A plate of broken rice with ribs and Hien Vuong crab rolls costs 95,000 VND - Photo: HO LAM
Broken rice is a favorite breakfast dish of many Saigonese. A full plate of broken rice usually has toppings such as ribs, pork skin, sausage, pickles...
A plate of broken rice with pork chops, pork skin, and grilled pork roll is so familiar to Saigonese that they can humorously call it: "Give me a plate of grilled pork skin and pork skin". Every time they order like that, both the diner and the restaurant owner implicitly understand the meaning.
Besides "sa bi chuong", broken rice in Saigon also has many special variations. That is broken rice with crab shells (or broken rice with crab cake).
Tuoi Tre Online is looking for The taste of this dish is available at two long-standing shops located near Tan Dinh market, district 1.
In front of Nguyen Phi Khanh crab cake broken rice restaurant - Photo: HO LAM
Hien Vuong broken rice stuffed with meatballs in crab shells
Located opposite Le Van Tam Park and on Vo Thi Sau Street, which is always bustling with people, Hien Vuong broken rice is a bit difficult to recognize when it is surrounded by clothing, fashion, and cosmetic stores...
Tuoi Tre Online visited the shop around 8am. The shop was simply decorated and not too crowded.
Listening to the female customer sitting at the next table asking about sales during and after the National Day holiday on September 2, the shop owner complained that sales are slow now, not like before.
Crab cakes are stuffed into crab shells at Hien Vuong broken rice - Photo: HO LAM
But when asked about the history of the broken rice restaurant, the middle-aged owner's voice still couldn't hide his pride. He always remembered his grandfather's advice when he was still alive: "Don't close the restaurant, no matter the cost."
The owner said that Hien Vuong broken rice has been in Saigon since 1956, during the French colonial period. The shop has been around for so long that it has witnessed many name changes on Vo Thi Sau Street: from Mayer La Reynière, Hien Vuong and finally Vo Thi Sau.
Hien Vuong broken rice restaurant has an old sign, located on Vo Thi Sau street - Photo: HO LAM
Regular, old, and new customers often call this place Hien Vuong broken rice, while new visitors call it broken rice 114 Vo Thi Sau.
In addition to the familiar broken rice with pork chops, pork skin, and sausage, the crab sausage here is quite special. The crab sausage is made from minced meat, mixed with shredded crab meat and stuffed into the crab shell.
This dish originates from European cuisine, people often call it "crab cake farci", "stuffed crab".
Tasted the crab cake of Hien Vuong broken rice but still could not clearly feel the sweet taste of crab meat. The crab cake was a bit dry.
The ribs are well seasoned but not crispy because they are braised ribs, not grilled ribs.
A full portion includes: ribs, pork skin, ham, eggs, and farci crab ham for 140,000 VND.
Many diners think that this price is quite expensive for a plate of broken rice, while the flavor is not very special.
Nguyen Phi Khanh crab cake broken rice, customers complain the price is too high!
Not far from Hien Vuong broken rice, Nguyen Phi Khanh broken rice with crab cake is also quietly located on Nguyen Phi Khanh street, Tan Dinh ward, district 1. The restaurant is painted in nostalgic yellow and does not display a flashy sign.
The restaurant space is small and always crowded.
View from inside Nguyen Phi Khanh crab and broken rice restaurant - Photo: CK
The crab cakes here are not stuffed into crab shells. However, the cakes are softer, juicier and more flavorful than Hien Vuong broken rice.
Ms. CK told Tuoi Tre Online that she has been visiting the restaurant since 2006. According to her, Nguyen Phi Khanh's broken rice with crab cake dish "has become more expensive over time":
"In 2006, a plate of rice here cost about 30,000 to 35,000 VND per plate. In 2022, I also visited the shop and ordered a full portion for 120,000 VND. After 2 years, the shop increased the price to about 160,000 VND, a full plate with an extra bowl of rice."
CK's family arrived at the restaurant at 9am. She had to wait more than an hour to enjoy the meal here.
A full plate of broken rice at Nguyen Phi Khanh broken rice with crab cake restaurant costs approximately 160,000 VND - Photo: CK
"I feel the rice grains are dry, hard, and no longer sticky. The meatloaf is no longer as delicious as before. For me, it's not worth the money. I probably only come back here once a year," Ms. CK shared.
Similar to Ms. CK, many reviews of the restaurant on Google recorded by Tuoi Tre Online were also "shocked" by the restaurant's prices.
Customer Thi Pham commented: "I ordered a plate of rice with pork ribs, a plate of rice with pork roll, crab and a glass of iced tea and it cost 142,000 VND. The price is too expensive compared to the quality. The restaurant is small, I parked my car next to it and it cost me another 5,000 VND.
Little rice, grilled ribs tasted normal. The crab rolls and sausages were okay but not special. The restaurant had a menu but the prices were not clearly listed, only the names of the dishes. In short, it was not worth the money spent."
Both Hien Vuong broken rice and Nguyen Phi Khanh broken rice restaurants are open from early morning until around 1pm, usually serving breakfast to people who go to the market or go to work early.
A plate of broken rice with crab patties at Nguyen Phi Khanh broken rice restaurant costs 67,000 VND - Photo: HO LAM
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/com-tam-cha-cua-o-khu-tan-dinh-khach-cho-ca-tieng-de-an-va-than-mac-qua-20240903182143927.htm
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