Hu Tieu Ho, traditional flavor of the Tieu people in Saigon

1 Introducing the noodle soup dish

Hu Tieu Ho is a unique dish originating from the Tieu people (Chaozhou) brought from China to Vietnam. Therefore, from the way of processing to the flavor, everything bears the mark of Chinese culinary culture.

The name “hu tieu lake” comes from the special way of cooking this dish. A little tapioca starch is added to the broth, creating a thick consistency, combined with the noodles when cooking, making the water have a “glue” consistency.

Some other opinions believe that the name “hu” is related to the origin of this dish from “Hunan” or “Hubei” province (China), places where large numbers of Tieu people lived before migrating. to Vietnam.

The special feature of rice noodles is that the cake is different from the usual rice noodles. Instead, rice noodles are small square cakes made from rice flour. The shape of rice noodles is quite similar to banh cuon but is coated thicker and cut into square pieces about 3-4 cm. Because this type of cake is less popular and difficult to find in the market, sellers often have to order it separately every day from acquaintances.

As for the accompanying ingredients, rice noodles are also different from other common types of noodles. Instead of eating with pork, chicken or seafood, this dish is mainly combined with pork intestines and pickled cabbage, and some places also add blood and fried porridge to enrich the flavor. Tieu people also have a habit of eating this dish with pickled sauerkraut instead of bean sprouts or raw vegetables like other noodle dishes. This will help balance the flavor of the dish and reduce fat.

This dish is not only a culinary experience but also a unique blend of culture, history and tastes of many generations of Tieu people in Vietnam.

2 Top most unique noodle soup restaurants in Saigon

2.1 Do Khiem Restaurant, a noodle soup restaurant for more than 60 years

– Address: 26 Dinh Hoa, District 8, Ho Chi Minh City

– Opening hours: 06:30 – 11:30

– Reference price: 55,000 – 80,000 VND

One of the most famous noodle soup restaurants in Saigon that Vietnamtravelio would like to introduce to you is Mr. Do Khiem’s ​​restaurant. Mr. Do Khiem’s ​​noodle soup restaurant has been bringing traditional flavors of the Tieu people since 1955, nearly 60 years ago and is still crowded with customers every morning.

Mr. Khiem is the second generation successor and continues to maintain the style and recipes his father left behind. Initially, his noodle shop was opened near Ba Cang Bridge, District 6, then moved to Phong Phu Street, District 8 and then chose Dinh Hoa as a permanent stop for more than a decade.

Mr. Khiem shared that rice noodles at Cho Lon have two different cooking styles. One way is to cook broth mixed with tapioca starch to create a consistency similar to pha lau broth. This style is a bit strange, easily boring for those who are not familiar with the taste of sour cabbage and soft stewed pork intestines.

However, Mr. Khiem’s ​​noodle soup restaurant chooses the second cooking style, which is easier to eat and more harmonious. The broth is clear thanks to not mixing tapioca starch, instead the broth will be stewed from pork bones for two hours to achieve a naturally sweet taste.

Pig intestines including intestines, liver, kidneys, stomach and tongue will be cleaned and chopped into small pieces only when customers order. The typical square noodle soup is dipped in hot water to keep it soft without being mushy, then sprinkled with hot broth, adding fresh green onions, creating a bowl of noodle soup that is unique to the Tieu people.

The highlight of the restaurant is the delicious flavor of the broth and the accompanying pickles and satay, all made according to a family recipe. Furthermore, you can mix your own satay dipping sauce with soy sauce and red vinegar to enjoy according to your personal preferences.

The traditional bowl of rice noodles costs 55,000 VND, full of toppings including pho, liver, stomach, pork tongue and fatty pieces of blood. In addition, if you want to enjoy more, you can order more noodles or sausage for 80,000 VND for a special portion. In addition to rice noodles, the restaurant also serves satay noodles and mixed dried noodles – other famous dishes of the Tieu people with pork liver, intestines and stomach served as side dishes.

Mr. Khiem’s ​​restaurant has a spacious space, serving both as a family living area and serving a maximum of about 50 guests. With a steaming broth stove right at the door, neatly folded noodle baskets and a glass cabinet full of side dishes, the restaurant’s space exudes a rustic and intimate look.

Every morning, Mr. Khiem’s ​​family wakes up at 4 a.m. to prepare broth and ingredients, serving customers from 6 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. On crowded days, the restaurant may run out of goods early. Each bowl of noodle soup is served quickly, it only takes about three minutes from when the customer orders to receiving the order, helping the restaurant retain customers every day with up to 170-200 bowls of customers.

With an easy-to-find frontage location, prominent signage and valet parking, Do Khiem Lake noodle shop has become a familiar address, attracting domestic diners and tourists from all over to enjoy.

See more: Explore Saigon cuisine with the top 10 most unique dishes

2.2 Ba Dot Restaurant

– Address: Le Quoc Hung, District 4, Ho Chi Minh

– Opening hours: 07:00–22:00

– Reference price: 20,000 – 30,000 VND

Located in the central area, Ba Cham restaurant is an ideal destination for those who want to enjoy rice noodles at a reasonable price. The restaurant space is a bit modest, especially the upstairs is small and often quite crowded, but the fast and enthusiastic service staff will make up for this.

The noodle soup here has thin and square noodles like wontons, served with meat, pork intestines, blood and sour cabbage. The broth is richly seasoned with fragrant fried garlic, making the bowl of noodles attractive and different.

2.3 Cao Van Lau Restaurant

– Address: 237 Cao Van Lau, District 6, Ho Chi Minh

– Opening hours: 17:00–21:00

– Reference price: 25,000 – 60,000 VND

According to the travel experience of many tourists when coming to Saigon, the noodle soup restaurant at Cao Van Lau will bring you a new culinary experience. The noodle bowl here has a delicious, flavorful broth and is served with crispy pickled cabbage, creating a balance in flavor. In addition to noodle dishes, the restaurant also has Trom eucalyptus seed juice that is very popular with many diners. With reasonable prices, this is an ideal destination for rainy days in Saigon, when you want to find a drink to warm your heart.

2.4 Be Hai’s vegetarian noodle soup restaurant

– Address: 235 D. Mai Xuan Thuong, Ward 6, District 6, Ho Chi Minh

– Opening hours: 12:00–22:00

– Reference price: 20,000 – 35,000 VND

For those who love vegetarian food, Be Hai vegetarian noodle soup is a place not to be missed. Here, the rice noodles are richly seasoned and delicious, suitable for the taste of vegetarians. The restaurant serves a variety of vegetarian dishes such as satay noodles, satay noodles, spring rolls and vegetarian dumplings. With reasonable prices starting at only 20,000 VND/portion, the restaurant offers a frugal yet equally delicious vegetarian experience. The space is a bit small but is compensated by the friendliness and thoughtfulness of the owner, creating a cozy and close feeling.

Each bowl of rice noodles tells traditional stories and is the pride of a Chinese community that has preserved and developed a unique cuisine in the heart of a modern city. If you are a food lover and like to explore culture, try Hu Tieu Ho once and feel the great values ​​that this dish brings.