Nhớ Tuyết in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

“Đi ăn nhậu tối nay không?” is a phrase you’ll hear often throughout Vietnam. In literal terms, it translates to “let’s go eat and drink tonight,” but the use of the word nhậu evokes something deeper. To nhậu is to come together over plentiful food, typically eaten with your hands, and drink, typically generous amounts of beer. It’s the quintessential act of daily celebration, for no reason at all, that often lasts for hours and sometimes includes spontaneous sidewalk karaoke. 

This is the ritual on display at Nhớ Tuyết, which literally means “missing or remembering snow,” though it’s really named after the owner, whose name is Tuyết. Come as the locals do: with a big group of friends. And enjoy a vast selection of seafood ranging from clams in lemongrass broth, to scallops topped with scallion oil and crushed peanuts, to colossal river prawns all cooked via your preferred preparation, whether that’s salt-toasted or tossed in a wok with tamarind sauce. 

Beyond the seafood, Ms. Tuyết is known for her proprietary recipe for pâté, which comes in a thinner-than-usual texture with a sheet of burnt rice for scooping up as sort of a dip. There are also plenty of options for vegetarian diners, including an off-menu tofu in salted egg sauce. Your meal here will typically come with a full case of beer. At the end of the meal, they’ll count how many cans are left and charge accordingly.