Nam Nam Noodle Bar updates its menu with a new range of bites, noodles and sandwiches
I’m constantly trying to find good Vietnamese food in Singapore, and having lived in Saigon previously, I realised that trudging all the way to Joo Chiat was a little too far for just a bowl of beef noodle soup.
When Nam Nam Noodle Bar opened up a couple years ago, they did not have my favourite bun thit nuong – dry noodles with lemongrass pork. However, they have recently added it to the menu; and I’m thrilled!
Authentic Vietnamese?
I have to be honest and say that the Nam Nam Noodle Bar’s pho is nothing like the kind I was accustomed to in Vietnam. The broth in Vietnam is slightly sweeter and comes with sides of lime, lime leaves, and bean sprouts. They also soak pieces of you tiao (fried dough sticks) in the broth.
Even though I find that they do not taste as authentic as the food in Vietnam, Nam Nam Noodle Bar has some Pho Beef Steak Slices ($8.90) that are excellent. The meat is amazing; the beef is cooked medium-rare and used in the noodles.
Compared to the tough pieces of meat I got in Saigon, this was much better. However, the broth fell short as it was a little more peppery (similar to our bak kut teh).
Still, I did like the new addition to their banh mi menu: the Sautéed Lemongrass Pork with Cream Cheese ($6.90). The crisp baguette encased a flavourful piece of pork with marinated tart vegetable, cilantro and cream cheese. One bite took me back to Vietnam for a while.
Surprisingly, the localised Cold Cuts, Caramelised Five-Spice Pork Belly and Chicken Floss ($6.90) were actually quite good. The fatty pork and sweet chicken floss balanced the tart vegetables perfectly.
Noodles: Dry or Wet
The dry noodles were my favourite staple in Saigon, especially the pork one. Nam Nam Noodle Bar’s Dry Sautéed Lemongrass Pork Noodle ($9.90) is not bad. The vermicelli is soft and topped with succulent pieces of pork, and the sauce for the noodles sits on the table so you can pour as much as you want.
The small bites such as the Shrimp Paste Lemongrass Skewers ($4.90) are also good for sharing. Round off the meal with a Vietnamese dessert such as the Crispy Fried Sweet Potato Rolls ($3.90) for a crisp end to a flavourful meal.
Nam Nam Noodle Bar is located at Raffles City, #B1-46/47; Wheelock Place, #B2-02 & Suntec City, #B1-131. Visit namnamnoodlebar.com.sg for more information.
ADVERTISEMENTS