The story of the business start-up of the owner of a beef leaf restaurant on Vo Van Tan Street (District 3, Ho Chi Minh City), which was recently listed in the Michelin Guide, surprised many people.
"My mother passed down the pho restaurant to me, but I didn't sell it!"
In the happiness that still exists, when her restaurant with more than 30 years of experience unexpectedly made it onto the Michelin nomination list, Mrs. Tran Thi Kim Lieng (71 years old) told me a surprising story about the early years of opening the restaurant. With her slow, humble way of speaking and gentle tone, I felt affection for the owner right from her voice.
The famous beef wrapped in betel leaves at Mrs. Lieng's restaurant.
Born in Cambodia, Ms. Lieng followed her family back to her homeland and chose Saigon as the place to settle down and live. Like many other women, she also had a small family and built a happy home in this prosperous land. Not long after, she began to devote part of her life to her husband's family's pho restaurant, for nearly a decade.
She said that it was the Pho Vong Cac restaurant, which her husband's family sold before 1975, also famous on Vo Van Tan Street. After nearly a decade of helping her mother-in-law with her business, the old woman intended to pass the restaurant on to her capable daughter-in-law, but she refused.
Ms. Tran Thi Kim Lieng, Owner
The restaurant was packed with customers.
Refusing to inherit her husband's pho restaurant, Ms. Lieng succeeded with her own beef la lot restaurant.
From the recipe her mother-in-law taught her, in 1992, Ms. Lieng had her own restaurant, also in District 3. After many changes of location, the restaurant settled at its current address since 1995. In 2000, her mother-in-law passed away, and her family's traditional pho restaurant was also lost.
Talking about her decision that day, Ms. Lieng said that everyone has their own choice. She felt that she had a special love and passion for this dish, so she chose it and has been attached to it until now. The restaurant is now her love, her whole life, the effort she has built over the past 3 decades.
[CLIP]: "Michelin beef with betel leaves" restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City.
From the recipe passed down from her mother-in-law, the profession, as well as to suit the taste of diners, she has made some changes to have the perfect recipe as it is today.
The heiress
Currently, the menu of Mrs. Lieng's restaurant is diverse, not only with beef wrapped in betel leaves but also with grilled pork vermicelli, grilled pork vermicelli, spring rolls, grilled spring rolls, steamed pork rolls... I ordered a special portion of beef wrapped in betel leaves for 80,000 VND as well as a portion of grilled pork vermicelli for 42,000 VND to enjoy.
"Pride corner" is located in a special location of the restaurant.
Varied menu.
Wrapping the beef in betel leaves in rice paper, eating it with raw vegetables, pickles and a little vermicelli, dipping it in the restaurant's special sauce, I understand why the restaurant caught the eye of Michelin reviewers.
Accordingly, the harmonious combination of ingredients exceeded my imagination, especially the richness of the grilled beef wrapped in betel leaves, which was fragrant enough for the dish to score 9/10. Besides, the side dishes were also delicious.
At noon, Mrs. Lieng's restaurant has a cozy space, full of customers. Most of them are foreigners. Before Michelin, this restaurant was also famous with the foreign community who intended to travel to Vietnam.
Beef wrapped in betel leaves is made according to a special recipe.
Ms. Maël (a foreign tourist) who ate at the restaurant said that she learned about this restaurant through the recommendation of a friend who had traveled to Ho Chi Minh City. After trying the beef wrapped in betel leaves and grilled pork vermicelli, the female tourist said that the flavor was beyond her imagination.
“It was truly a feast of flavors that exploded in my mouth. I don't know how to describe it, but if I ever come back, this is definitely one of the places I have to stop by to eat," she said.
In the restaurant, besides the staff, there are also 3 nieces of Mrs. Lieng in charge. Ms. Thuy (34 years old), has been helping her aunt sell here for nearly 3-4 years, has a special affection for this restaurant as well as a passion for cooking.
Grilled pork vermicelli dish at the restaurant is also popular with many customers.
Mrs. Lieng smiled and said that she would be her successor when she was no longer strong enough. The owner saw her niece's hard work and perseverance. Although she had a daughter, the owner said that her daughter also had her own job and did not like to pursue the catering business.
Just like that, Mrs. Lieng's family's small restaurant still serves customers near and far, familiar and strange every day. She is proud to contribute her part, bringing Vietnamese cuisine to many international friends.
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