Only a few years ago, a small street near Truc Bach Lake (Hanoi) was still quiet. But now, if you visit Ngu Xa especially in the afternoon, anyone will be surprised by the bustling atmosphere in this street.
Referring to Ngu Xa, no one can forget the name of a pho restaurant, a Thai seafood noodle shop or a frog hot pot restaurant. Three dishes that have helped contribute the name of the small street into the list of the culinary street cannot be ignored in Hanoi.
Pho cuon
Phở cuốn is a unique dish of Hanoians, a Hanoi traditional food. Although this dish was created much later than traditional pho, pho cuon quickly became the favorite dish of many people, especially international tourists on Hanoi street food tour.
Today, Hanoi people immediately think of Ngu Xa – small winding street, hidden behind the Truc Bach Lake when talking about pho cuon. Here, there are many shops, eateries, At noon or in the afternoon, the street is always crowded and bustling.
Hung Ben shop is probably the “pioneer” of pho cuon. In the past, Hung Ben restaurant was small, hidden modestly in Nguyen Khac Hieu crossroad with Ngu Xa street. Thanks to the strangely delicious pho cuon, the shop gradually become developing. Restaurants nearby are also starting to sell pho cuon. Gradually, Ngu Xa street became the most famous “pho cuon street” in the capital. Variation from pho on Ngu Xa has also become more diversified, in addition to pho cuon, people here also create sour pho, fried pho, etc, making the reputation of the restaurants here become more popular.
Thai seafood noodles
Well-known in recent years, but Thai seafood noodles has not shown signs of cooling down, is still a favorite dish for many people. Thai noodles with the sour piquant taste in Thailand was present Hanoi for some time. But with a little creative combination with seafood, this noodle has become unique dish, more impressed with Ha Thanh youth and travellers of food walking tour.
Vietnamese seafood noodles in Hanoi are most famous in Ngu Xa. Originally, the business only intended to make thai noodle for the Thai hot pot business, but the sale was not effective because people only came to Ngu Xa to eat … pho cuon, in addition, the income of people around the area was not too high, so they were not interested in hot pot dishes. Then a new idea came up, the owner of the restaurant decided to sell food cheaper, combining noodles, hot pot with seafood. The right decision has brought success beyond the imagination, creating the hot “keyword” in the food lovers in Hanoi.
Today, people come to Ngu Xa not only eat pho cuon, but also to enjoy this unique seafood noodles.
Frog hot pot
In fact, Ngu Xa is not the name that people remember first when mentioning to frog hotpot but everyone knows that this street is located adjacent to Truc Bach Street, the birthplace of “frog hot pot” in the capital. For that reason, some of Truc Bach lake frog hot pot restaurants are located at Ngu Xa. And because of the inherent nature of hot pot dishes, frog hotpot restaurants also contribute to the richness of Ngu Xa cuisine.
Frog hot pot is not strange now. But anyone who has eaten must recognize the frog hot pots near Truc Bach lake (including Ngu Xa commune) have a very special taste. Frog hotpot is sour spicy, each piece of frog’s poured into the pot, fatty and delicious.
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