Buzz
Giảng Cafe and its famous egg coffee have long been a must-visit spot in the travel guidebooks for many tourists to Hanoi. The unique cup of coffee keeps lingering in people's minds!
A cafe with decades of history that every tourist in Hanoi wants to experience.
Hanoi, Spring 2017
As a habit, I start a new week by waking up early, taking a stroll down the street, enjoying a delicious breakfast, and sitting down with a cup of coffee - my passion. I love the feeling of hustle and bustle and the energy of a new day, a new week with fresh ideas, and new experiences.
But the weather in Hanoi in March, rainy and gloomy, can easily dampen one's spirits. A familiar brown cup of coffee suddenly isn't enough to invigorate the soul, I need something stronger to awaken all my senses. Suddenly, the aroma of egg coffee fills my mind. And I steer my bike towards Giảng!
Giảng has been closely associated with the capital and the people of Hanoi since the French colonial era as a characteristic culinary aspect. This 'single-letter' cafe, named after its owner, who also created the unique egg coffee - Mr. Nguyen Van Giang. Despite its grandeur, the modest cafe is tucked away deep in a small alley, just enough for two people to pass by without bumping into each other.
Mr. Giang worked as a bartender at the famous Sofitel Metropole Hanoi hotel during the French colonial years. Giang Cafe was opened by him in 1946 at the first location on Cau Go Street. Later, the cafe was moved to Hang Gai Street, and it wasn't until the early 2000s that Giang Cafe at 7 Hang Gai was split into two cafes at Nguyen Huu Huan and Yen Phu as it is now.
Hidden behind the hustle and bustle of Nguyen Huu Huan Street, through a small corridor, is a space imbued with nostalgia. From the red brick stairs to the neatly arranged small tables and chairs, the cups, the plates... all bear the mark of time.
The simplicity in decoration and arrangement not only creates a distinctive feature but also makes people feel strangely intimate. The image of sidewalk cafes is too familiar to the capital Hanoi, suddenly appearing in the thoughts of everyone.
Like other famous cafes of the time, Giang offers enough 'black' and 'brown' coffee, but the dish that made its reputation here must be mentioned: egg coffee. At first, egg and coffee seem unrelated. So, I wouldn't be surprised if you doubt egg coffee, because when I first visited the cafe, I also wondered. But truly, you have to experience it yourself to understand why this dish from the cafe is so talked about.
The chicken egg yolk and coffee, seemingly strange bedfellows, but when whipped into cream, the egg yolk skillfully restrains the most 'unpleasant' bitterness of coffee, replacing it with a sweet, creamy taste that awakens the taste buds of the consumer. Not only that, the rich aroma of the egg yolk also makes the coffee flavor more intense. These two 'strangers' just immerse themselves, entwined with each other.
Thus, the drink with a seemingly incompatible 1-0-2 has triumphed, winning the hearts of diners after just one sip. There's no need for extravagance or sophistication to make a delicious egg coffee. But to achieve perfection, besides being meticulous in selecting eggs and skillful in preparation, it also requires the dedication and heart of those who make it.
'My father created and developed this recipe during the social reform period after the war. At that time, milk was a scarce commodity in Vietnam, so he improvised, using egg yolks instead of milk.' - Mr. Nguyen Tri Hoa - the youngest son of Mr. Giang shared.
Therefore, it's not surprising that Cafe Giang has become a beloved spot for a portion of coffee lovers in general, and an unmissable destination for international tourists in particular, when visiting Hanoi.
On social media platforms, international friends continuously shower praises for this drink: 'You can't find it anywhere else in the world outside of Vietnam.' - Cheryl.W shared on Tripadvisor; 'This is the best coffee I've ever had. Believe me! You must not miss it when visiting Hanoi.' - Lee.s shared on Instagram, and even for Sondra.M, egg coffee is honored as a 'humanity's invention.'
From the traditional egg coffee, recently, Giang has introduced many interesting variations of whipped egg, such as cocoa egg, matcha egg, mung bean egg... But for me, if I'm at Giang, I must order the classic egg coffee.
When the weather turns chilly, it's perhaps the perfect time to sit down, savor, and enjoy a cup of egg coffee. To fully appreciate the flavor, it's best to drink while the coffee is still warm. Gently stir to blend those 'strangers' together, sip sip, exchange life stories, add a hint of sunshine, and leisurely watch a peaceful day go by.
As per Afamily
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Reference: Travel guide by Mytour
MytourMarch 24, 2017
