Mr. Hoa lived for a long time in the South, being the adopted son of a family from the South. Perhaps that period of time had influenced his cooking style and the taste of his dishes. When he returned to Hanoi, he and his wife opened a small restaurant selling beef noodle soup – a dish he believes is “the most authentic Vietnamese dish”.
A bowl of Southern beef noodle soup at Mr. Hoa's restaurant
"As long as there is strength, there is fighting"
Mr. Hoa, owner of the Southern beef noodle shop in Khuong Thuong
Despite his old age, Mr. Hoa still stands in the kitchen every day, working diligently. He smiles gently: "As long as there is strength, there is fighting." The small restaurant has two rooms facing each other, a simple and familiar space. He and his wife serve customers together, creating a cozy atmosphere like in a family.
His bowls of noodles are not elaborate but have a unique character that is hard to find anywhere else. That is what helps the restaurant, even though it is located deep in a small alley, always be crowded. Many diners after finishing their meal say: "Nowhere else can I eat a bowl of Southern beef noodles like here."
The restaurant is located in a small alley, consisting of two rooms for diners to sit and enjoy.
The most special thing when coming to Mr. Hoa's noodle shop is to witness the skillful "fire dance" every time he stir-fries beef. The mini gas stove and pan become familiar props in his skillful hands. Every time a customer orders a dish, he starts the fire, shaking the pan gently but gracefully. The marinated beef sizzles on the hot pan, the aroma of lemongrass and spices rises up, blending into the small space, creating a "performance" that attracts all eyes.
Previously, he was famous for his skillful "fire dancing" talent.
Mr. Hoa shared: “Stir-frying beef requires quick hands and low heat so that the meat is cooked through, soft and sweet. Doing it for a long time becomes a habit, just shake the pan and the fire will flare up.” However, he has now limited the amount of “fire dancing”. He said: “Nowadays, I cook with a smaller pan, shake it more gently, and with just enough heat. It reduces smoke and also protects the environment.”
The most "purely Vietnamese" flavor
According to Mr. Hoa, Southern beef noodle soup is not eaten with broth like in the North, but combines dry noodles with fish sauce, fried onions, peanuts, raw vegetables, beef, all mixed together before enjoying. He uses fish sauce mixed with lemon, sugar, the saltiness and sourness are just right, with a hint of good fish sauce aroma. The fish sauce is the secret, deciding the deliciousness of the dish.
Each bowl of noodles is carefully prepared, including stir-fried beef, fresh and crunchy bean sprouts, cool green lettuce, roasted peanuts and fragrant fried onions. All the ingredients blend together, creating a refreshing, rich but not greasy whole. According to him, eating Southern beef noodles is best in the summer because "there is nothing better than a bowl of refreshing noodles, fresh green vegetables, and a little sweet and sour taste of fish sauce".
Each bowl of noodles is carefully prepared, including stir-fried beef just cooked, fresh and crunchy bean sprouts, cool green lettuce, roasted peanuts and fragrant fried onions.
The price of a bowl of noodles here is very reasonable, only from 35,000 to 50,000 VND, depending on each person's portion. On weekends, the restaurant is often crowded with customers. There are days when he sells more than 100 bowls, his hands never resting.
Over time, although many people offered to buy the recipe for Southern beef noodle soup – at a very high price, even billions of dong, he still shook his head and refused. Mr. Hoa confided: “I will not sell this recipe. In the future, I will only pass it on to my children and grandchildren.”
Clean and tidy kitchen space
Mr. Hoa plans to expand and franchise his Nam Bo beef noodle model in the future. “He hopes that every province in the country will have a Nam Bo beef noodle shop with the same quality as here. The flavor will not change over the years, so that everyone who eats it will remember it forever.” It is not only a business dream, but also a desire to preserve a rich culinary tradition.
“He hopes that every province in the country will have a quality Southern beef noodle shop like this one. The taste will not change over the years, so that anyone who eats it will remember it forever.”
Although the restaurant is located deep in a small alley, the seating is simple and not very convenient for parking, but not many people are discouraged. They still come with a patient and trusting attitude, because that place has a bowl of Southern beef noodle soup that cannot be found anywhere else and a restaurant owner who is always gentle and devoted to each customer.
The image of Mr. Hoa, his hands nimbly stirring the pan on the red-hot stove, his eyes focused and his gentle smile under the smoke has become a familiar memory for many people. When the fire flared up, the smell of stir-fried beef with lemongrass spread out, mixing with the air, and that is when people clearly understood his saying: "As long as there is strength, there will be fighting." It was not just a casual remark, but a spirit of attachment, a passion for the profession and food that he considered a part of his life.
