Not only famous for its signature banh tom dish, the snack shop located near the National Cinema Center on Lang Ha street (Hanoi) also attracts diners with the hot banh xeo - nem lui duo, retaining the sophistication in the original processing method.
The banh xeo is large in size, with a thin and crispy crust from the edge to the center of the cake. The filling inside is rich with shrimp, minced pork combined with carrots and bean sprouts, refreshing.
When served, the banh xeo exudes the mild aroma of rice flour mixed with a little turmeric, easily stimulating the taste buds at first sight.
The highlight of banh xeo is a tray of characteristic spices including lettuce, herbs, water spinach, pineapple, cucumber... In particular, this dish cannot be without a bowl of sweet and sour fish sauce with a mild taste.
When enjoying, diners will take a crispy piece of cake, place it on lettuce or rice paper leaves, add a few seasoning leaves, then roll it up and dip it in a bowl of sweet and sour fish sauce. Crispy crust combined with the coolness of vegetables and dipping sauce creates a gentle and comfortable feeling.
An indispensable piece of the meal is the fermented pork roll skewers grilled with lemongrass. Processed from minced pork and rich spices, the fermented pork roll is skillfully wrapped around fresh lemongrass stalks and then grilled. When cooked, the fat blends with lemongrass essential oil, emitting a strong aroma, attracting the taste buds from afar.
Nem lui is served with thin rice paper, vermicelli to wrap, along with fresh vegetables and fruits such as shredded carrots, cucumbers, pineapple... The dipping sauce that comes with it is usually skillfully mixed garlic chili fish sauce or fatty peanut dipping sauce depending on the restaurant's style.
Place a piece of rice paper on your palm, line it with raw vegetables, sliced pineapple, shredded carrots, then skewer the spring rolls in the middle. Then, use your hands to clench and pull out the lemongrass stalk; roll it up and dip it deep into the dipping sauce bowl. The sweetness of grilled meat combined with the sour taste of vegetables and fruits creates an irresistible attraction.
Ba Mai shrimp cake shop has been open for more than 10 years, and is a favorite snack address for many generations of students. The restaurant's menu also includes shrimp cake, fried fermented pork roll, spring rolls, salad... Prices range from 10,000 - 80,000 VND per dish. The shop is open from 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM daily.
