Chen BBQ - a meat-eater's paradise

Bustling: Chen BBQ is typically full throughout the day and would-be diners are often turned away. — VNS Photos Chen BBQ Address: 49 Mai Hac De, Ha Noi Tel: 04 3822 5599 Website: www.chenhanoi.com Opening hours: 11am - 11pm Price per person: VND 250,000 – 400,000 (US$12.5-20) Comments: An aesthetic and authentic restaurant that serves good BBQ and hotpot. Non-English speaking staff, takeaway available, accepts all major credit cards.

Chen is famous for its well-marinated, glistening meat. From lamb, to beef or turtle in hot pot or grilled, the food is always delicious. Nguyen Le Hung reports.

There will come an inevitable moment during a sitting at the Chen BBQ restaurant that you'll know you've eaten enough, but will regret it when you stop.

This meat-eater's paradise is situated on the busy street of Mai Hac De, just 300 metres north of Vincom Towers. It's one of the very few restaurants in Ha Noi where every hour seems to be peak hour and you could possibly face the disappointment of being turned away, as the restaurant appears to be almost bursting at the seems with contented diners.

From the outside, Chen easily blends into its surroundings. It doesn't scream for attention. But you will be overwhelmed once inside, with its rows and rows of black leather chairs, wooden tables and cream table mats. It's very fashionable, as are its clientele.

The story at Chen does not begin with doubts, but you aren't exactly eased in either. After you complete the long process of ordering and being confused by the huge options on the menu, a small army of waiting staff will begin loading your table with piles and piles of food. They are fast, and a little furious if you ask me, but really just brutally efficient. But what they bring to the table is just delightful, like the first sunshine of spring, only the aroma is far more mouth-watering. From little but precious things like a little tin cup of garlic and butter, to those gorgeous and scrumptious pieces of chopped pork ribs in a simmering Sichuan pungent hot pot, only when all the madness in front of your eyes stops, the real journey begins.

For fish lovers: Butter fried snowfish Sea breeze: Prawn eggs rolled with kelp. A touch of class: Caviar rolled with kelp. Savory: Thai hot pot Goatee: Goat hot pot.

Chen is famous for its meat, its well-marinated, glistening meat. From lamb, to beef or turtle, in hot pot or on a grill, the meat is always tasty. The veal ribs (US$12.5 for two) are especially delicious. These glossy ribs are marinated with Chen's special BBQ sauce, whose ingredients are part of the secret of the restaurant's success. The sauce gives the grill dish a honey-like glaze and an aromatic effect which will drive you into a coma. If you feel that veal is unacceptable, try some imported beef ribs ($9 for two). While doused in the same marinade, it gives you a little bit more texture and richness. Enjoy the meat with some roasted sweet corn. If you're more of an adventurous diner, you could try some of the more Asian options. They may sound weird to the uninitiated but they are delicious. Some grilled tongue could be an ideal choice. It comes with a surprisingly coarse texture. It goes really well with some green pepper and okra. Tongue particularly hits it off with soy sauce with a little chopped chilli and crushed garlic. Kobe beef is also available for your delectation.

It is a great joy on these freezing days to enjoy a simmering hot pot with friends, and hot pots don't get much better. Of all the choices, I found the Sichuan savoury hot pot to be the best choice. The stock is sweetened with corn, chopped ribs and a variety of vegetables. It comes with all sorts of add-ins that will fill your stomach nicely. Fried bean curd is probably the best choice. You can either eat the deep fried treat as a snack, or enjoy the rubbery version of it in the simmering pot with other vegetables. I find it very satisfying.

You will also find on the a la carte menu, a variety of hot pot options which in the olden days could only be found on the royal dinner table such as the turtle and red wine hot pot ($45 for four) or ginger silk mutton hot pot ($20 for four). Personally, turtle is not my cup of tea, and they don't taste that good, and the only sound explanation for its popularity is probably that it used to be reserved for royalty. I'd rather go with the more earthy and economical choices.

It seems that there's a million items to be found on the menu and it can be confusing, but the staff are really only happy to help you pick the best of choices if you speak Vietnamese, other than that, they are just a bunch of grumpy people trying to make a sale.

