Banh Xeo at Dinh Cong Trang, District 1 at Saigon

Saigon, this city serves a nostalgic and peculiar sense to me. Not that i have been here. Just that i feel the name Saigon in itself is of something special. It was late in the evening. The familiar hustle and bustle scene of the traffic was back. Just returned from exploring the lively Mekong River Delta was certainly one of the highlights during my stay in Saigon. Well, this would be my last night staying in Saigon before i headed to Dalat.

So, i decided on going to 46A, Dinh Cong Trang Street for the famous and delicious Banh Xeo, a kind of Vietnamese pancake fried on pans with some shrimps, pork and bean sprouts. The motorbike journey to the place was one helluva ride. I mean, really, it was one hell of a ride for those who have not yet experienced the infamous Saigon motorbikes invasion first hand. The traffic light is of no use. Hey, it's like going into battle with you charging into a formation of motorbike-soldiers head on--in and out, in and out, without fail until you reach your destination every time when there is traffic light. That of course, provided you come out in one piece beforehand.

I ordered one Banh Xeo, some Cha Gio (fried spring rolls) and Goi Cuon (fresh spring rolls). Since this is my first time being served on this Vietnamese cuisine, i was obliviously in the dark on how to savor this delicacy. Of course, you could just eat it like normal pancake in itself. But i observed. The locals definitely not eating their Banh Xeo just like that. They prepared the vegetable leafs, put one Cha Gio in it, grabbed some pieces of Banh Xeo, with a little of every ingredients in it, rolled together and dipped into the ever tasty Nuoc Nam (fish sauce). That's how the locals eat it. And, that's how i ate it. Perfect! Bon appetit!



Banh Xeo


Cha Gio (fried spring rolls with nuoc nam)


How the Banh Xeo is prepared


Fried over a hot charcoal stove


The place to be for Banh Xeo