Who says you have to jump on a plane to get an authentic Vietnamese pho fix? Here in Singapore we have tons of great Vietnamese restaurants serving up fab bowls of pho, plus loaded banh mi sandwiches, fluffy banh xeo crepes, fresh spring rolls, and other delish dishes that hail from our neighbour to the north. For all the pho-natics out there, we’ve rounded up our favourite Vietnamese spots where the food is so good you’ll think you’ve been whisked off to Vietnam.
Fat Boy Saigon puts a contemporary twist on traditional Vietnamese dishes with tasty Vietnamese tapas like soft shell crab sliders, pork belly spring rolls, and amped up bowls of pho with interesting toppings like smoked duck and charred BBQ chicken. What’s that? You’re a pho purist you say? Not to worry because they have a classic version with sliced steak, beef balls, and beef shank slices, plus all the usual sides like sprouts, basil, and lime.
Fat Boy Saigon, 51 Telok Ayer Street #01-01, Singapore 048441. p. +65 6221 6784. Open mon – Fri 11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 9pm, Fri 11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 9:30pm
Long Phung Vietnamese Restaurant
Long Phung is about as authentic as you can get this side of Saigon. Think Vietnamese cooks and servers, Vietnamese music playing in the background, and signage in both Vietnamese and English. So as you would expect, the pho is pretty spot on. Start with some fresh or fried spring rolls to whet your appetite, then tuck into a steaming bowl of pho dac biet packed with beef balls, beef brisket, and beef slices. Wash it down with a jackfruit smoothie and you’re good to go.
Long Phung Vietnamese Restaurant, 159 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427436. p. +65 6440 6959. Open daily 12pm – 10pm
Mrs. Pho House
Brought to us by the same folks behind Mrs. Pho, Mrs. Pho House has a cool industrial vibe going on with graffiti murals on the walls and lots of cement and metal. The pho comes in two versions: sliced beef pho and beef combo pho with sliced beef, beef balls, and brisket. We suggest going all out with the hearty combo bowl. Other popular eats include the cockles with chili, garlic, and lard and the banh xeo egg crepe with minced pork and prawns.
Mrs. Pho House,221 Rangoon Road, Singapore 218459. p. +65 9173 1083. Open Wed – Fri 6pm – 10:30pm, Sat – Sun 12pm – 10:30pm
NamNam Noodle Bar (pictured above)
NamNam Noodle Bar opened its doors in 2011 and was pretty much an instant hit for its authentic and affordable Vietnamese eats. Now they have multiple locations around Singapore (and Jakarta and Bali) where you can grab quick, easy, MSG-free bowls of pho and tasty banh mi sandwiches. The pho comes with a variety of toppings including Wagyu beef, truffle, tripe, and a veggie version with brown rice noodles. They also sell retail products so you can make your own pho at home.
NamNam Noodle Bar, various locations
Pho 99 Vietnamese Delight
There aren’t a whole lot of frills going on at Pho 99, but what it lacks in flair, it makes up for with full-on flavours. The pho is the star of the show and a everything you would expect of this iconic dish with sliced beef, beef meatballs, rice noodles, and a hearty broth that’s not too sweet or oily. Too hot outside to slurp back soup? Try the bun thit nuong, a refreshing combo of cold rice noodles, sliced BBQ pork, and fresh herbs.
Pho 99 Vietnamese Delight, 57/58 Amoy Street, Singapore 069883. p. +65 6410 9600. Open Mon – Fri 10am – 9pm, Sat 10am – 5pm
So Pho
Let’s face it, mall food isn’t always the healthiest fare. That’s why we’re always stoked when we come across a So Pho outlet. It’s all about fresh, tasty Vietnamese fare here like fresh summer rolls, mango and papaya salad, and comforting bowls of pho. And if you want to indulge a little, you can also go fried dishes like the crispy spring rolls and fried lemongrass chicken wings. Can’t make it to the mall? Drop them a line and they’ll deliver right to your door.
So Pho, various locations
