As one of the oldest and most well-known shellfish establishments in Ho Chi Minh City, Oc Dao, or Dao Snail Eatery in English, has been named on the Michelin Selected list by the prestigious French dining guide Michelin.

Though the eatery was honored by the Michelin Guide, a guidebook published annually since 1900 by tire manufacturer Michelin that reviews and recognizes exceptional restaurants around the world, many diners consider its prices fairly high.

Among 100 shellfish dishes served at Oc Dao, rang muc xao bo (squid beaks stir-fried with butter), oc huong rang muoi ot (sweet snails stir-fried with chili salt), oc len xao dua (sea snails cooked in coconut milk), oc mong tay xao rau muong (razor clams stir-fired with swam spinach), and ngheu hap sa (clams steamed with lemongrass) are favored by most customers.

These shellfish-based dishes are made by the owner to her distinctive recipes, always using fresh ingredients.

The shellfish are said to be sourced from Phan Thiet, a coastal city about 185 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, via Binh Dien Market.

Tram, 33, a diner at Oc Dao, said that snail dishes are appetizing, but a plate has fewer snails than before.

Besides, the dishes are more expensive than those at other eateries. Each plate of snails is priced at VND50,000-100,000 (US$2.1-4.2), said Tram.

Mai Phuong, 50, who visited the eatery after it was recommended by Michelin, said that she was disappointed by the quality of service and food. Some snails contained grit and she was served the wrong orders.

Phuong evaluated that Oc Dao charges high prices, while its service is poor, so it is not worth it for a meal.

A peddler who sells shellfish dishes 

Lying down an alley near Nguyen Trai Street in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, the two-story eatery had no changes after being mentioned by the Michelin Guide.

It was a really big surprise to Vo Thi Dao, 54, the owner of Oc Dao. She said that she did not know about the recognition.

The establishment mainly serves office employees and factory workers, she said.

However, the eatery has recently welcomed both local and international tourists, she added.

Oc Dao is eager to service any diner, she said, affirming that she always respects customers and sells wholeheartedly.

Before settling down with the eatery, Dao sold her snail dishes as a peddler along many streets in District 1 for eight years.

She tried peddling other dishes, but all, except for the shellfish-based food, failed to pay off, Dao recounted.

“The snail peddler stall was my family’s source of livelihood, stabilizing our lives,” Dao told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

“Therefore, I do cherish this job and always expect customers to be satisfied with each of the dishes at the eatery.”

When she gave birth to the second daughter in 2003, Dao decided to open an eatery in the alley of Nguyen Trai Street near a factory to make life easy to take care of her child.

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