Business is difficult, some restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City survive thanks to the 'Michelin effect'

"This time is still regular customers, much luckier than many other shops!"

At noon, I went to the Ky Dong chicken noodle and pho restaurant at 14/5Bis Ky Dong (Ward 9, District 3) after the restaurant was recently listed as a Bib Gourmand restaurant by Michelin Guide. As expected, the restaurant was packed with customers, more crowded than the last time I visited 2 months ago. At peak times, customers sat at dozens of tables arranged in the restaurant, everyone was laughing and chatting happily, comfortably enjoying the food.

After Michelin, Ky Dong chicken noodles became even more popular.

Just like that, a steady stream of customers came in and out of the restaurant, a testament to the appeal of the restaurant, which has been in operation for nearly half a century and is located in a small alley. Confiding in me, the restaurant representative said that at this time, customers still come regularly to support, partly thanks to the "Michelin effect".

“But before that, my family's restaurant had many loyal customers who had supported it for decades. After being listed on the Michelin list, the restaurant became more crowded, and customers from near and far came to visit,” the owner confided.

When I asked: "What is the secret to keeping the restaurant as crowded as it is now while many other restaurants are complaining about sluggish business and difficult business. Is it all thanks to Michelin?", the restaurant owner looked at the stream of customers coming to eat and smiled, confiding that Michelin is just a very small factor.

The restaurant said that Ky Dong chicken noodles are not exempt from the same difficulties as other restaurants at this time. However, the restaurant said it is lucky to receive support from regular customers.

Besides the price, the restaurant owner said the taste of the food is what has kept customers coming back for decades.

In addition, for the past 4 years, despite the price increase, the restaurant has not increased its prices. Each portion of Ky Dong chicken noodle soup still ranges from 55,000 to 100,000 VND depending on the dish. In particular, the restaurant owner believes that it is thanks to the delicious pho and chicken noodle soup recipes that the restaurant still retains customers.

“Firstly, the general situation is difficult, secondly, it is the rainy season so sales are not as good as before. But many customers said that they were willing to walk in the rain from their homes to my restaurant to eat because they liked it, because they loved the taste of chicken vermicelli. That is the happiness of food traders like our family,” the restaurant owner expressed.

Despite the large number of customers, the owner also said that the restaurant's business has not been as good as before. The restaurant said they accept "a little less food" than before, as long as they can still serve customers and keep jobs for all the staff and assistants, that is more than enough.

Looking at my shop, then looking at other shops, many of which had to pay rent and close, I see that my shop is lucky. But that is also the motivation for us to try our best every day to serve our customers the best!

Representative of Ky Dong chicken noodle shop

The restaurant owner said the prices of the dishes have remained the same for many years, unchanged.

Mr. Truong Vinh Thuy (41 years old), representative of Ba Ghien broken rice restaurant (Phu Nhuan District), the only broken rice restaurant in Vietnam to be included in the Michelin Guide's Bib Gourmand restaurant list, also said that thanks to Michelin, the restaurant's name was "warmed up", and from there, more customers came to support it.

However, before being on the Michelin list, the restaurant was already crowded and supported by diners from near and far. The restaurant said that it was thanks to the support of customers, especially regular customers, that the restaurant was able to survive the difficult times, when many restaurants were no longer doing as well as before.

No Michelin, then what?

Thanh Nien noted that at Hanuri Korean restaurant on Nguyen Dinh Chieu street (District 3) on a weekday, the restaurant was full during lunch break. That is the reason why a long line of new customers as well as delivery drivers had to sit on chairs waiting for a new table. According to observations, the customers who came here to eat were mainly students, university students, and office workers nearby. The restaurant was bustling with conversation and laughter.

Mr. Chao Kim Van Su, the manager of this restaurant, is also busy coordinating dozens of employees to prepare dishes. Unlike the business situation of many other restaurants, according to Mr. Su, compared to the time before the Covid-19 epidemic, the number of customers coming to the restaurant at this branch has increased by 5%.

Hanuri is crowded during rush hour.

Usually during peak hours, especially on Saturdays, there are many customers. "Here, the prices of dishes range from a few tens of thousands, quite cheap right in the central area. That is one of the attractive points for the restaurant to attract "regular" customers besides the quality, taste of the dishes and the space of the restaurant," the manager added.

At Mr. Hai's (55 years old) noodle shop located in an alley on Bui Minh Truc Street (District 8), not only is it crowded with customers, but many people also line up before the shop opens to buy a portion. That is also the reason why many people call this waiting noodle shop.

Mr. Thanh Hung (38 years old, living in District 8) is a regular customer of this noodle shop and said that he has never seen a shop with no customers, even though many other shops are currently not doing well. "I am like other customers who love the food here, the taste is delicious and the price is cheap. That is probably what attracts me and everyone else to this shop," he commented.

The owner said that he has a stable number of customers, the taste of the food and the price of the noodles have been maintained for many years, suitable for workers, so business is somewhat favorable. However, currently, his business is not as good as in previous years, especially the years before the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Of course, business is different from time to time, year to year, and sometimes when it rains, sales are slower. But at this time, customers still support us like they have for the past decades, which is great,” he added.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/buon-ban-kho-khan-mot-so-quan-an-o-tphcm-tru-vung-nho-hieu-ung-michelin-185230707142957181.htm