Discover the "papaya salad" street in Tri Ton.

Tri Ton commune (An Giang province) not only boasts beautiful scenery with lush green mountains and vast rice fields, but its local cuisine is also a major draw for tourists. The captivating flavors of the characteristic dishes prepared by the Khmer people in the Bay Nui region have conquered the taste buds of many visitors from afar. Among them, the papaya salad found on the road leading to Phnom Pi hamlet is particularly noteworthy.

The delicious crushed papaya salad is a popular dish sold by many businesses along Phnom Pi hamlet road.

Many tourists affirm that the cuisine of the Bay Nui region always has its own unique value and leaves an unforgettable impression. This is because the people here prepare dishes not only for enjoyment but also to convey sincerity and hospitality, utilizing readily available natural products to create appealing dishes.

The street, lined with stalls selling crushed papaya salad, has acquired an interesting name.

The small road in Phnom Pi hamlet has quite a few eateries that have sprung up due to the demand from tourists wanting to try the famous papaya salad. This short stretch of road, less than 500 meters long, is lined with more than 10 papaya salad stalls. Therefore, locals and tourists alike call it "The Papaya Salad Road."

This simple dish has won over the taste buds of many diners visiting Tri Ton.

Unpretentious and understated, this dish has won over diners with its combination of simple ingredients: soft, creamy duck eggs, crispy shredded papaya, and the perfectly balanced sour and spicy flavors of chili, lime, and the aroma of shrimp paste that awakens the taste buds. The salad is also visually appealing, thanks to the colorful blend of ingredients, encompassing green, red, yellow, and purple…

With such a large number of establishments, each restaurant competes by using its own secret family recipes in cooking, retaining customers with distinct and rich flavors. Among them, the three most frequently mentioned restaurants, becoming must-visit destinations for food connoisseurs, are Kim Sin, Rina, and Rathy.

Each restaurant has its own secret to retaining customers.

Stopping at Kim Sin's papaya salad restaurant, besides the papaya salad, diners can also enjoy other side dishes such as: grilled beef, grilled chicken feet, and fragrant boiled snails with pandan leaves.

The restaurant has a casual atmosphere, friendly service, and prices start from just 20,000 VND per plate of salad. It's both affordable and offers the chance to try many different dishes and experience unique flavors, making visitors want to return again and again.

Not far from there is Rathy restaurant, where the papaya salad is seasoned richly, with the fish sauce skillfully adjusted to be slightly sweet, creating an overall harmonious and non-harsh aftertaste.

The side dishes served with the crushed papaya salad are equally appealing.

The highlight of the salad is the rich, creamy, fragrant, and unique-tasting duck egg. Served alongside the crispy papaya salad are grilled beef skewers, with palm sugar as the main seasoning that enhances the aroma and color. The grilled beef skewers are cooked to an attractive, glossy color; the beef used is locally raised, ensuring freshness for diners.

Rina Restaurant is one of the most popular restaurants for tourists in recent years. Besides the delicious food, the restaurant also warms the hearts of diners with the friendly and skillful service of the owner. The salads are a hit, both in appearance and quality, and the spacious, airy atmosphere makes it a popular meeting place for many visitors from afar whenever they come to Tri Ton.

“Whenever I travel to An Giang, I always stop by Tri Ton to eat papaya salad, because its unique flavor is unlike anywhere else. The prices of the dishes here are quite affordable. Almost every restaurant has become a trend on social media, so it gets quite crowded on weekends. But the food is delicious, so I still patiently wait,” shared Mr. Thao, a resident of Dak Lak province.

Text and photos: KIEU TRANG - NHU HUYNH

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/kham-pha-con-duong-goi-du-du-dam-tri-ton-a466166.html