Chè mè đen

Chè Mè Đen serves traditional sweet soups. This street food vendor sits on Nguyễn Trãi street. It operates in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City. Its main offering is chè mè đen. This warm, thick black sesame paste dessert is a favorite. Locals also know it as “chí mà phù.” The dish has roots in Chinese cuisine. The vendor prepares the sweet soup smooth and consistent. It comes warm in small bowls.

Black sesame seeds form the soup’s main ingredient. Rice flour or kudzu root starch and a sweetener complete it. The vendor toasts and grinds sesame seeds into a fine paste. They cook this paste with other ingredients. This creates a thick, smooth consistency. The toasted sesame gives the dessert a distinct nutty flavor. The vendor often adds coconut milk before serving.

The stall sometimes offers chè đậu phộng. This is a peanut-based sweet soup. Customers can order these varieties separately. They also mix them together in one bowl. The stall operates as a simple sidewalk setup. It provides limited or no formal seating. This format is typical for city dessert vendors.

The vendor caters to passersby and local residents. Customers consider this dessert a comforting, traditional snack. The price point remains in the lower range. It aligns with other street food offerings. The business relies on its location and product. It operates without a formal shopfront or extensive branding.