Mandarine: Experiencing Déjà Vu at Grand Saigon Restaurant
The food was excellent at Mandarine in Ho Chi Minh City. One problem; the experience was quite similar to my dinner at Hoi An two nights before. Mandarine and Hoi An have the same...
Hoi An: Special Meal at Substantial Saigon Restaurant [CLOSED]
Décor, presentation and flavor all converged to make this a special meal. I was led upstairs to a lovely room with dark, carved wood, substantial chairs and tables and instruments mounted on the walls....
Quay Thuc Pham Cong Nghe: Banh Cuon + Kiddie Chairs
In the general sense, the walls were yellow, but they were so chipped and discolored, I couldn’t be certain. Makeshift shelves were lined with bottles of hot soda and water. It was 90 degrees...
Bun Cha Hang Manh: Bubbling Woks and Pork Patties
When I arrived at Bun Cha Hang Manh at 8:45 AM, a woman was using metal tongs to pluck cha gio from three bubbling woks and place them on trays. Easily over 500 cha...
Pho 2000: Slurping Soup Like a President in Ho Chi Minh City
Pho 2000, a Ben Tranh adjacent pho shop, is famous for one thing, serving Bill Clinton beef noodle soup on his visit to Ho Chi Minh City in November, 2000. Clinton’s photos were everywhere...
Cha Ca La Vong: Ha Noi’s Fish Specialist Ages Gracefully
A Ha Noi native I met said, “You haven’t been to Ha Noi until you’ve eaten at Cha Ca La Vong.” If that’s the case, my visit became official on my first day in...
