In Long Xuyen, Tung broken rice and Loan broken rice are two restaurants that are loved by both locals and tourists - Photo: Captured from YOUTUBE
Finding the taste of hometown food in a foreign land is happiness. Ask people from Long Xuyen ( An Giang ) what they crave, Long Xuyen broken rice will surely be one of the dishes that need to be mentioned.
Long Xuyen broken rice is eye-catching and delicious
Anyone who has ever been to Long Xuyen will probably have been introduced to the "favorite" dish of this land. When putting a spoonful of Long Xuyen broken rice in the mouth, the first thing that makes the person enjoying this dish feel special is the fluffiness and characteristic sweetness of the rice.
Compared to broken rice in other places, the broken rice here is smaller and softer. The accompanying food is also an eye-catching factor, stimulating the taste buds of the diner.
The rice portion does not have large, plump pieces of ribs, ham, eggs, etc., shiny with fat. Instead, there are small pieces of braised meat and braised eggs covered on top of the rice, with ham and pork skin next to it.
The final flavor that covers the whole plate of rice is scallion oil.
In addition to adding green color, the layer of scallion oil also gives the eater a light, fatty feeling and a lingering aroma.
Just a few spoons of scallion oil, but if missing, it can easily make diners feel the rice becomes dry.
The fish sauce here, when compared to Saigon, is thicker and more salty. The saltiness is not out of place or unpleasant, but only when eating rice and food with fish sauce can diners feel the rich blend.
Just like that, a simple plate of rice in the Mekong Delta region attracts the diners' eyes with its eye-catching appearance, then strongly stimulates the taste buds, then leaves an aftertaste that evokes nostalgia.
Taste also have to "when in Rome, do as the Romans do"
In Long Xuyen, there are two Long Xuyen broken rice restaurants that are highly praised by locals and tourists "must eat at least once", which are Tung broken rice and Loan broken rice.
Perhaps both shops are made by locals, so the taste and seasoning are almost the same with prices starting from 35,000 VND.
So in Saigon, where can Long Xuyen broken rice lovers go?
Ms. Linh's Kitchen
Located on Phan Van Tri Street (HCMC), Ms. Linh's Kitchen is one of the names that appears at the top of search results when looking up Long Xuyen broken rice in Saigon.
Ms. Linh's kitchen is considered one of the shops selling Long Xuyen broken rice close to the original - Photo: DANG KHUONG
At first glance, diners are impressed by the way the restaurant's dishes are presented, which is almost identical to a "real" rice dish, with the meat and eggs cut into small pieces and piled high on the plate, next to a piece of fragrant, fatty ham.
But compared to a standard rice dish, the braised meat is still a bit bland and dry. Meanwhile, at Tung and Loan restaurants in Long Xuyen, the meat is soft and the seasoning has a slightly salty taste.
The rice here is cooked from broken rice grains, which are somewhat fluffy and spongy according to the local cooking method.
The layer of scallion oil does not bring the clear aroma as the experience of diners at local restaurants, but the crispy pork fat is cooked just right, which is one of the big plus points of the shop.
Cay Diep broken rice shop
This is also one of the restaurants that many people come to experience Western broken rice.
Although the side dishes are cut into small pieces like the original, the filling is still less than the local Long Xuyen restaurant and other restaurants in Saigon.
Cay Diep broken rice shop is also one of the choices to enjoy Long Xuyen broken rice - Photo: DANG KHUONG
As for the braised meat, while Westerners are used to enjoying meat with a slightly salty taste, the restaurant's meat is seasoned with a slightly sweeter taste.
The rice grains at Cay Diep broken rice restaurant have a big plus point because they meet the original's fluffiness and sponginess without being dry.
The common downside of both shops is the fish sauce. Although it is a bit thick, the taste of the fish sauce at both shops has been significantly adjusted.
Instead of the salty taste, diners now taste the sweetness more in their mouths, similar to the fish sauce of Saigon broken rice.
Perhaps because "when in Rome, do as the Romans do", adjustments in seasoning and preparation are sometimes necessary.
It is not easy for a foreign dish to enter Saigon and be accepted.
However, the broken rice dish from An Giang has left a lasting impression in the hearts of city residents, making them occasionally look for a broken rice restaurant in Long Xuyen to satisfy their cravings.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tim-com-tam-long-xuyen-o-sai-gon-an-cho-da-con-them-20240819210817757.htm
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