Kim Min-seok - member of MeloMance group and actor Park Jae-min are two familiar experienced characters of the Korean reality TV show Battle Trip. During their trip to Vietnam, the two had the opportunity to try a series of famous specialties such as grilled spring rolls, shrimp cakes and shrimp paste fish cakes.
The place the two chose to enjoy this series of traditional dishes was at one of the famous Vietnamese restaurants located on Phan Boi Chau Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.
The two Korean guests were immediately impressed by the restaurant's large number of Vietnamese and foreign diners, which partly proves that the food quality is very good.
Fish ball dish is introduced as a traditional dish of Hanoi people, including fried fish with fresh vegetables, served with vermicelli and of course indispensable shrimp paste. A full portion of fish cake costs 9,640 won (about 175,000 VND).
Male singer Kim Min-seok seemed quite strange and uncomfortable by the strong smell of shrimp paste. He kept coughing even though he just smelled the smell and decided to eat the fish cake without dipping it. There is an opinion that the smell of shrimp paste is 7 times stronger than fish sauce.
Meanwhile, actor Park Jae-min ate this unique dipping sauce and thought that without it the dish would be less attractive: "Because it's fresh fish, it will be bland. Shrimp paste will add flavor."
He commented that shrimp paste is quite similar to Korean fermented salted shrimp with a smell many times stronger than regular fish sauce. However, this dipping sauce plays a big role in making the dish rich and flavorful.
After that, experienced character Jae-min also decided to try vermicelli with shrimp paste squeezed with lemon and discovered that the dipping sauce was not as difficult to eat as he thought.
Two Korean diners also ordered grilled spring rolls and shrimp cakes. Banh hoi is served in a basket filled with raw vegetables such as perilla, lettuce, star fruit, cucumber and grilled spring rolls. A portion of Banh Hoi grilled spring rolls costs more than 10,000 won (about 185,000 VND).
The grilled spring rolls are golden brown, sprinkled with peanuts and onion fat, making them extremely eye-catching. In addition, a bowl of sweet and sour fish sauce is indispensable to serve with.
Both commented that Vietnamese rolls are very good for health because they are rich in vegetables, fiber and vitamins. The flavors of grilled spring rolls, vegetables and fish sauce are also extremely harmonious.
"I'm not a big eater, but this dish is really delicious," actor Jae-min humorously commented.
In addition, the two experience characters also tasted West Lake shrimp cakes priced at 4,000 won/plate (about 75,000 VND). Shrimp cakes are considered quite chewy and crispy. The crust is thin so you can clearly feel the shrimp flavor.
Both affirmed that the fish sauce helps make the dish less greasy: "The dipping sauce is like a bridge connecting the ingredients."
At the end of the meal, the two continued to order another portion of grilled spring rolls because it was so delicious. The total meal for two people with a series of unique Vietnamese specialties costs about 500,000 VND.
