Westerners praise the 'strange version' of bread, many Hanoians have not tried it yet

Chris and Steph, a couple from Canada, are on a journey around the world . They own a YouTube channel with more than 250,000 followers, specializing in recording unique culinary experiences in the countries they visit.

Hanoi is a "street food paradise" that the couple loves and returns to many times. Not only do they enjoy famous restaurants, Chris and Steph also tirelessly "hunt" for small restaurants, which are "hidden gems" that only locals know about.

The couple enjoyed Phung Hung catfish cakes, Thuy Khue rice cakes, Ngo Gach vermicelli with tofu... places loved by many people in Hanoi. Photo: Hungry to Travel

Recently, the couple went to a sidewalk restaurant on Huong Vien Street, Hai Ba Trung Ward. They were eagerly waiting to enjoy a strange version of banh mi - nem khoai banh mi. The filling was not pate, egg, sausage,... but fried nem chua and fried potatoes.

Some people who watched the video commented that this is a sandwich that many Vietnamese people find strange and have never eaten, and is mainly popular with young people.

bread spring rolls with potatoes.gif — Restaurant staff prepare spring rolls and bread. Photo: Hungry to Travel

The sandwich shop in Huong Vien has been around for nearly 20 years. Initially, the shop mainly sold to students of Tran Nhan Tong High School nearby, but gradually attracted young people and office workers. The bread costs 25,000 VND but is very filling and has an attractive flavor.

Crispy, hot bread crust mixed with the fragrant, crumbly taste of potatoes, the sour, crunchy taste of spring rolls, and the richness of mayonnaise, chili sauce, tomato sauce...

Hanoi tourism — A full sandwich costs 25,000 VND. Photo: Hungry to Travel

"The spring rolls are made from pork, fermented, coated in flour and then deep fried. They are crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. It reminds me of fried chicken balls.

When combining spring rolls with fries and sauce, the sandwich becomes attractive, the flavor is very different from the sandwiches I've eaten before," Steph praised.

She thinks this dish is delicious, cheap, and worth a try.

"Lightning-fast" sticky rice wrapping point

Two tourists also came to enjoy May sticky rice, on Ly Thuong Kiet, Hoan Kiem.

Previously, this was just a sidewalk sticky rice stall for locals. But in recent years, the shop has suddenly become famous after videos recorded the owner’s “lightning-fast sticky rice cutting technique”. She quickly divided the sticky rice, sliced green beans, and cut ham.

When they arrived, Chris and Steph saw many other customers also gathered around the owner, waiting to buy sticky rice. The couple enjoyed watching and taking pictures of the owner serving skillfully and quickly.

May sticky rice.gif — The owner quickly makes sticky rice for customers. Photo: Hungry to Travel

Xoi xeo is a traditional dish popular in Hanoi, prepared with a rather elaborate process. Each serving includes sticky rice, thinly sliced mung beans, rich lard, golden fried onions, and side dishes such as shredded pork, cinnamon sausage, eggs, and braised pork.

Chris ordered a bowl of mixed sticky rice with all the above ingredients for 37,000 VND. The bowl was piping hot with golden, fatty sticky rice and a layer of soft green beans on top.

Chris nodded while eating and commented: "The sticky rice is very sticky and delicious. The mung beans are soft and smooth. If eaten alone, they will be a bit mushy like mashed potatoes, but when combined with sticky rice, they go very well. The fried onions are crispy and the fat is rich."

He was also impressed when the braised pork belly and fried eggs were "cooked perfectly".

"Cha is my favorite dish in Vietnam. The sticky rice bowl is a great combination of ingredients," the male tourist shared.

The restaurant currently sells 4 types of sticky rice: corn, sticky rice, peanuts, and gac fruit with a variety of side dishes. According to Ms. Ngoc Anh - the owner, the restaurant is always crowded because all the ingredients for the sticky rice are homemade by her family, so it has its own unique flavor.

The sticky rice shop opens from 5:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. In the morning, customers often line up to wait. Photo: Kim Ngan

Western tourists try delicious crispy specialties in Hanoi, prefer the sidewalk version over the restaurant version . Although the price difference for a meal is only 15,000 VND, the Western tourist admitted that he prefers to experience this specialty on the sidewalk in Hanoi than in a restaurant.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/khach-tay-tam-tac-khen-banh-mi-phien-ban-la-nhieu-nguoi-ha-noi-cung-chua-an-2441011.html