Trinh braised fish at Hang Be market: Traditional dish of ancient Hanoi

1 A few words about Trinh braised fish restaurant at Hang Be market

In the middle of the cramped and crowded Old Quarter of Hanoi, Braised Trinh Fish at Hang Be Market is a familiar address for both locals and tourists. The restaurant is located in Hang Be market, without ostentatious signs or loud advertising, but is remembered for one main dish: braised fish in traditional Hanoi style. Just passing by, you can easily recognize the shop through the bustling atmosphere and the rich smell of braised fish spreading from the counter.

A characteristic feature of this place is the image of customers waiting in line to buy, especially on crowded days or holidays. Braised fish here is not an “instant” dish to eat in a hurry, but is suitable for home meal habits. You can buy it and eat it with hot rice. It can be used for many meals. The more you reheat it, the more absorbent it becomes. It is the stability of cooking methods and flavors that has helped the Trinh Braised Fish restaurant at Hang Be market maintain a steady stream of customers over time.

For many people, Trinh braised fish at Hang Be market is not only a delicious dish in the old town but also evokes a very Hanoi feeling, rustic, strong taste, associated with memories of family meals. Local people stop by to buy it as a shopping habit, while guests from far away often choose to take it home or give it as a gift because it is easy to pack and convenient to use. Thanks to that, the shop still exists persistently amid the fast-changing pace of life in the old town.

2 Why is Braised Trinh Fish at Hang Be market so famous?

2.1 Location

Braised fish with Trinh at Hang Be market is located right in Hang Be market, one of the oldest markets in Hanoi’s old quarter, just a few minutes away from Hoan Kiem Lake. This is a traditional food trading area, associated with the daily activities of people in the old town.

Hang Be Market has long been famous for its “familiar childhood dishes”, serving mainly family meals rather than tourists. That central but very “worldly” location makes Braised Trinh fish a familiar stop for Old Quarter residents, gourmets and tourists who want to find a true dish of old Hanoi.

2.2 Flavor

The point that makes Braised Trinh Fish at Hang Be market most mentioned is its strong taste and “sticks to the rice” right from the first bite. The fish is braised carefully so the meat is firm, absorbs the spices clearly but is not dry or friable. The stock is thick, has a beautiful color, and has a balanced sweet and salty taste. When mixed with hot rice, you immediately “catch” it and eat it very well.

The beauty of this braised fish dish lies in its absorbency. Spices are not only located on the outer layer but penetrate deep into each fiber of the meat, so when eaten, the aroma and strong aftertaste are still retained. The fish is not fishy, ​​the fish still retains its shape, the more you pick it up, the firmer you feel, just like the traditional Northern braised fish style. A pot of braised fish can be eaten for many meals, and when reheated, it is still rich and fragrant, so it makes people remember it even more and want to come back to buy more.

2.3 Raw materials

The ingredients to make Braised Trinh Fish at Hang Be market are not sophisticated but are carefully selected. The shop mainly uses large-sized carp, a type of fish with thick meat, firm fibers and few bones. The fish is selected when it’s still fresh, suitable for being braised for a long time over low heat so that the meat doesn’t fall apart but still retains its firmness and natural sweetness.

The accompanying spices are all familiar ingredients in Vietnamese kitchens such as fish sauce, galangal and traditional spices. The seasoning method is not too sweet or too salty, but maintains a balance to highlight the taste of the fish. Not changing the recipe over time, not following the tastes of the masses, the restaurant maintains the traditional braising method, so the fish flavor is always consistent, familiar and easy to recognize.

3 Diners’ experience when eating Trinh braised fish at Hang Be market

The most obvious experience when mentioning Trinh braised fish at Hang Be market is the scene of waiting in line to buy. The shop is located in the market area so the space is not too large and the number of customers is even, especially during crowded market hours. There are peak days, especially during Tet holidays or when the weather gets cold, when buyers wait longer than usual.

The interesting thing is that while you wait, you will see a very “old town” atmosphere. Buyers ask each other which piece to choose, how much to buy, and whether to add stock. Some people buy for dinner, some buy to give as gifts, and there are also tourists who stand and watch and then curiously import goods. In turn, the braised fish is neatly packaged, sturdy, and convenient to bring home. This dish is also suitable for eating right away, but many people like to buy it and use it later because the more braised fish is left, the more absorbent it becomes. When reheated, it is still fragrant and flavorful.

For many diners, the feeling of “worth the money” lies not only in taste but also in familiarity. Bringing a portion of braised fish home means bringing a full meal, no need for fuss but still warm. And perhaps that’s why many people come back, not to try and find out, but to find a familiar feeling that they have known for a long time.

4 Directions to Trinh braised fish at Hang Be market

Hang Be Market is located in the old town, so walking or riding a motorbike is most convenient. From Hoan Kiem Lake, it only takes a few minutes to reach.

Ms. Trinh’s braised fish shop is right at the beginning of Cau Go alley, a crowded area next to Hang Be market. There are a few places here that sell braised fish, but if you ask people around the old town “where to buy delicious braised fish”, most will point you to Ms. Trinh’s restaurant. The simplest way to recognize it is to see three rows of braised fish next to each other, then stop at the middle row, that is her counter.

5 Trinh braised fish in Hanoi culinary culture

In Hanoi culinary culture, braised fish is a dish associated with family meals, especially familiar on cold rainy days, gathering evenings or at the end of the year. It’s a dish that doesn’t require a full tray, just a pot of flavorful braised fish and a pot of hot rice is enough. Braised fish with Trinh at Hang Be market is therefore not simply a food stall, but represents slow cuisine, eating to remember and eating to keep the house.

In the old town that changes every day, where many new dishes appear and then quickly disappear, Trinh braised fish still maintains its own place thanks to its simplicity and stability. The flavor does not follow tastes, does not change to make it strange, but maintains the traditional way of making. It is that consistency that makes braised fish here a familiar choice for Hanoians.

For many people, buying a pot of braised fish in Hang Be is a way to rediscover the familiar flavors of old Hanoi, where meals were simple but filling, where the food brought a warm and familiar feeling. And that is what has helped Trinh braised fish persist, as a part of living memories in the heart of the old town.

Braised fish with Trinh is not a dish to try. It is a dish to return to, to remember and to retain a part of the old Hanoi flavor in today’s old town. If you have the opportunity to bring your travel suitcase to visit the capital, don’t forget to stop by this restaurant to get the most complete experience.