San San restaurant is a familiar dining address for students and office workers in Ho Tung Mau street, Cau Giay district. Located deep in a small alley, the restaurant is still crowded with customers thanks to its diverse menu, quality and affordable prices.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Tan (33 years old), the owner of the restaurant, said that the restaurant has been open for 4 years in alley 20/14 Ho Tung Mau. Previously, the restaurant only sold vermicelli with fried tofu, vermicelli with grilled pork and vermicelli with mixed vegetables, but later added grilled spring rolls and mixed pho. All of these dishes were researched and adjusted by her herself to suit her needs.
"Most of the restaurant's customers are students who come in large groups, so I want to have a diverse menu so that everyone can order dishes that suit their taste," the restaurant owner shared.
The restaurant has a spacious, airy 2-storey space, although it only has plastic tables and chairs, it is quite clean. One of the things that makes the restaurant's vermicelli with fried tofu popular is the plentiful ingredients such as sausage, sausage, meat... Diners can also observe the owner's steps in making the dish from the open kitchen counter.
Ms. Tan said that she wakes up at 5:30 every day to prepare the goods. Most of the time, she does not need to go to the market, but will have her regular contacts bring beans, meat and other ingredients. Toppings such as sausage, ham, pork leg... are all prepared before the shop opens, only beans are fried when customers order to ensure they are hot and crispy.
The owner revealed that the most popular and most ordered dish at the restaurant is vermicelli with tofu: "My tofu is delicious, and the shrimp paste is also made to order, standard Ba Lang, Thanh Hoa so it has a moderate saltiness, not too difficult to eat like other types, so maybe the customers like it, they order it many times."
A portion of vermicelli with fermented shrimp paste at the restaurant includes vermicelli, tofu, pork leg, green rice sausage, spring rolls, sausage and raw vegetables. Although the ingredients are not too new, the presentation of the dish is full, clean, delicious, and of stable quality, winning the hearts of diners.
The busiest time of the day is between 12pm and 1pm and 6pm, mostly students from nearby universities. Ms. Tan confirmed that the restaurant can sell nearly 100 meals a day, and more on weekends and holidays. In addition, some companies in the surrounding area also trust the restaurant to order meals for their employees.
"Most customers who come to the restaurant will come back a second time. Almost everyone praises the food and often recommends friends and relatives to come enjoy it. That's why the restaurant has many regular customers," Ms. Tan shared.
The owner confirmed that despite being crowded and having a diverse menu, the restaurant still maintains quality service.
The restaurant is open from 6am to 9pm. Dishes cost around 20,000 - 50,000 VND, suitable for students as well as office workers who want to enjoy a full meal at a reasonable price.
Nguyen Thu Hang (2004, Hanoi) shared: "I have been a regular customer of the restaurant since I was a freshman. I often eat here partly because it is close to school, partly because the dishes are filling and reasonably priced. In particular, the shrimp paste here is very fragrant, tasty, and not as difficult to eat as other restaurants."
