A chef in Angola has won the hearts of locals with his Vietnamese-inspired cuisine, bringing a unique flavor to the community. His humble eatery, known for serving tomato sauce fish and stir-fried chicken gizzards with greens, has become a popular spot where customers often bring containers to take the delicious food home.

Manuel Arlindo, also known as Lindo, is a key member of Quang Linh Vlogs’ African group. Born in 1993, Lindo is fluent in Vietnamese and is recognized for his hard work and entrepreneurial drive. He juggles various jobs to support his family and recently ventured into the food business by opening a small stall in the local market.

With a menu that changes daily and prices starting at 400 Kz (about 11,000 VND), Lindo offers a blend of Vietnamese and Angolan flavors that have captivated the taste buds of his customers. He meticulously prepares each dish, drawing from his experiences tasting and learning to cook authentic Vietnamese cuisine.

Lindo’s offerings often feature Vietnamese staples like rice and cornmeal, along with a rotating selection of dishes. Popular choices include tomato sauce fish and stir-fried chicken gizzards with greens, which he described as crowd-pleasers with a local appeal.

To ensure freshness, Lindo cooks the time-intensive tomato sauce fish at home before bringing it to the market. On the other hand, the stir-fried chicken gizzards with greens are prepared on-site to guarantee they are served piping hot.

Using traditional Vietnamese seasonings like fish sauce and MSG, Lindo infuses his dishes with authentic flavors that elevate the dining experience. The combination of meticulous preparation and genuine flavors has led to a surge in customers, prompting Lindo to expand his seating capacity to accommodate the growing demand.

Despite opening for lunch, the eatery sees early birds arriving as soon as 10 AM, with some customers opting to purchase large quantities to enjoy at home, often leading to sold-out dishes. The overwhelming response from the local community has been a source of joy for Lindo and his wife.

Recognizing the popularity of Vietnamese cuisine, particularly the tomato sauce fish, Lindo plans to introduce more dishes to share the diverse flavors of Vietnam with his patrons. Past offerings have included stuffed betel leaves, spring rolls, black bean sweet soup, stir-fried chicken with lemongrass and chili, fried sweet potato cakes, and banana cakes—all reasonably priced and well-received by customers of all ages.