Saigon’s #1 Bánh Khọt

Recently, our friends, Janelle and Ashley from Oakland California, e-mailed me to let me know they would be visiting Vietnam for the first time (oh yes, and also to get married! Wow!) Besides their wedding planning in northern Vietnam,  I asked them to try to plan some time to see a little bit of  the “real” Saigon, That is, not just visiting the classic tourist markets and being “propagandized” while viewing some 40-year old war remnants museums. They agreed!

What fun, I thought – now it was my job to make some plans in Saigon so as not to disappoint them. They had one free Saigon evening for me to fill!

OK, I thought first, we could take a casual stroll through the neighborhood park near Hai and my house – Le The Rieng Park.

If we timed it well, we could all enjoy the park together with the mass of locals who congregate after work for their power-walks around the park, for band mitten with their spouses and children, and miscellaneous other calisthenics and games around the lake and park grounds.

After that, we’d take a walk through the Bac Hai neighborhood – a semi-upscale, middle-class Vietnamese area filled with fun coffee-shops and a handful of good eateries.

Then we could an toi (eat dinner) at what I think is Saigon’s #1 Bánh Khọt  ~  Bánh Khọt Vung Tau KHANH.  

Bánh Khọt Vung Tau Khanh:  Simple – Yes. Crowded – Always. Delicious – I’m sure. Hopefully, Janelle and Ashley would agree.

Finally, after dinner, we could stop at one of the scores of Bac Hai coffee shops for a late night cafe, sinh tô, or beer – their choice!

And, oh yes, I’d precede all of this by starting out at our apartment with a homemade margarita! Not terribly Vietnamese, but a great transition drink from West to East, I thought!

IT WORKED! The margaritas were great – maybe a bit  “strong” 🙂  After that,  all went as planned.

Bánh Khọt Vung Tau Khanh triumphed again.

The deep-fried bánh khọt themselves were fresh, crispy, light and flavorful.

The bánh khọt, topped with a fresh prawn and ground dried shrimp first was wrapped in a dark green leaf, together with a few herbs to spike and twist the flavor, and a small dollop of shredded green papaya that had been marinated in fish sauce. Then the assembled taste treat was dipped one last time in sweetened fish sauce again spiked with a bit of chili pepper.  MAJOR YUM – all agreed!

With full bellies, we walked over to a local Bac Hai cafe and enjoyed strawberry and soursop fruit shakes …  and talked for hours about life in California and Saigon.  A wonderful night together!

I’ve been back to Bánh Khọt Vung Tau Khanh many times since, often with Hai.  But we both agree, it was more fun with Janelle and Ashley – COME BACK GUYS!

UPDATE – January, 2020:  They continue to prepare a very excellent Bánh Khọt here. 

Bánh Khọt Vung Tau KHANH 

7 Dong Nai Street
P.15,  District 10
(Bac Hai Neighborhood)
HCMC
09708123

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