At Chen, you should find a combination of authentic cooking, aesthetics and stomach-bursting satisfaction. It's nice to visit once in a while for that special blow-out. — VNS

Chen BBQ - a meat-eater's paradise

Bustling: Chen BBQ is typically full throughout the day and would-be diners are often turned away. — VNS Photos Chen BBQ Address: 49 Mai Hac De, Ha Noi Tel: 04 3822 5599 Website: www.chenhanoi.com Opening hours: 11am - 11pm Price per person: VND 250,000 – 400,000 (US$12.5-20) Comments: An aesthetic and authentic restaurant that serves good BBQ and hotpot. Non-English speaking staff, takeaway available, accepts all major credit cards.

Chen is famous for its well-marinated, glistening meat. From lamb, to beef or turtle in hot pot or grilled, the food is always delicious. Nguyen Le Hung reports.

There will come an inevitable moment during a sitting at the Chen BBQ restaurant that you'll know you've eaten enough, but will regret it when you stop.

This meat-eater's paradise is situated on the busy street of Mai Hac De, just 300 metres north of Vincom Towers. It's one of the very few restaurants in Ha Noi where every hour seems to be peak hour and you could possibly face the disappointment of being turned away, as the restaurant appears to be almost bursting at the seems with contented diners.

From the outside, Chen easily blends into its surroundings. It doesn't scream for attention. But you will be overwhelmed once inside, with its rows and rows of black leather chairs, wooden tables and cream table mats. It's very fashionable, as are its clientele.

The story at Chen does not begin with doubts, but you aren't exactly eased in either. After you complete the long process of ordering and being confused by the huge options on the menu, a small army of waiting staff will begin loading your table with piles and piles of food. They are fast, and a little furious if you ask me, but really just brutally efficient. But what they bring to the table is just delightful, like the first sunshine of spring, only the aroma is far more mouth-watering. From little but precious things like a little tin cup of garlic and butter, to those gorgeous and scrumptious pieces of chopped pork ribs in a simmering Sichuan pungent hot pot, only when all the madness in front of your eyes stops, the real journey begins.

For fish lovers: Butter fried snowfish Sea breeze: Prawn eggs rolled with kelp. A touch of class: Caviar rolled with kelp. Savory: Thai hot pot Goatee: Goat hot pot.

Chen is famous for its meat, its well-marinated, glistening meat. From lamb, to beef or turtle, in hot pot or on a grill, the meat is always tasty. The veal ribs (US$12.5 for two) are especially delicious. These glossy ribs are marinated with Chen's special BBQ sauce, whose ingredients are part of the secret of the restaurant's success. The sauce gives the grill dish a honey-like glaze and an aromatic effect which will drive you into a coma. If you feel that veal is unacceptable, try some imported beef ribs ($9 for two). While doused in the same marinade, it gives you a little bit more texture and richness. Enjoy the meat with some roasted sweet corn. If you're more of an adventurous diner, you could try some of the more Asian options. They may sound weird to the uninitiated but they are delicious. Some grilled tongue could be an ideal choice. It comes with a surprisingly coarse texture. It goes really well with some green pepper and okra. Tongue particularly hits it off with soy sauce with a little chopped chilli and crushed garlic. Kobe beef is also available for your delectation.

It is a great joy on these freezing days to enjoy a simmering hot pot with friends, and hot pots don't get much better. Of all the choices, I found the Sichuan savoury hot pot to be the best choice. The stock is sweetened with corn, chopped ribs and a variety of vegetables. It comes with all sorts of add-ins that will fill your stomach nicely. Fried bean curd is probably the best choice. You can either eat the deep fried treat as a snack, or enjoy the rubbery version of it in the simmering pot with other vegetables. I find it very satisfying.

You will also find on the a la carte menu, a variety of hot pot options which in the olden days could only be found on the royal dinner table such as the turtle and red wine hot pot ($45 for four) or ginger silk mutton hot pot ($20 for four). Personally, turtle is not my cup of tea, and they don't taste that good, and the only sound explanation for its popularity is probably that it used to be reserved for royalty. I'd rather go with the more earthy and economical choices.

It seems that there's a million items to be found on the menu and it can be confusing, but the staff are really only happy to help you pick the best of choices if you speak Vietnamese, other than that, they are just a bunch of grumpy people trying to make a sale.

At Chen, you should find a combination of authentic cooking, aesthetics and stomach-bursting satisfaction. It's nice to visit once in a while for that special blow-out. — VNS