Hai Su serves Singaporean fare with gusto
One day recently, I was wandering through Ha Noi, taking in the capital lively shopping and restaurant scene. My last destination was the Giang Vo Exhibition Centre and I realised then, I needed to recharge my batteries with some dinner.
I scanned a series of roadside restaurants, most of them bedecked with colourful neon lights meant to dazzle passers-by. I passed luxurious places such as Pumpkin, Nha Che and Pepperonis. All of them made for an attractive sight along in Giang Vo Street. But I decided to step into Hai Su Merlion, a modest restaurant located near the street midway point, because it was the busiest of the bunch.
I do not know what attracts others to a restaurant. For me, however, they must be novel. I like restaurants that are the most crowded. I do not care if the restaurant is small or big, colourful or bland, provided it is clean and attractive.
When I entered, a smiling waiter guided me to a table near the owner. Despite the crowd, a menu was laid in front of me within a few minutes. On the restaurant sign board, I glanced the word Singapore, so I decided to try some food from the city state.
I began with the com xa xiu thit quay kieu Singapo (Char Sew and Roasted Pork with Rice) at a price of VND25,000 (US$1.56).
While waiting, I had a chance to talk with the friendly owner of Hai Su. She said she had lived near China town in Singapore for seven years and travelled back and forth during two years to learn about the food business.
Aside from running a successful restaurant, she wanted to introduce local customers to Singaporean dishes, something she thought could foster mutual understanding.
After five minutes, an attractive looking, steaming hot plate appeared at my table. The dish was brimming with nutrient-rich food, including roasted pork, vegetables, salad and a bowl of soup. The latter three accompany each daily set at Hai Su. The pork was coated in a delicious spicy sauce. Wonderful!
After finishing, I was still hungry requested a second course, com cari ga kieu Singapo (Singapore-style Chicken Curry with Rice), which was a little more expensive at VND28,000 ($1.75).
The dish offered the spicy taste of chilli, the delectable smell of mixed spices and an attractively-coloured curry powder. It turned out to be perfect meal for a chilly evening. My eyes and nose were dripping like crazy. The more we ate, the warmer we felt.
Next to me sat an Australian woman, Maria Millers. We started up a conversation while we ate. I could see satisfaction in her eyes from a plate of pho xao hai san kieu Singapo (Singapore fried kway teow with seafood, $1.56).
Season best: One of Hai Su servers scoops fresh fruit to make Mango Pudding and Mixed Fruit with Coconut Milk.
"I had tried pho xao hai san many times in restaurants, but the pho in this Singaporean restaurant deeply impressed me. I especially enjoyed the bigger pho noodles mixed together with a unique soya-sauce," Millers said.
We finished dinner at the same time and decided to have drinks and desserts. I chose che den sua dua (Black bean with coconut milk pudding, $0.38), a kind of sweet pudding which is considered good for your blood flow. I am a sweet pudding addict and was still feeling kind of hungry, so I decided to have seconds, choosing a serving of che sen xanh sua dua ($0.38), which included green peas and stewed lotus seeds, that are supposed to lead to profound slumbers, black jelly and coconut milk for a fresh complexion, and green peas which are good for the body.
Instead of my che den sua dua, Millers wanted to test the che cocktail Hai Su sua dua (Hai Su Mango Pudding and Mixed Fruit with Coconut Milk, $0.75) because she was interested in tropical fruits. Served in a cocktail bowl, it contained at least six kinds of fresh fruit such as watermelon, apple, pineapple, longan, mango and papaya. (The list changes depending on the season.)
With a full stomach, I said goodbye to my dining companion and continued with my travels. I felt satisfied with the dining experience, from the main course, to the desserts to the service. Vietnamese often utter the folk words Vui long khach den, vua long khach di (We welcome customers and ensure they will be satisfied when they leave). It is a phrase the gracious owner took to heart; she asked my opinion of the meal and sent me a word of thanks.
I stepped out with a smiling face and a promise to come back some day or maybe, if I was feeling tired, call for their handy delivery service.
Hai Su Merlion
Address: 111-K1 Giang Vo, Ba Dinh, Ha Noi
Phone: (04) 512-0782
Hours: 8:30am-9:30pm
Comment: Tasty and quick with friendly service
Source VNS