Quang Style Noodle Soup (Mi Quang) – a delicious Vietnamese food

As Pho noodle soup to Hanoi and Hue noodle soup (Bun bo Hue) is to Hue, Quang style noodle is very popular in Quang Nam province, in Central Vietnam. A traditional version says:

“Ai đi cách trở sơn khê,
Nhớ tô mì Quảng, tình quê mặn nồng”.

(“Anyone goes far from hometown Quang Nam,

Missing the Quang style noodle”)

Let’s me tell you a story about Mi Quang. It’s said that a beautiful girl who lived in Quang Nam province invited her beloved man to her house. To express her deep love to him, the Quang Nam girl served him a cup of green tea and a Quang Style noodle. The love story has been written in the poetry. The popular love folk song says:

“Thương nhau múc bát chè xanh,
Làm tô mì Quảng anh xơi cho cùng.”

(“Love you, serve you a cup of green tea,

And cook a bowl of Quang Style noodle soup for you”)

Mi Quang is a perfect mix of texture and flavors. What makes it unique? The wide yellow turmeric noodle and the broth make Mi Quang different from others.. Ingredients to cook the broth are pork and dried shrimp or chicken, duck, crab living in rice field.  There are various recipes to make the broth but the broth must be yellow, slightly gelatinous, rich and have attractive smell. The broths of other noodle soups such as Pho, Hue noodle soup and Clear noodle soup are cover the noodles completely. The Mi Quang’s broth is served enough to barely cover the noodles and it will be soaked up by the noodles in a few minutes if you don’t eat the bowl of Mi Quang fast. Unlike other Vietnamese noodle soups, Quang style noodle is almost like a noodle salad.

Photo by Scooter Saigon Tour

Photo by Scooter Saigon Tour

Photo by Scooter Saigon Tour

To make the Quang noodles, they soak and grind brown rice into powder. The yellow color comes from turmeric. After that it’s used to make rice cake which is cut by sharp knife into noodles. Peanuts oil is added while noodles are cut to make them separate. The peanut oil also makes the noodle rich and tastier.

The toppings are pork, pork chop, shrimp or chicken, duck depends on the recipes. Hard boil egg, crushed peanut and toasted sesame rice crackers are must to make true Mi Quang. The dish from Central Vietnam couldn’t lack of assorted Vietnamese herbs,  salad, chili, shredded banana blossom and water morning glory. In addition, a special sauce which is called Quang noodle sauce is served with the bowl of Mi Quang. You have to use chopsticks and spoon to enjoy the dish. And it’s the best way to enjoy a bowl of Quang style noodle with a cup of green tea.

I would like to share the best places to enjoy Quang style noodles:

– Mi Quang at alley 85 Tran Quang Dieu Street, District 3, HCMC

– Mi Quang at Ba Hoa market on Tran Mai Ninh Street, Tan Binh District, HCMC

– Mi Quang My Son – 262 Phan Xich Long Street, Phu Nhuan District, HCMC

– Mi Quang at 225F Tran Quang Khai Street, District 1, HCMC

– Mi Quang at 6 Ca Van Thinh Street, Tan Binh District, HCMC

– Mi Quang Ngan at 108 Dong Da Street, Da Nang

– Mi Quang Lu Quang at Ham Nghi Street, Da Nang

– Mi Quang Vi Quang at 155 Trung Nu Vuong Street, Da Nang