Crab 94, Ho Chi Minh

94 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Dakao Ward, District 1 T. 825 8633

This recommendation came from several friends who know the city. Crab 94 serves, as implied in its name, crab – and in all forms. The hole in the wall (you must be prepared for its “charming” ambience) dishes up crab crab claws steamed in a tamarind sauce – the sauce was intended to enhance the fresh claws but I found that it masked the sweetness instead; crab vermicelli with chunks of ever so sweet, succulent crab meat, and I mean chunks!!!; thick crab soup – delicious though way to filling; deep friend spring roll that was actually rather yummalicious, tossed in a bowl with some rice noodles, loads of basil and parsley and a dash of the sweet spicy fish sauce.

What we didn’t have room for was the crab fried rice, which a foodie friend of mine claims will give Chen Fu Ji in Singapore a run for its money and the fried soft shell crab. Well, you always have to save something for the next visit.

All the cooking is done outside the shop and there is one waiter who speaks English. In anycase, they do have an English menu. The total bill for the spread for two came was under US$15.

There are two restaurants by the same name on that corner. Head for the one that is nearer the traffic light.