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
Instagram
Website
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]

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
Facebook
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]

Wrap & Roll @ ION Orchard - First in Singapore Vietnamese Skewer Buffet

In Vietnamese cuisine, grilling forms a huge part of it, though it is not that pronounced over here in Singapore. However, you will get to experience that at Wrap & Roll latest offering at its Ion Orchard outlet - the very first Vietnamese Skewer Buffet in Singapore. The buffet is ala carte format. You get to choose from starters, deep fried & bites, meat & seafood, as well as vegetables. Drinks will be free flow at $2.90, beer at $5 a bottle.

After ordering our items, we were given some starters first while waiting - Butter corn with pork floss, brinjal with spring onion, spicy cucumber cubes and pickled carrot. The brinjal that comes with sweet sauce was quite likeable and my favourite is the pickled carrot. Repeated orders were made for that as it went really well with all the meat skewers.

It took a while for our food to come as all will be served at one go. There is a hot plate to keep the food warm but do be careful not to put your skewers on it for too long and it may burn your food. I would highly recommend the fried Spring Rolls with Pork & Seafood as they are really made of the Vienamese rice paper instead of our local popiah skin. Do eat it as soon as it is served. The stir fried noodles and fried rice are passable.

There are 4 signature meat and seafood skewers - Lemongrass Chicken, Hanoi Pork Skewer, Hanoi Tumeric Fish and Beef Wrapped with Cheese & Onion. The Hanoi Pork Skewer brought back fond memories of my trip to Vietnam. Pork slices held together by 2 charred sticks was how it is done back in Vietnam but with a much longer and thicker sticks. I enjoy the process of removing the meat, placing it onto the vegetables and in it goes into my mouth! Every grilled skewer has it own unique individual marinate. However, you may still spice up your skewers by dipping them into either of the 4 specialty Wrap & Roll sauces given. Among the beef skewers available, the recommended beef with cheese & onion is indeed a better one as it is much more tender and juicer. The Chicken with Lime Leaves is just as good as the Lemongrass Chicken. The meats were tender and the hint of the lemongrass and lime leaves elevates the flavours.

Don't neglect the vegetables skewers! They complement the meat and balance up the meal. It's so rare to find grilled pineapples on the menu but it is offered here. It goes so well with any grilled meat, just like that of burgers! Grilled shiitake mushrooms is of course always welcome, and the grilled capsicums is great with chicken.

The waiting time for the food can be quite long, perhaps the team has yet gotten the hang of the new launch. So do pace your ordering well, especially when the buffet is limited to 90 minutes. $22.90 on weekdays, $24.90 on weekends.

Words and photos 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.


Wrap & Roll
ION Orchard
2 Orchard Turn
#B3-19
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 65091555
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 mins. [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
Facebook
Website
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
Facebook
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
Facebook
Website
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]

An An Vietnamese Street Kitchen @ Pasarbella Suntec City

Visited the new Pasarbella at Suntec City a few weeks ago, and this particular stall at one corner caught my eyes. Perhaps it's the yellow hue and the lit signage - An An, with the symbolic Red Star in between. What an eye catching and graphic design for a Vietnamese concept.  It was to my surprise when I found out that this is the latest concept from Madam Saigon. Back when Vietnamese cuisine was considered pretty novel more than a decade ago, Madam Saigon has already established its name at Liang Seah Street. They gave me my first taste of Vietnamese cuisine too.

The profile of Liang Seah Street has changed over the years (not in a pretty way, sadly), and they have decided to make Millenia Walk their second home. The owner definitely has a strong business acumen. Knowing that the market is ever changing and getting more challenging, one got to evolve and craft new concepts to stay afloat of the competition. An An was hence born, a Vietnamese concept with a hip factor, to draw the younger crowd with improved recipes.

Mango Salad 3.8/5

Mango Salad ($6.50). One of my favourite appetiser, I have this almost everyday whenever I visit Thailand. I find this Vietnamese style of Mango Salad much more refreshing, without the use of the Thai sauces. However, I would appreciate if the portion could be much bigger.

