A bowl of beef jerky salad, a perfect afternoon snack. Photo: Nguyen Chi
Unlike the bustling Dong Xuan Market, Thanh Ha Market is a quieter local spot, mostly frequented by residents from the Old Quarter and its vicinity. The stall owner, who has been running this business for over 30 years, shared that she has been operating at this particular spot for 26 years, building a loyal customer base across generations. Without any signage or presence on food delivery apps, her stall relies solely on word-of-mouth recommendations, including recent features by food KOLs like ‘Hoa Hau Via He’ and ‘Con Co Day’, which have attracted a younger crowd.
True to its nature as a humble street stall in a local market, this eatery offers a modest menu of three dishes: beef jerky salad, spring rolls, and cassava starch dumplings, all at affordable prices. A bowl of the signature beef jerky salad costs only 25,000 VND, while the spring rolls and cassava starch dumplings are priced at 5,000 VND each—a real bargain considering its location in the heart of the Old Quarter. These wallet-friendly prices attract a diverse range of patrons, including students, office workers, and homemakers doing their evening grocery shopping.
Delicious cassava starch dumplings for only 5,000 VND each. Photo: Nguyen Chi
The beef jerky salad is the star of the show, with a well-balanced portion size that leaves room for patrons to try other dishes. The owner uses a stainless steel tool to shred the papaya and carrots, ensuring a fresh and crisp texture, especially during the summer months. Each bowl is a harmonious combination of carrots, papaya, beef, beef tendons, and liver, topped with garlic and basil—an essential ingredient that gives the salad its distinctive flavor.
The dressing has a subtle taste, although some may find it a tad too sweet. To cater to individual preferences, the owner provides a bottle of regular vinegar, garlic vinegar, and homemade chili sauce for patrons to season their salad to their liking. The beef, a highlight of the dish, is sliced thinly and marinated lightly, allowing its natural flavor to shine through. Patrons can attest to the authenticity of the homemade beef jerky, setting this dish apart from others.
Accompanying the beef jerky salad are the spring rolls and cassava starch dumplings. The spring rolls share similar ingredients with the salad, including beef, shredded papaya and carrots, crushed rice, fermented pork sausage, and fresh herbs, all wrapped tightly and served with a sweet and sour fish sauce dip, complemented by crushed peanuts.
Spring rolls with crushed rice, fermented pork sausage, and beef. Photo: IG bachuaviahe
The cassava starch dumplings, priced at just 5,000 VND each, are a steal compared to other places, although slightly smaller in size. Despite their compact appearance, these dumplings deliver on taste, with a soft and moist wrapper enclosing a delicate filling of minced pork and wood ear mushrooms, along with a small shrimp.
To quench your thirst, you can order drinks from the neighboring stall, offering refreshing options like sour plum ice, lemon tea, or arrowroot tea.
Operating from 3 pm to 7:15 pm daily, regardless of the season, this stall has limited seating with just two plastic tables that can accommodate up to 5-6 patrons at a time. As a result, many opt for takeaway orders. The friendly and chatty owner ensures a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Across the stall is a shop selling red jellyfish and baguettes, providing additional choices for your afternoon snack.
TikToker ‘Hoa Hau Via He’ enjoys a delicious meal at the Thanh Ha Market beef jerky salad stall
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