David Hoffmann, a content creator from the US with a YouTube channel boasting over 1.3 million subscribers, frequently uploads videos about his travel experiences around the world.

A few months ago, David visited Vietnam, choosing Hanoi as his first stop to explore street food.

In addition to popular dishes like pho bo (noodle soup served with beef), banh mi (bread), bun cha (kebab rice noodles), and banh cuon (steamed rolled rice pancake), David ventured to try unique dishes that not all foreigners dare to taste in Hanoi, including ‘long lon’ (pig intestines), thit ran (snake meat), trung vit lon (balut), and ga tan lon bia (chicken stewed in beer can).

David remarked that the beer-can stewed chicken was shocking at first sight but it was delicious, far better than he anticipated.

During his trip to Hanoi in September 2024, David was taken to a renowned eatery on Hang Cot Street (Hoan Kiem District) by a Vietnamese guide to try a dish known as "beer-can stewed chicken." This restaurant is a popular spot among locals and tourists alike.

At the restaurant, David tried the "stewed black chicken." The entire chicken, black from meat to bones, had been neatly placed inside a beer can and slow-cooked with various ingredients and traditional medicinal herbs such as mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), goji berries, red apple, and lotus seeds.

David admitted that he initially felt shocked at the sight of the dish, with black meat and black broth poured from a beer can, and tiny legs poking out.

Curious about why this unusual-looking meal is beloved by Hanoians, David was prepared to give it a try. 

His Vietnamese guide explained that "stewed chicken" is considered a nourishing dish due to the use of medicinal herbs. Hanoians enjoy it as a tasty snack, hoping it brings health benefits.

"The initial sight of the dish can be shocking. However, after the vendor removed the chicken from the can, you sense the aroma and are eager to try it," the American YouTuber shared.

When David tasted his first bite, he was surprised by how different the flavor was from his expectations.

He described the meat as tender and easily separated from the bones, with an enticing aroma. When dipped in salt, pepper, and chili, the chicken tasted even richer and more flavorful. "The taste is amazing. I enjoy this dish," David noted.

As David continued eating, he said it tasted better with each bite. Apart from the tender meat, David also praised the broth and mugwort.

Thao Trinh