Prawn Rolls 3/5 and Fried Spring Rolls 2.8/5

Prawn Rolls ( $7.50 for 2) and Fried Spring Rolls ($6.50 for 2). Please don't mistaken the lettuce and carrots as simply part of the plating. I was told that the Vietnamese way to eat the fried spring rolls is to eat it wrapped with the lettuce. That reminds me of how my dad used to wrap his favourite ngoh hiang. The crisp and sharpness of the lettuce cuts away the greasiness. The carrots are pickled in house, hence please try to finish all up if you can. I prefer the prawn rolls though, which is more refreshing. The fried version is kinda skinny and dry.

Special Beef Pho 3.5/5

Moving on to their mains, their Special Beef Pho ($9.90) is hearty, with slices of beef and beef balls.  Though the beef balls ain't made in house, they were produced using An An's recipe. The broth is light, comforting and not too sweet. Before you start tucking in, don't forget that squeeze of lime!

Vermicelli with Chicken 4/5

What I want to find more exceptional from An An, is their Vermicelli with Chicken ($9.90). The chicken has a nicely charred skin, flavoured with lemon grass. Loaded with pickled carrots, lettuce and cucumber, this makes a real good summer salad. The fried shallots crisp, an essential condiment of Vietnam, together with their home roasted peanuts add another dimension to this dish. As 'clean' as it may look, it's packed with textures and flavours. I would definitely be back to try the beef version.

A trip to Vietnam and you will find that the food tastes different from what we have gotten here. Afterall our taste buds are raised differently, hence tweaks to the original recipes is necessary.  Luckily, their Head Chef is one stubborn guy who will go all out to make sure that the essence must not be lost. Honest food, this is what you will get from An An.

Photograph and written 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.



An An Vietnamese Street Kitchen
Pasarbella Suntec City
3 Temasek Boulevard
(North Wing)
#01-455
Singapore 038983
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Promenade (CC Line), Esplanade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Promenade MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Comtam Vietnam @ Kitchener Road

Used to be in Geylang, Comtam Vietnam has recently moved into their new premises at Kitchener Road near City Square Mall. In conjunction with the new location, it has also expanded its menu offering other Asian cuisines besides Vietnamese to cater for the different customer profile in the area.

Handmade Spring Rolls 3/5

Dinner started with some healthy bites in the Handmade Spring Rolls ($4.20 for 2pc). Like the fact that it is thoughtfully sliced into half for easy consumption. Make sure to dip the spring roll with the accompanying sauce to enjoy it.

Green Mango Salad with Cashews & Prawns 4/5

Next to whet up the appetite, I had the Green Mango Salad with Cashews and Prawns ($10.90). This comes with a nice kick of the signature seasonings of sweet, salty and spicy in Thai cuisine on top of the crunchy shredded green mango.

Sliced Beef Noodle Soup 2.8/5

A staple in Vietnamese cuisine is the Sliced Beef Noodle Soup ($7.50). It is a flavourful bowl of noodle but far from being the best. The rice noodle was too thick, sort of the type used in Chinese hawker noodle stall. In addition, the broth tasted overly sweet lacking a body and robustness in it.

Dry Rice Vermicelli with BBQ Pork 3/5

Another noodle dish I tried is the Dry Rice Vermicelli with BBQ Pork ($6.90). The rice vermicelli was smooth and comes with a nice bite. It was quite a pleasant dish except for the lackluster BBQ Pork.

Claypot Lemongrass Chicken 4/5

The next dish I tried is the Claypot Lemongrass Chicken ($11.90). The lemongrass aroma permeated the air as the dish was served. The tender chicken was nicely coated and infused with the marination, making them delectably good.

Chef-made sauce Spare Ribs 3.5/5

The Chef-made sauce Spare Ribs ($15.90) comes with a sweet coating concoction which should include some orange peels in it. Both adult and children will enjoy the special sauce made by the chef. However if the meat can be more tender than that will be better.

Overall Comtam Vietnam offers an extensive menu with some comfort food. I understand it is a commercial decision to expand the menu but I still think that they should focus on one cuisine and make it great rather than master of none.


Comtam Vietnam 
159/161 Kitchener Road
Singapore 208530
Tel: +65 81882131
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comtam.vietnam
Nearest MRT: Farrer Park (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 1130am - 4am
Sun: 12pm - 11pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Farrer Park MRT station. Take Exit I. Cut across City Square Mall to the exit to Kitchener Road. Cross the traffic junction and turn left onto Kitchener Road. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]