A corner of late-night food in the heart of Saigon.
As the city lights up, amidst the vibrant life of Ho Chi Minh City, the late-night eateries tucked away in small alleys possess a unique charm. Nestled deep within an alley on Tran Khac Chan Street (Tan Dinh Ward), a signless porridge stall has been a familiar destination for generations of diners for nearly 50 years. The stall is just a small space in front of a house with a few plastic tables and chairs, but it always exudes a warm, comforting aroma from a large pot of steaming porridge.
A family recipe passed down for nearly half a century.
This porridge shop is a family culinary legacy, started before 1975 by the mother-in-law of Ms. Nguyen Thi Hao (72 years old). After marrying into the family, Ms. Hao inherited the entire family porridge recipe from her mother-in-law, who was originally from the North. She recounts the early days of carrying porridge to sell on the streets, her shoulders worn and tattered from the heavy burden of making a living.
In 1979, she moved to a fixed location in an alley near her house. Since then, the small porridge stall has become a part of the memories of many Saigon residents. Currently, due to her advanced age, Mrs. Hao has handed over the late-night selling business to her son, who is almost as old as the stall itself.
The secret lies in grinding rice into flour.
What sets this eatery apart is its unique way of preparing the porridge. Instead of using whole grains of rice, Mrs. Hao selects high-quality rice, washes it thoroughly with salt water, dries it naturally, and then grinds it into a fine powder. This rice powder is then cooked with broth made from pork ribs and bone marrow to create a naturally sweet and savory flavor. The cooking process requires constant stirring and careful heat control to ensure the porridge has the perfect consistency, without lumps or burning.
The side dishes are also meticulously prepared. Fresh, high-quality ingredients are carefully selected and processed daily to completely eliminate any fishy odor, ensuring hygiene and quality, which has kept customers coming back for decades.
A diverse menu and an unforgettable experience.
Diners here can choose from dozens of tempting side dishes such as ribs, pork skin, intestines, tongue, throat, heart, liver, quail eggs, chicken egg yolks, or century eggs. Each steaming bowl of porridge, combined with a variety of toppings, offers a rich and unforgettable flavor.
The shop is open all night, welcoming all kinds of customers, from locals and late-night revelers to famous artists. Stories about special customers, those who once ate on credit and then returned to express their gratitude after achieving success, have become a heartwarming part of this porridge shop's history.
Useful information for diners
To have a complete late-night culinary experience at this special porridge shop, you can refer to the following information:
- Address: Alley off Tran Khac Chan Street, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
- Opening hours: 2:00 PM the previous day to 10:00 AM the following day.
- Reference price: From 45,000 to 100,000 VND per bowl, depending on the side dishes you choose.
Source: https://baolamdong.vn/tphcm-quan-chao-50-nam-ban-xuyen-dem-trong-hem-nho-398305.html
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