KEN HUNTS FOOD: Viet Food Vietnamese Restaurant (越南餐馆) @ Taman Kheng Tian, Jelutong, Penang.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Viet Food Vietnamese Restaurant (越南餐馆) @ Taman Kheng Tian, Jelutong, Penang.

The newly opened Viet Food Vietnamese restaurant is certainly not short of Vietnamese competition in Jelutong area but in terms of variety and execution, it stands on its own. Housed in one of the shop houses in Taman Kheng Tian (behind Old Town Perak Road), Viet Food is not an easy spot that catches the eye. The interior is cramped and filled with Vietnamese staff that struggles to speak local dialects, not even basic English; but the place has a good showing of Vietnamese locals. We were not surprised. The menu is large enough that it took us a while to browse through; the quintessential Vietnamese eats are there as well as scatters of the unexpected (such as Balut, Banh Mi, Fish Cakes and authentic Vietnamese sweet treats). Bounteous offering, budget-friendly, authentic and top-notch food; one of the best places for Vietnamese delicacies in Penang.

Grilled Beef Vermicelli Noodles (Rm 8.90)

Beef Pho (Rm 8.90)

Nothing beats the classics, both Grilled Beef Vermicelli Noodles and Beef Pho were beyond amazing. The former dish comes with a generous helping crunchy greens and expertly crafted Fish sauce dip, noodles were perfectly cooked to the right doneness and extra touches like Coriander and toasted Peanuts sure won my heart. Wholesome broth, lightly cooked Beef and Noodles with condiments like Thai Basil, Lemon, Rau Thom (Vietnamese Thorny Coriander). The broth was clean, straight-forward but most comforting. It certainly reminded us of the ones we had in Ho Chi Minh City. One minor negative though, the serving speed was slower than expected.

Banh Mi- Omelette (Rm 6.50)

Vietnamese Spring Rolls (Rm 5.90 for two)

Stewed Yam with Coconut Milk (Rm 5.90)

If you are a huge fan of Vietnamese Baguette- Banh Mi, you can find them here at Viet Food. The crust was crisp and the inner bread was carefully stuffed with Omelette, Pâté and crunchy greens. Those who detest the gamey smell of innards should approach with caution; drop Pâté otherwise. Another praise-worthy dish would be their Stewed Yam with Coconut Milk, a traditional sweet treat in Vietnam. The Yam was slowly braised till fork-tender and cooked with Coconut Milk. The texture might not be too pleasant (extremely gooey) but the flavors were explosive. Drop a scoop into the mouth and you will taste the intense Yam flavor with creamy, milky Coconut after taste. The exquisite sweet delicacy is best shared amongst diners.