It can be said that Ho Chi Minh City is a convergence of culinary colors, it would be remiss not to mention traditional Chinese dishes.
Located in a small alley on Le Dai Hanh Street, District 11, separate from the hustle and bustle of the city, Mr. Duong Huy's Thieu Ky noodle shop attracts diners with its traditional flavor that has been preserved by his family for 90 years.
It would be remiss not to mention traditional Chinese dishes in Ho Chi Minh City.
The shop's distinctive feature is the traditional noodle cart decorated with stained glass paintings depicting the stories of Three Kingdoms characters, with the name Thieu Ky standing out. Here, visitors will have the opportunity to admire the chef's skill in preparing dishes, as if they were lost in a Chinese shop. The front room where the noodle cart is located is where the dishes are prepared, the back room is where fresh noodles are made and the family's living space.
The distinctive feature of Thieu Ky shop is the traditional noodle cart decorated with stained glass paintings depicting the stories of characters from the Three Kingdoms novel.
I ordered a bowl of mixed noodles and quickly received the noodles with an extremely attractive aroma. The noodles were chewy and had a very unique taste because they were handmade by the owner. Something that is hard to find in other noodle shops. The bone broth was simmered over low heat. The accompanying toppings such as heart, liver, fish balls, shredded chicken, char siu... were fresh and delicious, mixed with the broth and noodles to create a unique flavor that cannot be found in any Chinese noodle shop.
Mixed Chinese Noodles
I slowly savored the flavors and also felt the tradition that the owner's family has preserved for the past 90 years. In the quiet space of the small alley, I heard the customer at the next table quietly introduce the restaurant's dishes to his friend, and watched the staff quickly bring the food to the diners.
The restaurant was crowded with customers but did not disturb the tranquility because everyone focused on enjoying the taste of the food. The menu includes traditional Chinese dishes such as: Noodles 55,000, Beef and Pork Noodles 60,000, Beef Stew 60,000, Dim Sum 30,000/portion, Meatballs 30,000/portion.
After finishing my meal, the owner, Mr. Duong Huy, told me the story of the shop. In the peaceful space of a small alley, the simple owner with a smile always on his lips spoke gently about how he was the third generation to continue his family's business of selling fresh noodles.
Noodle shop since 1930
“The noodle shop has been around since my grandfather’s time in the 1930s, before he immigrated to Vietnam from China. Later, my grandfather passed on the craft of making fresh noodles and Chinese dishes to my mother. My mother passed it on to me, and now I am slowly teaching my grandchildren, the fourth generation of the family,” the noodle shop owner shared.
Mr. Huy looked into the distance as if lost in the memories of the old days. He said that around the 80s and 90s of the last century, there were many customers coming in, the shop opened from early morning until 2-3 am, but in the 2000s, the noodles sold a little slower. For 90 years, the shop has kept the original flavor from the time of the first owner.
For 90 years, the restaurant has kept the original flavor from the time of the first owner. Therefore, there are many regular visitors coming here to enjoy.
Every day, the shop spends about 2-3 hours to produce 18 kg of fresh noodles for use during the day. According to Mr. Huy: "The noodles are sold out as soon as they are made, they are not made in large quantities. When they are sold out, the family makes more."
Ms. Pham Thi Dao Nguyen and Mr. Du Huy Hoang have been regular customers of the restaurant for many years. She shared: “I have been eating at this noodle shop for decades now. My husband and I share the same hobby of enjoying and discovering delicious restaurants. Our taste is to go to traditional restaurants of the past. In Saigon, there are not many restaurants like Thieu Ky anymore, you can count them on your fingers. The noodles are homemade. The broth has all the elements of clarity, sweetness, and is cooked from bones. The whole noodle cart also exudes tradition because it has been used for a long time."
Ms. Pham Thi Dao Nguyen and Mr. Du Huy Hoang have been regular customers of the restaurant for many years.
Ms. Nguyen and Mr. Hoang sometimes visit the shop to enjoy noodles in the morning, at noon, and sometimes in the evening, and always see a lot of customers. She said: “I have been eating noodles since the owner did not rent the space next door, but only the inside and the sidewalk in front of the house. Every time I come to the shop, I still sit in my usual place. And order my favorite dish, which is wonton noodles.”
Having enjoyed many traditional Chinese restaurants, Ms. Nguyen highly appreciates the traditional flavors that the restaurant has maintained over time. “From noodles to dumplings, the traditional flavors are kept intact. Despite changes in time, rising prices, and market competition, the restaurant owner has still maintained delicious flavors. And for me, that factor scores very high marks. I am also particularly impressed by the simplicity, hospitality, and modesty of the restaurant owner,” Ms. Nguyen added.
Mr. Du Huy Hoang suggests that if you want to know the quality, taste, and skill of the chef, you can try dry noodles and dumplings. If the dumplings are not broken or crumbly, and do not fall apart when dipped in boiling water, but when enjoyed, you can still feel the chewy and crispy taste, then those are good dumplings.
The shop opens daily from 6am to 12am, the family works in shifts. From around 5pm the family starts preparing the ingredients for noodles, dumplings, and wonton filling.
