Buzz
Ben Tre's renowned restaurant
As you know, Ben Tre is the land of coconut, so visiting a place famous for coconut dishes without indulging in the rich, creamy, and nutty flavors of coconut would be a waste. The first spot that JAMJA’s BLOG wants to introduce to you is Ben Tre's renowned restaurant located at the famous Hung Vuong pier. And when you're at Ben Tre's renowned restaurant, you cannot miss out on the coconut rice dish. Nowadays, this coconut rice dish is rarely cooked well, true to its original taste because it requires skill, intricacy, and time. According to the restaurant chefs, to make delicious coconut rice, you must first choose the best rice, rinse it with coconut water to clean it thoroughly, then drain it and cook it in coconut shells in a water bath.
The coconuts used to make coconut rice must also be carefully selected, preferably the Xiêm coconut variety. The coconut should be left intact, without damaging the inner flesh, but the chefs will trim it to make the coconut look much more appealing. At Ben Tre's renowned restaurant, the rice will be placed into the coconut, with a moderate amount of fresh coconut water added, and then cooked until done. The best coconut rice is when it's still hot, and what's even better is having it with fried shrimp. If you leave this coconut rice dish uneaten for too long, the white rice grains will gradually turn pale yellow, losing their visual appeal, so the restaurant only starts cooking it when ordered. The fried shrimp here is also very special with its distinctive red color, cooked with rich coconut water, offering both delicious and enticing sweet flavors.
Address of Ben Tre's famous restaurant: Hung Vuong pier, Ben Tre city
Phu Da snail and rice pancake eatery
Next, JAMJA'SBLOG wants to introduce you to a delicious eatery in Ben Tre with street food that young people absolutely love. While banh xeo is already familiar to everyone, in Ben Tre there's an extremely unique and unfamiliar version called snail and rice pancake, found only in this coconut land. Local residents or anyone who has explored Ben Tre's cuisine often say that if you come to Ben Tre and don't try snail and rice pancake, you haven't truly experienced the taste of this place, and you'll regret it. Snail and rice pancake is also considered one of the specialties of Ben Tre, a unique dish you won't find elsewhere.
Although this dish is considered rustic, it can be said that Phu Da snail and rice pancake eatery is a delicious and famous spot loved by the people of Ben Tre. Previously, it was very difficult to find this dish, mainly during the Tet holidays. When you have the opportunity, visit this eatery to experience the sweetness of the snail blending with the softness of the rice flour and coconut milk, creating a delicious and enticing dish unique to Ben Tre.
Phu Da snail and rice pancake eatery is the place where this specialty dish is prepared especially well and deliciously. To make this snail and rice pancake, the outer shell is similar to other types, but the filling is mostly snails. Snails are small, with white meat that tastes fatty and fragrant. Each serving of snail and rice pancake consists of a large, crispy golden pancake filled with snails, eaten with sweet and sour garlic chili dipping sauce. It is served with various green vegetables such as kale, lettuce, and herbs, along with cucumber. In Ben Tre region, this dish is rustic and simple, beloved by locals.
Address of Phu Da snail and rice pancake eatery: Phu Da islet, Cho Lach district, Ben Tre province
Banana smashed in coconut water eatery on Dong Khoi Boulevard
The dish of banana smashed in coconut water might sound unfamiliar to those in the North, but it's extremely popular among the youth in the Central and Southern regions. One of the best places for this dish in Ben Tre is 311B Dong Khoi Boulevard. If you've ever had the chance to try this special banana cake, you won't forget its delicious, creamy flavor. Similar to the familiar banana cake in Hanoi, banana smashed in coconut water is even more special because the flattened banana is eaten with coconut water. When eaten, you'll taste the creamy coconut water, not too sweet, just right without feeling overwhelming. The owner usually adds some scallions to enhance the aroma.
After enjoying this banana smashed in coconut water cake, many customers have left glowing reviews for the eatery. One young customer said: 'This banana smashed cake dipped in coconut water is truly special. There are many eateries along Dong Khoi Boulevard, so it's not difficult to find. Right from the first bite, you can feel the richness and the fragrance melting quickly in your mouth, a delicious taste like nowhere else.' The price of the cake at the eatery is very reasonable, with only 10,000 VND for 8 pieces, which will leave you feeling full. The best way to enjoy the banana smashed cake is when it's hot, soft, with the sweet taste of ripe bananas being very pleasant, especially when dipped in coconut water typical of Ben Tre.
Save this list of delicious eateries in Ben Tre for your next exploration. Address of the banana smashed cake in coconut water eatery: 311B Dong Khoi Boulevard, Phu Khuong Ward, Ben Tre City.
