unlocked
✅ All 15 documents collected
✅ All character dialogues seen
✅ Mr. Gold max relationship
✅ 5-star restaurant reputation
✅ All secret areas discovered
✅ Perfect pho achievement
✅ No customer complaints run
✅ All Easter eggs found
✅ Developer commentary unlocked

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Rushing Through Dialogue

Brother Hai Restaurant's story is in the details
Missing clues leads to confusion

❌ Neglecting Mr. Gold

Critical to emotional experience
Affects ending availability

❌ Poor Financial Management

Running out of money blocks progress
Can't purchase crucial items

❌ Skipping Investigation

Limits ending options
Miss the best content

❌ Ignoring Customer Preferences

Reduces income
Misses character development

Technical Tips

Performance Optimization

If Brother Hai Restaurant runs slowly:

Lower graphics settings in menu
Close background applications
Update graphics drivers
Verify file integrity on itch.io

Save Management

Best Practices:

Multiple save slots for different paths
Save before major decisions
Backup saves regularly
Use manual saves (auto-save is limited)

Critical Save Points:

Before Day 4 (first strange event)
Before Day 13 (major revelations)
Before Day 17 (ending path lock)
Before final choice

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long is Brother Hai Restaurant? A: 3-5 hours for first ending, 12-15 hours for 100% completion.

Q: Can I change my ending choice? A: Final choice offers some flexibility, but path is largely determined by Days 1-16 actions.

Q: Is there combat in Brother Hai Restaurant? A: No combat. It's a narrative horror game focused on atmosphere and story.

Q: Do I need to speak Vietnamese? A: No, the game has full English translation. However, Vietnamese cultural knowledge enriches the experience.

Q: Can I fail the game? A: No game over states. Your choices determine which ending you receive, all of which are "valid."

Conclusion

Brother Hai Restaurant rewards careful exploration, cultural appreciation, and emotional investment. This walkthrough provides the tools to experience everything this remarkable Vietnamese indie horror game offers.

Ready to begin your journey? Download Brother Hai Restaurant at marisa0704.itch.io/brother-hais-pho-restaurant and start your first night at the pho shop.

Last Updated: November 5, 2025
Complete Walkthrough for Brother Hai Restaurant
From first customer to final revelation