Quán Mì Cật

It’s a rare night when Hai and I ride past the amazing foods on Saigon’s small streets and alleys in Binh Thanh or District 10 and ride into Saigon’s District 1 tourist center in order to enjoy some “real” Vietnamese food.  What? Sounds counter-intuitive I know.  But …

There is one place whose food is so good and so authentic that now and again it lures us into the midst of Saigon’s tourist downtown for dinner.  Quán Mì Cật is the place.  Here we get to create our own personal Vietnamese food fantasy.

WHICH NOODLE?

First, we choose our noodle:

• Hủ tiếu (chewy, clear and somewhat sticky noodle made of tapioca and rice),
• Bún (slightly thicker rice vermicelli noodle), or
• Mì (a yellow wheat flour noodle).

Not an easy decision here – they’re all yummy.

But, I prefer the mì, myself.  If you choose the hủ tiếu, you’ll get to make yet another choice – whether you want those noodles dai (chewy) or mềm (tender)?  When I take the hủ tiếu option, I always prefer chewy (something about “mushy” noodles I don’t like).

WET OR DRY?

Then choose khô or nươc (that would be dry or wet).  The noodles served khô (dry) include just a bit of broth to keep them moist.  But they’re served up with a separate bowl of nước lèo on the side so that you can add as much broth as you like as you eat.  That’s my favorite style for sure.  The noodles ordered nươc (wet) style are served already in a bowl of broth.

YOUR ORGAN PLEASE?

Finally, we choose our organ.  🙂  Cật (pork kidney), Gan (pork liver), or Thịt (no organ, just lean pork meat).  All high quality and delicious, by the way.

MY FAVORITE COMBO

My favorite:  Mì Cật Khô.   Mì noodles served dry (broth on the side) with tender slices of pork kidney. The mì noodles, yellow in color, curly in shape, and aldente in texture are wonderful here.  The generous serving of large kidney slices among the noodles are the perfect texture – firm, yet tender.  And so tasty!  I spoon the broth over the noodles and meat as I eat.  I dip the kidney slices in the spicy, somewhat smokey chile satay sauce served at every table, and find true happiness!  Sooooo delicious.  

I love this place.  A YUM YUM YUM winner on Eating Saigon!’s Yum Meter.  Simple, basic, authentic Vietnamese foods. Fair prices.

Easy access from most tourist accommodations … and not so far from other areas of the city for we locals willing to stray occasionally into Saigon’s tourist center.

Open mornings from 6:00 am to 11:30 am
Open afternoons & evenings from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm

 

[Continuously re-confirmed as one of our all-time favorites – most recently in March 2017 … prices up just a tad]

Quán Mì Cật
62 Trương Định
District 1
38.272.108

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