The two customers sitting next to me immediately praised the broth at Ut Hung Bun Bo Hue. The strong aroma of the beef noodle soup wafted across the street, causing many passersby to turn around and look.
A full portion of beef noodle soup at Ut Hung Hue Beef Noodle Soup - Photo: LAN HUONG
Located right at the intersection of Tran Quoc Toan and Tran Quoc Thao streets, District 3, Ut Hung Hue Beef Noodle Soup restaurant has been bustling with diners since 6am.
Ms. Ut (50 years old) - the owner of the restaurant - quickly prepares beef noodle soup for customers. One hand is blanching the noodles, the other hand is arranging the beef, and the other hand is skillfully scooping hot broth into the bowl.
'Mom said if you sell beef noodle soup, you have to sell it deliciously'
Sharing with Tuoi Tre Online , Ms. Ut said that Ut Hung Hue Beef Noodle Shop has been around for 25 years. After many changes of location, the shop moved to its current address and has been in business for exactly 2 years.
"It's said to be new, but 25 years ago, the shop was already here. After that, my shop was on Nguyen Thong Street, Tu Xuong, went through 21 locations and then returned to the current location" - Ms. Ut said.
Space at Ut Hung Hue Beef Noodle Restaurant - Photo: LAN HUONG
Bun Bo Hue Ut Hung has two owners, Aunt Ut and her brother - Uncle Hung. Both brothers came to Saigon to start a business, because they love their hometown food so much, they decided to sell Bun Bo Hue for everyone to enjoy.
According to many diners, the beef noodle soup at Ut Hung Hue Beef Noodle Soup has the most authentic Hue broth flavor.
It is not too salty, not too sweet but very rich thanks to the blend of shrimp paste, beef bones and many spices.
When eating, just squeeze a small slice of lemon to harmonize and enhance the flavor.
Aunt Ut smiled brightly when she heard the compliments about the delicious beef noodle soup. She said that she did not dare to claim that this was the most authentic Hue beef noodle soup restaurant in Saigon as many people said, but the recipe was completely passed down from her grandmother and mother.
The broth is continuously boiled to keep it hot - Photo: LAN HUONG
Even though she sells in Saigon, she still cooks the way her grandmother and mother used to cook, without adjusting it to suit anyone's taste.
"I learned the recipe for beef noodle soup from my grandmother and mother. During Tet, when the whole family gathers together, my mother told me that if I sell beef noodle soup, I have to make it delicious so that customers will remember it," she added.
According to Ms. Ut, the secret to cooking a delicious bowl of beef noodle soup lies in choosing the ingredients. The ingredients must be fresh and clean to retain the natural and delicious flavor of the dish.
Ms. Ut confided: "Each restaurant will have a different recipe, depending on the cook's preference. My restaurant does not add aromatic ingredients to the broth. The sweetness of the broth comes from fresh pork and beef. If the ingredients are not fresh, no matter how talented I am, I cannot cook a delicious bowl of beef noodle soup."
Selling beef noodle soup is hard but still fun
Bun bo Hue Ut Hung opens from 6am until early afternoon. From around 9am, the pot of broth and the food trays gradually run out, and Ms. Ut has to "replenish" it constantly.
A full bowl of beef noodle soup at the restaurant costs 70,000 VND. This is a fairly common price compared to the average price in the center of Saigon. A full bowl includes beef brisket, crab cake, blood, a piece of crunchy skin and a big piece of ham.
Ms. Ut and the restaurant staff prepare beef noodle soup for customers - Video: LAN HUONG
Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online , Ms. Cat Tien (36 years old) - a regular customer at the restaurant - said: "I am from Hue so I find the taste of Saigon beef noodle soup a bit sweet for me. Since I found out about Ut Hung Hue beef noodle soup, I have to eat here 3 times a week, it tastes very similar to what I eat in my hometown."
Ms. Ut confided that because she opened early, she got up at 3am to go to the market and prepare the ingredients. As for the broth, she simmered it overnight so that the meat was tender and the broth was sweet.
Bun Bo Hue Ut Hung only sells on-site, not through delivery apps because according to Ms. Ut, "if we sell through the app, there will be too many people, so there will be no food for our customers."
Some toppings in Hue beef noodle soup - Photo: LAN HUONG
There are 3 other people helping Ms. Ut to wait tables, but with the constant flow of customers, she still works tirelessly.
However, she always has a smile on her lips and talks warmly to customers. It is hard and tiring, but she is never seen frowning. Occasionally, she sings sweet melodies typical of Hue girls to make all the tiredness disappear with the lyrics.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/troi-oi-bun-bo-hue-nhu-the-nay-moi-dung-vi-hue-chu-20250220171228875.htm
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