Nho Nha Trang fish noodle soup is presented simply but harmoniously: clear broth, small noodles, topped with steamed and golden fried fish patties, jellyfish and a couple of pieces of fresh fish - Photo: TO CUONG
Following the familiar scent of fish noodle soup, a signboard with the words "Missing Nha Trang " appeared like a "cosmic signal" that touched the homesickness of the coastal people in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.
After many times passing by just because of a hurry, this time the writer decided to stop by to see if the small restaurant nestled at 937 Hoang Sa, Nhieu Loc ward (old ward 11), District 3 could truly capture the soul of a bowl of Nha Trang fish noodle soup - something that anyone who has eaten it once will easily remember - or not.
Fish noodle soup is 'shipped' from Nha Trang
The owner of the restaurant is Nguyen Nho, born in Nha Trang, and started his career in Ho Chi Minh City. The name of the restaurant sounds full of hidden meanings, but it turns out it is simply because the owner is named Nho and loves his hometown so he named it that way.
But it was that name that made diners curious, and then more and more people came to eat, and because they missed it, they came back many times. "After the pandemic, most of my customers ordered through the app, but out of 10 customers who have visited the restaurant, 7 out of 10 are from Nha Trang," the restaurant owner said with a smile.
Looking at the steaming bowl of fish noodle soup, it's easy to understand why customers remember it forever after just one bite - Photo: TO CUONG
The broth here is clear, light and has a fishy aroma - the sweetness comes from the boneless fish that is then mashed and cooked together, not at all from the sweetness of sugar or seasoning powder.
Today's broth is simmered from beef bones, so the broth has a very unique sweet aftertaste. The chewy fish pieces dipped in the familiar 40-degree fish sauce of coastal people awakens the five senses.
To suit Southern taste, Mr. Nho adjusted the sweetness slightly, but it was absolutely not too salty. Those who are used to strong flavor just need to add a little fish sauce to complete the flavor.
The fish cakes here are almost "addictive": fragrant with pepper, beautiful golden brown color, slightly chewy like fresh fish, not powdery at all. The most special thing is the bowl of candied fish sauce, just like in Nha Trang.
Jellyfish - an important ingredient of Nha Trang fish noodle soup - is used in the small, opaque white, thick-walled, fingertip-sized type, crunchy when eaten. Indeed, delicious jellyfish must be fresh and served with a hot bowl of noodles, dipped in a little shrimp paste to be "right" - Photo: TO CUONG
The combination of salty, sweet, and spicy flavors of fresh chili makes every element of the noodle bowl more complete.
Few people know that the restaurant opened in 2018, when Mr. Nho was just in his 20s, without a family recipe, and no one in his family had ever sold this dish. It all started with the decision to "start a business with the taste of home" right after leaving university.
"When I first opened the restaurant, I couldn't cook the food to the right taste. Many customers left after eating. It took me two or three years to master the recipe. Now I hardly need to season the food anymore, everything is ready," he said.
Besides fish noodles, of course the restaurant cannot lack banh canh, another classic dish of Khanh Hoa - Photo: TO CUONG
Also to preserve the full flavor, he imported most of the ingredients directly from Nha Trang: fish cakes, jellyfish, fresh fish, rice noodles, and especially fish sauce - the soul of the dish.
The fish changes depending on the source and price: sometimes tuna, sometimes catfish, sometimes mackerel. "Each type of fish makes a different broth. Some types even have a slightly sour taste, so if you're not careful with the seasoning, the taste will be off," he said.
In the middle of the bustling city, Nho Nha Trang fish noodle shop does not have a family reputation, only a young owner who persistently explores and gradually creates the hometown flavor in a small bowl of noodles.
But perhaps thanks to that sincerity, many people stop by to eat and then come back, especially those from Nha Trang who live far away - those who only need to lift their chopsticks and smell the scent of the sea to bring back memories.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nho-nha-trang-quan-bun-ca-thon-thuc-noi-xa-que-cua-nhung-nguoi-con-mien-bien-20251128162745419.htm
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