On every visit, she is greeted by the warm and friendly owners who inquire about her family. With a smile, she mentions that her son brings her to this quaint spot to indulge in a bowl of bánh đúc – a Vietnamese savory treat.
Bánh đúc is a unique Vietnamese dish, a type of savory rice pudding with a delightful chewy texture. It’s typically topped with a mouthwatering combination of ingredients: minced pork, wood ear mushrooms, crispy fried shallots, and mung beans. But the true star of the dish is the light fish sauce that ties all the flavors together.
At the stall located at 116/2/3 Phan Dang Luu Street, a bowl of bánh đúc is an explosion of flavors. The same ingredients are layered together, with the seller skillfully drizzling a generous amount of fish sauce on top, creating a perfect harmony of tastes and textures.
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| A bowl of ‘bánh đúc,’ a savory Vietnamese treat, costs VND30,000 (US$1.18) at this hidden gem in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Dang Khuong |
The aroma of fried shallots adds a crispy, flavorful touch to this already delectable dish. Golden brown and fried to perfection, these shallots are the secret weapon that elevates the bánh đúc to a whole new level.
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| The crispy, golden-brown fried shallots are the key to the dish’s delightful fragrance. Photo: Dang Khuong |
Underneath the fried shallots lies a layer of minced pork and wood ear mushrooms. The tender pork and crunchy mushrooms create a perfect contrast in textures, making each bite a sensory experience.
At the very bottom is a thick layer of soft white rice flour, providing a creamy base for the explosion of flavors above.
Nhung, a loyal customer, shared that she has been frequenting this stall for decades, drawn by the flavors that evoke fond memories. “I’ve been eating here since the 1980s,” she reminisced. “The taste of their bánh đúc is so unique and delicious that it has stayed with me all these years, even now that I’m 80. It’s a tradition I now share with my son.”
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| Diners enjoy their ‘bánh đúc’ at this hidden alley gem in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Dang Khuong |
Besides the mouthwatering food, the stall is also renowned for the warm and inviting attitude of its owners. “I’ve heard about this bánh đúc stall, but this is my first time trying it,” shared a first-time customer. “It’s tucked away in an alley, but the yard is inviting with its lovely flower trellis. However, I found the seller a bit cold. If you’re taking your order to go, be prepared to stand in line, but if you dine in, feel free to find a seat in the yard.”
A culinary journey through Vietnam is incomplete without a taste of bánh đúc, and this hidden gem in Ho Chi Minh City is certainly worth the visit.
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