Nha Hang Ngon (Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh)

Bánh hỏi chao tôm cuốn bánh tráng (Grilled Pounded Shrimp Paste on Sugar Cane served with Rice Vermicelli, Rice Papers and Vegetables) 140,000 VND (S$8.40)

Nha Hang Ngon used to be called Quan an Ngon and located along Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street has moved to 160 Pasteur road. The Vietnamese name of the restaurant is called Nhà Hàng Ngon. “Nhà Hàng” means "restaurant" while “Ngon” means delicious in English.

Nha Hang Ngon with its yellow, colonial style villa was hard to miss. It had a huge sitting capacity with both indoor and alfresco dining areas.

If you were to walk around the alfresco area, you would notice numerous food stall stations where the various dishes are created are prepared and cooked, ranging from appetisers, sides, mains to desserts. It was an interesting experience walking around to look at the different type of food available and how it was prepared. I do have one concern which was hygiene as I noticed there were a few flies flying around the food.

The interior of the indoor dining area. Look at how elegant it was.

The setup on the tables. The menu had both English and Vietnamese languages on it.

Cà  phê sữa đá (Vietnamese Iced Coffee with Milk) 40,000 VND (S$2.40)

The Cà phê sữa đá (Vietnamese Iced Coffee with Milk) 40,000 VND (S$2.40) got us off to a great start. The coffee was so aromatic and fragrant. The coffee taste was intense and rich, and was too sweet. But once the ice melted and diluted the drink, it was excellent! One of the best Vietnamese iced coffee we drank.

Gỏi đu đủ tai heo (Green Papaya Salad with Sliced Pig Ears) 50,000 VND (S$3)

We started off with an appetiser; Gỏi đu đủ tai heo (Green Papaya Salad with Sliced Pig Ears) 50,000 VND (S$3). It had a good balance in taste when everything was mixed together. In addition, the pig ears provided lots of collagen.

Bánh hỏi chao tôm cuốn bánh tráng (Grilled Pounded Shrimp Paste on Sugar Cane served with Rice Vermicelli, Rice Papers and Vegetables) 140,000 VND (S$8.40)

The Bánh hỏi chao tôm cuốn bánh tráng (Grilled Pounded Shrimp Paste on Sugar Cane served with Rice Vermicelli, Rice Papers and Vegetables) 140,000 VND (S$8.40). The waiter helped us to cut the grilled shrimp paste into almost equal thickness. Anyway, we saw a small fly flying around the rice vermicelli. Not wanting to kick up a fuss, we threw off quite a few of  the rice vermicelli where the fly flew around. It certainly makes us wonder about the hygiene factor.

Bánh hỏi chao tôm cuốn bánh tráng (Grilled Pounded Shrimp Paste on Sugar Cane served with Rice Vermicelli, Rice Papers and Vegetables) 140,000 VND (S$8.40)

It was served with rice paper, fresh vegetables and herbs, slices of unripe banana and star fruit. The way to eat it would be to place the fresh vegetables and herbs, slices of unripe banana and star fruit, rice vermicelli and grilled shrimp paste onto the rice paper. After that roll it up and dip it into the sauce provided. Frankly, this dish was average. Did not find it delicious.

Bánh canh cua (Thick Noodle Soup with Crab Meat and Pork) 58,000 VND (S$3.50)

Having had such a wonderful experience Hoa Dong's Bánh canh cua, the partner decided to order it again. The Bánh canh cua (Thick Noodle Soup with Crab Meat and Pork) cost 58,000 VND (S$3.50). It was a major let down. The stock was thick but not flavourful. In addition, the serving of ingredients given were so little. To make things worse, the prawn was not fresh.

Bún ốc (Vermicelli in Soup with Snails and Tomatoes) 54,000 VND (S$3.24)

I ordered the Bún ốc (Vermicelli in Soup with Snails and Tomatoes) 54,000 VND (S$3.24), as I had many people complimenting about this dish on the internet sphere. It was served with fresh herbs which could be added into the soup.

Bún ốc (Vermicelli in Soup with Snails and Tomatoes) 54,000 VND (S$3.24)

This was another let down. The soup had a strong hint of fishy smell. Although the snails were large, they were too tough and chewy.

