Buzz
A bowl of fragrant grilled meat noodle, crispy spring rolls accompanied by shallot oil, peanuts that make many Saigonese nostalgic after a long time without eating.
Saigon's Famous Grilled Meat Noodle Spot for Over Half a Century Beneath an Apartment Building
Nestled beneath an apartment building on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, Mrs. Dung's eatery space consists simply of nearly 10 sets of neatly arranged stainless steel tables and chairs on both sides of the walkway.
Mrs. Dung is now over 50 years old. She revealed that her grandmother started selling food 60 years ago. “My grandmother sold from a street stall, sitting on the sidewalk for over 20 years. We moved here 40 years ago,” she recounted.
My friend and I visited the eatery on a cool lunchtime. If it were the usual scorching weather of Saigon, perhaps this place wouldn't be as refreshing as when I arrived. The place was packed, it took us 5 minutes just to get seated.
After several decades, the eatery still maintains its main menu, which is grilled meat noodle. The middle-aged women each have their own tasks very proficiently. While Mrs. Dung serves food to customers, Sister Le sits in a corner grilling meat. Others handle food preparation and table clearing.
The space is tiny and cramped yet bustling, with the majority of audible sounds being the calls for orders and reminders from Mrs. Dung's sisters. Regular customers come and quietly dine before leaving to make room for the next person, engaging in minimal conversation.
“We are older now so we have to constantly remind each other not to forget what customers have ordered. It may sound loud but it's normal, no one gets upset with anyone,” Mrs. Dung shared.
With that rhythm, waves of customers continuously enter and exit, those waiting for a few minutes do not complain.
On my first visit to the eatery, I ordered the complete grilled meat noodle with spring rolls like most customers do. The bowl of noodles presented was enticing with a layer of shallot oil and peanuts on top. The aroma of grilled meat wafted straight to the nose.
The grilled meat noodle dish is incomplete without a bowl of well-blended fish sauce. Spicy eaters can adjust the chili already provided on the table. The fish sauce is just right, typical of the Southern region. Customers can pour the fish sauce into the bowl and mix it evenly with the layer of vegetables underneath.
The shop owner goes to the market early to buy delicious meat, not too fatty but not all lean. The meat remains tender after grilling, not dry. The spring rolls are tightly wrapped and fried to a crisp. Many customers whisper to each other that the spring rolls are what make them come back next time. Some even order an extra serving of spring rolls to enjoy more.
Customers coming to the shop include office workers nearby, motorbike taxi drivers, or construction workers. “I've been eating here for nearly a decade now. If I go a long time without eating, I start to miss it. There are times when I crave grilled meat noodle even when I'm far away transporting passengers,” taxi driver Tam recounted.
The shop starts serving customers from around 10 am until early afternoon, customers can choose to dine in or take away as they please. Each serving of grilled meat noodle costs 30,000 VND. Besides noodles, diners can also opt for rice with chicken and order additional refreshing drinks such as freshly squeezed orange juice, iced tea, or soft drinks.
Over time, this place has been preserved in the memories of many Saigonese. Despite its modest appearance nestled amidst the modern and bustling city, diners continue to return here for a long time.
According to Di Vy/Vnexpress
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Reference: Travel guide by Mytour
MytourJuly 30, 2018
