Nam Good: Beijing's Best Bets for Vietnamese

While Vietnamese food has long been appreciated in France and beyond, Beijing’s market for the lively and fresh flavors of this cuisine continues to mature. Herbs and greens, fragrant broths (e.g. pho and bun) and stir-fries, along with well-seasoned grilled foods served with rice or rice noodles are Vietnam’s gastronomic signatures, more widely available than ever in Beijing’s dining scene.

Muse Parisian Vietnamese Brasserie
Lauded as “Best Vietnamese” in the Beijinger magazine’s 2010 Restaurant Awards, this Vietnamese eatery is starkly decorated in red, black and white, oddly resembling an American diner circa 1955. However, Muse’s authentic Vietnamese pho more than makes up for any decorative dubiousness. The restaurant’s French-Vietnamese fusion offerings include not only the fine pho (RMB 42 for a large bowl of “Train Lights”), but also spring rolls, soups, desserts and coffees. Combining attentive service, hearty portions and relatively inexpensive prices, Muse has more than made its mark in Beijing’s Vietnamese scene. 1)Daily 10am-4am. 1/F, Tongli Studios, 43 Sanlitun Beilu, Chaoyang District. (6415 6388) 妙巴黎越南小吃,朝阳区朝阳区三里屯北路43号同里1层; 2)Daily 11am-11pm. 1 Chaoyang Gongyuan Xilu, Chaoyang District. (6586 3188) 朝阳区朝阳公园西路一号

Va Va Voom
With a prime location in Sanlitun Village, Va Va Voom offers one of the finest dining experiences for pho lovers in the capital. Chic white furniture creates an environment of sleek modernity and customers take full advantage of the al fresco dining available on the fourth floor patio. Large and varied menu includes pan-fried fish cakes (RMB 58), soups and salads (such as the grilled oyster mushroom salad), lemon grass flavored pasta and vermicelli. Daily discounts on spring rolls, Viet paper rolls and its selection of wine are not to be missed. Daily 11am-11pm. S4-32, 3/F, Bldg 4, The Village at Sanlitun, 19 Sanlitun Beilu, Chaoyang District. (6416 3732, 6417 2210) 越时代. 朝阳区三里屯北路19号三里屯Village南区4号楼3层S4-32

Nam Nam
This restaurant is owned by a man from Hanoi, and his food pays testament. Now back in its original two-story location north of Sanlitun bar street, Nam Nam has gracefully become a time-honored brand for Beijing’s appreciators of Vietnamese cuisine, with a spacious two story colonial style decor and tasty, true to form food. Specialties include the Lavong fish, pommelo salad, beef pho and Vietnamese iced coffee. Nam Nam differs from its competitors in that their waitresses wear the traditional Vietnamese dress, the au dai. Daily 10.30am-10.30pm. 7 Sanlitun Lu, next to the Friendship Supermarket, Chaoyang District. (6468 6053) 那么那么, 朝阳区三里屯北路7号(小友谊超市旁)

Nuage
This five-story establishment in Beijing’s scenic Houhai lake district affords excellent views of Qianhai Lake and the Drum and Bell towers. Nuage’s interior does not disappoint either; the rickshaw-style seating, high window panes and paper lanterns provide ample ambience for impressing visitors or that special someone. Food at Nuage tend more to the pricey side, but if you can work your way around the menu and be sure to order one or two filling Vietnamese staple dishes, you will be quite satisfied with the overall dining experience Nuage. Daily 11.30am-2pm, 5.30-10pm. 22 Qianhai Dongyan, Xicheng District (6401 9581) 西城区前海东沿22号

Luga’s Banh Mi
Rising from the ashes of Luga’s Baan Thai, Luga’s Banh Mi serves Vietnamese-style sandwiches featuring crusty baguettes filled with pate, mayonnaise, pickled carrot and daikon, cilantro, and your choice of meat, from five types of cold cuts to roasted chicken, beef, pork belly and meat balls in tomato sauce (RMB 26 and up). Pho and Vietnamese appetizers are also on the menu. Daily 10am-11pm. Above Luga’s (opposite Tongli Studio), Sanlitun Houjie, Chaoyang District. (6413 2786) 朝阳区三里屯后街同里对面

Luga’s Pho Pho
With five restaurants and bars under his banners, Luga has become somewhat of a dining industry mogul in Beijing. This particular establishment, Luga’s Pho Pho, serves pho bo vien, a steaming soup of plump beef meatballs and rice noodles that takes eight hours to prepare. The simple and inexpensive eatery nestled in Sanlitun also serves typical Vietnamese appetizers such as goi cuon spring rolls, and guoi nu nuu (RMB 44), a papaya noodle salad. Daily 11am-midnight. 3/F (above Luga’s Villa), 7 Sanlitun Houjie (10m from northwest corner of 3.3 Shopping Center), Chaoyang District. (6413 2786) 朝阳区三里屯后街7号3层(离3.3购物中心西北角10米)

Le Little Saigon
The lime green walls and whirring fans of this Sino-French bistro seem tropically Southeast Asian, while the fittings and ambiance are classically Parisian. The twin influence is reflected throughout the menu, which offers both French and Vietnamese mains in addition to standbys like beef pho. Other highlights include the beef bourguignon, made from tender chunks of beef stewed in a flavorsome red wine sauce, pork and shrimp pancakes and Vietnamese salad rolls flavored with mint and a sweet chili dip. The experience is best enjoyed on the rooftop terrace overlooking the Gulou area … perhaps with a glass of sparkling wine. Weekday set lunch (RMB 59/69) from 11.30am-2pm. Daily 11.30-midnight. 141 Jiugulou Dajie, Xicheng District. (6401 8465) 西贡在巴黎,西城区旧鼓楼大街141号

Mekong Riverside Cuisine
A younger hand on the scene, Mekong Riverside Cuisine consistently serves up decadent, satisfying Vietnamese fare. Mekong’s French colonial decor creates an intimate environment for diners in the food court of Prosper Center, perfect for CBD businessmen. Try their scallop and pomelo salad (RMB 45), which strikes a perfect balance with the scallops’ mild spice and the zesty citrus flavor. Daily 11am-2pm, 5pm-10pm. B1/F, Prosper Center, 5 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District. (6562 8555) 朝阳区光华路5号院世纪财富中心B1层