The ride-sharing war now extends to bicycles.
| Dec 14, 2016
The green Vietnamese sandwich truck Banh Mi Boy has turned into this cafe and takeaway spot serving an extended menu. Of course, you can still order their specialty banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich) in varieties like crispy roast pork, barbecue pork, Vietnamese grilled pork, Vietnamese ham, lemongrass chicken and tofu, which can be customized with Sriracha sauce and fried egg. They now also offer goi cuon (summer rolls), cha gio (spring rolls) and bun cha gio nem nuong (rice vermicelli with spring rolls and grilled pork) as well as Vietnamese coffee and desserts.
Note: They are set to leave their current location in early 2017. Stay tuned for updates.
Ellsie Boutique Mall, Sukhumvit Soi 33/1, 096-886-0052. BTS Phrom Phong
W District, Sukhumvit Rd., 081-172-4918. BTS Phra Khanong
From its bold red and black decor to the skateboards and associated stickers, there's not much to suggest this is a Vietnamese restaurant. But Eastbound is your not your average Vietnamese. Here, the focus is on "Californian-style" banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches) featuring warm, stir-fried fillings instead of the traditional cold cuts, served in a light and crispy house-made baguette. Don’t miss the juicy, slightly spicy duck option, which comes with pickled carrot and daikon, cilantro, pate, mayo and Sriracha sauce. You can also find staples like fresh summer rolls, pho and sugarcane shrimp here, too.
G/F, The Commons, 335/1 Thonglor Soi 17, 098-253-9356
The most beautiful and refined Vietnamese restaurant in town now has a couple of shopping mall branches (EmQuartier and Emporium). Each of the kitchens continue to focus on royal Vietnamese recipes made with quality ingredients. Alongside impressive small plates like banh cuon (steamed rice cake) and prawn crackers topped with noodles, sauteed pork and prawn, you'll also find some French twists in dishes like the lamb stew and salmon with cucumber summer rolls.
A spin-off the longstanding Vie Halong restaurant (near BTS Udom Suk), this cool and contemporary cafe-like spot highlights Vietnamese street food. The various styles of banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich) span classic cold cuts (liver pate, Vietnamese pork sausage and Chinese pork sausage) and charcoal-grilled pork shoulder blade to newer creations like crispy omelet with Sriracha dressing and Oyster Po’ Boy. The crisp-yet-fluffy bread is a step above most of the competition, though flavors are a bit on the sweet side. They also serve other staples like pho, spring rolls and grilled pork with vermicelli alongside rarer items like Vietnamese curry. Don’t miss their Vietnamese-style drip coffee, either.
2/F, Habito, Sukhumvit Soi 77, 092-959-4629
This busy neighborhood spot serves consistent Vietnamese meals at decent prices. The dining room is nothing fancy, decorated in an old-school style with bamboo-patterned wallpaper, while the menu comes with helpful pictures. Dishes like pak mor yuan (shrimp and minced pork wrap), goong pan oi (fried shrimp meat with sugar cane) and guayjab yuan (broad rice noodle soup with meat and herbs) are made using better ingredients than most places use—and it shows in the distinguished flavors.
556-558 Rama 4 Rd., 02-633-2762, 081-831-2128
The Japanese-Vietnamese couple who owns this restaurant has decorated it with their beautiful collection of vividly colored Hoi An lanterns, communist propaganda posters and wooden cabinets. Proving the place is more than a pretty picture, the menu covers classic dishes from the southern and central parts of the country, like the must-try fried shrimp spring rolls and silky banh cuon (steamed rice crepes stuffed with tasty ground pork, minced shrimp and wood ear mushroom).
Piman 49 Complex, Sukhumvit Soi 49, 02-662-6311
Rompo Mansion, 99/9-11 Thang Rotfai Khao-Saipaknam Rd., 02-671-9955
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