Buzz
A small eatery run by Sister Le is situated in front of an old apartment building in District 5, offering the authentic taste of Nha Trang-style bun cha ca.
Saigon's bun place retrieves fish cakes daily from Khanh Hoa.
Having left their hometown in Van Gia, Khanh Hoa, six years ago, Sister Nguyen Thi My Le (42 years old) and her family moved to Saigon for a new chapter. Sister Le mentioned that the bun cha ca shop was opened around this time.
'I never expected the dish to be so well-received in Saigon. Since the opening, we have only sold it in one place, at the apartment building on Tran Tuan Khai street,' the owner said.
The front of the shop features a glass cabinet used to store cooking utensils and ingredients. When you approach the cabinet, you can smell the aroma of the broth emanating from it.
According to the owner, the most challenging aspect is preserving the dish's hometown flavor. To overcome this concern, the family decided to source the fish cakes directly from their hometown to serve the customers. 'Every day, we have to go to the market early in the morning to bring back fresh batches of delicious fish cakes,' shared Sister Le.
This establishment serves only breakfast, so ingredients like noodles and vegetables are bought from the market early in the morning. The dish is served with a plate of vegetables, including bean sprouts and finely chopped lettuce. You can request it slightly cooked if you prefer, but it's best enjoyed raw.
When customers arrive, the owner puts on gloves, takes a handful of noodles, places them in a bowl, and tops them with large slices of fish cakes. The clear broth is poured generously. Thanks to the secret spices and the simmering process with bones and tomatoes, the broth's flavor is considered rich and flavorful by many.
The allure of this spot lies in the fish cakes. The mixed bowl has two types: fried fish cakes and steamed fish cakes. Inside the bowl, there are also pre-marinated meatballs before cooking. Although these dishes don't originate from the city, many Saigonese find themselves fond of changing their meals with specialties like bun cha ca.
For just 23,000 VND, you can enjoy a hearty breakfast. Ms. Linh (living in Tan Binh) mentioned that, although it was her first time trying this dish, she was quite satisfied with the taste, similar to that of Nha Trang. 'I have had bun ca in Nha Trang several times. The flavor here is quite similar, with a naturally sweet broth,' she commented.
Sister Le's husband and son also assist with selling, carrying trays, cleaning up, and handling payments. This is why during peak hours, customers don't have to wait too long. The shop is located on Tran Tuan Khai street's front. You just need to enter the street and carefully observe around the apartment complex to find it. Customers can park right in front of the shop with someone looking after their vehicles.
As per Di Vy on Vnexpress
***
Explore: Travel guide on Mytour
MytourJanuary 24, 2019
