18:20 02/11/2013 Everybody says, “If you want to experience the savory and cheapest food in Vietnam, eat where the locals go” Easier said than done, the real dilemma is how to find them. Most of the address and street signs are written in Vietnamese script. If you ask directions, you’ll be lucky enough to bump a person who speaks basic English. This is where a local guide or friend comes handy. We’re so grateful to meet our friend’s friends which brought us to Bánh canh Ghẹ Muối Ớt Xanh, a local restaurant that serves authentic Vietnamese Seafood cuisine.
Our food adventure lead us to Quận 10, part of Ho Chi Minh City. The whole stretch of Nguyễn Tri Phương 9 are lined with restaurants, inns, and shops. The captivating neon lights of the restaurant’s billboard was blinding not to notice.
We arrived past 6PM, just on time for early dinner. A friendly guy ushered us to take a seat which we happily oblige. We asked recommendation from our new friends on what food to order since all were written in Vietnamese. Since we can’t take crabs (we’re both allergic) we opted for clams and seashells instead. The guy was prompt to take our order and left the table in haste.
All the seashells including oysters were still raw as they handpicked them from the aquarium before being cook. It’s a guarantee of freshness as they say.
A set of condiments had been placed on our table. An orange chili sauce similar to Thai together with Muối Ớt Xanh. These two are the perfect ensemble for Vietnamese seafood. The latter is a mixed of lemon juice, filtered cane sugar, pepper, salt and Vietnamese green chili.
So deo xao me, we just called it xao me just like the phone to easily recall. The dish with bursting flavor. The sauce was bit overwhelming for us. It was garnish with a fresh morning glory leaf and toasted baguette on the side.
So duong nuong pho mai was the lightest among seafood dish we tried. It’s a grilled scallop topped with melted cheese. It’s chewy, appetizing and simply irresistible. We didn’t have second thought of ordering another set of this. Amazingly good!
The third dish called So mai nuong mo hanh, undoubtedly won our stomach. It’s basically a grilled oyster seasoned with sugar, salt ,garlic, scallions then topped with grounded peanuts. The aroma and flavor was intense but not that overpowering.
We attained so much of foodgasm that night. Countless of mmmmm and ahhhh we uttered. Our first night wouldn’t be complete without a bottle of local beer. We ordered Saigon export as suggested by our friend. A very light lager type of beer which is famous in Vietnam.
What do you notice on the picture above aside from foam? Yes, Vietnamese youngsters drink their beer on a straw. Why not? We thought drinking it with straw makes one’s drunk quickly. But it’s just a myth and no scientific claims to prove. So we happily sip the foamy light beer to wash down our delish seafood meal. Gulp, Gulp!
We concluded our day on photo session with our new friends before it calling it a night. Cảm ơn
What’s your favorite Vietnamese seafood?
Address: 484 Nguyễn Tri Phương, 9, Quận 10, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Phone:+84916501910
Note: This is not paid post or some sort, we just want to share our good experience with this restaurant.
Foodie Couple,
Sky and Summer
The food looks so enticing! I wish I could visit Vietnam someday. 🙂
I've always wanted to go to Vietname because of the rich culture, but I'm always deterred by the scary stories I hear from other tourists. Maybe I should get in touch with you so you can introduce me to your Vietnamese friends?
I like So duong nuong pho mai the most. Second is the oyster.
Delicious love to do this when I visit Saigon again 🙂
wow! Seafoods! They all look yummy and if I were to choose, I'd definitely choose them all! I've never been to Vietnam and I hope we could go there too..
The foods in this photos are looks so yummy that I want to buy oyster now 🙂 I'm curious about the condiments for salt and lemon 🙂 Is there a vinegar on it or just salt and lemon?
You have different sets of shells and oyster here that looks very rich in taste and flavor that definitely gives you a taste of the local delicacy.
I love eating oysters. I used to pair a boiled rice with a half cooked oyster which we commonly call here in our dialect as talaba. It is being cultured and raised in a long bamboo pegs planted on a seashore.
yummm!!! i seriously want some freshly grilled Oysters TTATT
We're going to Ho Chi Minh this October and now I finally have more impression of the place thanks to this post. Those seafoods looked delicious. How about the prices?
wow never seen one here in the Philippines drinking their beer with straw… maybe we can start it as new trend in the metro hehehe.. Pauso! loving the seafoods there .
the food looks good and delicious. but why they drink beer using a straw? i did that before but the taste of beer intensifies haha!!
Those are tempting dishes. Hopefully we can visit Vietnam by next year.
I haven't actually had Vietnamese food yet, a lot of Thai though. Those scallops and oysters just won me over since I'm a sucker for seafood, wish I could visit Vietnam soon just to sample the food!
Beer in a straw, interesting! Seems like the beer is just cola to them 🙂
I Love to eat seafood's. I can't eat these foods all the time due to allergy, but it's perfectly healthy to enjoy a few…hahahaha..why not! Hahahahaha….
I'm into seafoods too so I would love to try vietnamese food someday. Great shoots though. 🙂
I haven't tried any Vietnamese food yet though I find them very rich with flavor. However, I think my dad would love this post since he loves eating scallops and oysters. 🙂
Thanks Mark. There's a plethora of Vietnamese food in the Philippines. Not missed it.
Anything too much is not healthy at all. We only eat this food once in a while. If our budget allowed us.
True to that! It's quite amusing.
I really miss the food in Vietnam. With regards to beer, I prefer the 333 😀
Surely he will, Vietnamese seafood are to die for.
Salt, Lemon and Vietnamese green Chili.
You can Nilyn, just whisper to the Universe. 🙂
Same here. 🙂
I can do that. they're friendly and speak good English.
Anywhere you go, safe is relative to someone definition of the word safety.
Hope we can sample another variety on the next visit.
That's what I missed in Phils, the fresh oysters, not to mention cheap.
Why not diba? sosyal ang dating.
We thought of the same but actually it didn't matter.
You had been to sG, so no doubt you can visit Vietnam. You're surely love it
Someday Sarah! I will whisper the universe to help you conspire yer wish.
Try Vietnamese. Surely you'll yearn it
It's affordable, not that expensive.
We haven't tried 333, something to try on the next visit. Agree, Vietnam Food is heavenly awesome.
I just bet I will. 🙂