NextSharkNextShark.com
Latest Newsletter🍵 New alcohol/cancer study in AsiansRead

Article

Small Vietnamese Noodle Shop Becomes Instant Hit After Visit From President Obama

    Asian America Daily - in under 5 minutes

    Get our collection of Asian America's most essential stories, to your inbox daily, for free!

    Unsure? Check out our Newsletter Archive

    Ever since the United States President Barack Obama dined on a bowl of “bun cha” at Bun Cha Huong Lien, new customers have been flocking to have a taste of the restaurant’s specialty: a flavorful rice noodle soup with pork patty and bacon.

    During his visit to the eatery, he was joined by American chef and food critic Anthony Bourdain. Today, the two-story restaurant is emblazoned with photos of the POTUS and Bourdain.

    While the place was already a hit among locals, Obama’s star power has attracted more foreigners, reported Straits Times. Now famously known as “Obama bun cha,” the 23-year-old restaurant has capitalized on its instant fame by introducing new specials, such as the $4 “Combo Obama,” which adds a side dish of spring rolls and local beer to the house specialty soup.

    According to owner Nguyen Thi Lien, her customers have doubled as her store has become a must-visit on many Hanoi tours.

    “People come here because they are curious about why Obama chose my restaurant,” she said.“So many have come and we cannot serve them all.”

    Obama was on a state visit to Vietnam when he made the unannounced stop, which produced photos that instantly became viral. It will also be featured on Bourdain’s show “Parts Unknown,” scheduled to air on Sunday.

    In the episode, Obama was shown enjoying the local delicacy. “This is killer, this is outstanding,” he said.

    Support our Journalism with a Contribution

    Many people might not know this, but despite our large and loyal following which we are immensely grateful for, NextShark is still a small bootstrapped startup that runs on no outside funding or loans.

    Everything you see today is built on the backs of warriors who have sacrificed opportunities to help give Asians all over the world a bigger voice.

    However, we still face many trials and tribulations in our industry, from figuring out the most sustainable business model for independent media companies to facing the current COVID-19 pandemic decimating advertising revenues across the board.

    We hope you consider making a contribution so we can continue to provide you with quality content that informs, educates and inspires the Asian community. Even a $1 contribution goes a long way.  Thank you for everyone's support. We love you all and can't appreciate you guys enough.

    Support NextShark

    Mastercard, Visa, Amex, Discover, Paypal