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Located on Duong Tu Giang Street in District 5, a street famous for its machinery and spare parts businesses, Huynh Thi Ngoc Yen's sticky rice with coconut milk and durian dessert shop is incredibly popular thanks to the delicious and unique flavor of its Cambodian-origin sticky rice. The shop is right on the street, with an eye-catching blue sign that says "Ngoc Yen Sticky Rice and Desserts," making it easy to find. The shop's storefront isn't very large, only enough space for one or two tables. Inside, the owner has also set up a few small tables to serve customers.
Diners are captivated by the unique, fragrant, sweet, and creamy flavors of sticky rice and sweet soup dishes originating from Cambodia.
The restaurant's menu is quite simple, consisting of sticky rice with coconut milk and durian, and three-color sweet soup. The sticky rice includes sticky rice, custard, coconut milk, and durian. The three-color sweet soup includes red beans, green beans, agar jelly, custard, and coconut milk. Arriving at the shop in the mid-afternoon, I quickly ordered a portion of sticky rice with coconut milk. The owner quickly took out a small plate, put the sticky rice, a slice of custard, and then poured coconut milk over it. I didn't have to wait long to have a portion of sticky rice fragrant with coconut milk and durian.
With the first bite, you'll quickly be captivated by the sweet, creamy taste of coconut milk and durian, along with the soft, fragrant sticky rice. This flavor reminds me of the desserts and cakes I enjoyed in Cambodia.
The restaurant's menu is quite simple, consisting of sticky rice with coconut milk and durian, and three-color sweet soup.
After trying the second dish at the shop, the three-color sweet soup, I was quickly captivated by the sweet and soft flavor of the beans, and the fragrant, creamy taste of the coconut milk. These two dishes would be favorites for those with a sweet tooth. On the table, the owner also had teapots of cold tea and shaved ice ready. The tea helped to balance the sweetness of the sticky rice and sweet soup. Not only are these dishes for those with a sweet tooth, but the sticky rice and sweet soup at Ms. Yen's shop also allow diners to explore the culture and flavors of the "Land of Temples."
Sharing about the origins of her family's sticky rice and sweet soup, 50-year-old Huynh Thi Ngoc Yen said: "My mother-in-law opened this sticky rice and sweet soup shop. In the 1970s, a Cambodian immigrant came to Vietnam and opened a Cambodian sticky rice and sweet soup shop. Later, they returned to Cambodia and taught my mother-in-law how to make it. To date, the shop has been open for over 40 years, without ever changing the menu or location. I inherited the trade from my mother-in-law and am the second generation to take over the shop."
The shop has been open for over 40 years now.
In the early days of opening, most of the customers were Chinese, as the shop was located in an area with a large Chinese population. Later, as the shop became more well-known, customers from other districts also came to enjoy the food.
Ms. Yen believes that every step in making sticky rice and sweet soup is important, requiring meticulousness and dedication from the cook. Because even a slight mistake in one step will result in the dish not achieving the authentic delicious taste. For example, according to Ms. Yen, durian must be ripe, fragrant, soft, and smooth, not hard or tough; red beans must be cooked thoroughly, simmered for many hours until soft, then sugar is added to make the beans sweeter and softer.
Every step in making sticky rice and sweet soup is important and requires the cook to be meticulous and dedicated.
Ms. Yen's Cadé is a mixture of finely grated durian, blended until smooth, then mixed with cooked coconut milk and steamed. According to Ms. Yen, the durian must be ripe, fragrant, soft, and smooth, not hard or tough. The finished Cadé should be fluffy, fragrant, rich, and sweet. Every day, Ms. Yen spends time from 7 am to 11 am completing all the steps of making sticky rice and dessert; she simmers the red beans the day before to ensure they are soft and fragrant.
Mr. Huy, a long-time customer of the restaurant, shared: “I’ve been eating at this place for over ten years, and many people know about it. The flavor of the sticky rice and sweet soup here is very special, still retaining the traditional Cambodian taste that no other restaurant in Saigon can match. My house is in Tan Phu District, quite far from here, so whenever I have business nearby, I’ll stop by the restaurant.”
Mr. Huy is a long-time customer of the restaurant.
Sharing the same sentiment, Ms. Chau, a long-time customer of the shop, said she was particularly impressed with the fragrant, sweet, and creamy taste of the coconut water, durian, and cadé. Her house is only about 10 minutes from the shop, so she visits frequently.
The restaurant opens at 2 PM. Ms. Yen says the busiest time is around 7-8 PM, while in the afternoon, customers are few and far between. Long-time customers also order through food delivery apps. Many Vietnamese expats and foreigners also bring their acquaintances, relatives, and friends to enjoy the food.
