Guests travel long distances to eat mantis shrimp noodle soup at Cay Bang in Can Gio.

Under a lush green banyan tree canopy, diners sip a bowl of mantis shrimp noodle soup with a variety of toppings while feeling the salty, gentle sunshine and wind from the Can Gio sea...

Noodle shop under the shade of a 30-year-old banyan tree - Photo: HUY DOAN

Located right at the corner of Dang Van Kieu and Duyen Hai streets, Can Thanh town, Can Gio district, Ho Chi Minh City, Cay Bang mantis shrimp noodle shop is a frequented place by many Can Gio residents.

According to the owner, the restaurant has existed for nearly 10 years, serving many local and foreign customers.

Mantis shrimp noodle shop located under a 30-year-old banyan tree

Talking about the early stages of opening the restaurant, the owner named Tam said he only sold breakfast dishes such as: vermicelli with crab soup, rice noodles, beef stew... Later, because he wanted to increase his income, he tried to diversify the menu.

Then when he heard the landowner who rented the land to him to open a restaurant say that Can Gio has a rich and fresh source of mantis shrimp, he decided to add mantis shrimp noodle soup to the menu.

In addition to mantis shrimp, the bowl is also filled with toppings such as fried fish cakes, meatballs, ribs, and blood - Photo: HUY DOAN

A bowl of mixed noodle soup of the restaurant includes many toppings such as: mantis shrimp, fish cake, meatballs, ribs, blood... The special thing is that the mantis shrimp is skillfully processed so the shrimp meat is sweet and firm. He keeps the shell on the underside of the mantis shrimp so that the meat is not crushed when cooking.

Although focusing on mantis shrimp, the owner still does not neglect the other ingredients. The meatballs are mixed well, just chewy enough; the fried fish cakes are sweet and not greasy; the ribs are stewed until tender…

The broth has a fragrant smell of vegetables and a bit of fatty shrimp paste, creating harmony when eaten with sweet toppings such as shrimp and meatballs.

Served with a bowl of noodle soup are boiled bean sprouts and a bowl of thick salt dipping sauce.

The mantis shrimp is skillfully processed so it is sweet and firm - Photo: HUY DOAN

The dipping sauce is also mixed according to a special recipe, has a thick consistency, has a sweet and sour taste that is not too strong, and is loved by many diners. The owner even sells it in jars for customers who want to buy the dipping sauce separately.

Perhaps the most impressive thing when first stepping into the shop is the pleasant shade from the large, leafy banyan tree. The shop owner said that when he started selling banh canh here, the banyan tree was about 25 or 26 years old. Now, it is over 30 years old.

Mr. Tam woke up at 5am to prepare ingredients - Photo: HO LAM

The best noodle shop in Can Gio?

In Mr. Tam's memory, there was once a customer who traveled from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Gio by motorbike at around 6:30 a.m. to buy a bowl of mantis shrimp noodle soup and then drove back the same day.

"I asked why you went to such trouble and you said "seeing is believing", you wanted to try it once to know.

Regular customers often tell me that when I come here, I must stop by the Cay Bang mantis shrimp noodle shop. Every time I see them eating delicious food, I am happy..." - Mr. Tam confided to Tuoi Tre Online .

Diner Quac Ca Ca commented that Cay Bang mantis shrimp noodle shop is the place to eat with the best noodle soup in Can Gio.

A full bowl costs 45,000 VND - Photo: HUY DOAN

"Delicious noodle soup, I stop by every time I go to Can Gio"; "The broth is rich, not too sweet, the mantis shrimp is fresh and fragrant, the fish cake is delicious"... are comments on Google Maps, helping the restaurant get 4.5/5 stars with more than 500 reviews.

Friend Phuc Sinh Le wrote: "The soft noodles and mantis shrimp are very tasty, enjoyed with a special dipping sauce (sweet and sour). If you have ever eaten bun quay, this dipping sauce is quite similar."

The broth is always simmered over low heat, ensuring the dish is hot when it reaches the customer - Photo: HUY DOAN

Diner A Soai commented: "On the whole trip to Can Gio, I found this restaurant to be the most worth-eating and worth-the-money. The broth is quite suitable for Southern taste, moderately sweet, and light sweet because it is cooked with bones.

There are quite a lot of toppings. A special bowl of 45,000 VND has 5-6 mantis shrimps, 5-6 fish cakes, blood and 1 piece of lean bone.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/khach-vuot-duong-xa-an-banh-canh-tom-tit-cay-bang-o-mai-can-gio-20241031090705069.htm