The small shop Tao Pho Ganh located on Xuan La Street, is one of the places that many students love in the summer. With a rather small and simple space, the shop brings a very familiar and comfortable feeling - the standard style of Vietnamese street food. Although it does not have a very spacious space like other shops, but because of that, the shop still retains the soul of typical tofu shops, with a very popular sidewalk seating space.
Usually, tofu shops will not focus on investing much in space, but this shop has brought a space that is quite clean, tidy and more comfortable than regular tofu shops. And of course, because the space is a bit more stable, the price of the shop is also a bit higher - but still very reasonable, still much cheaper than milk tea. If a milk tea shop and a tofu shop opened side by side, I would choose the tofu shop because the cooling effect of the tofu is better and it is also much sweeter than milk tea.
Delicious, Cool Tofu
The tofu here is truly a completely different experience. The tofu is made from beans and is extremely soft and smooth, not at all like eating regular tofu. It is smooth and melts in your mouth, creating a cool, pleasant feeling. The accompanying sugar water is also infused with jasmine, making the flavor slightly sweet and fragrant, very easy to eat and extremely suitable for hot summer days. The tofu here does not have pre-mixed ice at the bottom, but they bring a separate portion of ice so you can adjust it to your liking. This is a big plus, because you won't have to worry about the tofu being diluted because the ice melts too quickly.
Special Topping
What makes the shop different is the toppings that come with it, from black jelly, green jelly, coconut pearls, to colorful green, red, purple, and yellow chewy potatoes. These toppings are all made very fresh and have a very special flavor. The tapioca pearls here are homemade, still hot when brought out and are super chewy, chewy inside with crispy coconut filling. The chewy potatoes are also very soft and easy to eat, made from purple and yellow sweet potatoes, the green color of the sweet potatoes is mixed with pandan juice, not too sweet but very tasty. These toppings not only make the tofu dish more rich but also bring a sense of joy when eating.
Reasonable Price and Quality
Although the price is a bit higher than the average tofu shops (about $0.70 for a full portion of tofu), compared to the quality you get, this is a completely reasonable price. Other tofu shops cost around $0.40, but cannot compare to the quality and freshness of the ingredients at Tào Phở Gánh. This is an ideal summer drink, delicious, cool, and affordable compared to many other dishes.
Space and Service
Although the space of the shop is not an ideal place to sit for a long time or relax because there are only 2-3 small tables, sitting on the sidewalk also brings a quite interesting feeling and is "true" to a snack shop. Even though sitting outdoors, the shop still maintains a clean, airy and very comfortable atmosphere. Another plus point is that the staff here are very enthusiastic and pleasant. They chat gently, creating a friendly and close feeling, and always provide customers with attentive service.
Conclusion
In short, Tào Phở Gánh is a place worth visiting if you are thirsty and want to find something new for the summer.m