Cuc Gach Quan Restaurant: Vietnamese home dining space is rich in nostalgia

1 A few words about Cuc Gach Quan restaurant

Address: No. 10 Dang Tat, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

Cuc Gach Restaurant is not only familiar to domestic diners, Cuc Gach is also a favorite destination for many foreign tourists. The restaurant impresses with its rustic service, from broken cups and plates to rustic dishes such as stir-fried water spinach, sour soup, eggplant or braised fish. Everything is very familiar but creates a new feeling when enjoying. Coming here, you will easily see interesting details such as a drinking glass placed at an angle or a straw made from large spinach stems, both unique and fun.

Compared to the general average, the price of dishes at Cuc Gach is quite high, fluctuating around 90,000 – 95,000 VND for each dish. In return, diners can fully experience the spirit of traditional Vietnamese cuisine. The dish is seasoned just right, the portion is not too large but enough. The service staff is quick, friendly and can communicate well in English. This is a suitable place to go with your family or bring international friends, because the experience is often very memorable.

See more: Top 10 delicious restaurants in District 1 that you should not miss

2 What’s special about Cuc Gach Quan space?

As soon as they entered the not too large yard, many people suddenly felt as if they had just lost themselves in a peaceful countryside. In the corner of the wall hangs a starling cage, below is a lemon tree, next to it is a leafy star fruit tree and vines covering the fence, all creating a rustic, very lifelike scene.

The space of Cuc Gach has a strong sense of nostalgia. Old wooden tables and chairs, simple decorations combined with yellow and brown colors create a warm, cozy feeling. The shop is also cleverly dotted with fresh flowers and green plants, making the overall space lively but still maintaining relaxation.

On each dining table, familiar items such as bamboo table cages, porcelain cups and plates, and bamboo chopsticks are reminiscent of old Vietnamese family meals. Those details bring a familiar, simple feeling that is hard to find in modern restaurants.

The image of the countryside continues to be clearly portrayed through the old wooden cupboard, inside are porcelain bowls and cups that have been chipped over the years, just like the utensils of farmers in the past. In a corner of the ground floor, a few grapefruits and pineapples are randomly placed, reminiscent of a familiar countryside market scene. On the dark wooden tables with time are discolored rattan table cages, making the space even more nostalgic.

The feeling of home does not stop at the ground floor but follows diners upstairs. When walking through the steps next to the skylight, you will encounter a green space with many ornamental trees and a large grapefruit tree. Turning to the right is the area called the living room, where about four to five sets of old tables and chairs are placed. Standing out in this space is a cupboard that is decades old, maybe even nearly a hundred years old, like a silent witness of time.

If you turn to the left, diners will enter the area lovingly called the “grandmother” space. Here is a large wooden table, behind which are two rows of parallel sentences in Confucian letters, in the middle hangs a portrait of a gentle old woman. This image is clearly reminiscent of altar rooms in ancient houses, which are still present in many Vietnamese villages. This area is almost completely separate from the outside, bringing a feeling of quiet and serenity. Diners can dine on familiar long tables, usually placed in front of the altar in the main house, or choose small tables with cushioned chairs. In particular, the restaurant also arranges wooden beds so that customers can sit and eat in accordance with the old living style.

The entrance to Da Kao Brick Department is cleverly hidden behind landscapes, fish ponds and green areas, making it easy for many first-time visitors to miss it. However, it is this discreetness that creates the unique character of the restaurant, like a small peaceful garden in the heart of bustling District 1.

Many diners who have visited the restaurant have left positive comments about the space. Some people are impressed with the charming entrance, hidden behind trees and fish tanks. Some people love a nostalgic, rustic space with many old items of artistic value. Others appreciate the detailed investment in the layout, reminiscent of Saigon in the 80s and 90s. Most people think that the shop brings a cozy, quiet, airy and pleasant feeling, accompanied by stable drink quality.

3 Menu full of Vietnamese soul at Cuc Gach Quan

That nostalgic space is extended by the flavors of dishes that are bold in the countryside. The menu includes familiar dishes such as sour snakehead fish soup, braised perch, boiled vegetables dipped in duck seeds with salty fish sauce, braised fish, grilled dried fish, steamed fish sauce and many other rustic dishes.

Drinks are also served in a rustic spirit, from fruit juices in glass bottles, drunk out of thick glasses, to straws made from water spinach stems that are both rustic and interesting. Dessert includes rustic dishes such as steamed bananas or ginseng frosting. Each dish is carefully prepared, preserving the traditional, simple flavor but still strong enough to attract diners.

It is that very “Vietnamese” space that has attracted a large number of international tourists, accounting for about 70% of the number of visitors to the restaurant. American singer Kyo York shared that he especially loves the rustic look of Cuc Gach. When he entered the restaurant, he felt like he was back in the Vietnamese countryside where he used to live. For him, enjoying the food here is not just about eating but also about fully experiencing a traditional cultural space.

Thanks to the stable food quality and experience value, Cuc Gach Quan has been honored by the Michelin Guide in the Bib Gourmand category, recognized as a place with good quality and reasonable prices. This is also a testament to the enduring appeal of a true Vietnamese rice tray in the heart of the city.

Cuc Gach Quan not only conquers diners with traditional dishes but also with a space reminiscent of old Vietnamese values. If you have the opportunity to bring your family or international friends here, prepare a lightweight backpack with many compartments, enough to carry your camera, personal items and beautiful memories after a countryside meal in the middle of Saigon!