Why didn't the customer say it was expensive?

Not unfamiliar, it's the late-night broken rice restaurant run by the Bay sisters (58 years old), located in front of an alley on Nguyen Tri Phuong Street (District 10), a familiar destination for many "night owls" in Ho Chi Minh City.

"Even a plate of rice costs 200,000 dong…"

As dusk fell, Aunt Bay's grilled pork chop restaurant lit up. The food counter was attractively arranged, and the aroma of grilled pork ribs filled the air, enticing to the senses. Although newly opened, the restaurant already had a steady stream of customers.

A plate of rice with grilled pork ribs, pork skin, and pork patty costs 125,000 VND at the restaurant.

I noticed that many people here choose the grilled pork chop rice dish priced at 115,000 VND, and many order extra pork skin and sausage to go with it, bringing the price of each plate to 125,000 VND, which surprised me somewhat. Because, the customers happily ate without anyone complaining about the price.

"Here, you can find anything at any price. From a portion of rice for 35,000 dong to a portion for 200,000 dong, we can cater to all customer needs," my cousin, who helps out at Aunt Bay's stall, said with a smile.

Auntie Bay stood behind the counter, her hands swiftly preparing plates of rice according to customers' requests, as if she had been familiar with this work for a long time. The woman explained that working quickly was necessary because she had been doing this job for nearly ten years.

My aunt recounted that back then, her mother also sold broken rice dishes. Later, she passed the trade down to her two sisters. This eatery has been around for over 15 years, selling only at this one location without changing. The restaurant is called Tài Broken Rice, named after my aunt's older sister, who is now over 60 years old.

Aunt Bay and her sister run the shop together.

[CLIP]: Late-night broken rice dish in Ho Chi Minh City costs 115,000 VND/portion, sold until 3 AM.

While busily preparing the meal, Aunt Bay confided that her sister would be coming to the restaurant later, after settling her household chores. And so, the sisters, along with relatives and staff, have been providing for their family's livelihood for years by selling rice dishes.

Curious, I asked about the price of the 115,000 VND plate of rice: "At that price, why are there still so many customers eating this dish, auntie?" The owner smiled kindly and confided that you get what you pay for; it's not by chance that the restaurant sells the rice dish at this price. The high-quality pork ribs, marinated and grilled according to the restaurant's own recipe, are the "key" factor and the secret to why customers happily pay that price.

A restaurant for night owls.

Out of curiosity, I ordered a full portion of rice with pork ribs, pork skin, and pork patties to try. And indeed, the owner wasn't exaggerating; the ribs here were marinated perfectly, flavorful, and tender. Served with pork skin, pork patties, pickles, and a sweet and sour dipping sauce, it deserved an 8.5/10 rating for this broken rice dish.

Mr. The Hao (34 years old, residing in District 10) said that he has been a regular customer here for 4 years, since he moved house. Because he lives near the restaurant, he usually visits 2-3 times a week in the evening.

The customer said that besides the grilled pork ribs with rice priced at 115,000 VND, he also liked the grilled ribs at a cheaper price, which were equally flavorful. "This place is really good; I feel like the money I spent was worth it, not expensive at all. If it were expensive, the place wouldn't be so crowded. It gets even busier in the evening," the customer remarked, looking around the restaurant.

The ribs here are marinated perfectly.

Ms. Lan Anh said that although she doesn't often visit the restaurant because she lives in Go Vap District, whenever she has the opportunity to go to District 10 for work, she always stops by to eat or buy takeout. What she likes most about this place is the taste and quality of the food, so she is willing to spend more than 100,000 VND to enjoy her favorite dish.

Aunt Bay said that customers who eat after 1 AM the next day are usually people returning from late nights out, or those with specific jobs that require them to start their day early. Despite the unusual hours, the restaurant still has a steady stream of customers, so the owner decided to maintain these opening hours over the years.

"It's tiring, but I'm used to selling at these hours. When customers come in large numbers, praise the food, and are satisfied, I feel happy," Auntie Bay confided with a bright smile. Night after night, Auntie Bay's eatery remains brightly lit, welcoming customers until the next morning...

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/com-tam-dem-115000-dong-dia-ban-toi-3-gio-sang-o-tphcm-sao-khach-khong-noi-mac-185231206122306575.htm