The cheapest broken rice is only 15,000 VND, sold out in 3 hours

The owner said that her broken rice food cart has been around for nearly 30 years, with the recipe she "learned by observation" from her youth when she worked as a waitress.

"Learning by observation" how to cook rice

In these times of soaring prices, with jobs and the economy struggling and people having little money left, finding an affordable and delicious restaurant or dish in Ho Chi Minh City can be a real challenge. However, in a city with so many restaurants, if you're willing to put in a little effort, you can still find some budget-friendly options.

Walking along Doan Van Bo Street (District 4, Ho Chi Minh City) in the morning, I fully felt the bustling and lively atmosphere of the early morning, with rows of food and drink stalls lining this famous " culinary street." Many people going to school or work take the opportunity to find a favorite breakfast spot to start their new day.

Ms. Oanh has been selling broken rice dishes for nearly 30 years.

Mrs. Oanh's rice and grilled meat cart is nestled in a corner of this street, eye-catching and emitting a gentle aroma of rice and grilled meat. Around it, regular customers stop by, order their favorite dishes, and take them away. The owner busily prepares the food to her liking, ensuring no one has to wait long and can get to work or school on time.

At 5 a.m., the rice cart was already here. The owner said that she usually sells out by 8 a.m. According to Ms. Oanh, she started selling broken rice nearly 30 years ago to earn money to raise her children and support her family. Now that her children are grown and have their own lives, this is her livelihood, allowing her to support herself without depending on her children or grandchildren.

"When I was younger, I helped sell rice for others for quite a few years. That's how I learned the recipe and how to cook delicious broken rice. Later, I opened my own food cart and was fortunate to have a supportive customer base. I'm confident that everything I make is delicious because it's made with my heart. When you make something with sincerity, everything tastes good!" the owner said with a gentle smile.

A plate of broken rice costs 30,000 VND.

[CLIP]: Rice plate cart selling rice for 15,000 VND - supposedly the "cheapest" in Ho Chi Minh City.

Here, each portion of rice at Ms. Oanh's stall costs 20,000 VND or more, depending on the customer's needs. However, she says she still sells her pork rib rice dish for 15,000 VND for customers, especially students and those in difficult circumstances.

At this time, rice prices are rising, and so are the prices of other ingredients, but the owner still maintains the same prices she's had for years. "I sell it cheaply so that laborers and students can afford a breakfast meal. If I sold it too expensively, no one would dare buy it. It's cheap, but the quality is still important. I don't make a lot of profit, but I earn enough from my labor and sales volume to make a living," Mrs. Oanh honestly added.

This place is for those days when your wallet hurts…

This morning, Mrs. Thu (67 years old) also stopped by Mrs. Oanh's food cart to buy some, as usual. The customer said she has been a regular here for decades, since her children were young until now, when they have grown up and become adults.

"Not only me, but my whole family, especially my children, all love the broken rice dish here. The prices are affordable and the taste suits our palates. We live nearby, so I visit every week, sometimes two or three days, sometimes even every day. Finding a good restaurant with such reasonable prices these days isn't easy," Mrs. Thu commented.

At 15,000 dong per serving, the owner happily sells the rice to customers.

Ho Minh Hung (20 years old, residing in District 4) said he has been eating at Mrs. Oanh's restaurant for over a year now, ever since he moved to a rented room near this area for convenience in attending school. Hung said that Doan Van Bo Street is a "food paradise," and among many choices, he often visits Mrs. Oanh's restaurant, especially on days when he's short on cash.

"The owner sells at a cheap price. In the last few days of the month, I visit her every day to buy food, sometimes a 15,000 VND meal, sometimes a 20,000 VND meal. She's cheerful and enthusiastic in serving me. It's hard to find a place like that in Saigon," the customer added.

I bought a plate of broken rice for 30,000 VND, with the pork ribs, egg, and pork patty all homemade by the owner. The broken rice, served with a flavorful marinated pork rib, braised egg, pork patty, pickled vegetables, cucumber, pork cracklings, fried onions, and a little sweet and sour fish sauce, was absolutely delicious. In terms of taste and price, I'd give it an 8/10; it's worth trying and deserves to become a favorite spot for many customers.

The ribs are marinated with rich flavors.

Ms. Oanh said that every day she has to wake up at 2 a.m. to prepare everything so that she can start selling by 5 a.m. She doesn't feel tired because she's used to it; on the contrary, she feels happy to bring her heartfelt, affordable meals to her beloved customers.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/quan-binh-dan-gia-vua-tui-tien-o-tphcm-com-tam-re-nhat-chi-15000-dong-3-tieng-het-sach-185230914083640667.htm