Saigon's Homemade Crispy Pancakes, Handcrafted from Freshly Ground Flour, Priced at 7,000 Dong Each

Ms. Suong doesn't rely on store-bought pancake mix; she personally grinds rice flour and prepares the filling in the Central Vietnamese style.

Saigon's Homemade Crispy Pancakes, Handcrafted from Freshly Ground Flour, Priced at 7,000 Dong Each

Four years ago, at Ban Co market in District 3, Saigon, Ms. Suong (age 39) opened her banh xeo stall. Her stall, nestled deep within the market, isn't too prominent among the dozens of other eateries. Serving customers Central-style banh xeo, Ms. Suong said: 'We don't use pre-made pancake mix. Every day, I personally grind rice flour and mix it according to our own recipe.'

In the morning, Ms. Suong arrives at the market early to select fresh ingredients. After preparing them, she begins the process of mixing the flour. According to the shop owner, although pre-made pancake mix is more convenient, the taste can't compare to self-made flour. The stall also avoids using eggs or coconut milk like many other places do. 'I use a bit of turmeric powder to make the pancakes look more appealing,' she said.

Different from the Western style, Central-style banh xeo are smaller, about 10 cm in diameter, and poured onto molds instead of using large pans. The filling for Central-style banh xeo is not as diverse, consisting mainly of mung bean sprouts and some slices of pork.

The kitchen area in the restaurant boasts 5 pancake molds and operates at full capacity from 4 pm to 5 pm, the busiest dining hours.

When customers order pancakes, Sister Suong swiftly pours the batter into the molds and adds the filling. After a few minutes, when the batter begins to turn golden, the chef folds it in half. In addition to banh xeo, this establishment also serves equally delicious shrimp-filled mini pancakes.

Diners here do not have choices regarding the fillings. Each pancake is priced at 7,000 dong and served with various fresh vegetables. The success of the dish also owes to the dipping sauce. The restaurant owner prepares a pre-mixed fish sauce, featuring pickled papaya and carrots. Customers can adjust the spiciness according to their taste preferences by adding chili.

The restaurant opens around 2 pm daily. Customers arriving by car can park in available spaces nearby. The dining area is mainly outdoors, providing a spacious ambiance. However, being situated in the market, the restaurant frequently encounters passing vehicles, and the road can become muddy during rainy weather.

According to Di Vy/ Vnexpress

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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour