Vietsmith @ One Holland Village - Discovering a Stir-fried Version of Vietnamese Pho

Exploring the newly unveiled One Holland Village offerings, we found ourselves at Vietsmith, a Vietnamese restaurant, amid the growing array of dining choices. During my visit a few weeks ago, the mall was still in the process of welcoming all its restaurants, but we discovered a delightful Vietnamese option in Vietsmith.

Fried Seafood Spring Roll 3.5/5

Our lunch commenced with the Fried Seafood Spring Roll ($7.90). Crispy and golden on the outside, it harboured a delectable blend of seafood and vegetables within, delivering a satisfying contrast in each bite.

Lemongrass Prawn 4.2/5

Next, we had the Lemongrass Prawn ($14.90). A delightful starter, it exuded the enticing aroma of herbs and spices and a side of pickled vegetables that served to refresh the palate.

Grilled Chicken with Broken Rice 3.8/5

For a heartier option, we had the Grilled Chicken with Broken Rice ($15.90). Moist and flavourful from its well-crafted marinade, the chicken was complemented by a juicy meat patty featuring a tantalising mix of vermicelli and minced meat, creating an additional layer of textural contrast.

Wagyu Beef Pho 4/5

Opting for a premium choice in the pho selection, my dining companion savoured the Wagyu Beef Pho ($20.90). The luscious slices of Wagyu beef infused the broth with rich flavour, offering a delightful symphony of taste in every slurp.

Stir-fried Pho with Beef 4/5

A departure from the traditional soupy pho, the Stir-fried Pho with Beef ($14.90) caught our attention. The flat rice noodles, wok-fried to perfection, carried the unmistakable aroma of wok-hei, showcasing Vietsmith's prowess in crafting traditional pho and presenting an enticing dry variation.


Vietsmith
One Holland Village
7 Holland Village Way
#03-25/26
Singapore 275748
Tel: +65 6263 9163
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Nearest MRT: Holland Village (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Holland Village MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn left and walk to Lorong Liput. Turn right onto Lorong Liput. Walk down Lorong Liput. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Your Deli Bite Cafe @ Novena Regency - Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine In A Contemporary Cosy Cafe Setting

Your Deli Bite is a cosy contemporary Vietnamese cafe located at Novena Regency. The cafe owner runs multiple Bahn Mi joints, and Your Deli Bite is her very first cafe concept, serving up some of her finest Vietnamese recipes. Over here, you can savour one of the best Bahn Mi in town and Vietnamese dishes less commonly found in Singapore.

Spring Rolls 4/5

We started with some familiar bites. The Spring rolls ($7.90) were skillfully wrapped with fresh prawns and fatty pork belly, giving the rolls an excellent meaty bite.

Special Pho 3.8/5

The owner is from Hanoi but lived in Ho Chih Min City before coming to Singapore. The pho recipe follows Ho Chih Min's style instead of Hanoi's version, as it contains no MSG and is less saltish. The Special Pho ($16.90) features a combination of beef flank, tendon, and meatballs with brisket cooked with the signature 9-hour slow-boiled broth. The broth was light, not too beefy, which I like, and enlivened with a squeeze of lime.

Crab Noodles 3/5

Crab Noodles ($16.90) was new to me. The broth is made with a reduction of pork bones and prawns, adding starch to give it that starchy consistency. The 'noodles' are actually our Mee Tai Mak, served with a handful of crab meat, prawn, pork meat, and quail egg. While broth has an enjoyable crustacean flavour with a light savoury depth, I don't quite enjoy the gluey texture.

Grilled Turmeric Fish 4.8/5

I highly recommend this Grilled Turmeric Fish ($14.50), a traditional Hanoi dish featuring grilled turmeric-marinated fish fillet tossed with sauteed scallions and dills. The fish fillets were prepared using whole fish, and each fillet was flaky, firm and tender. I love the amount of dill used, which gave the fish a citrus-like taste. You will be given sheets of dry rice paper with water and a plate of vermicelli and herbs to DIY your grilled fish spring roll.

Slizzing Pancake 4/5

We were surprised by how tasty this humble-looking Sizzling Pancake ($14.90) was. This pancake was yellow-tinted by turmeric, with a slightly charred glaze on the skin, giving it a tasty wok-hei flavour. It has a hint of sweetness, which melded well with the savoury filling of sauteed beansprouts, prawns and pork. Even the filling was laced with wok-hei flavour from the beansprouts. It was a tad greasy but lightened by the accompanying herbs and vegetables.

BBQ Pork Bahn Mi 4.5/5

As mentioned, one of the specialities here is Bahn Mi. The crusty and airy baguettes are worth coming back for. Our BBQ Pork Bahn Mi ($7.50) was loaded with flavourful BBQ pork with a drizzle of sweet chilli, with that iconic layer of pickled radish and carrot lining the baguette. Coupled with a rich Vietnamese Ice Black Coffee, they make such a satisfying meal!

Pear Chrysanthemum, Ice Black coffee

Egg Coffee

The Egg Coffee here came with a creamy creme brulee-like cap, but the foam-to-coffee ratio can be improved for a more full-bodied and creamy consistency. There is also a good range of housemade ice teas available. My ice Pear Chrysanthemum was refreshing with Nata de coco and diced pear bits.

Bánh Flan 4.5/5

Another must-try is the Bánh Flan. It is the Vietnamese version of the French crème caramel, which uses condensed or evaporated milk and is steamed instead of baked in an oven. Ours is served with ice and poured over with coffee. It was light and mellow sweet, and serving it in iced coffee gave it a depth of toasty bitterness, reinforcing the caramel notes.

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Your Deli Bite Cafe
Novena Regency
275 Thomson Road
#01-03
Singapore 307645
Tel: +65 88667262
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Nearest MRT: Novena (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1030am - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Novena MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Thomson Road. Turn right and walk down Thomson Road towards the overhead bridge. Cross the road using the overhead bridge. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

SG Pho House @ North Bridge Road - New Vietnamese Restaurant By True-blue Vietnamese Lady Boss

SG Pho House is a newly opened Vietnamese restaurant, nestled in one of the shophouses along North Bridge Road. The lady boss is a true-blue Vietnamese and with her leading the kitchen together with her own team, expect real Vietnamese flavours in your pho as well as other dishes.

Its interior is probably one of the closest to that of those eating places I had been to in Vietnam, perhaps what's missing are the little stools for a morning beer. Shiny mental foldable tables with much sturdier legs that are built to last, these dining tables are actually imported from Vietnam. The menu is fairly simple, offering Beef and Chicken Pho, Vermicelli, Rice varieties and sides.

Mango Salad 4.2/5

Seafood Spring Rolls 3.5/5

For sides, we had Mango Salad ($6.90), Fresh Spring Rolls ($3.90) and Seafood Spring Rolls ($4.90). I'm really pleased with their mango salad which comes with fried shallot, shrimps and sliced pork. The acidity is just right and I could taste the citrusy of the lime juice. What I really appreciate is how the shrimps and pork are being sliced to align with the shredded mango, hence there is a bit of everything in each bite. As for the spring rolls, I thought the fresh ones are kind of flat, while there is definitely a lot more going on with the fried seafood version.

Beef Vermicelli Soup, Hue's Style 3.5/5

I was told that different style of pho uses different bases. The traditional beef noodle soup, Hue style vermicelli soup, chicken noodle soup and even Thailand style (Tom Yum) vermicelli Soup have a different soup base. The sweetness and flavours are not from MSG but a concoction of imported Vietnamese herbs, spices and their solid good broths. For the mains, we had Beef Vermicelli Soup, Hue's Style ($7.90), Rice Spaghetti Soup with Crab Meat ($9.90) and Grilled Pork Vermicelli ($9.50). The broths here are indeed the soul of the dishes. What hit my senses first was the sweetness of the broths, born from hours of simmering bones and marrow. There is depth to it, accented with herbs and spices. Served alongside the beef vermicelli soup is not just your usual plate of basil and beansprouts but with a pile of shredded kang kong to provide an extra crunch and freshness to the overall taste.

Rice Spaghetti Soup with Crab Meat 3/5

Their Rice Spaghetti is similar to our local Mee Tai Mak. The soup is made with pork bones which explains the unexpected level of sweetness. I thought it was just going to be a mediocre soup base. I like the homemade meatballs which reminds me of how a yummy minced meatball make a difference to a bowl of handmade noodle soup. However, the crab meat which is supposed to be the star of the dish was rather dry and bland, hence a better option may be their vermicelli soup with seafood only.

Grilled Pork Vermicelli 3/5

As for the Grilled Pork Vermicelli, although it didn't pack much surprises, it is a crowd pleaser with very well marinated juicy pork chop. And it is not at all boring when a bowl of it comes with a pork spring roll and a grilled fermented pork, akin to a sausage.

Vietnamese Coffee 3/5

One thing I learnt from this lunch is the similar to how a Hong Kong evaporated milk made its mark in a Hong Kong milk tea, Vietnamese have their own version of condensed milk as well, which apparently is less sweet than our local ones. True enough, even though our Avocado milkshake and Strawberry milkshake were made with big spoonfuls of their condensed milk, they turned out creamy and milky without being cloying. My Vietnamese version of 'Piccolo' was fine too, though I wish it could be a lot stronger.

Out of malls and away from the crowd, I quite enjoy the rustic atmosphere of SG Pho House which elevates the experience of tucking into their hearty broths and dishes. The chicken noodle soup is highly recommended by the owner so when you need a alternative chicken soup for your soul one of these days, do drop by!

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


SG Pho House
774 North Bridge Road
Singapore 198742
Tel: +65 62998774
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Nearest MRT: Bugis (DT Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bugis MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk down North Bridge Road towards Ophir Road direction. Continue walking North Bridge Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

White Rose Cafe @ York Hotel - A Refreshed A La Carte Menu

York Hotel is renowned for its Penang Hawkers' Fare buffet but lesser known is their local and Asian cuisine served at the White Rose Cafe. Helmed by Chef Charlie Tham, the culinary team has refreshed the a la carte menu showcasing new re-interpretations of Asian dishes and Western classics.

Satay 4.2/5

We started with some Satay that is well marinated and grilled to a nice exterior char. Diners have a choice of chicken or pork. It comes with rice rice cakes, sliced cucumber, onion and peanut sauce topped with grated pineapple. Love the fact that the sauce comes with grated pineapple for the hint of sweetness on top of the nutty sauce.

White Rose Cafe New Specialties Mee Siam 4/5

Even thought it is a refreshed menu, it also brought back some of the old favourites such as the Mee Siam. The tangy and spicy gravy topped with prawns, sliced egg, bean sprouts and diced fried bean curd complements the rice vermicelli excellently. Do note this is sampling portion.

Vietnamese Beef Pho 4/5

Chef Charlie has also introduced Vietnamese cuisine in the refreshed menu. The soup for the Vietnamese Beef Pho is boiled for hours using beef bone marrow for a good 8 hours, resulting in a light but rich broth.  The flavourful broth is accompanied by the smooth flat rice noodles, tender sliced beef, bean sprouts and onion. It is then garnished with red chilli, lime and fresh local herbs.

Vietnamese Pork Chop 4.2/5

The other Vietnamese dish on the menu is the Vietnamese Pork Chop. I love the aroma of lemongrass in the marination of the pork fillet. Grilled to tender perfection, it is served with sunny-side up egg, fresh local herbs, pickled vegetables and steamed fragrant rice.

Seafood Mee Goreng 4.5/5

There is the Malay style mee goreng as well as the Chinese style. I prefer the latter for its wetter version, which is a bit like the hokkien mee. The Seafood Mee Goreng here hits all the right notes for me. Mildly spiced, the wok fried yellow noodles comes with egg, prawns, squid, sliced fish and bean sprouts.

Fish Head Curry 4.2/5

One should not miss having the Fish Head Curry at White Rose Cafe. The fish head curry is prepared accordingly to the well guarded recipe from Soon Heng Restaurant dating from 1970s, touted as the creator of the Singaporean Chinese style fish head curry. The red snapper fish head is first steamed and then cooked in a mildly spiced assam or tamarind based curry sauce together with tomatoes lady fingers, sliced onions and fresh chillies. The fish is cooked perfectly, firm and moist with a delectable sweetness of the flesh.

Grilled Chicken Thigh 4/5

Besides the Asian fares, there are Western classics such as Fish N Chips and Grilled Chicken Thigh. I tried the grilled chicken thigh which is served with seasonal vegetables and sauteed potatoes. The chicken skin is grilled to a nice crisp while the meat is tender and juicy.

Tang Yuan 3/5

Wrapping up our dinner, we had the Tang Yuan, traditional glutinous rice balls stuffed with black sesame filling in hot ginger flavoured syrup. While I enjoyed the soft glutinous rice, I felt that the ginger soup is a bit too sharp. It need some extra sweetness to balance the sharpness.

I really enjoyed the refreshed a la carte menu at White Rose Cafe. The dishes served are food that is closed to our heart and I have to admit that it has executed them well. I would recommend the fish head curry, mee goreng and mee siam as my favourite.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


White Rose Cafe
York Hotel
21 Mount Elizabeth
Singapore 228516
Tel: +65 68301156
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Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk down Scotts Road towards Goodwood Park Hotel. At Goodwood Park, turn right and walk to the end of the carpark. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Nam Nam GO @ Timbre+ - A New Express Concept By Nam Nam Noodle Bar

Nam Nam Noodle Bar has moved into Timbre+ at Ayer Rajah Crescent with a new express concept - Nam Nam GO, operating out of a repurposed caravan. The menu offers a variety of noodles, rice and banh mi which is ideal for the busy executives or diners in a rush.

Pho Australian Beef Steak Slices & Beef Balls 3.8/5

The Hanoi Pho comes with 4 selections. Basically they are pork balls, chicken, beef and vegetarian. I decided to have the beef, Pho Australian Beef Steak Slices & Beef Balls ($7.90). The soup was robust and sweet but I did not like the texture of the rice noodle. I find it too thick. The beef slices were fresh and tender but the beef balls were too tough for my liking.

Lemon Grass Chilli Chicken Viet Fragrant Rice 3/5

The other item we ordered is the Lemon Grass Chilli Chicken Viet Fragrant Rice ($8.90). I did not quite enjoy the rice because it uses broken rice. It did not have that satisfactory bite of the rice grains. Saying that, the rice was quite fragrant with the aroma of the lemon grass. The chicken pieces were also chunky, tender and juicy.

Nam Nam Go
Timbre+
73A Ayer Rajah Crescent
Singapore 139957
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Nearest MRT: One North (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at One North MRT station. Take Exit A or C. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Uncle Ho Tuckshop @ Pasir Panjang Road - Eat Like President Obama

Having been staying in the West for up to 2 years, it was only recently that I get to know that there was a Vietnamese restaurant near my place. I was researching where I can find Bun Cha in Singapore, the very dish that President Obama had with Anthony Bourdain in Hanoi. Uncle Ho Tuckshop is actually located off the West Coast Highlight, along Pasir Panjang Road inside a commercial building. It is off the main road, no wonder I have never spot the restaurant all this time.

Fried Spring Roll 4.2/5

We started will some Fried Spring Roll ($8.50) for lunch before our mains. The spring rolls were crispy and stuffed with minced meat. The full flavour and texture enjoyment is always my choice over the Vietnamese spring roll which I find it too bland to my liking.

Pho Beef Combo 4/5

A typical dish that I will always order when I visit a Vietnamese restaurant is the Pho Beef ($9.90). I had the combo which comes with beef slices and beef meatball. The sweet broth, smooth rice noodles and the fresh ingredients all came together for a comforting and hearty dish. A little disappointment is that the pho beef does not come with sides of beansprouts and mint leaves.

Hanoi Bun Cha 4/5

For Vietnamese cuisine, we are more familiar with their spring roll, banh mi and pho. However President Obama has made Hanoi Bun Cha popular to the world. This is my first time having the Hanoi Bun Cha ($12.90) in which the rice vermicelli and sweet soup is served separately.

The sweet soup comes with a mixture of vegetables, onions, grilled pork belly and grilled meatball. Some chopped chillies are added into the soup for a spicy kick. To eat, we have to dip the rice vermicelli into the soup, coating the noodles with the sweetness, for a slurping goodness. For me, the real highlight of bun cha is the grilled meatball which is well seasoned, flavourful and juicy.

Overall, the food at Uncle Ho Tuckshop is above average and it is wallet friendly. On top of that, the relax and casual dining is quite cozy during my visit on a Saturday afternoon. I would probably go back and try their banh mi in my next visit.


Uncle Ho Tuckshop
100 Pasir Panjang Road
#01-04
Singapore 118518
Tel: +65 96245791
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Nearest MRT: Pasir Panjang (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11am - 9pm
Sat: 11am - 3pm
(Closed on Sun & PH)

Direction:
1) Alight at Pasir Panjang MRT station. Take Exit A. Cross the road. Walk down West Coast Highway along the traffic. Turn left onto Pasir Panjang Road. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Mrs Pho @ Beach Road - Traditional Vietnamese Food Just Like Mama Used to Cook

I have to confess that after visiting Melbourne and even Sydney on several work trips, I seldom have Vietnamese food in Singapore. I find the Vietnamese food standard is better than Singapore. The standard of Vietnamese cuisine in Singapore is below par and I find it hard to find one that can proudly declare authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Hence I was not prepared to visit Mrs Pho at Beach Road even though there was raving reviews of the place when it is opened back in 2014. It is not until recently due to an unsuccessful dinner appointment, that I decided to make a detour to the restaurant.

Fried Pork Spring Roll 4/5

I am not fan of the fresh spring roll as I find them rather bland. Hence I had the Fried Pork Spring Roll ($3) instead. The crispy wrap stuffed with minced meat inside, encompass the whole enjoyment of flavour and texture.

Egg Drop Soup 3/5

I was rather taken part when a complimentary bowl of Egg Drop Soup is served. I find it kind of weird to be served this in a Vietnamese restaurant. I always associate egg drop soup with Chinese cuisine.

Special Beef Combo Noodle Soup 4/5

To get a bit of everything, I had the Special Beef Combo Noodle Soup ($8.90) or Pho Bo Dac Biet. The light but yet hefty of flavour broth comes with silky smooth rice noodles, bean sprouts, beef slices, beef flanks and beef meatballs. The additional of onions and mints further accentuated the flavours. For those that prefers a more fiery kick, you can add some chilli padi. 

Overall, I find Mrs Pho serves a delicious bowl of Pho. The flavoursome broth coupled with the silky rice noodles and fresh beef slices made it one of the better pho I have eaten. However do note that Mrs Pho is a small and cramp place. Hence be prepared to share tables with other diners as well as rubbing shoulders with one another.


Mrs Pho
349 Beach Road
Singapore 199570
Tel: +65 62920018
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Nearest MRT: Nicoll Highway (CC Line) , Bugis (DT Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Nicoll Highway MRT station. Take Exit A. Take the overhead bridge, walk to the end of the bridge. Walk to the traffic junction of Beach Road and Jalan Sultan. Cross the road. Continue walking down Beach Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Bugis MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk to the traffic junction of Beach Road and Rochor Road. Cross the road. Continue walking down Beach Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 18 minutes. [Map]