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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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]

Menya Takeichi @ Suntec City Mall - Tokyo No.1 Chicken Ramen

Joining the rank of restaurants at the new Eat at Seven concept in Suntec City Mall is Tokyo's top chicken ramen chain, Menya Takeichi. Menya Takeichi became famous when it is featured in TV Asahi back in September 2012. Soon diners flock to the outlet. From then on the business expanded to 40 stores over Japan in just 4 years, attracting long queues of patrons waiting to get into their outlets.

Potato Salad Nikumiso & Mentakio 4.2/5

The Potato Salad Nikumiso & Mentakio ($7) is something for a different. Served in two forms, one of the potato salad is topped with nikumiso and a poached egg while the other is topped with mentakio and spring onions.

I really like the combination. It brings extra flavour and texture to a simple and common dish that is served in every other restaurant. In fact I could not really make up my mind which is better. Each of them has its own merits.

Fried Chicken with Tartar Sauce 3/5

Good to go with a glass of beer is the Fried Chicken with Tartar Sauce ($8). While the tartar sauce goes well with the fried chicken, I felt that the chicken didn't have the crispiness I was expecting.

Shio Rich Ramen 4/5

I first started with the lighter Shio Rich Ramen ($13). The standard chicken soup ramen comes with slices of chicken, chicken meat balls and eggs. The first thing I did is to take a sip of the soup. I was very surprise how rich and thick it is. I had tried other chicken broth ramen before but this is the richness I tried so far. The other highlight for me is actually the chicken meat ball which is tender, soft and juicy.

Special Rich Spicy Ramen 3.5/5

For those that prefer a spicy kick to their ramen, Menya Takeichi has the Special Rich Spicy Ramen ($17.50) to satisfy the local palate. The chilli used for the spicy chicken soup ramen is somewhat different from the usual. It is kind of garlicky and even to the point of acquire. Why so? It is a taste that I have not tasted in other spicy ramen before. Rather the creamy soup with the thick noodles remembered me of Ah Ma yellow noodles mixed with sambal chilli. While the bowl of ramen triggered a part of my memory, I have my doubt whether it will be accepted by many.

Special Rich Shoyu Ramen 4/5

If you think the shio rich ramen is rich, the Special Rich Shoyu Ramen ($16.50) is even richer and creamier. The collagen rich and thick soup is cooked for hours form simmering of fresh chicken and chicken feet. Diners can opt to add clear soup to it if they felt the soup is too thick. The clear soup is made from bonito flakes, giving it a whole dimension of enjoyment.

While the collagen-rich chicken broth ramen at Menya Takeichi is thick and robust, I did not like the use of noodle. The noodle gets rather mushy and gooey very quickly. Putting that aside, Menya Takeichi changes my whole perception that chicken broth is light, and it can never match the richness of tonkotsu. Menya Takeichi has proved me wrong.


Menya Takeichi
Suntec City Mall
Eat at Seven
3 Temasek Boulevard
#03-313
Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 62353386
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Nearest MRT: Esplanade (CC Line), Promenade (CC Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 3pm, 530pm - 1030pm

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]