By Gary Lee (@garyleecious / @divers_eat_y)
Since opening, Hu Tieu Go Ong Map quickly earned a cult following for its authentic Vietnamese street food, including its extensive sea snail menu which is a rarity in Melbourne.
With restaurants in both Footscray and Maidstone I initially came across Hu Tieu Go Ong Map on UberEats. I recalled having to take a second look when I saw ‘snails’ listed on the menu item. I was excited!
In Vietnam, snails are not merely a dish; they represent a significant aspect of the country’s heritage that has developed over generations. From the hearty snail porridges of Hanoi to the fresh snail dishes (stir-fried with coconut, chilies, and herbs) available in Ho Chi Minh city, each region proudly presents its distinctive snail specialty. Many of which I have sampled during my visits to Vietnam.
Snails can be gooey, chewy, slithery and slimy. Some describe the texture of snails as being similar to cooked mushrooms or a tender squid, succulent with a slight satisfying chew. The texture is why I enjoy them. On its own, snails have a very subtle earthy flavour, which makes them an excellent base for rich sauces, herbs and spices.
At Hu Tieu Go Ong Map, they offer a variety of New Zealand snails prepared in tamarind sauce, sate sauce, or steamed with lemongrass. Additionally, they also offer a selection of sea snails served with salads.
We ordered the New Zealand snails cooked in coconut cream, and they were very tasty. The dish was garnished with Vietnamese mint (rau răm), which aids in breaking down the rich creams while also providing a distinctive, refreshing element to every bite. We used the skewers that they provided to pick out the snails.
This saucy dish pairs perfectly with banh mi (extra order) for soaking up the flavourful sauce, because like in Vietnam, nothing goes to waste. The restaurant also offers Chinese donuts as another option.
Don’t be turned off by the way they look. Eating snails, though a little tedious, is a fun social food to share with friends and family.
Editor: One of my favourite things to do in Vietnam is to look for vendors selling snails on the side streets. They often sell varieties such as small rice snails, sea snails, or the larger freshwater snails, commonly boiled with lemongrass and chili or served with garlic sauce. Simple, but so good!
While you are at Hu Tieu Go Ong Map, don’t miss out on the noodles though! I have tried most of their noodles, in soup and dry.
‘Knock’ Vietnamese noodles, known as Hủ Tiếu Gõ, are a popular Southern Vietnamese street food consisting of a savoury, aromatic pork-based noodle soup. ‘Knock’ refers to the olden days practice of street vendors knocking on bamboo sticks, creating a ‘tok tok’ sound to announce their presence in residential neighbourhoods.
Editor: This resonates as we have Tok Tok Mee in Malaysia, a traditional Cantonese wanton noodle dish sold the same way back in the day when I was still a child, which now no longer exists.
Their noodle servings are generous, served with tender pork ribs and parboiled pork (meat on the bone). The broth is deep, rich and aromatic. The noodles (pick from either egg or rice noodles) are garnished with a whole lot of chives and topped with crispy pork lard bits (lard croutons). You even have the option to customise your bowl to your liking when you order.
Hu Tieu Go Ong Map takes great pride in its dedication to traditional recipes, which is reflected in the rich flavours and high quality of the dishes offered. I highly recommend a visit!
They are located on the busy stretch on Ballarat Road, Footscray, but there is also a branch in Maidstone.
Hu Tieu Go Ong Map
2/203 Ballarat Rd, Footscray
138 Mitchell Street Maidstone
