The only beef stew restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City named by Michelin: What's so special?

Accordingly, Bo Kho Ganh (District 10) is the only restaurant selling beef stew that was named by Michelin Guide in the Bib Gourmand list (restaurant with delicious food at affordable prices) in Ho Chi Minh City this year.

"So happy I can't sleep!"

I stopped by the beef stew restaurant of Ms. Nguyen and Mr. Do Hoang Anh Duy, located peacefully in an apartment building on Ngo Gia Tu Street. The restaurant has regular customers coming and going, and the owners are friendly and welcoming.

Ms. Nguyen's beef stew restaurant is located in an old apartment building in District 10, crowded in the evening.

Ms. Nguyen (left, far) and Mr. Duy (right, far) take a photo with Ms. Nguyen's parents. They are the ones who helped her build the restaurant from the beginning.

Ms. Nguyen said that as soon as she heard the news that her restaurant was named by Michelin, and received countless congratulations from relatives and diners, she was overwhelmed with happiness. To the point that she could not sleep. Because, finally, after so much effort and hard work, the couple had reaped the "sweet fruit".

Before that, Ms. Nguyen spent 6 years selling her family's traditional sweet soup, following in her mother's footsteps, but business was not going well. 7 years ago, she decided to open a beef stew shop when her family's economic situation was facing many difficulties.

"My family has 5 siblings, the rest of them are all highly educated, I dropped out of school after 12th grade. I tried many jobs but struggled. Selling sweet soup to follow my mother's career was not successful, so I decided to sell beef stew. Partly because I liked the taste of beef stew my mother cooked, with her own recipe passed down from my grandfather, and partly because I also wanted to earn a living," the owner recalled.

Ms. Nguyen, in the early days of opening the shop, sold each portion for 25,000 VND.

The carrying pole at Ms. Nguyen's shop has special meaning to her.

In the early days of opening, it was just a small beef stew shop, selling 2-3 kg of meat every day. At that time, each portion she sold cost 25,000 VND, attracting ordinary customers, many lottery ticket sellers, and poor workers to come and eat.

From the beef stew recipe that was passed down, the owner reduced and changed it to better suit the majority of diners and then gradually perfected the flavor. The beef stew was delicious, its reputation spread far and wide, and her small restaurant became increasingly crowded. Ms. Nguyen felt that she had a knack for selling this dish.

With the support of her parents, Duy and relatives, Ms. Nguyen's business has grown to become the spacious restaurant it is today. Now, she is happy to have a crowded restaurant as well as to be recognized by experts and diners.

Why Bo Kho Gan?

In front of Ms. Nguyen's restaurant is an old bamboo shoulder pole stained with time. She said that it was her grandmother's shoulder pole, carefully preserved, and always placed in front of the restaurant as a tribute to her grandchildren and grandparents who used to sell to support the family. The name Bo Kho Ganh also comes from that.

The restaurant's space is somewhat nostalgic, decorated according to the owner's intention. She wants diners to relive their childhood memories, remembering Ho Chi Minh City in the old days.

Mr. Nhat (26 years old, living in District 5), a customer who has visited this restaurant, said that he was not only impressed with the carrying pole but also liked the small details of the restaurant. That is the signboard, the menu in front of the restaurant drawn in chalk, to the wooden tables, cups, and glasses of water that remind him of old memories.

The beef stew at the restaurant is cooked according to a special recipe.

"The famous beef stew known as bo kho is served in a stone bowl. Diners can choose to eat it with bread, noodles or rice. The broth is sweet and rich," Michelin introduces.

"The beef stew is delicious, the beef is soft and fragrant, and the beef stew is not too strong, making me feel comfortable. I like sitting at the restaurant in the evening, cool and looking out at the street," the customer commented.

According to the restaurant owner, 30% of the customers are foreigners. Each meal costs between 50,000 and 100,000 VND. Ms. Nguyen excitedly said that there are customers who eat at the restaurant 7 days a week, and there are also foreigners who live and work nearby who regularly come to eat because they like the taste of beef stew.

The owner said the secret to the dish lies in the processing of the ingredients and the way the beef is marinated. According to Ms. Nguyen, beef stew is not an easy dish to cook, and it is quite elaborate in many stages. Just one stage that is not up to standard will make the dish imperfect. "The beef stew at the restaurant is cooked with 8 traditional Chinese herbs, the flavors are harmonious, and there is little oil," she said.

Prices of dishes range from 50,000 VND - 100,000 VND

Every day, Ms. Nguyen still works hard to bring hearty meals to domestic and foreign diners. The owner is grateful to the first customers and later loyal customers, because it is thanks to that support that the restaurant has today...

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/quan-bo-kho-duy-nhat-o-tphcm-duoc-michelin-goi-ten-co-gi-dac-biet-185240621115156277.htm