Located in an old warehouse just off the riverside, in the same building as hideaway umeshu bar Shuu Shuu, Hybe Songwat is bringing Vietnamese fine dining to Chinatown’s up-and-coming Soi Songwat.

 

The restaurant is run by four co-founders, who are rallying around the Vietnamese food they fell in love with during a particularly memorable trip to Can Tho. The concept here is a little unusual, however. The menu theme will change every four months. The current menu—called “fraîchement” (B1,590; available until November)—is broken down into seven dishes spread across three “chapters”: street, river and home. More interestingly, you eat your meal as you watch homemade travel films, bringing visual and sonic components into the picture.

 

Across the menu, you’ll find dishes like grilled pork with sticky rice mochi and fresh herbs, baked razor claims with kumquat mayonnaise and garlic crumbs, and beef tenderloin with a betel leaf crust, broken rice and barley lemongrass risotto, chili herb paste and beef jus.

 

While the all-senses approach to dining might be the star attraction, the interiors deserve a mention, too. The space is defined by its distressed concrete walls, its vintage and second-hand furniture, and its secretive, tucked-away location.