Tonight’s dinner turned into a little Vietnamese food adventure, and it all started with a random craving for “something different” from my usual rotation.
Vietnamese cuisine popped into my mind almost immediately, so I hopped over to the Kallang area. A few months back I’d noticed a Vietnamese restaurant while eating at a neighbouring spot, and somehow it stuck in my memory. It’s near the MRT station but tucked further inside the row of shophouses, so it has that “if you know, you know” hidden-gem vibe.
The building itself is an old preserved shophouse, but once you step inside it feels like you’ve walked into a festive corner of Vietnam. The walls are painted a deep, cheerful red with faux clouds on the ceiling, lanterns hanging down, conical hats, and synthetic flowers climbing across the wall. It’s a bit theatrical in the best way, very Tết (Vietnamese New Year) with bright colours and plenty of little decorations to stare at while you wait for your food. Wooden tables and chairs keep things simple and cosy, and there’s a big lighted menu board near the entrance showing all the dishes.
The menu is surprisingly comprehensive: noodles, rice dishes, spring rolls, salads, and more grilled items than I expected. But since I was already in a BBQ kind of mood, I went straight for the Vietnamese Pork BBQ with rice.
My plate arrived looking like a full, balanced meal: a generous pork chop, a neat dome of white rice, pickled vegetables, cucumber and tomato slices, a unique omelette, plus a bowl of soup on the side. I also grabbed a can of coconut juice to keep the tropical theme going.
The star was definitely the pork chop. The marinade tasted very different from the usual “Chinese-style” pork chops I’m used to. This one had that unmistakable lemongrass fragrance, lots of herbs, and a fresh, slightly citrusy note. The flavour sat right between sweet and savoury, there’s a bit of caramelised sweetness on the outside, but also saltiness and herbaceous depth that keeps every bite interesting. The edges of the pork had a nice char while the inside stayed tender enough that I didn’t have to wrestle with it.
That little slice of omelette on the plate was a pleasant surprise. It was packed with flavour, almost like a mini patty with herbs and seasoning inside, something I didn’t expect to like so much, but I ended up chasing every last crumb.
The pickled vegetables added crunch and brightness, cutting through the richness of the pork. I really appreciated how they balanced the whole dish so it didn’t feel heavy, even though it was a proper, hearty portion.
On the side, the clear soup looked simple but tasted comforting, with fresh herbs floating on top. It had that light sweetness you often get from long-simmered bones and vegetables, and it paired nicely with the rice and pork instead of fighting for attention.
And then there was the sauce, wow. It was incredibly addictive. I couldn’t quite decode all the ingredients, but my palate was picking up honey, fish sauce, salt, and chilli. Whatever else they put in there just works. I kept dipping both the pork and the rice into it, and the plate was basically spotless by the end.
Overall, this turned out to be a very satisfying meal, and exactly the “out of ordinary” dinner I was craving. With such a big menu and plenty of cosy seats, I can definitely see myself coming back to explore more of their dishes soon.
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