Hu Tieu is probably a familiar dish to people living in Ho Chi Minh City. Although it is called Hu Tieu, in Saigon there are many different versions, the most popular is Hu Tieu Nam Vang, in addition there are Hu Tieu cooked in Chinese style such as Hu Tieu deer satay, Hu Tieu goat meat...
The noodle dish we are talking about today is My Tho style noodle soup from Thanh Xuan restaurant. True to its name, this is a place associated with the youth of many people because the restaurant is small but has existed for nearly 80 years.
Sidewalk noodle shop but price up to 85,000 VND/bowl, is the quality worth it?
Located right on Ton That Thiep Street, Thanh Xuan noodle shop stands out with a sign stained with time. The shop is nestled in a small alley, the food preparation area is placed next to the wall and people still pass through the alley normally.
Thanh Xuan noodle shop is located right next to a small alley on Ton That Thiep street.
In the past, tables and chairs for customers to eat noodles were placed right next to the alley, but now they have been moved to the street, making it more spacious and airy. But basically, this is still a sidewalk noodle shop with a popular style, sitting down for breakfast or lunch will be a bit hot.
Menu at Thanh Xuan noodle shop with the most expensive bowl up to 85,000 VND.
The menu at the noodle shop has prices ranging from 50,000 - 85,000 VND/bowl. A basic bowl with pork costs 50,000 VND, a bowl with seafood such as shrimp and crab costs up to 70,000 - 85,000 VND. Many people think that this price is a bit high for a sidewalk restaurant, but others think that the price in the center of District 1 is reasonable. In fact, in Saigon there is no shortage of noodle shops with prices over a hundred thousand VND per bowl, so if you are a little more lenient, this price is still acceptable.
We ordered a bowl of noodle soup with shrimp and a bowl of mixed noodle soup. The noodle soup had a sweet broth and the shrimp was quite fresh, but overall it was quite normal and not too special.
The dry mixed noodles are more special thanks to the shop's signature sauce made from tomatoes. Inside the mixed noodles bowl are toppings such as shrimp, crab, minced meat, liver, pork, quail eggs...
Each bowl of noodles in the picture costs 70,000 VND.
However, the noodles, even though they were blanched beforehand, had a sticky texture that made them quite difficult to mix. The sauce was rich and fragrant, while the other toppings were just okay. Not to mention that eating a bowl of hot noodles outside at 35-40 degrees Celsius also made the dining experience a little less delicious. That's why, even though it's a long-standing and famous noodle shop, there are still many mixed opinions.
However, each person's perception of food is different, so it is difficult to judge based on each person's subjective opinion. It can only be said that the taste of the noodles here will be suitable for those who like a "sweet" taste, because the broth and sauce are both sweet. Ms. Tuoi, the owner of the noodle shop, shared: "The regular customers here all like sweet food, if I cook a little less sweet, they will know right away."
Dry mixed noodles are a signature dish here thanks to the traditional tomato sauce.
But for many people, it is simply the noodle shop of youth.
Perhaps just by looking at the signboard of Thanh Xuan noodle shop, anyone can see the age of this place. The signboard is completely hand-painted with colors that have faded over the years. On the signboard, we can also see the words "Chua Cha". "Chua Cha noodle" is a popular name that many regular customers often call, simply because the shop is located right next to the Hindu temple established by the Cha Va community.
Ms. Tuoi, owner of Thanh Xuan noodle shop.
For us, youth can be associated with the happy and sad stories in life, and Thanh Xuan here is a noodle shop that is nearly 80 years old. But because of that, that noodle shop is also associated with the youth of many people. In the middle of bustling Saigon, there is a sidewalk noodle shop but it carries the flavor of childhood, of youth that makes many people still linger.
Although the price is a bit higher than other sidewalk noodle shops, the bowl of noodles here is considered by many to be quite filling.
"Now I get to eat more delicious and unique dishes, but I still come back to Thanh Xuan to eat Hu Tieu every now and then because this is simply the restaurant that I was attached to when I was a student. The quality here may not be as good as before, but I still love the rich flavor of the sauce in the Hu Tieu bowl" - Ms. Thu Uyen, a regular customer at Thanh Xuan Hu Tieu shop confided.
The traditional broth is the trademark of Thanh Xuan noodles.
Besides regular customers, Thanh Xuan noodle shop is also a favorite place for office workers in the surrounding area as well as a place where foreign guests often visit. Sitting down to eat a delicious bowl of noodle right in the middle of the central street of Saigon, surrounded by luxurious restaurants, is probably also an interesting experience.
Ms. Tuoi's family members help make noodles together.
A few years ago, when people stopped by Thanh Xuan to eat noodles, they would see Ms. Tuoi and her husband selling noodles. The name Thanh Xuan actually comes from Ms. Tuoi's late husband, whose name was Do Xuan Thanh. Now that Mr. Thanh has passed away, Ms. Tuoi continues to maintain the shop with her children. Because it has been the passion of her entire family for many years. The small noodle shop in the alley is a place to preserve the family's tradition and also a place to preserve the memories of countless customers who come to eat.
Customers visiting Xuan Thanh noodle shop include many office workers and foreigners.
So, if you have never had Hu Tieu here, you should try it once. Who knows, you might enjoy the taste of Hu Tieu here as well as the feeling of watching the bustling streets of Saigon with a bowl of Hu Tieu. Don’t forget to order a paté chaud (pate so) to go with it because the shop only sells 100 pieces a day.
Source: https://toquoc.vn/tiem-thanh-xuan-gan-80-nam-niu-chan-nguoi-sai-gon-sanh-an-co-gi-dac-biet-trong-nhung-to-hu-tieu-via-he-gia-cao-20240523234140009.htm
Comment (0)