Bà Bèo eatery
Bà Bèo eatery is strategically located in Ben Tre city, right on the bustling Hùng Vương street and opposite the Hoàng Lam monument area. Therefore, even if you are not a long-time resident of Ben Tre, you can quickly find Bà Bèo eatery. Many young people in Ben Tre are very familiar with Bà Bèo eatery because of its delicious snacks at very affordable prices for students. Bà Bèo eatery specializes in selling traditional, simple yet perfect quality snacks, at extremely reasonable prices. This is the reason why Bà Bèo eatery has existed for so many years and has become well-known in Ben Tre city.
Whenever you visit Bà Bèo snack shop, you will be impressed by the large number of customers, with people coming and going, patiently waiting to enjoy the delicious snacks. If you want to eat the dish you want, you should come early to ensure it's still available. Many people who love snacks at the shop continue to come back even when they grow up, as the taste is reminiscent of childhood. Some standout snacks at Bà Bèo shop include coconut sponge cake, rice cakes, caramel, homemade yogurt, banana ice cream, mainly made by the shop owner. The prices will also surprise you, such as 3,000 VND for yogurt, 3,000 VND for fruit juice, 3,000 VND for spring rolls, papaya salad, etc.
Address of Bà Bèo shop: 108D Hung Vuong Street, Ward 5, Ben Tre City (opposite the Hoang Lam monument).
Hồng Thủy Field Crab Porridge Shop
Ben Tre is not only known for coconut-related dishes but also brings a variety of rustic, familiar dishes to the locals. Many people say that if you visit the vast fields of Ben Tre without tasting the field crab dish, you haven't truly experienced the countryside. Ben Tre belongs to the Mekong Delta region, so its advantage lies in vast fields, abundant rice crops, and one of its simple specialties is field crab, a natural gift bestowed by nature to the hardworking people of the fields.
Hong Thuy Field Crab Porridge Shop will deliver to you the most authentic taste of this porridge. The most authentic field crab porridge must be cooked in a clay pot to preserve the delicious and fragrant flavor of the crab meat. The shop meticulously prepares the crab, first removing the shell to make the broth, and then grinding the crab meat into a paste. The familiar field crab porridge of the people of Ben Tre often includes additional ingredients such as fish, minced pork, mushrooms, balut eggs, and shrimp. Therefore, the porridge at Hong Thuy shop is very rich, and it is often eaten with bitter vegetables to balance the fishy taste of the fish. Additionally, there are also pumpkin flowers, water spinach, sesame flowers, and gourd flowers depending on the season.
Diners will be completely captivated by the unique flavor that surpasses many other dishes at this shop. Along with that is a tremendously nutritious source from the ingredients of field crabs to the diner's supplementing. Ingredients are always carefully selected fresh and safe. Diners will fully enjoy this unique and highly nutritious flavor. What could be better than experiencing both the full flavor and the abundant nutrition from this incredibly nutritious source of ingredients. Isn't that amazing?
Address of Hong Thuy Field Crab Porridge Shop: 323E, Phu Loi Hamlet, Binh Phu Commune, Ben Tre City.
Bà Ba Flan Shop
This is also a snack address that many people in Ben Tre know. The special feature of Bà Ba snack shop is that it only sells flan cakes, not other types of cakes, but still attracts a lot of customers. The owner of Bà Ba also makes customers feel affectionate because they are an elderly couple who make and sell the cakes themselves, always friendly and pleasant to customers. This flan cake shop may not have as many diverse and abundant types of flan cakes as many other shops, but it is certain that any cake appearing on the menu will have a delicious and superior flavor. Through the hands of the two shop owners, each flan cake is carefully cared for, soft, and flavorful.
According to many regular customers of Bà Ba flan shop, the owner is very meticulous in the process of making and selling cakes to customers, meticulous in every step from making the cake mixture to steaming the cake. Therefore, the finished flan cakes sold by Bà Ba brand every day always bring a sweet and fragrant taste, each piece of cake carries a rich milk and egg flavor, super soft flan cakes. Regarding the cocoa flan cake, it carries the characteristic flavor of cocoa, slightly bitter, satisfying every cocoa lover. Eating with each flan cake is coconut milk and palm sugar syrup, bringing a light, sweet, and delicious taste that is irresistible. Bà Ba flan cakes are super delicious at an affordable price, and the business has been going on for 10 years with the same price. For example, egg flan cake is 3 thousand, cocoa is 4 thousand.
