Pho Le, Causeway Bay

It's quite fortunate that in HK, we can have quite a wide variety of noodle soup, from Chinese, Japanese to Vietnamese.  I'd like the soup base of this one, quite clear and not too heavily seasoned.  I can taste it's been boiled for hours.

 

Food platter, Hanoi, Vietnam

It seems the local food has remained quite the same.  Personally I am not into Vietnamese food in Vietnam, e.g. chewy chicken feet, greasy-fried chicken wings.  The Viet cuisine in HK, SG, TW and TH are more refined.  The better part is their fresh vegetable and fruits.  I can take it as they are.  

Twenty Seven Pho, Melbourne

The place was quite packed with a tiny table and small chairs that you wouldn't feel comfortable to sit longer, plus the crowded noise.  The air-conditioning was blowing directly to my head that further made me eat faster and leave asap.  Though I ordered a beef noodle and it was quite hot when served right on the table, it turned cool in less than 8 minutes.  The rice bowl, soup noodle and spring rolls were a bit too sweet.  Sometimes if MSG is not used, it's not that necessary to make it too sweet to bring out the sweetness.  I recall how those HK cooking shows of how brown sugar was abused in every cooking.

Cafe Cami, Phu Quoc Island

Took the convenience of this place (just opposite to resort Salinda) and also the cleanliness as well as being ranked at no. 5 (among the other 200 restaurants) in Phu Quoc Island, I came in for a dinner.  Strongly reminded that a mosquito repellent should be with you at all times.  Got some grilled food but not impressed at all as they were served luke warm.  The better one is the spare ribs as they deep fried this one.  Other dishes are not that appealing.  However, if I took it at the local standard, these were above average.

Thanh Nien, Vietnamese restaurant, Ho Chi Minh City

Saw some locals having lunch here and that the comfy deco. also drew my attention to give it a try.  The dishes may not be too appealing but the cooking method is quite nostalgic, like meat & veggie boiled in hot water first before stir frying.  Also noted is that they don't put in a heavy thickening sauce but the stir fried dishes aren't too watery.  I'm also surprised the dishes aren't too salty, nor too sweat.  However, for those who prefer heavy seasoning and heavy flavour, this isn't the place.  

Maxim Nam An, Vietnamese restaurant, Ho Chi Minh City

If I haven't tried Propaganda this time, I'd still list this restaurant on my top choice.  Now that it would be the 2nd, but it's still pretty good.  The restaurant has arranged some live band and dance show; so if we count the dining atmosphere for a classic dinner, this would be a plus.  After all, I am happy to have had a 2nd trying of this place.  It's been 7 years since I came here for the first time.

Propaganda, Vietnamese restaurant, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

I was so happy to have finally found a nice restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City that I really hoped I could visit it again in the next day.  At first glance, I thought the restaurant seemed to be a place for drinks.  It isn't.  From the peanuts, spring rolls, beans tofu salad, pork chop on rice and beef pho, to the bean curd sweet and the passion fruit salad.  Not a single miss.  All are superb.  This restaurant simply rewrote my dining experience in Ho Chi Minh City.  I chatted with the waitress and fondly got informed they will open a shop in Hong Kong, after their 2nd branch recently opened in Dubai.  I'll definitely look forward to their HK branch.

Gold Fish restaurant, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

This shop is located in the side street of Dong Khoi (the busy main road of downtown).  As it's the New Year's holiday here, it's not easy to find a restaurant open with empty seats.   So when I found the shop having seats and look quite decent, no doubt for a try.  The shop has some nice table ware with gold fish on it.  The dishes weren't too impressive, but the service made that up.