Every morning, Tan Sanh Hoat restaurant on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai street (HCMC) is bustling with laughter and talk in Vietnamese and Chinese. Some come because they want to eat 'authentic Chinese food', others because they are looking for the old flavors.
The food at Tan Sanh Hoat surprises diners with its taste and bowl size - Photo: DANG KHUONG
The shop is sold by Mr. Ha Quang Hung's family, he is 70 years old.
In front of the restaurant is an old sign: "Tan Sanh Hoat Restaurant", which looks a bit quieter than the surrounding restaurants. But stepping inside, the space is always filled with laughter from sellers and buyers.
Mr. Hung said that everyone was family, so they were comfortable and happy.
The taste of flowers preserved for nearly 90 years?
Tan Sanh Hoat restaurant sells many dishes such as wonton noodles, char siu noodles, meatballs, dumplings... Each dish has many versions for diners to choose from.
Wonton bowl with unique seasoning with rice flour leaves and sweet meat - Photo: DANG KHUONG
A full bowl of wonton costs 60,000 VND. The color of the noodle bowl is not too eye-catching, but the taste of the dish is unforgettable.
The broth is richly seasoned, not too sweet or salty, with a sweet aftertaste. Diners can adjust the seasoning with two bottles of vinegar and soy sauce available on the table. These are familiar spices in Chinese restaurants.
The wonton wrappers are bland, slightly bitter and not as sweet as many other wonton noodle shops. But the meat inside is very sweet.
The char siu slices are tender and very fresh. The char siu not only contributes to the overall flavor of the noodles, but also adds a bright orange color to the picture.
Dumplings and meatballs are served here in a unique way. Instead of choosing from the menu, the staff will bring a tray of many dishes for customers to "see with their own eyes" and choose.
Meatballs make people panic because they are too... "fat" - Photo: DANG KHUONG
Many diners expressed their "panic" at the restaurant's "fat" meatballs. The meatballs are big, firm, and imbued with the sweetness of meat, shrimp, and vegetables... The meat is not too mushy.
But the taste between the dishes is not too different. A portion of shrimp meatballs no longer surprises the eater, because the taste is similar to wonton, still has bland flour leaves and sweet meat.
In the Google Maps reviews section, some diners commented:
"It's been a long time since I've been back here to eat. The quality isn't as good as before. The meatballs are still big and full, but the seasoning is too sweet"; "The meatballs were served on a small plate without a steamer so they were cold"...
On the contrary, some people shared:
"This is one of the few restaurants that has kept the same flavor after decades of business"; "The price is a bit high but reasonable compared to other Chinese noodle restaurants".
Tan Sanh Hoat is part of the Ha family.
Mr. Hung shared: "The meat used to make meatballs is seasoned first. Every day, it is wrapped and steamed as it is sold so that the meat is always delicious."
Mr. Hung said Tan Sanh Hoat was opened by his uncles and brothers in 1937. At first, the restaurant mainly sold drinks and meatballs and dumplings in the Cho Lon area in the morning, and later added noodles.
Tan Sanh Hoat restaurant has been around for nearly 90 years and many people still come back because they miss the taste - Photo: DANG KHUONG
The restaurant has been in operation for three generations, and most of the vendors are still family members, relaxed and often "chat" with each other. Many diners at the restaurant are often drawn into their stories.
Some regular customers even chatted with the owner in Chinese. Mr. Hung shared:
"My restaurant has been open for 87 years, but many customers have been eating here for 70 years. Some grandparents bring their children and grandchildren here to eat, and even brag that they have been eating here since they were 10 years old. I don't know who they are because I wasn't open yet."
"Someday I will pass this shop on to my children. Because now this shop is also a part of the Ha family" - Mr. Ha Quang Hung added.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/lang-le-quan-an-nguoi-hoa-tan-sanh-hoat-gan-90-nam-tai-sai-gon-20241202154629674.htm
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