Chè  sương sa hột lựu (Jelly, Water Chestnut, Tapioca Pearls and Coconut Milk) 27,000 VND (S$1.60)  

We were still not satisfied and decided to order a dessert; the Chè sương sa hột lựu (Jelly, Water Chestnut, Tapioca Pearls and Coconut Milk) 27,000 VND (S$1.60). It was a pleasant surprise. Very refreshing and flavourful. The coconut which was so fresh made it so addictive.

Needless, to say, I made the wrong choice coming over here. I did extensive research and heard about how highly raved this restaurant was. So much so that when my Vietnamese friend advised us to give this a skip as the locals do not eat over there and the food was so-so, we still went ahead.. Should have just listened to her!

If you are reading this, my advise would be to just visit Nha Hang Ngon for its Cà phê sữa đá (Vietnamese Iced Coffee with Milk). The rest of the food are really just so-so (i.e. average). 

Nhà Hàng Ngon (Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh)

160 Pasteur

Phường Bến Nghé, Quận 1

Hồ Chí Minh,

Tel: +84 (08) 3827 7131

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Eggs & Berries: 1 For 1 Burger Mania (till 31 Aug 2014)

Source: Eggs & Berries

Eggs & Berries: 1 For 1 Burger Mania (till 31 Aug 2014)

- Valid till 31 Aug 2014 on weekdays
- Valid at Westgate outlet from 1130am to 2pm and at Changi City Point from 5pm to 8pm
- Not valid on eve of PH and PH
- Not valid with other promotions or discounts

Soi 19 Thai Wanton Mee 十九街雲吞麵 (Ang Mo Kio)

Thai Wanton Mee $3.50

Soi 19 Thai Wanton Mee 十九街雲吞麵 is a Thai style wanton mee stall that opened 2 years ago in Ang Mo Kio. If just seeing/hearing the name makes you think of the Bangkok's Saeb X2 Wonton Noodles, then you must be a foodie! The address of Saeb X2 is also Soi 19! 

According to makansutra, the owner of this stall is a Singaporean called Mr Ng Sing Chow who learnt how to cook Thai style wanton mee in Thailand. This stall in Singapore is not related to Saeb X2. 

The minimum order is $3.50 and customers have a choice to upsize, going up to $5. I have tried visiting this stall on a previous occasion, but the queue was just way too long (at least 15 to 20 people long). I was lucky on my second time when I visited on Sunday at 2pm. The queue was just 5 person long. 

Thai Wanton Mee $3.50

After waiting a good 15 minutes, we received our order. The Thai Wanton Mee was served with a bowl with 2 wantons. Customers can help themselves to the condiments such as dry chilli flakes, sugar, green chilli and fried pork lard.

Thai Wanton Mee $3.50

The bowl of Thai Wanton Mee consisted of egg noodle, vegetables, char siew, fried wanton and was topped with spring onions. Unlike our local style wanton mee, the Thai Wanton Mee was not accompanied with any sauce. Although it seems dry, once you mix this up, you would actually taste and find out that each strand of egg noodles was well 'oiled' with the pork lard fragrance. Although the egg noodles coupled with the pork lard oil tasted wonderful, it was a tad too oily for my liking. The other ingredients such as char siew, fried wanton and vegetables were really just average. 

Thai Wanton Mee $3.50

The soup with a little sweetish and salty. The two wantons in it did not wow me. 

Thai Wanton Mee $4

I bought back a packet of Thai Wanton Mee $4 for my family to try. 

From what I remember of my experience at SaebX2, the wanton mee at Soi 19 Thai Wanton Mee tasted better. However, I would not queue for too long for this and would certainly prefer for it to be less oily. Do note the that this stall is only open from Thursday to Sunday from 730am to 3pm.  

Soi 19 Thai Wanton Mee 十九街雲吞麵 (Ang Mo Kio)

Blk 151 Coffeeshop, Ang Mo Kio Ave 5

Singapore 560151

Tel: 9613 3340

Opening Hours: Thurs to Sun 730am - 3pm

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