As the cold weather sets in, there’s nothing better than indulging in some delicious and hearty street food to warm you up. Join us today as we explore the famous hot rice cake shop in Trung Tu Alley, Dong Da district, and discover what makes it so popular!
1 Introducing the Trung Tu Hot Banh Duc
Introducing the Trung Tu Hot Banh Duc in Dong Da district
Restaurant Quality: 4.3/5 (Google Review)
Address: 103 B5 Trung Tu Alley, Dong Da district, Hanoi
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Usually crowded at 5:00 PM)
Price Range: 15,000 – 45,000 VND (~$0.60 – $1.90)
Phone Number: 0936990068
Facebook: N/A
Delivery: Yes (Shopee Food)
Menu: Hot rice cakes, shrimp cakes, fried dumplings, pillow cakes, various bean desserts, and more.
Signature Dish: Hot Banh Duc (20,000 – 25,000 VND/bowl (~$0.85 – $1.05)
Pros: Delicious food, spacious and clean environment, quick service.
Cons: Limited seating.
The shop has recently moved to 103 B5, just 200 meters from its original location.
Trung Tu Hot Banh Duc is a well-known snack spot in Hanoi, located in C2 Trung Tu Alley, Trung Tu Ward, Dong Da district. The shop has recently relocated to 103 B5, just 200 meters from its original location. Owned and operated by Mrs. Tuyet Minh, a 63-year-old local, the restaurant has become a beloved fixture in the community.
Open from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily, the restaurant offers a variety of tasty treats, with their signature dish being the hot rice cakes. In addition, they also serve delicious bean desserts, perfect for warming up during the colder months.
The hot rice cakes here are made from rice flour, water, and tapioca starch, creating a sticky and elastic texture. The filling is a mouthwatering mixture of minced meat, wood ear mushrooms, scallions, and chicken fat, stir-fried to perfection. The broth that accompanies the rice cakes is made from pork bones, resulting in a sweet and savory flavor.
The restaurant offers two sizes of rice cakes: 20,000 VND and 25,000 VND per bowl.
Open from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, the restaurant serves a variety of delicious dishes, with the hot rice cakes being the star attraction.
2 What Keeps Customers Coming Back?
A Long-Standing Reputation
Mrs. Minh, the owner of this renowned rice cake shop in the C2 Trung Tu residential area, inherited the recipe from her mother-in-law. Previously, she sold her rice cakes in Phà Đen Port, near Vinh Tuy Bridge. She later relocated the shop to the C2 Trung Tu residential area. In November 2023, she moved the shop once more to its current location at 103 B5, just a stone’s throw away from its original spot.
Operating since 1996, the shop has undergone numerous changes, from the days when a bowl of rice cake cost only a few thousand dong to the present. Despite this, the flavor and cooking methods have remained consistent, continuing to captivate the taste buds of diners.
A long-standing reputation for delicious food.
Serving Hot and Fresh
According to Mrs. Minh, hot rice cakes are made from rice flour, water, and a small amount of tapioca starch, cooked over medium heat until the mixture becomes thick and slightly translucent. To achieve a smooth and elastic texture without lumps, she emphasizes the importance of constant stirring during the cooking process.
Hot rice cakes are a beloved treat, especially during the winter months. To meet the high demand, Mrs. Minh often prepares the rice cakes fresh to order. Using a ladle, she scoops just the right amount into each bowl.
The cooked rice cake batter has a creamy, elastic consistency and can be pulled into strands. It takes skill and precision to neatly transfer the hot rice cakes into the bowls without making a mess.
Serving hot and fresh rice cakes directly into bowls.
Passion in Every Step
Hot rice cakes are a humble and familiar dish in Vietnamese cuisine. What sets them apart is the sweet and sour broth, which adds a refreshing touch and prevents the dish from becoming cloying.
The broth for the hot rice cakes is made from pork bones and sweet and sour fish sauce. The pork bones are simmered to create a clear and flavorful broth. The sweet and sour fish sauce is carefully balanced to achieve a mild sourness and sweetness. The broth is poured just enough to cover the surface of the rice cakes, preventing them from clumping together.
Stir-fried minced meat with wood ear mushrooms is an essential side dish for hot rice cakes. The meat is fried with wood ear mushrooms, fragrant mushrooms, shallots, and spices until tender and flavorful.
When served, the hot rice cakes are topped with the sweet and sour broth, stir-fried minced meat, scallion oil, and coriander. Indulging in these hot and savory rice cakes on a cold day is an unforgettable experience.
Passion and dedication are evident in every step of the preparation process.
That’s a glimpse into the famous Trung Tu hot rice cake shop, a go-to destination on chilly days in Hanoi. Be sure to pay them a visit when you’re in the area!
