Hidden away in a back alley off Ngoc Ha Street, innovative Vietnamese chefs prepare Japanese style banh xeo (pancakes) with a refreshing and delightful twist. Kaitlin Rees reports.
While navigating the narrow alleyways that wrap around the small ponds off Ngoc Ha Street, the wooden restaurant finally comes into view. The large open air space and Banh Xeo Nhat Ban sign are an inviting place to stop for lunch. Because of its unlikely location, hidden away in the winding streets that connect Doi Can with Hoang Hoa Tham, most of the people passing by are local. However, the menu at Aozora distinguishes it from the typical Vietnamese food of the area and could easily attract people from all over. It feels like a well-kept secret as soon as I enter.
Upon entering, I have the choice of upstairs or downstairs seating. The downstairs option would keep me close to the bustle of Ha Noi noise and the happenings in the kitchen. With a large stovetop where food is being expertly flipped just a few steps away, the chef is focused on his work. With such proximity to noodles, vegetables and meat, and the tempting smells that accompany their preparation, I know I'll risk a spiking appetite and growing impatience to eat if I sit downstairs.
Though going upstairs puts some distance in between me and the action, there is a wonderful view. I relax into a seat next to the wide open windows that offer a paranoma of the street's corner, a still pond across the street and the green low-hanging trees outside. The high ceilings, humming fans, and soft-yellow painted walls with black and white minimal photos create a peaceful place to wait for a meal.
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