Guests eat next to the charcoal stove

That is the vegetarian restaurant of Aunt Tu (67 years old) located on Tran Hung Dao street (District 5, HCMC). On vegetarian days, it is always crowded with customers from the time it opens until it is closed.

Quit selling lottery tickets to sell vegetarian food

At around 5pm, Aunt Tu and her children were busy cleaning up the stall and starting to sell. The vegetarian restaurant was simple with the old words "Vinh Phong Vegetarian" stuck on the food cabinet. Pointing at it, she said the restaurant was named after her son. That was also how we started the conversation.

Aunt Tu's vegetarian restaurant only opens in the evening.

Today, not a vegetarian day, the number of customers is not sudden but steady. Aunt Tu also leisurely sits to welcome customers, also tells me the story of the vegetarian restaurant that has been her family's "rice bowl" for nearly 15 years.

She honestly said that, back then, she and her husband sold lottery tickets to earn money to support their two sons. Later, because of her health, she decided to open a small vegetarian restaurant to sell, and her husband, until now, continues to sell lottery tickets to support his old age without having to depend too much on his children and grandchildren.

“My two children are all grown up now. Next year, one of them will get married. They are both good and filial. But I still sell because I am used to this job. As long as I have the strength, I will continue to do it. I have been selling for decades now, and I love and miss my customers. If I stop selling for a day, I feel it is a longing,” she smiled gently.

Aunt Tu's vegetarian restaurant, at first glance, seems simple and rustic. At first glance, there are about 6-7 dishes, such as vegetarian dumplings, wonton leaves, stir-fried noodles, vegetarian fried noodles... The soup and steamed dishes are placed on red-hot charcoal stoves, emitting warmth, making the cold evenings in Ho Chi Minh City more bearable.

Aunt Tu's nieces help sell.

[CLIP]: Chinese vegetarian restaurant only open at night in Ho Chi Minh City: Customers eat next to a charcoal stove.

Aunt Tu confided that she discovered how to make these dishes herself, and gradually her cooking skills improved as she learned the trade, becoming more and more suitable to the taste of her customers. She said that the biggest “secret” was partly the flavor, but also partly the price, as each meal here ranges from 15,000 to 30,000 VND.

“If I see someone in need, I will sell them for 10,000 VND. Even homeless children or people in need, I will give them away for free. Doing so makes my conscience lighter,” the Cantonese Chinese woman confided.

"I love Aunt Tu's vegetarian dishes…"

As a vegetarian for 4 years now, Ms. Thanh Hong (28 years old, living in District 8) said that she has been a "regular customer" of this restaurant for almost a year. The first time she went to eat, thanks to the introduction of a friend, Ms. Hong immediately liked the taste of the vegetarian dishes here.

“Usually I eat there 3-4 days a week, because it's convenient on the way home from work. Honestly, Aunt Tu's vegetarian restaurant is not as luxurious as a restaurant, but it has a very unique flavor that cannot be found anywhere else. She is also kind and welcoming to customers. I usually buy take-out instead of eating there," the customer confided.

The vegetarian dishes at the restaurant are diverse and attractive.

Although he does not usually eat vegetarian food, on the 15th and 1st of the lunar month, Mr. Ly Nhan (37 years old, living in District 5) also eats vegetarian food based on his personal preference. At that time, he said he would visit Aunt Tu's restaurant. The reason this is his "favorite" restaurant is because the price is affordable and the taste is also delicious compared to many other restaurants he has eaten at.

Mr. Nhan said he likes the feeling of sitting at the restaurant, watching the streets of Ho Chi Minh City at night, enjoying his favorite dishes and chatting with the owner. The customer said that here, he finds peace of mind.

“The dishes here are diverse, every time I come I will order a different dish to change the taste, even buy some to take home to eat more. My favorites here are probably the fried noodles and the vegetarian dumplings, also wonton leaves, they suit my taste. I will definitely support this restaurant for a long time," he expressed.

Despite her gray hair and poor health, having to rely on her grandchildren to help her with the business, for Aunt Tu, this restaurant has become an indispensable part of her life. It is not only a "fishing rod", but also a source of joy for her in her old age...

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/quan-chay-cua-nguoi-hoa-chi-ban-chieu-toi-khach-an-canh-bep-than-hong-185231017160920502.htm