Vietnamese in Beijing or Shanghai

[AppetiteforChina]

This may be a long shot, but does anyone know of a good, authentic Vietnamese restaurant in either Beijing or Shanghai? Not the overpriced places, so less than 150 rmb per person, and preferably with good Vietnamese coffee.

And if anyone knows of ANY place that serves good Vietnamese coffee, like a cafe, that would be great too.

Thanks!

[Xiao Yang]

Not something I would look for, being a "When in Rome..." kind of guy, but here's a couple of lists for starters:

http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/listings/dining/vietnamese/?

http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/beijing...?

[huangsandra]

Forget good or authentic, I haven't even found decent or passable Vietnamese food in Beijing yet. Very sad.

I can tell you where to find traditional Vietnamese coffee (ca-fe den) or cafe sua den (with sweetened condensed milk) made in the little drip tins, but I confess I always have lattes there so can't vouch for it's quality. Cote Cafe isn't my favorite cafe, but there are comfortable couches and the wifi usually works. Here are the details:

Cote Cafe
northwest corner, at Gulou Dongdajie x Bao Chao Hutong
opens at 10am (sometimes loosely interpreted)

I heard there is also VN coffee at Pho at Beijing, also on Gulou Dongdajie, but I found the food there pretty inedible so never returned and had a chance to try the coffee.

Enjoy,
Sandra
www.savourasia.com

[huangsandra]

Slight addendum on my reply: I just remembered friends living in the drum tower neighborhood telling me about a new Vietnamese place opened in the last month or two on Jiugulou Street. Petit something-or-other, opened by a French and Vietnamese couple so they do both cuisines. I haven't made it out there yet, but might be worth a try if you can hunt it down.

sandra

[leonleebaoyan]

i second sandra on vietnamese in beijing. apparently there is a shanghai high end viet food chain moving to beijing (perhaps already opened) but this was about 3 months ago.

i live near gulou dongdajie and haven't heard or seen of this new Petit something or other - if you find out or eat there, let me know.

there is no shortage of eats in my nabe, but a dearth of places i make my canteen. recommendations?

[leonleebaoyan]

didn't find the petit place but apparently the newly opened Lugar Food & Wine on gulou dongdajie serves Vietnamese tapas (not sure what that means ... and didn't ask to see a menu). I stopped in for sunday brunch and had a mushroom-cheese crepe. besides the woody rehydrated porcini, it was decent. however, the watery, acidic coffee needs work.

The place is going for a boy's night out basement game parlor feel with a long dark wood bar, leather-esque loungers, big screen tv, good sound system, and a billiards table. If the drinks, food, felt & cue, and music are good, it could be a fun place.

The place is run by a Taiwanese guy who opened the crepe place in the basement of LG towers. Like most first gen restos of new developments (including Beard Papa), it failed - but they've got lots of leftover printed napkins for legacy purposes.

[AppetiteforChina]

Le Little Saigon is just north of the Drum Tower, on the west side of Jiugulo Dajie. The interior is nice, French bistro style. The Vietnamese coffee is good but the pho just so-so.

I went into Lugar once and thought it was just a bar. You're right...it does have a "boy's night out feel." Didn't know it served food too.

[leonleebaoyan]

just saw LLS the other day in passing ... anything you recommend besides the coffee?

[edi]

hey! i have try this bistro LLS, i have heard pho is very typical from saigon cause the cooker is a real old wife from vietnam! and i have try
wouha!
and if you like steweed beef or lamb with mashed potatos! perfect!
i will return to try something other
nice interior but also a romantic top under a big tree

[leonleebaoyan]

went to LLS for lunch and then another time for coffee around dinner time: i had a regular pho and it was just ok. i had to request condensed milk for my coffee which seemed strange. great atmosphere and the place was packed during dinner.

i walked by Phodaize in wudaokou (they have another location on the east side) and was tempted then remembered to temper my expectations.

and then there is a vietnamese place in the food court of some mall south of dawang lu that is suppose to be a bj outlet of an sf little saigon vietnamese resto. someone told me this about 6 months ago and i am never in that part of town ... but willing to travel if it is indeed very good. anyone?

[AppetiteforChina]

Hmm...I didn't have high expectations for Vietnamese food in Beijing, but I thought maybe there was at least one place to get good pho and coffee. When a craving hits, you just obey it. I'm also a "when in Rome" kind of girl, but since I live in Beijing, not traveling through here, I might as well try to find a place.
Thanks for all your suggestions!

[pepper_mil]

If you can read Chinese or can get by with machine translation, Dianping.com for Beijing and Shanghai both list several places with ratings and comments.

[Birdseed]

I can recommend a pretty decent Pho and assorted Vietnamese snacks in Shanghai at 'Pho No 1' in lane 248 Taikang Lu (near Sinan Lu). Tha lanes off Taikang Lu make up a kind of atsy area with a few decent bars and restaurants. Keep an eye out for New York Pizza and a lingerie shop, which are in the same building but more visible from the street. I have also seen a Place called 'Pho King' on Jiangsu Lu near Yuyuan Lu which is said to be pretty decent.

I would love a sweet Vietnamese coffee, but haven't found a cafe that serves it. Does anyone know if there is a place in Shanghai?

[E Woks]

I was going to mention Pho No 1. Incidentally if you're going for pizza, ignore the New York Pizza and go into Pizza e Pasa next door, fantastic pizzas, their quattro formaggi is my favourite in shanghai

[Birdseed]

Woah...old thread! I didn't realize...

[AppetiteforChina]

No problem. I'm still reading the thread and since I just moved to Shanghai, I'll check out your recommendation on Taikang Lu. I haven't found a place here yet for good Vietnamese coffee, either.

[kaman]

Ah. Vietnamese noodles.

(1) Xi Xi Hui (FCC) on Ju Lu Lu. Probably the best I have tried in Shanghai.
(2) Saigon Blue on Yan An Lu near Hua Shan Lu. Soup not as clear as the one in FCC I thought. But still a good bowl of noodle.
(3) Hua Yue Lou, they have a branch in Gubei and one in Jinqiao. Personally thought they put too much MSG in the soup.

Didn't realize Cityweekend has a special section dedicated to Vietnamese. That list also looks like a good place to start exploring.

None of these places manage to make rice paper rolls anywhere close to the sort they sell in Sydney's Vietnamese towns. Australians are so lucky.

[Birdseed]

Top draw, Kaman. Will have to check that Julu lu place. Any tips for places that serve Vietnamese coffee?

[kaman]

If you are into vietnamese coffee I think (2) and (3) are better shots.

In fact the noodles is usually the only reason that get me to keep going to FCC. Ok and the nice environment. Otherwise it is too posh for a vietnamese food. Oh and the fusion like cooking style is something I am not that into. And yes because of all that polished aspects, noodles at FCC might be considered to be overpriced.

it is a pity I haven't come across the perfect spot for Vietnamese fix in Shanghai.

[Birdseed]

Update - don't bother with Pho King. It's dull as dishwater.

[spaceman spiff]

you can't be serious...FCC? probably the most inauthentic i've tried in shanghai...that plus the high prices has me blackballing the place...you sure you weren't fooled by the upscale service and presentation? i don't mind the nice setting and a price to match of the food is good, but FCC isn't...

Pho 1 is good for cheap and basic with coffee, Pho King was okay the one time i went, but the new favourite in town has to be Pho Real on Anfu Lu a bit north of Cantina Agave on the opposite side of the street...was a great lunch place, dinner price was a bit high for the same menu, but that was when they opened with a limited menu...i have since left SH and i'm sure they would have expanded the dinner options...