Hanoians earn good profits from braised grass carp

Hang Be Market in Hanoi's Old Quarter is well-known for many of its ingredients and take-away-food especially the braised grass carp.

Hang Be Market in Hanoi's Old Quarter is well-known for many of its ingredients and take-away-food especially the braised grass carp.

  

A food shop at Hang Be Market

Besides food ingredients, Hang Be Market also offers takeaway boiled chickens and other dishes that are often seen on the offering trays during special events. However, the most popular dish is the braised fish.

The braised fish shops are most crowded around 11 am and 5 pm. Huyen, a braised fish shop owner, said she sold hundreds of kilos of fish a day. At the weekend, she sells 300-400kg and up to 500kg during the Tet Holiday. Braised fish is sold for VND250,000 (USD11) per kilo.

  

Food offerings

"Around 11 am and 5 pm is when people return homes so they will pass by and buy food for their families. We also have tourists too. I have seen some visitors from HCM City bought whole pots of braised fish as gifts," Huyen said.

Besides braised grass carp, there are also braised scalloped fish, rimmed shrimp and braised pork ready for sale.

  

Braising fish

The shops start preparing their food from 5 am. Rows of honeycomb charcoal stoves can be seen behind the shops. According to Huyen, they have to select the fish carefully to have a good pot of braised fish.

"We often braised them for a long time to soften the bones while avoiding ruining the meat. Each shop has different ways to sweeten the fish like using sugarcane as firewood," she said.

Tran Thuy Dung from Hoan Kiem District said, "I often buy braised fish there because of the traditional taste. Everyone has their own favourite shop."