Authentic Vietnamese restaurant serves chả cá lã vọng & banh mi in Northshore Plaza

One of the perks of travelling is that you simply get to expertise distinctive cuisines not present in Singapore. 3 years in the past, I found a specific dish in Hanoi that blew my socks off referred to as Chả cá lã vọng, which is basically grilled turmeric fish. Imagine how ecstatic I used to be after I chanced upon VS Cafe positioned at Northshore Plaza II, which sells the very factor I’ve been yearning for ages!

The proprietor of VS Cafe, Diep, comes from a household that’s been within the meals enterprise since 1965. In 2005, she left her high-paying accountant job in Vietnam and moved to Singapore.

She began VS Vietnamese Cuisine on the National University of Singapore for 15 years earlier than transferring on to open VS Cafe at Pasir Panjang Road.

Her newest outlet at Punggol opened in Jan 2022. It has about 10 to 12 tables that may accommodate a few most of 40 folks in a single seating.

What I attempted at VS Cafe

For the spotlight of my go to, the Cha Ca La Vong (S$17.90 for two pax) had a particular 10% off promotion from its authentic price of S$19.90. To be eligible for it, it’s important to order this dish by itself below a single receipt.

The set comes with a plate of Vietnamese rice noodles, a plate of blended salad and herbs, 2 bowls of dipping sauces, and the principle merchandise: a mini non-stick pot with the prized possession.

It contained items of grilled fish that’s been marinated with turmeric, served with a great deal of contemporary dill and spring onion, and soaked in olive oil.

Traditionally again in Hanoi, catfish is used and it’s reduce up into smaller cubes. The model at VS Cafe options thick slices of snakehead fish as an alternative.

The fish was extraordinarily contemporary, and the fragrant turmeric flavouring completely penetrated the meat.

Compared to the favored mainstream herbs like rosemary and thyme, dill is underrated and undoubtedly deserves extra recognition and publicity— I’m glad that the Vietnamese embrace it.

Possessing a contemporary and citrus style with a grassy undertone, it’s the Romeo to the Juliet for seafood pairings, particularly fish!

The olive oil had reworked into this beautiful concentrated elixir, which absorbed the umami flavours of the fish, the earthy tones of the turmeric spice, and the herby infusions of the dill and spring onions— simply douse it over the fish to make it style like 1,000,000 bucks.

I took a portion of rice noodles, paired it with a slice of fish and herbs, and doused it within the dipping sauce. “Om nom nom nom“… I chewed away as I received misplaced in its style, reliving the identical constructive meals expertise I had the final time I ate this.

VS Cafe usually sells the Banh Mi Sai Gon for S$8.90, however I ordered their combo which got here with a glass of VS Iced Milk Coffee for S$11.90 as an alternative.

The baguette was filled with pork slices, pork ham, a layer of pate, coriander, and pickled strips of cucumber, carrot and radish. The bread was extraordinarily crispy on the floor, but fluffy and gentle on the within.

The pork slices and ham inside had been tender, and the tangy strips of pickled greens helped mellow down the unctuousness of the pate— my solely criticism is that they might have added extra stuffing.

I flushed down my superior meal with the VS Iced Milk Coffee and the VS Dripping Viet Coffee (S$3.90). The iced espresso was robust and fragrant, an ideal perk-me-up to get you thru the day.

I waited patiently for the VS Dripping Viet Coffee to work its magic earlier than I eliminated the quilt. The barely darkish tones of the espresso grew to become lighter upon dissolving it within the condensed milk while stirring it. 

The general sweetness of the cup of joe was completely balanced, however the flavour was barely watered down as in comparison with the iced espresso.

I saved an unique compartment in my tummy specifically for desserts. The Banh Flan (Crème Caramel) (S$3.90) wasn’t my authentic first choose, however the different 5 varieties weren’t out there that day.

It resembled the caramel custard dessert which I frequently have from Taiwanese comfort shops, and was served with a bunch of ice cubes on high.

The intense eggy flavour of the wobbly flan made me consider egg tarts instantly. I picked up a barely bitter aftertaste, and was shocked when the sauce beneath turned out to be espresso as an alternative of caramel.

The conflicting tastes of bitter and candy truly labored for me, and shortly I used to be hooked!

Final Thoughts

Finding Chả cá lã vọng in Singapore is an arduous process, and I just lately came upon that there’s just one different place which sells it. 

The model served right here doesn’t have peanuts not like those in Hanoi, and this failed to supply that crunch to totally get pleasure from this dish.

If you do order this, keep in mind to pour your noodles into the fish mini pot. Give it a great stir and luxuriate in (not like me who had completely forgotten)!

Expected harm: S$6.50 – S$10 per pax

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