Thread: Restaurant has authentic taste of hoi an

Online Travel Vietnam: The no-fuss Ba Le Well eatery in an alleyway off Tran Hung Dao Street, Hoi An, serves only four traditional local dishes but it does them perfectly, says Thanh Ha.



Idyllic Hoi An is famed not just for its quaint laid-back atmosphere, beautiful beaches and the Thu Bon River, which needs no superlatives to describe its charm, but also the local cuisine that reflects the eclectic make up of the city which served as a major hub for the spice trade in the first century.Ba Le Well Restaurant is an ideal venue for those looking for a taste of traditional local Hoi An food.The no-fuss restaurant, which lies in an alleyway off Tran Hung Dao Street, only serves four dishes but it does them perfectly.The two-storey restaurant's decor is unpretentious, as is the cuisine - banh xeo (fried pancakes with egg, ground pork, shrimps and bean sprouts), thit nuong (grilled pork), ram cuon (spring rolls), and nem nuong (grilled pork with sate). The dishes are designed to be wrapped in rice paper and eaten with greens and dipping sauces.The price is in the region of VND80,000 (US$3), which is excellent value for money."It is a definite must for travellers, Vietnamese and foreign. I ranked it first in terms of local food because it is fresh and tasty and well-priced," said a couple from Ha Noi who were on their honeymoon.The restaurant has no menu. Instead customers just plonk themselves down and within minutes half a dozen dishes appear in front of you."It is our way. Here we serve only four dishes, which are traditional. We serve them all at once so diners can get a real taste of Hoi An," said Mau, the restaurant owner's brother."We have done it this way for years and our customers like it," he said.Ba Le Well was established 20 years ago. It gets its name from an ancient well in Hoi An that is still used by locals today.The restaurant was opened by Mau's mother. His sister, Mai, now runs the place."If you are bored with pizza and pasta and imitation Vietnamese food then come to Ba Le Well," said Stefan Leistner from Frankfurt on tripadvisor.com."They serve you several platters of grilled meat, vegetables, fried pancakes and lettuce and aromatic herbs, which are wrapped in rice paper. Dip the spring rolls in the sauces provided and wash it down with a cold beer. Perfect!"


Those unfamiliar with Vietnamese food sometimes need a little help from the staff, who are friendly and courteous.

"We didn't know what to do, but a girl came over and showed us how to make the wrap. She did it all slowly and carefully, filling a piece of rice paper with food before handing it to us - a new and delightful experience!" said a visitor from Australia."The food was lovely. And also we got a chance to sit with the locals - who gave us a hand when the waitress was busy," he added.However, some customers complained that they were served too much food and others that prices seemed to vary depending on whether they came with a tour guide or not.I came to the restaurant twice at night and saw nothing amiss. On a third occasion I came in the morning for a cookery class that has been running for several years now.Also attending the class was Samatha Morales from South Africa."I have learned how to cook Vietnamese dishes and made a lot of friends in the process," she said. "I've had an amazing time, and Mai is incredibly hospitable. She taught us many things although the language barrier was a major problem. That said, I managed to get through it without too much difficulty and fully intend to cook Vietnamese food back home," Samatha said.

Ba Le Well Restaurant Add: Tran Hung Dao St, Hoi An Tel: 0510-3864443 Price: from VND20,000 Hours: 9am to late Comment: crispy pancake, flavoured meat, fresh greens and excellent service.

Source: VNS

Nice tips for spam ! .

Hoi an is most famous place of vietnam,
It also very famous in taste.

I wish I could also have a taste of that recipe!