After 40 years, the banh mi chao shop in Trieu Viet Vuong still uses Soviet pans from the subsidy period - an image associated with many Vietnamese people - to sell their goods.
 |
| Ms. Hong's sandwich shop has existed for 40 years but has a small and unnoticeable sign. (Source: Dan Tri) |
On the Soviet pan, Mrs. Hong meticulously placed fried eggs, skewered meat, pate, red sausage, ham, and shredded pork. Her pan bread has been a favorite dish of many diners from childhood to adulthood.
Hong Trang Bread is one of the oldest pan bread shops in Hanoi. Previously, the shop was located in Mai Hac De, about 5 years ago it moved to Trieu Viet Vuong.
The special thing about the pan bread here is the Soviet pans that are over 40 years old. That is also the reason why many diners call the shop Mrs. Hong's Soviet Pan Bread.
The owner of the shop is Do Thi Xuan Hong (66 years old). The shop's name is a combination of her name and her daughter's. Ms. Hong started selling bread when she was 22 years old. Although it is called a shop, the space is quite small and cramped, consisting of a small room in an alley - with enough space for two plastic tables, an outdoor corner with about two or three sets of plastic tables and chairs and a parking lot.
After more than 40 years of opening, Ms. Hong still uses the Soviet pans that have been attached to the restaurant. According to her, during the subsidy period, she had the opportunity to enjoy European steak.
This dish is not only delicious but also beautifully presented. From there, Ms. Hong created the pan bread dish with a similar presentation but using familiar Vietnamese ingredients, at an affordable price.
 |
| Ms. Hong introduces the restaurant's decades-old Soviet pan. (Source: Dan Tri) |
That day, a neighbor of hers returned from the Soviet Union, bringing with him more than 50 aluminum pans, spoons, forks, and thermoses. Ms. Hong bought more than 30 Soviet pans to use as tools to make pan-fried bread.
To this day, after many years, she only keeps more than a dozen of those pans. She still uses these special pans to serve her regular customers.
 |
| Soviet pans that have been used for more than 40 years are still shiny due to careful preservation. These pans make diners nostalgic about the subsidy period. |
"The Soviet pans are very good, they have been used for more than 40 years and are still good, they don't stick when you put pate or eggs in them. New pans nowadays are not as durable and thick," Ms. Hong shared.
The shop mainly sells two types of fried bread with different prices. The 35,000 VND portion includes: fried egg, skewered meat, pate, red sausage, ham, and shredded pork. The 50,000 VND portion is more filling and comes with meatballs made by Ms. Hong herself.
 |
| Two full servings of fried bread from Mrs. Hong's shop. |
The shop also sells sandwiches for 20,000 - 25,000 VND. "From pate, pork floss to skewered meat, I make everything myself. Although it is hard work and the price is higher than importing ready-made ones, it is guaranteed to be clean and the ingredients have a clear origin. I choose fresh liver and meat. When customers eat, I feel more secure. Although the profit is a little less, I feel happy and joyful," Ms. Hong shared with a smile.
She only starts cooking when customers order, so the banh mi chao is always served while it is still hot. When the pan is hot, she cracks an egg into it, then adds the skewers, pate, red sausage, ham, and finally the shredded pork.
 |
| The pate made by Ms. Hong herself is called "Pate that makes people remember". |
Each serving of fried bread comes with pickled vegetables. What’s special about Mrs. Hong’s restaurant is that it doesn’t have thick sauce like other restaurants. Instead, diners can dip it in soy sauce or grease from pate, eggs, etc.
Ms. Hong said that each pan takes about 5 minutes to cook. Previously, at the old establishment, she used a charcoal stove, so cooking took more time, and the space was also hot and stuffy. Now, she has switched to an electric stove, so the service speed has improved.
 |
| The customer ordered, then Mrs. Hong started to heat the food. |
Although it is a small bakery, it still takes 3 people to operate continuously. Ms. Hong’s husband, Mr. Tran Quang Hoan, is in charge of going to the market, buying things, and helping his wife sell in the evenings.
"Once customers have eaten pate or bread at my house, it is difficult for them to eat elsewhere. Because everything is made by my wife herself, always ensuring fresh ingredients and clean processing. We cook and sell to customers the same way we eat," Mr. Hoan is proud of his wife's cooking skills.
 |
| The sandwich shop is small but it takes three people to serve customers on time. |
Ms. Hong’s customers are of all ages, from the elderly to children and foreigners. Before moving to another location, there were days when she sold nearly a thousand sandwiches. Now, the number of customers has dropped by more than half.
A regular customer, Mr. Tien (60 years old) said: "I have been eating bread here for nearly 30 years, from the old address to the new address. The taste here is delicious, preserved over the years. The Soviet pans have an old look, making me feel nostalgic when eating."
 |
| Longtime regulars are often served a "special" meal using Soviet pans that are more than 40 years old. |
 |
A young diner in Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi has been eating banh mi chao at Ms. Hong's shop for nearly 10 years, since he was a student.
He shared: "The food here is quite tasty. The best is the fatty pate served with crispy bread. The pork floss here is also delicious, the fried eggs are just right. However, the seating is not spacious and a bit cramped. Sometimes you have to wait quite a while."
The restaurant is busiest at noon. The restaurant is cramped, so customers often have to wait their turn. The restaurant does not have its own parking space, which is sometimes inconvenient. However, in addition to the quality of the food, many customers love the restaurant because of the warmth and friendliness of the owner.
Source
Comment (0)