Address of Bà Ba flan cake shop: 81 Ngô Quyền Street, Ben Tre City.
Ben Tre Coconut Sweet Soup Shop
A delightful eatery in Ben Tre with a specialty dish found nowhere else is coconut shoot salad. As you may know, coconut trees are ubiquitous along the narrow lanes of Ben Tre. It's not difficult in Ben Tre to encounter towering coconut trees casting cool shade and bearing abundant fruit. Therefore, Ben Tre locals have utilized their abundant coconut resources to create delicious dishes. A prime example is coconut shoot salad, best enjoyed at eateries along National Highway 60 in Binh Phu. To explain this dish, coconut shoots are the tender inner shoots within the coconut tree trunk, so harvesting this ingredient requires cutting down entire coconut trees.
At eateries along National Highway 60, coconut shoot salad has a consistent flavor profile—sweet, sour, crunchy, refreshing, with a fragrant coconut aroma, yet devoid of any greasiness. It typically consists of peeled shrimp, thinly sliced pork belly, finely chopped pig's ears, along with various aromatic herbs, onions, and crushed peanuts. The coconut shoots are cleaned, then cut into thin slices or long strips, mixed with the other ingredients, and seasoned to perfection. When enjoying this special Ben Tre dish, you'll savor a delicious flavor unmatched by any other refreshing dish. The ideal way to enjoy coconut shoot salad is with sweet and sour fish sauce and prawn crackers.
Address of coconut shoot salad eatery in Ben Tre: eateries along National Highway 60 in Binh Phu.
Sao Mai Area Coconut Sticky Rice Ice Cream Shop
Sao Mai Area Coconut Sticky Rice Ice Cream Shop is a well-known spot for coconut ice cream, frequented by many young people. The shop offers affordable coconut ice cream, so the ambiance is simple and unassuming. Sao Mai Area has a relatively small space with basic tables and chairs, and the menu is presented on a regular A4 sheet covered in plastic. Despite its simplicity, the shop continues to attract a large number of customers, perhaps due to the quality of its coconut ice cream, which earns the trust of diners.
Each serving of ice cream is very budget-friendly, ranging from 10,000 VND to 15,000 VND. The ice cream is served in a coconut shell and includes a scoop of ice cream, sticky rice with sweet corn, colorful jelly, dried coconut, and roasted peanuts. The highlight of this dish is the rich and creamy ice cream paired with soft sticky rice, complemented by the delicious coconut meat. In addition to this exquisite coconut ice cream, you can also order yogurt, smoothies, and flan to enjoy together, all at reasonable prices.
Address of Sao Mai Area Coconut Sticky Rice Ice Cream Shop: Dong Van Cong Street, Ward 7, Ben Tre City.
Bì Rice Noodles of Mrs. Hai Thoi
While Hanoi boasts its spring rolls, Ben Tre takes pride in its rolled shredded pork skin. Essentially similar to northern spring rolls, this dish features shredded pork skin wrapped in rice paper, dipped in sweet and sour sauce, accompanied by vegetables and meat. Aunt Thoi's rice noodles with shredded pork skin is renowned in Ben Tre for its rustic and humble cuisine. This dish can be considered the most tantalizing specialty of Ben Tre cuisine. Its deliciousness stems not only from fresh vegetables, lean pork, and soft vermicelli but also from a crucial ingredient - toasted rice powder.
Due to the irresistible aroma and flavor of these rustic ingredients, Aunt Thoi's rolled shredded pork skin is highly sought after by both local and visiting tourists as one of Ben Tre's distinctive delicacies. Some eateries even add shrimp and unique spices, leaving a lasting impression on diners. Not only delicious but also affordable, with just 5000 VND, you can enjoy a generous portion of rolled shredded pork skin.
Aunt Thoi's rice noodles with shredded pork skin uses toasted rice powder to enhance the flavor. To ensure a fragrant powder, the rice must be of high quality, toasted until golden brown, and finely ground. When making the dish, the toasted rice powder is mixed with the meat mixture, preventing the dish from being greasy and making it more enjoyable. Each roll consists of fresh herbs, soft vermicelli, shredded pork skin, and meat, served with garlic chili fish sauce. You will savor the wonderful, delicate flavor of this delicious dish.
Above are 9 delightful dining spots in Ben Tre, each bearing the essence of the coconut land that JAMJA’s BLOG wishes to introduce. Gather your friends and explore the beautiful scenery and unique cuisine of Ben Tre together, young folks.
Posted by: Thuy Nguyen
Keywords: Explore the 9 most popular eateries in Ben Tre
