Add all ingredients into a pan. Heat on high until boiling, then lower to medium high and cook for ~15 minutes while flipping the pork every ~5 minutes. Turn heat to medium-low and continue rotating the pork every ~5 minutes so it cooks and abosrbs the seasoning evenly, until just about all the water has evaporated.
Broth
Add all pork bones or pork ribs to a pot and fill with tap water until just covered. Add 2 Tbsp salt and bring to a boil on high heat. Once it hits a boil, let it boil for 30 seconds and then turn off the heat, and drain. Rinse under running water until clean and drain the water.
Return the pot to the stove and add all the broth ingredients. Turn the heat to high until it hits a boil, then lower to around medium so it maintains a low boil. Cook until the meat or meat around the bones is soft--approximately 2 hours.
Remove the lid, discard the onion and squid, then check the pork for doneness if using pork meat and not just bones.
Tep mo (fried pork fat)
Cut the pork fat into 1/2" cubes and saute on medium high heat until crisp, drain and set aside.
Noodle Seasoning
Add oil and shallot to a small sauce pan and saute on medium until fragrant. Add the remainint ingredients and bring to a boil on high. Taste, and adjust as needed, then remove from heat.
Noodles & Assembly
Boil noodles according to package instructions, drain and split into 8 bowls. Assemble your bowl with accoutrement, sliced xa xiu, fried pork fat and add a bit of seasoning on top of each bowl. Serve with a small bowl of soup on the side.