A popular American chef was blown away by a single dish in a Vietnamese back alley
American food creator Nick DiGiovanni, who boasts over 50 million TikTok followers and 28.5 million YouTube subscribers, visited "Cơm Gà Xối Mỡ Su Su" (Su Su) in a back alley on Cống Quỳnh Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. His 25-second video of eating the shop's signature dish, "waterfall fried chicken," surpassed 17 million views in six days from posting.
"Oil pouring down like a waterfall"—the full picture of the cooking method
Su Su's cooking method uses a dedicated machine the owner developed himself. Marinated chicken is set in a perforated tray, and heated oil is poured continuously from above. The oil flows down through the tray's holes and is pumped back up to circulate again. In just a few minutes, it turns out crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
DiGiovanni氏は動画で「この音を聞いてほしい。大雨が地面を叩くような音だ」と興奮気味に語った。25歳の同氏が「西洋の料理伝統にはない、もっともユニークなチキン体験だった」と評したことで、一気にバイラル化した。
The shop also finishes an orange fried rice cooked with gac (a type of gourd) in an automatic stir-frying machine. This too is a machine the owner built himself. Cucumber and tomato are placed beside the chicken, and one plate is 55,000 VND (about 324 yen).
Background—Vietnamese street-food videos sweep the world
Vietnamese street food is drawing global attention with the spread of TikTok and YouTube Shorts. Major food YouTubers such as Mark Wiens and Sonny Side have visited Vietnam one after another, andTasteAtlas's Asian noodle rankingalso placed pho at number 6. Shops that make "show cooking" their weapon, like Su Su, are drawing attention as a new customer-drawing model for the social-media age.
The video's performance and reactions
| Platform | Video | Views |
|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 25-second short | 17 million (6 days) |
| YouTube | "I tried the world’s best street food" (25 minutes) | About 24 million |
Reactions on social media and in the press
In the comment sections and on social media, reactions like the following lined up.
- "Putting chicken in a waterfall of oil is a total Vietnamese invention." (TikTok comment, US user)
- "It's right near backpacker street and I had no idea. I'm definitely going on my next HCMC trip." (YouTube, Australian user)
- "This one machine has more impact than KFC's 11 herbs." (Reddit, r/streetfood)
- The newspaper VietnamNet reported that "the owner's inventor spirit showed the potential of Vietnam's street-dining culture."
For Japanese travelers—tips on access and ordering
Su Su is in a back alley a 5-minute walk from Bui Vien Street, known as backpacker street. Tell your taxi or Grab "117/1D Cống Quỳnh" and you'll arrive. The menu is simple, with only three options: thigh (đùi), wing and breast (cánh và ức), and drumstick (đùi tỏi). Pointing to order is fine.
A back-alley café tour of Ho Chi Minh CityIt's efficient to stop by before or after. Since a line forms at lunchtime, arriving before 11 a.m. is best.
Ho Chi Minh City street food—an ever-evolving street culture
In Ho Chi Minh City, "show street food" that fuses the traditional stall culture with social-media appeal is on the rise.Including the arrival of Korean restaurants,andCieL Dining's selection by Food & Wine magazineand the like—Ho Chi Minh City's dining scene is polarizing fast between the upscale and street tracks. Su Su is gaining global recognition as a leading example on that "street side."
Venue information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Shop name | Cơm Gà Xối Mỡ Su Su |
| Address | 117/1D Đ. Cống Quỳnh, Phường Nguyễn Cư Trinh, Quận 1, HCMC |
| Nearest area | A 5-minute walk from Bui Vien Street |
| Price | 55,000 VND per plate (about 324 yen) |
| Menu | Thigh, wing and breast, drumstick (each with gac rice) |
| Payment | Cash only |
Summary
For 55,000 VND (about 324 yen), you can have an experience the world is watching. In a back alley of District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, the sight of an oil waterfall turning chicken crispy is something to experience in person rather than just watch in a video. If you stop by before 11 a.m. during a stroll along Bui Vien Street, you can avoid the line.
Source: VietnamNet / Pale Ale Travel / Yahoo Creators
