Fixed-price snail truck always sells out early in the heart of Saigon

Fresh snails, prepared on the spot with delicious dipping sauces, at affordable prices to satisfy customers.

Fixed-price snail truck always sells out early in the heart of Saigon

Located at the end of an alley on Tran Hung Dao street in District 1, it might be a bit challenging to find, but this no-sign snail truck is always a favorite spot for many seafood enthusiasts in Saigon. With just a few makeshift tables set up on the roadside, it always runs out early due to its combination of low prices and decent quality.

All dishes here are priced at 30,000 VND per serving. Snails are neatly arranged in buckets at the kitchen counter, allowing customers to simply choose their desired type and request the chef to prepare it according to their preferences. Therefore, the same type of snail can be transformed into various different dishes.

The star of the establishment is the turban snail, which is prepared in various ways such as grilled with salt and lime, spicy grilled with chili, or stir-fried with butter or chili sauce, perfect for dipping with bread.

To fill their stomachs, customers often order an extra plate of stir-fried snails with water spinach. However, if they don't fancy the chewy texture of snails, they can opt for stir-fried snails with fingernail clams or cockles as alternatives. Additionally, there are many other familiar dishes such as spicy Thai-style steamed clams, piping hot grilled cheese, and spring onion sandwiches...

The lady owner prepares stir-fries right on the truck, while the owner handles grilling dishes such as grilled scallops with spring onion oil, grilled razor clams with cheese... The cooking area is right in front of the customers, although exposed, due to being deep in the alley, there is little dust.

As it's just a small snail truck, customers have to sit outside on the street, there are no fixed tables and chairs. The owner sets up tables and chairs when there are customers, then puts them away when they finish. The place rarely gets crowded but it's always regular customers, mostly office workers from district 1, and quite a few gourmet snail enthusiasts often visit. The quantity of each dish is limited, every table orders many dishes to satisfy their cravings. Therefore, if you want to order delicious dishes, you have to come early.

The truck starts selling from 4 p.m. until around 7 p.m., by then there are only a few types of selective snails left, like coconut snails. One person feeling full, with a drink, would cost around 130,000 VND.

Address: Alley 391, Tran Hung Dao, district 1.

According to The Star

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Reference: Travel Guide from Mytour