On a recent visit, Thanh Nien Daily met a group of four kids who finished a dozen bowls in five minutes.
“It’s delicious,” said one of them.
“There are many kinds of che here,” said another, pointing to the dozen empty bowls that only a few minutes before were filled with hot and colorful che.
For some 30 years, the small che shop on Su Van Hanh Street has been crowded with locals satisfying their sweet tooth.
A few plastic tables and chairs, a glass cupboard and one or two cookers are the shop’s major assets.
But perhaps it’s the shop’s simplicity that makes its che taste so good.
The shop has no name, just a sign that reads “12 kinds of che, VND1,000 (US$0.06) per bowl.” The price is hard to beat.
The shop has changed ownership a few times in its history, but its menu has stood the test of time.
Of the 12 kinds of che offered, the most popular are corn, taro, black bean and green bean.
Owner Huu Nhan, whose aunt gave him the shop in 2003, said that most people order more than one kind of che at a time, as each taste is strong and eating too much of one sweet flavor can be a bit overwhelming.
Nhan says he receives around 500 customers from 3 p.m.-11 p.m. everyday.
Laughter and small talk from the shop mix with the bustling atmosphere of Su Van Hanh Street.
My Lien, a HCMC University of Sciences student, said the shop is her favorite.
She said that nowhere in Saigon was the che so colorful, sweet and cheap.
To get to the shop from Ben Thanh Market, travel along Tran Hung Dao St. until you hit Nguyen Van Cu St.
After turning right on Nguyen Van Cu, turn left at An Duong Vuong St., which then hits Su Van Hanh St.
Turn right and you’ll hit the shop after 500 meters.
Reported by Phuong Anh |
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