Who says you can only find "cursing noodle soup" or "cursing pho" in Hanoi ? People in Ho Chi Minh City can still experience this type of business at Ms. Huyen's noodle soup stall in Phu Nhuan district.
Ms. Huyen worked tirelessly, showcasing her signature skills as she went along - Photo: TO CUONG
Ms. Huyen's "cursing noodle" shop is located deep in an alley off Nguyen Cong Hoan Street, Ward 7, Phu Nhuan District, behind Phu Nhuan Cultural Park.
Despite the densely packed shops and narrow streets leading to it, Ms. Huyen's restaurant is still easy to find because from the beginning of the alley, customers can hear the owner's loud, almost singing, "cursing" echoing from the entrance.
Customers entering the restaurant should remember to order the dish by its correct name, "noodle soup," because if they accidentally call it "cursing noodles," Ms. Huyen will immediately "indulge" them.
What makes Cô Huyền's "cursing noodle" stall so special?
Many readers will surely wonder what "bun nuoc" is and why they've never heard of it before. This is a unique dish in Ho Chi Minh City, completely different from the "bun nuoc leo" originating from the Khmer people and famous in the Mekong Delta provinces.
Although the origin of this dish is unclear, according to the owner, this is one of the first noodle soup stalls in Ho Chi Minh City and has been selling it for over 30 years, with the recipe passed down from his mother and aunt.
The noodles mixed with chili sauce, chili salt, MSG, and pepper look quite "student-friendly" - Photo: TO CUONG
Around the Phu Nhuan area, there are also restaurants selling this dish, but they all have to have the word "Cô" (meaning "Miss" or "Miss") in front of the name, like Cô Có or Cô Dung, to be considered authentic.
Although it's a noodle soup stall, the best-selling dish at Ms. Huyen's shop is still noodle soup/mixed noodles.
Essentially, it's still noodle soup, but instead of instant noodles, you use a noodle packet. Those who prefer it dry can mix it with pepper, MSG, and chili salt.
At first glance, the ingredients of the dish seem a bit "hybrid," with beef, beef sausage, shrimp sausage, beef meatballs, shrimp crackers, and soft-boiled eggs.
When the dish was served, the writer immediately thought of those "fancy" instant noodle meals from their student days, when they would just blanch whatever they had in the refrigerator in boiling water and enjoy it.
The broth contains beef, beef patties, shrimp patties, beef meatballs, and a soft-boiled egg; the best part of this bowl is probably the chewy shrimp patty, seasoned just right - Photo: TO CUONG
The broth, with its cloudy appearance, is garnished with scallions, fried onions, and foam from the eggs and beef, creating an indescribable sense of nostalgia.
Taking a sip, the ingredients like shrimp paste, beef, and the mild spiciness from pepper and chili make the broth quite flavorful, but overall it's not outstanding or distinctive enough to be called a novel or unique dish.
Despite the comparison, a bowl of noodle soup is anything but "student-friendly," costing over 70,000 VND.
Swearing is just to "please the customers".
On social media, every time the name "Bún chui Cô Huyền" (Noodle Soup with Curses) is mentioned, a heated debate immediately erupts. The majority of the criticism is that the food is unremarkable, yet customers have to endure insults and pay a hefty price for it.
Some people jokingly say that when you come here, besides paying for the noodle soup, you also have to pay an extra "fee for being scolded" to justify the price.
Although the food quality isn't bad, the delicious taste isn't the reason why customers from near and far flock to Co Huyen's "cursing noodle" stall - Photo: TO CUONG
In fact, from the writer's observation, when the shop was not crowded, Ms. Huyen didn't swear at all; it was only when she saw groups of people coming in from the end of the alley that she started raising her voice.
But these "scoldings" weren't directed at customers; instead, they were reminders to the restaurant staff about small things like cleaning or which table to bring a particular dish to...
During the conversation, Ms. Huyen was also friendly and didn't appear aggressive; perhaps she only cursed to maintain the "brand" of the restaurant, jokingly saying it was a kind of down-to-earth marketing tactic.
Indeed, without the intriguing "cursing noodle soup" brand, Ms. Huyen's restaurant would surely not have been so popular for so many years. Word of mouth has also drawn many YouTubers, TikTokers, media professionals, and others, including the author, to visit the restaurant and experience it for themselves.
Many people, initially curious, tried the food and fell in love with the lively atmosphere and delicious flavors, becoming regulars. As a result, Co Huyen's "cursing noodle" stall has left its own unique mark on the hearts of people in Ho Chi Minh City.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bun-chui-co-huyen-khet-tieng-sai-gon-20241124163545479.htm
Comment (0)