A Japanese YouTuber and his family tasted crab noodle soup in HCM City and declared it the best dish they had tried in Vietnam.
Papaken, born in 1989, is a Japanese content creator who has been living in Vietnam for over three years.
Papaken and his family enjoy a bowl of crab noodle soup at a local eatery.
On his personal YouTube channel, followed by hundreds of thousands of subscribers, Papaken frequently shares videos documenting his travel and culinary experiences across various Vietnamese provinces and cities.
During a recent trip to Ho Chi Minh City, he brought his mother and two children to a popular eatery on Tran Khac Chan Street in Tan Dinh Ward to try the renowned crab noodle soup.
He told his mother that this dish is a local specialty in the southern region, particularly in HCMC.
"This dish has a thick, savory broth made from ground crab that's been carefully filtered to bring out its natural sweetness. The noodles are made from a mix of rice flour and tapioca, giving them a chewy texture similar to Japanese udon," Papaken explained to his mother.
A hearty bowl of crab noodle soup with a variety of toppings.
Each serving, he noted, costs 55,000 VND (around 2.20 USD) and comes loaded with a variety of toppings such as shrimp, sliced pork, crab cakes, blood pudding, quail eggs, and crab meat.
Upon tasting, he commented on the rich crab flavor of the broth and the pleasantly chewy noodles.
“The noodles here are chewier and tastier than the ones I had at the previous place. The crab cakes are delicious, full of flavor and really tender,” he said.
His mother shared similar sentiments, praising the fresh and vibrant taste of the dish.
She added that adding fresh lime juice and chili completely altered the broth’s flavor, reducing the natural fishy taste of the crab. According to her personal palate, she gave the dish an 8 out of 10.
Papaken was so impressed he finished the entire bowl, sipping up the last drops of broth, while continuing to praise the dish on camera.
The Japanese guest couldn't stop praising the crab noodle soup and finished every last drop of the broth.
He also mentioned that many Japanese tourists on Google Maps described crab noodle soup as the best noodle dish they had tried in Vietnam.
“In HCM City, out of all the dishes I’ve tried so far - like hu tieu and broken rice - this one is the best,” he declared.
He added that the soup tastes great both with and without added seasoning. “If you eat it plain, you get the pure crab flavor. If you add chili and lime, it balances the richness.”
Speaking with reporters, Mrs. Tuyet (51), owner of the noodle shop visited by Papaken’s family, shared that her restaurant has been open for over 14 years. She explained that making good crab noodle soup requires carefully sourced ingredients.
Banh canh cua, or crab noodle soup, is a beloved comfort food in HCMC, adored by both locals and visitors. Photo: Phuong Nghi
Carefully selected ingredients and meticulous preparation ensure the dish’s fresh, rich flavor. Photo: Banh Canh Cua 87
“You have to choose live, meaty crabs so that the broth turns out rich and naturally sweet,” she said. “The noodle dough also needs to strike a balance - not too soft, not too tough.”
The broth must be simmered for hours to develop the perfect consistency and a deep, appealing flavor.
The chef recommends adding a squeeze of lime and a bit of fresh chili when eating to enhance the soup’s flavor. The tangy and spicy notes cut through the soup’s richness, allowing the sweetness of the crab and shrimp to shine.
The eatery operates from 11 a.m. until evening and closes on the 1st and 15th day of the lunar month.
Vietnamnet.vn
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