Ho Chi Minh City's hidden gem 'bánh đúc' stall has captivated customers for over 4 decades
Tuesday, November 12, 2024, 08:55 GMT+7
A small bánh đúc stall in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City has built a loyal clientele over the years, including regulars like eighty-year-old Nguyen Thi Nhung.
Each visit, she warmly greets the owners, asks about their family, and proudly mentions that her son brings her here to enjoy a bowl of bánh đúc.
Bánh đúc is a Vietnamese type of savory rice pudding with a slightly chewy texture, normally topped with minced pork, wood ear mushrooms, fried shallots, and mung beans, complete with the true soul of the dish — light fish sauce.
A bowl of bánh đúc at the 116/2/3 Phan Dang Luu Street stall includes the same ingredients, all layered together, with the seller drizzling a few spoonfuls of fish sauce on top.
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| A bowl of ‘bánh đúc’ fetches VND30,000 (US$1.18) at the stall at 116/2/3 Phan Dang Luu Street in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Dang Khuong |
The gentle aroma of fried sliced shallots adds a crispy, flavorful touch to the bánh đúc bowl.
Fried to a golden brown, these shallots are nearly the key ingredient that elevates the dish’s delightful fragrance.
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| Fried shallot plays an important part in leveling up the dish. Photo: Dang Khuong |
Beneath the fried shallots is a layer of minced pork mixed with wood ear mushrooms.
The pork is tender, while the mushrooms hold a crunchy texture to create the perfect bite.
At the very bottom is the thick layer of the soft white rice flour base.
Nhung shared that she has been eating at this stall for decades, drawn by the flavors that bring back memories of the past.
“I’ve been eating here since the 1980s," Nhung recollected.
"Back then, the stall was right on the main street, and I’d often stop by in the late afternoon.
"The taste of the bánh đúc was so special and delicious that it’s stayed with me all these years, even now at 80.
"I used to bring my son here, and now it’s his turn to bring his mom back to enjoy it."
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| Diners have ‘bánh đúc’ at the stall tucked away in an alley on Phan Dang Luu Street in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Dang Khuong |
Besides the flavor, many commented that the stall is also famous for the attitude of the owners.
“This bánh đúc stall is well known, but it's my first time trying it," one client said.
"It's tucked away at the end of an alley in a house with a lovely flower trellis.
"However, the seller is a bit cold.
"If you're ordering to-go, you have to stand in line, but if you're eating there, just find a seat in the yard.”
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