Bun Oc - rustic cuisine of Hanoi

Bun Oc Hanoi is a popular dish of Hanoi that is loved not only by locals but also by tourists from all over the world. Bun Oc is often sold in traditional restaurants with many years of experience, and its flavor is unforgettable.

It is the feeling of “sparkling” in the heart every time you eat a masterpiece! Bun oc has many different variations, but the most popular is still the type with big, plump snails, banana, bean curd, ham, tomatoes and fried tofu.

Bun Oc - rustic cuisine of Hanoi - Photo 1

Bun oc is a favorite dish of many people because of its rich and delicious flavor. A typical bowl of bun oc will include the main ingredients of broth, snail meat, and vermicelli. In addition, you can eat it with toppings of chopped beans, snail patties, shrimp, and raw vegetables.

The steps to prepare Bun Oc are to cook the broth, prepare the snail meat, the accompanying ingredients, wash the herbs, and prepare all the spices. A standard Hanoi Bun Oc dish must have a slightly sour taste of yeast and not be too salty. When served with fried breadsticks, the raw vegetables will add a fresh flavor, bringing a delicious and attractive culinary experience to diners.

No one knows when Bun Oc originated, but one thing is certain: it is the most purely Vietnamese dish among all the purely Vietnamese dishes. Bun Oc originated from a certain countryside, then followed the footsteps of the people who evacuated to Thang Long citadel and became a specialty.

Hanoians often choose snails that are smaller and tougher than other freshwater snails (usually jackfruit snails). To make a delicious bowl of vermicelli, it is indispensable to have fat and fresh snails that have not been soaked in rice water for too long. They choose good quality vermicelli with thin and clear noodles. ^[ Bun oc not only has broth, snails and tofu as the basic ingredients but also includes many types of raw vegetables.

Shrimp paste and chili are optional, although purists like writer Vu Bang insist on adding them for a richer flavor. In his book Hanoi Delicacies, he commented:

" That is a gift that can be said to have reached the goal of the art of delicious food of Hanoi people. Well, let's just sit and think, has there ever been a gift that is so strange? Just seeing the woman carrying a basket of goods passing by before my eyes, I already crave it, all my glands seem to want to go crazy, constantly increasing my salivation... "

Bun Oc - rustic cuisine of Hanoi - Photo 2

Bun Oc Tay Ho has long been known as a brand. According to the elders in Quang Khanh hamlet (Quang An, Tay Ho), it is thanks to the quality snails caught from West Lake. The snails must be very fat and not soaked for too long. The noodles are selected from Phu Do village in Tu Liem district, because the noodles are very small, firm, not mushy and when poured with water, they are still chewy and flexible but not broken. In addition, bun oc in Khuong Thuong village is also quite famous.