The owner went to America, but the customers are still numerous.

It's a noodle shop (famous for its braised duck noodles) that has been passed down through three generations of Mr. Duong Tam's (51 years old) family, known to customers as Thiem Huy, located on the main road of Nguyen Trai (District 5, Ho Chi Minh City).

From a street food cart selling noodles…

As a regular customer of Thiem Huy for many years, I rarely see this eatery empty. One day, I had the opportunity to sit down with Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan Mai (64 years old), the current manager of this eatery, and I was surprised to learn the story behind this noodle shop that has been around for nearly half a century.

Mrs. Mai's family noodle shop is famous for its braised duck noodles.

Ms. Mai is the sister-in-law of Mr. Tam, the third owner of the noodle shop. Previously, she worked as a teacher in My Tho ( Tien Giang province ). After retiring, she took over the noodle shop nearly seven years ago, since Mr. Tam's entire family moved to the United States to settle.

My sister and her husband still own this restaurant, it's just that the whole family moved to America, so I'm here taking care of everything inside and out. They entrusted me with this responsibility, so I have to do it wholeheartedly and with all my might...

Ms. Mai, in charge of the shop.

According to accounts, this eatery was opened by Mr. Tam's grandfather before 1975. At that time, it was just a roadside noodle cart, but because of its distinctive delicious taste, it was always crowded with customers.

Over three generations, from his grandfather's time, to his father's, and now his own, the noodle cart has transformed into a spacious, three-story restaurant. Furthermore, according to Mrs. Mai, since she took over managing the restaurant, she has even bought the house next door to have enough space to accommodate customers.

Even outside of peak hours, the restaurant was still crowded with diners.

Each serving of noodles at the restaurant costs an average of 135,000 - 145,000 VND.

With a diverse menu of nearly 100 dishes and drinks, mainly featuring Chinese specialties, customers can freely choose their favorites. However, the restaurant's most distinctive dish is the braised duck noodle soup, with the cheapest option costing 18,000 VND for a plain noodle portion and the most expensive and special option costing 350,000 VND for a braised duck noodle soup with abalone and sea cucumber.

Meanwhile, a regular bowl of braised duck noodles costs between 135,000 and 145,000 VND, depending on the customer's needs. "My restaurant doesn't have any branches, nor do I sell on any apps. Partly because eating at the restaurant preserves the deliciousness of the dish, and partly because we sell on-site so we can cater to our customers' preferences and requests to the fullest," Ms. Mai confided.

What's the secret to the restaurant's popularity with braised duck noodles?

Whenever I visit this noodle shop during its opening hours, from 7:15 AM to 1:00 AM the following day, I'm always surprised to find customers sitting and eating. Especially during "peak hours" like evenings or weekends, all the tables are packed with diners.

Ms. Mai admitted that her restaurant's prices are higher than many others, but she believes that price is entirely justified. The restaurant representative stated that the appeal lies not only in the carefully selected, high-quality ingredients but also in the broth, which is cooked using a unique recipe passed down through generations.

The secret lies in the noodles.

[CLIP]: The most expensive noodle shop in Ho Chi Minh City, run by three generations, costs 350,000 VND per bowl: The owner moved to the US, but the shop is still crowded.

Besides that, the traditional homemade noodles, blanched using the correct technique, are what give each bowl of noodles its value. "Everyone has different tastes, but I always try to satisfy all my customers' preferences. I believe that when you do something with sincerity, you will surely receive the support of your customers," she said about her most special secret.

Mr. Hai Nam (35 years old, residing in District 1) said that he visits this noodle shop almost every week because he's "addicted" to it. The customer said he's been eating here for so long, so long that he can't even remember when he started, but whenever he craves braised duck noodles, he'll definitely go to this shop.

Mr. Nam commented that the noodle soup here is "worth it" because of its traditional chewy noodles, combined with a light, sweet broth with a hint of Chinese herbs and high-quality duck meat. "The price is higher than other places, but I think it's worth the money. I usually order the 145,000 VND bowl, but on days when I bring friends or special guests, I order the 350,000 VND bowl – the quality is great," he said with a smile.

The restaurant also sells many other Chinese dishes, with a menu of nearly 100 items.

Although he now has a peaceful life with his family in America, Mr. Tam, through his wife's sister, still takes care of the family restaurant in Vietnam. He often returns home, especially during Tet (Lunar New Year), to visit relatives and employees who run the noodle shop that has been passed down from his generation…

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/quan-mi-3-doi-o-tphcm-mac-nhat-350000-dong-to-chu-di-my-nhung-khach-van-dong-185231010112951695.htm