Pahok noodle soup - Photo: Huy Nguyen

Tu Xe is a Vietnamese woman who used to live in Cambodia before returning to Saigon in 1972. More than ten years ago, she opened the eatery, which has welcomed numerous diners coming for the delightful soup since then.

Pahok sauce is pickled fish dipping sauce and is a delicacy of Cambodia.

Based on main materials of Pahok sauce, loc fish, chut leaves and fruits, bun (soft noodles), lemon grass leaves, garlic and thin noodles, the dish combines a fatty taste with the sweet loc fish meat. Its flavor is more delicious when served with Chinese pea, water-lily, beansprouts, cucumber, banana flowers and rau muong (water spinach).

The soup’s taste and color are created from the yellow Pahok sauce, said Xe, adding that all materials come from Cambodia with original flavors. Thus, her restaurant has become a familiar address for homesick Cambodians in the city.

Pahok noodle soups are priced at VND30,000, VND35,000 and VND50,000. Tu Xe restaurant is located at 57/27 Ho Thi Ky Street, Ward 1 in District 10 and is open from 7a.m. to 11a.m. every day.