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From around 4 PM onwards, Tran Nao Street in An Khanh Ward, Thu Duc City, begins to bustle. Cars line up one after another as if rushing to escape a sudden early summer rain shower. At a street corner, windows begin to open slightly, and warm yellow light filters through the gaps, creating a cozy atmosphere that contrasts sharply with the hustle and bustle of the street ahead.
The warm atmosphere inside the restaurant contrasts sharply with the rush hour hustle and bustle on the street in front of it.
That place is Song Quan - a family-run restaurant with a distinctly Northern Vietnamese flavor, offering a cozy and intimate atmosphere while still maintaining a modern touch thanks to the refined aesthetic sense of the owner, Mr. Quoc Anh.
Recalling the flavors of old Northern Vietnam - the taste of a bygone era of youth.
Having lived in the South for many years and experienced the ups and downs of glamorous Saigon, Quoc Anh still fondly remembers his youth in the capital city. He has traveled extensively, enjoying both Asian and European cuisine, but the familiar flavors of the past remain in the subconscious of this Northerner. Song Quan was born as a place to evoke the taste of the North for those far from home, embodying the style of a rustic eatery easily found on the streets of Hanoi.
The restaurant's menu truly embodies home-style cooking: a rich and creamy tofu dish with scallions, a fragrant pot of snails stuffed with meat, a plate of carp braised with pickled vegetables, a beef salad with pickled eggplant and water spinach, or a simple bowl of jute mallow soup with freshwater crab… The more "premium" dishes (in the Northern dialect) include garlic-fried duck, braised pork trotters, crab spring rolls, five-spice grilled chicken, shrimp in spicy perilla sauce, sun-dried squid… perfect for a meal with friends chatting about everything under the sun.
The restaurant's menu features home-style Northern Vietnamese rice dishes served with dipping sauces.
No one can resist the allure of a simmering pot of crab and beef hotpot, fragrant with fried onions, tomatoes, and rich, creamy crab roe. Confident in the signature dish of the restaurant, Mr. Quoc Anh emphasizes that fresh ingredients are the key to its flavor. The restaurant only uses fresh, live freshwater crabs, which are prepared and cooked on-site by the chef and staff. The crab roe is golden, rich but not greasy, and melts in your mouth. The fresh, tender beef shank has a naturally sweet flavor, contributing to a harmonious and unforgettable broth.
The crab and beef hot pot has a distinctly Northern Vietnamese flavor, from the ingredients to the broth.
Unlike other Northern Vietnamese restaurants that often adapt ingredients or spices to suit Southern tastes, Quoc Anh's crab and beef hot pot retains its authentic "traditional flavor," a reminder of his homeland. It still features shredded water spinach, sliced banana blossoms, tomatoes, bean curd skin, tofu, pork sausage, and, of course, a plate of rich and creamy fertilized duck eggs. Even small details like the finely shredded water spinach stems, soaked in water until curled, are meticulously prepared by the chef, ensuring the flavor and spirit of Northern Vietnam are unmistakable.
Crab and beef noodle soup (Bún riêu cua bắp bò) isn't just served with rice noodles; it can also be enjoyed with red rice crackers or even instant noodles. A familiar and rustic dish in Northern Vietnam, the way to enjoy it is as simple as its flavor: just arrange some rice noodles or red rice crackers in a bowl, pour in the rich broth, add a few slices of pork sausage, some fried tofu, and fresh vegetables – that's enough. When the sweet and rich flavor of the crab roe fades, a boiled fertilized duck egg from the hot pot, with its delicate sweetness and unique richness, can be the perfect finishing touch to the meal.
Appealing from its colors to its flavors.
If you're still craving more from the crab hotpot, you can move on to another signature dish: Song Quan's grilled beef. Introduced by the owner as a special highlight, this dish combines high-quality Australian Grilled beef with Phu Yen ant salt – a rustic yet distinctive spice – delivering a rich and unexpected flavor.
Beef and accompanying vegetables such as baby corn and asparagus are prepared and served directly at the table. The sizzling sound of the meat on the hot tray, the smoky aroma spreading through the air, awakens the senses and sets the stage for a truly captivating experience.
Song Quan Grilled Beef - a signature dish created from a novel combination of beef and ant salt.
The spices, sauces, pickles, and side dishes at the restaurant are all handcrafted in-house, rejecting industrial products to create a unique and memorable flavor that cannot be mistaken for any other eatery. Just like the flavors of youth, each person's taste is different, but ultimately, they all share a longing and nostalgia for a taste of the past.
Beef and vegetables are grilled directly by staff and served at your table.
Rustic nostalgia in a neoclassical setting.
Just like the friendly and generous owner, Quoc Anh, Song Quan offers a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere on a late afternoon. The restaurant has both open and enclosed spaces, and each area is meticulously designed to create a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, of elegance and intimacy.
The cafe's design draws inspiration from various styles, creating a unique neoclassical space.
Surrounding the cafe are lush trees, rustic wooden tables and chairs, and creative table lamps made from wine bottles, creating a feeling that is both classic and poetic. Through the leaves, one can see the bustling Tran Nao street with its honking cars. Song Quan is like a quiet rock in the middle of a fast-flowing river, a place where people stop to recharge on their way home.
The lush greenery surrounding the outdoor space creates a cool and pleasant atmosphere in the heart of the city.
Inside the cafe, simple details made from bamboo and wood, combined with warm yellow lighting, create a cozy and tranquil atmosphere. A touch of classic elegance is blended in, from the windows and picture frames to the decorative items and Tiffany-style lamps. The details on the ceiling, walls, and shelves are arranged just enough to avoid cluttering the space while still satisfying the viewer's visual senses.
The interior of the cafe is decorated in warm tones, creating a cozy atmosphere.
According to Quoc Anh, when developing the design, he didn't pursue any specific style. "I incorporated a little bit of each style to blend traditional and modern elements, ensuring that visitors don't feel it's too luxurious or too outdated," he shared.
Enjoying the flavors of old Northern Vietnam in a space that blends tradition and modernity brings a fresh perspective to everyday life, evoking a sense of nostalgia for the North of yesteryear. And so, regularly, from 4 PM to 11 PM each day, the glass windows begin to open, the warm yellow light filtering through the gaps, casting a gentle glow like the afternoon sun. Song Quan sits quietly on the edge of the bustling city, waiting for guests to stop by, seeking a taste of the past on their way home.
