Rach Gia Banh Khot - Rustic flavor, attractive to diners

At Banh Khot 78 restaurant, the kitchen smoke mixed with the smell of shrimp and green beans reminds one of the taste of Banh Khot from the old countryside.

Anyone who has visited Rach Gia and wants to find a truly delicious banh khot dish will be immediately told: “Go to banh khot restaurant 78, Nguyen Binh Khiem street!”. No flashy sign, no luxurious tables and chairs, just a small corner on the sidewalk with three sets of tables and chairs and a wood stove that is always red with fire…, but this place has become a familiar meeting place for many generations of diners.

The fragrant smell of banh khot attracts passersby.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Gai’s small shop at 78 has been around for nearly 18 years on the corner of the street. She still persistently makes cakes every day, keeping the fire burning for the job she has been doing all her life. Occasionally, her son-in-law, Mr. Nguyen Son Dang, helps out. He used to cook for parties, but when he returned with the small cake mold, he smiled and said: “I help my mother and I am happy to see customers enjoy their food and feel warm inside.”

Mrs. Gai has spent 18 years selling banh khot at the corner of Nguyen Binh Khiem Street.

A plate of 10 banh khot costs only 20,000 VND. The golden, crispy crust makes a “crackling” sound when you bite it. Inside is a filling of dried shrimp, stir-fried until fragrant, mixed with fatty green beans that have been peeled and soaked for 4 hours.

The secret lies in the fish sauce, which is simmered until fragrant, then mixed with vinegar, shredded carrots and white radish. The hot banh khot dipped in the clear, sweet and sour fish sauce makes diners want to order another plate.

Banh khot with shrimp and bean filling in Rach Gia costs from 15,000 - 20,000 VND/portion.

Shop 78 opens from 11am to around 3:30pm and is completely sold out. When asked how many they sell each day, Mrs. Gai just smiled gently: "I lost, I can't count. We sell both on-site and deliver."

Not only restaurant 78, Rach Gia has many attractive addresses for those who are "addicted" to banh khot. At number 7 Truong Vinh Ky, there is a restaurant with shrimp and pork banh khot, priced from 15,000 - 20,000 VND/portion, rich flavor, affordable for students.

If you want to eat late at night, Oc Pho Co Hanh restaurant at C9/21 - 22 Lac Hong street is an interesting choice. Open until 3am, this place serves a variety of affordable dishes, including banh khot for 30,000 VND/10 pieces, especially vegetarian banh khot for dieters.

Banh khot at Oc Pho Co Hanh restaurant.

From Nguyen Trung Truc Street, turn towards the sea to Lac Hong Street, diners can easily find Oc Pho Co Hanh's banh khot and banh xeo rau rung restaurant. The flour is hand-milled, fried crispy and hot, delivered to your door. Prices start from only 15,000 VND/10 banh khot with broth for vegetarians or 15,000 VND/9 banh khot with filling. The restaurant also supports delivery to Rach Soi, Ta Nien, Minh Luong, delivery fee is only from 5,000 - 10,000 VND.

Beautiful round cakes, attractive to the eye.

The crispy, fragrant banh khot on the corner of Nguyen Binh Khiem street or along the small alley of Rach Gia is not simply a dish, but it also encapsulates the meticulousness, the love of the craftsman and the peaceful breath of the coastal city of An Giang .

For many people far from home, Rach Gia has many memories, including crispy banh khot, clear fish sauce and the clacking sound of the cake mold on the charcoal stove.

Article and photos: DANG LINH

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/banh-khot-rach-gia-huong-vi-dan-da-hap-dan-thuc-khach-a426872.html