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Ba Ut Pork Offal Porridge Restaurant, located at 193 Co Giang Street, Co Giang Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, is one of Saigon's oldest and most famous culinary destinations. With a history spanning over 80 years, the restaurant has been passed down through four generations, each preserving the family recipe and creating an unforgettable, distinctive flavor.
This humble pork offal porridge stall is always crowded thanks to its unforgettable, distinctive flavor.
Ba Ut's Pork Offal Porridge shop was opened in the early 20th century by Mrs. Ut – the founder and the person who laid the first foundations for this distinctive flavor. Ms. Le Thi Hong Ngoc (currently managing the shop) said: "Initially, my grandmother opened the shop, then handed it over to my father. After a while, the shop was transferred to my aunt. The name 'Ba Ut's Pork Offal Porridge' also came from that; before, the shop didn't have a name. When my aunt got married, I took over, and I'm also the youngest in the family. After much effort, more than 80 years have passed."
With a small fire burning, Mrs. Ut's bowl of pork offal porridge keeps a quiet corner of the street warm.
This special pot preserves traditional flavors.
Ba Ut's restaurant is famous for its rich and fragrant pork offal porridge, made with the freshest ingredients. The steaming, smooth porridge, blended with pork offal such as heart, liver, and stomach, along with a bowl of characteristic sweet fish sauce, is an unforgettable experience for diners.
The secret to maintaining the distinctive flavor over the years lies in the careful selection of ingredients. Ms. Ngoc shared: "The pork intestines must be fresh, sourced on the same day, thoroughly cleaned, and cooked well without losing their crispness. The porridge must be cooked so that the rice grains expand evenly, and the broth is rich but not overly greasy."
Each side dish is guaranteed to meet food safety and hygiene standards.
One of the restaurant's unique features is the porridge pot, made from two aluminum basins welded together, which helps retain heat and creates a distinctive flavor. The porridge is made from roasted rice, allowing the grains to expand without becoming mushy, resulting in a characteristic aroma. Ingredients such as blood, liver, intestines, sausage, and stomach are all thoroughly cleaned, ensuring no unpleasant odor and maintaining their freshness.
The fried sausage at this restaurant is a favorite among many customers. The sausage is stuffed with minced meat, herbs, and chopped cartilage, creating a crispy texture and unique flavor. After being steamed, the sausage is deep-fried until golden brown.
The shop is open from 7:00 AM to around 7:00 PM daily, but may run out of food earlier if it's busy. A full bowl of porridge costs 65,000 VND, served with bean sprouts and fried dough sticks. Customers can request to add or remove ingredients to their bowl of porridge according to their preference.
Each slice of tender, chewy pork intestine, each piece of rich, savory sausage, makes diners want to come back again and again.
A bowl of delicious, hot porridge is very appealing.
Although the restaurant is small, with just a few simple tables and chairs, it's always filled with the laughter and chatter of its customers. Whether sunny or rainy, it's always crowded, with people ranging from laborers and office workers to foreign tourists curious about Vietnamese cuisine. The restaurant also offers free parking. Many customers praise the traditional flavors, food quality, and cleanliness of the place. One customer shared: "I've been eating here since I was a child, and the taste hasn't changed. The fried sausage and porridge are delicious; I'll continue to support this restaurant."
Ba Ut's Pork Offal Porridge is not just a dish, but also a part of the culinary memories and culture of Saigon. Its traditional flavor, special cooking method, and family story spanning four generations have created a unique culinary brand, attracting both locals and tourists.
