Famous Ha Long dish of steamed rice rolls with squid sausage - Photo: NAM TRAN
Banh cuon is a rustic dish that is available in many places, but the side dishes that go with banh cuon are different in each place. Hanoi banh cuon is dipped in fish sauce and eaten with cinnamon sausage; Cao Bang banh cuon is eaten with eggs and bone broth; and in Ha Long people eat this dish with squid sausage.
With the development of tourism, the rustic cakes of Ha Long people have become familiar to tourists, a culinary experience not to be missed when coming to this city.
One of the oldest places selling this dish is the Banh Cuon Cha Muc Cuon restaurant (Ha Noi Alley). Walking on the street full of large and small Banh Cuon trees in Bach Dang Ward (Ha Long City), if you ask any local about the location of the restaurant, they will direct you to find the biggest Banh Cuon tree and go into the alley.
Three-generation rice rolls and squid sausage restaurant in Ha Long - Photo: NAM TRAN
This is a popular but affordable sidewalk banh cuon restaurant in Ha Long. The cakes here are made according to a family recipe that has been passed down for three generations.
While quickly making the rice paper, Ms. Le Thi Huong (owner of the shop) shared with Tuoi Tre Online that the shop has been open for 40 years. Every day, the family opens early in the morning, selling out the rice paper by 1pm, and during peak tourist season, the selling time is pushed back to 2:30pm.
The shop is always crowded from opening to closing - Photo: NGUYEN HIEN
The rice rolls are made hot, and the shop starts making them only when a customer orders. But the owner never has a moment to rest, as one customer leaves and another arrives.
"The cake flour is made from several types of delicious rice mixed together. The rice is ground into flour. After the flour settles, all the water on top is drained, leaving only the dry flour below.
Next, take that flour and mix it with water. Although it is a lot of work, doing so will make the dough soft, smooth, and delicious," said Ms. Huong.
Banh cuon is a laborious process, but the soul of this dish lies in the golden, fragrant squid cake.
The type of squid chosen to make the patties is fresh cuttlefish, seasoned, pounded, and shaped into pieces that are fried until golden brown. Previously, the patties were made entirely by hand, but now that there are more customers, Ms. Huong’s family has to rely on the help of machines.
Squid rolls are fried hot, enhancing the flavor of the dish - Photo: NGUYEN HIEN
Dipping a piece of rice paper roll with a piece of squid patty in fish sauce, Huong Ly (Hanoi) couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
"I am a fan of banh cuon so I have tried this dish in many places such as Hanoi banh cuon, Cao Bang banh cuon and this time Ha Long banh cuon with squid cake.
The rice rolls here are soft enough not to be crushed, the rice flour is fragrant but not sour. Especially the squid rolls are well-seasoned and delicious. This is a combination worth trying," Ly shared.
Each piece of cake is served with a piece of squid cake and pre-mixed dipping sauce - Photo: NAM TRAN
The owner said that on a normal day, the shop sells about 200 portions, and during peak season, the number of cakes sold also increases, the family has to sell until mid-afternoon to serve tourists.
Each serving of banh cuon costs 40,000 VND. If you want to add squid sausage, you need to pay an additional 10,000 VND/piece.
During the peak summer season, Ha Long promises to be one of the hottest destinations in the North. Ha Long squid rolls will definitely be a delicious dish that will conquer you on your upcoming trip.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/quan-banh-cuon-cha-muc-40-nam-tuoi-o-ha-long-chi-ban-den-2h-chieu-20250327163321766.htm
Comment (0)