Customers are drawn in by the name “Xoi Bat” which not only reminds them of many exciting associations, but also of the special taste, variety and innovative cooking methods, and eye-catching booths of this sticky rice cafe tucked in the center of Saigon (Vietnam).
The Michelin Guide, a brand renowned as “the quality guideline of world cuisine,” debuted in the Vietnamese culinary market in June 2023. Michelin made its official entry into the Vietnamese market with a Michelin launch ceremony in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). This award, in addition to announcing the list of Vietnam’s first four Michelin-starred restaurants, also launched a series of nominations such as Michelin Bib Gourmand (a list of restaurants with good food quality at reasonable prices), Michelin Selected (a Michelin-recommended restaurant list).
The ceremony honored 29 restaurants and cuisine establishments in Hanoi and Saigon to the Michelin Bib Gourmand list, including Pho, Broken Rice, Noodle soup, Bun cha and others. The inclusion of a single sticky rice eatery on this list, however, grabs the attention of audiences: Xoi Bat.
The sticky rice restaurant is located at No. 8 Hoang Hoa Tham Street in Ho Chi Minh City’s Binh Thanh District. Is the “Bat” named after the number 8 in the shop’s address on purpose? Based on the Vietnamese language, the term “Bat” was derived from the owner’s idea that sticky rice be consumed in a bowl. Later on, when the front of the shop was positioned at number 8, a slew of coincidences occurred. At the same time, the number 8 in business represents wealth and good fortune in Asian culture due to the re-reading of the word “luck” according to the Sino-Vietnamese sound.
Xoi Bat has an unusual slogan: “Xoi Bat, a very different bowl of sticky rice,” which helps to shape the brand’s image. The teenage proprietor was resolved to open the Xoi Bat cafe in 2021 with the goal of providing consumers with the flavor of mother’s sticky rice. The first thing you notice as you walk in is the warm, meticulously furnished atmosphere. Although the area is fairly tiny, with only around 5-6 tables available, it provides diners the impression of entering a pleasant café by blending the basic brown tone with various forms of wood such as ornamental plants, gravel, colorful yellow lighting, and so on.
Furthermore, the flavor of the meal is an important consideration in putting Xoi Bat on the Bib Gourmand list. When you visit Xoi Bat, you will be astonished by the “terrible” bowl of sticky rice. Diners frequently express their delight that eating at Xoi Bat is similar to eating at home since sticky rice is served in a classic glazed porcelain bowl similar to old Vietnamese family meals. A conventional sticky rice eatery serves only sticky rice, sausages, rolls, pate, and so on, but at Xoi Bat, guests may choose from a range of side dishes such as char siu, braised eggs, chicken intestines, young eggs, braised pork, and so on.
Because of the range and quality of each dish, imbued with a lot of excitement and consideration by the owner, Xoi Bat has become an ideal destination for foodies. The main ingredient in this dish is Bac sticky rice, which has been coated with coconut milk, giving it a little fatty flavor. Pork intestines that have been carefully deodorized with alcohol, fresh milk, and vinegar. Roti chicken, braised meat, char siu, and other meals contain juicy soft meat that has been seasoned in a sweet direction, making them especially ideal for those who eat according to the taste of the South. Furthermore, each serving of sticky rice will include an extra cup of kimchi and soup. Kimchi is marinated in the Vietnamese style, so it is not overly hot, sweet, or sour. Because the number of customers buying online through applications is very high, the food establishment also wants to promote sustainable cuisine with the goal of changing to using paper boxes instead of plastic boxes.
Xoi Bat was included on the Michelin Guide Selected’s list not because it is a high-class restaurant serving a variety of dishes or because it is a well-known establishment; rather, Xoi Bat’s meticulousness in every aspect of food preparation has elevated Vietnamese sticky rice from a common street food to an eatery highly regarded by the world’s culinary community. The sticky rice bowl is particularly distinct; it differs from the standard of the food, the method in which it is served, and the narrative and utilitarian value of the figures who bring Vietnamese cuisine to life in the smallest aspects.
Address: 8 Hoang Hoa Tham, Ward 7, Binh Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam