Hoàng Phố's sticky rice is simple yet rich, fragrant and delicious.

Hoàng Phố's golden sticky rice glistens, it's sticky but not greasy, lacking the heaviness of 'fatty sticky rice', only the smooth richness of chicken fat blended with the fragrant aroma of seasoned shallots...

Turning over the calendar once again, as the year draws to a close, I find myself starting a slightly peculiar habit, which is dining out. Each restaurant or eatery I visit, I must meticulously study dishes that can be applied to enhance the flavor and presentation of my Tet feast, adding more deliciousness and beauty without inducing boredom.

I went to Góc Quê restaurant on Đặng Tiến Đông Street the other day

Imagine going out for drinks with friends, focusing on refreshing dishes like salted chicken feet, pickled beef jerky,... Exploring rustic eateries means delving into unique dishes like fermented pork roll, soup, sticky rice, chicken,... all with a twist.

Just the other day, my husband and I celebrated his birthday at Góc Quê, and we even made a list of delicious dishes to try at home. For instance, crispy boneless chicken feet salad, tangy and spicy, a perfect way to utilize boiled chicken feet in our Tet feast; pickled beef jerky helps to balance the richness of banh chung, gio cha,... Most importantly, it was a rare treat to enjoy Hoàng Phố's sticky rice again after so long!

Isn't this portion for 2 - 3 people more than enough?

There was a time when people from Hanoi were very familiar with a dish called Hoàng Phố's sticky rice, with its elegant name but extremely simple ingredients. Hoàng Phố's golden sticky rice glistens, it's sticky but not greasy, lacking the heaviness of 'fatty sticky rice', only the smooth richness of chicken fat blended with the fragrant aroma of seasoned shallots... Taking a bite of Góc Quê's sticky rice feels like rediscovering the flavors of my childhood from decades ago!

Góc Quê's Sticky Rice and Chicken

Making Hoàng Phố's sticky rice isn't difficult, but achieving its soft, fragrant, uniformly golden texture, neither dry nor overwhelming, where adding a bit of seasoned shallots makes it irresistible, is truly an art. Take note of this secret to delicious Hoàng Phố's sticky rice shared by Góc Quê, and apply it to your Tet feast!

Hoàng Phố's sticky rice is simple yet irresistibly delicious

The ingredients for Hoàng Phố's sticky rice are super simple

For 1kg of glutinous rice, you'll need: 1 fresh turmeric root, 5 – 7 large dried shallots, chicken fat or oil: 2 tablespoons for Pho, salt, sugar, shredded chicken (if desired)

First, wash the glutinous rice thoroughly. Clean the turmeric, peel, extract the juice and soak it with the rice for 20 minutes, then remove the rice, rinse it 2 – 3 times with cold water to remove the pungent smell of turmeric. Now soak the rice in cold water for 6 – 8 hours (or overnight).

Mix the rice with a little salt and chicken fat/oil (I prefer chicken fat for its aroma, richness, and less greasiness compared to the other two types), stir well and pour into a rice cooker. If you cook with a pot, remember to adjust the heat to medium, check when the rice is almost cooked (about 40 – 50 minutes) then transfer it to a clean tray to cool down.

You should mix the rice with chicken fat, the sticky rice will be more fragrant, soft, rich, and much tastier

Peel and wash the dried shallots, thinly slice them, then fry. As soon as the shallots start to turn golden, immediately reduce the heat, once they are evenly golden, remove them from the oil and drain.

Now, when the sticky rice has cooled slightly, transfer it to a tray for the second round. After about 10 – 15 minutes, the second round is complete, scoop out the rice, sprinkle with fried shallots and shredded chicken for a delicious hot meal!

Just sticky rice and fried shallots are already incredibly delicious!

Delicious dishes to enjoy with Hoàng Phố's sticky rice at Góc Quê

Even though Hoàng Phố's sticky rice comes with fried shallots and shredded chicken, there are a few dishes I think pair extremely well with its soft, chewy, and flavorful texture at Góc Quê. Here are some suggestions for your next visit.

First is the crispy pork belly stir-fry, besides being fragrant, crunchy, and tender inside, it's just the right amount of rich and flavorful, perfect with hot sticky rice.

Delicious dishes from Góc Quê that you can combine with Hoàng Phố's sticky rice

Second is the snail sausage, a more exotic dish compared to the usual sticky rice pairings like quail eggs/sausage, with a satisfying crunchiness of snail combined, much tastier.