I met up with a friend for lunch here. It's steps away from PMQ which is super convenient…read more I ordered the Bun Thit Nuong (lemongrass pork with rice noodles), and it came with a drink (lemon honey drink) for HK$82. Noodles to me were undercooked a tiny bit but the lemongrass pork flavor was good. They had a pitcher of fish sauce which was very convenient for me to pour over the noodles. I should try more items like the pho, banh mi sandwiches or spring rolls. Service was not bad, when it got more crowded our server gave us the "You are finished and need to leave" eyeball so we left after less than an hour :)

I've long ranted about subpar Vietnamese places in Hong Kong (and in New York). There are always…read moreexceptions to the scene and I would place Bún Cha in the "much better" category. They have made a smart business decision in setting up shop in that Central-meets-Sheung-Wan part of town and offer the kind of Northern Vietnamese fare that just about anyone can enjoy. In some strange way, Bún Cha reminds me of places in Vietnam. It is incredibly small and located on a steep hill just across from PMQ. How they've managed to squeeze in some tables in here is beyond me, but know the seating is extremely tight. Even with a table or two on the outside, they experience lines / queues during peak service hours all the time. Unlike a lot of their nearby eatery neighbors, they stay open during that weird 3pm-6pm time frame, which is when I like to eat here. Crowds be gone. Similarly to Vietnam, the Viet speaking staff works behind an open kitchen / counter in clockwork type fashion. Everyone has a role and they do it well. Thank the stars for the massive air conditioning units from above; back in the motherland the wall fans aren't enough to keep sweating from dripping into the food. Thank goodness they stack a ton of napkins for everyone to use. Onto the food: My pho bo (really "pho tai") was wonderfully garnished with the basil, scallions, and onions with a small side of lime and chilis for additional zest and bang. I love that they include hoisin at the table (tuong den) because frankly, the broth needed it. It's definitely not MSG-laden but may be less potent in the eyes of other fellow pho lovers. In that sense, it was mildly disappointing, but certainly not a deal breaker. And for what it's worth -- it's a big ol bowl. No one mentioned anything about xe lua! I've also sampled their version of bun thit nuong, i.e. vermicelli with grilled pork and it was refreshing. The pickled veggies were fresh and I appreciated the generous dousing of fried garlic, peanuts, shallots across the dish. Unlike some versions in the US / Australia where there is a massive heap of salad beneath, this one did not have that. Plenty of bún; just the way I like it. Add to that a jar with a handle full of nuoc mam, which I've not seen in any Viet restaurant in HK. Kudos on that. The real star of the show was the cha gio, or Vietnamese spring rolls. They're more akin to the nem cua of northern Vietnam -- spring rolls stuffed with minced pork, crab, glass noodles, and fungus. They were light, crispy, and even airy; just like the stuff back in the motherland. Even the accompanying lettuce was stiff with freshness, which made the meal all the more pleasant. It all comes at a price. At around $70HKD for the average noodle dish, it's hardly highway robbery but it's certainly along the same price point as most places in Central. They make a killing on the drinks, charging as much as $40HKD for stuff like Hanoi Beer, which is an easy $4HKD in Hanoi itself. Rent does need to get paid after all and with *good* Viet food in demand, they've certainly got one of the better options in town.

Decent Vietnamese chain spot with consistent food quality. The menu has good selection of salad,…read morepho, bun, drinks and signature dishes. It comes with pictures so you kinda know what you are getting. The food comes out pretty fast and they are appropriately seasoned with Vietnamese spices. I didn't find a need to add fish sauce for my bun (vermicelli). The only downfall is tables are closely placed together to maximize square footage so you know if the next table couple is fighting or having a good time.

BÊP, you have a new devotee to add to your quickly-growing fan club…read more I recently met someone here for a business meeting, as BÊP was suggested as a great spot with its ideal central location on Wellington and plentiful seating. And come on - who doesn't like Vietnamese food? Not me. I'm in the full-on love camp. When I lived in Chicago, neither heavy rain nor snowpocalypse conditions could keep me away from my weekly bowl of pho or bánh mì. Some weeks, my favorite Viet spot saw me two or three times. I know, I know - I'm addicted. Well I'm happy to report that BÊP more than satisfies my craving for legitimately solid Vietnamese fare. Because I couldn't commit to just one item, I decided to go with the 2-course lunch set. For under 100 HKD, you get to try two ample-sized dishes and you can choose a drink as well (for an additional nominal fee). However, I didn't enjoy the lotus root Vietnamese iced tea... it had a very strong, bitter taste that I fought to get down. I later switched to the lime soda and enjoyed that beverage much more! For my first course, I had the mixed green and herb salad with crispy pork belly. Wow - I was surprised by the ample portion of pork belly and it was quite good. Perfectly crispy and not overly fatty. This is my dream version of pork belly; wish it tasted like this every time! By the time our second courses came around, I had already put a nice dent into my appetite. However, the bun vermicelli with lemongrass chicken instantly enticed. The chunks of chicken were plentiful and aesthetically beautiful. Really! And the dish tasted even better so it wasn't just another pretty face. We also decided to split the lone dessert option on the menu - xoi ngot, grilled sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves, pandan coconut sauce and roasted peanuts - but this ended up sounding more appealing that it actually tasted. Would be nice to see a few more dessert options on the menu. Still stoked to have found a great spot to indulge in Vietnamese cuisine on the regular. I'll soon be back for a bowl of pho tai now that temps are finally dropping!

Finding good banh mi in Hong Kong is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. It is incredibly…read morerare and often requires a trek out to a far neighborhood that's not too conveniently located. Having made plans in Kowloon City for the afternoon, we decided to stop by Banh Mi Bakery for a quick lunch. It had been on our list for some time. At opening, 11:30am, it wasn't too full yet but there were already dining parties seated to beat the lunch rush. They have a board with several banh mi options, listing the top 5 favorites. We opted for the slow-cooked (sous vide) pork and pate banh mi with iced Vietnamese coffee, along with lemongrass chicken, BBQ pork with cold rice vermicelli. Everything tasted delicious and the pork was very tender. But it wasn't a "wow" in my book. A banh mi sandwich to cost HKD144 (USD18) to me, is quite overpriced and expensive. Considering the location is not in Central or in the CBD, nor is it a high-end restaurant, it shouldn't cost more than HKD80-100 (including a drink) at most. Perhaps it's making up for the lost sales due to the Covid slow down, but a high price might drive more customers away than attract them.

This is my go-to option in Kowloon City if I am hungry for some delicious Vietnamese food. My…read morefavourite option on the menu is the pork belly Banh mi roll, which has tender pork belly matched with tasty fillings and crispy French bread. I will usually get a side order of kumara chips and a drip coffee.

Chôm Chôm is FUN. Busy busy. A who's who place but also for the new expat desperately trying to fit…read morein. Hip atmosphere with loud hoppy music. I'll take Trendy for $200. So here we are yet again, not ashamed to say a Vietnamese fusion restaurant is one of our favorite places to eat in Hong Kong. I come for the pho rolls, as should you. Oh, servers will take shots with you if you so desire; Hong Kong sure knows how to party a little too well.

This place is always busy and is typically only open for dinner. With the Covid restrictions I was…read moreable to finally eat here during lunch time. They take a creative take on Vietnamese food from the northern part of Vietnam. If you are looking for pho you won't find that here. The food is decent but I was expecting more given I'm paying a premium price wise. They really are aggressive with the sugar in their dishes and you really need to like things sweet to enjoy their interpretation of some the dishes. Food: 3.5 stars Service: 4 stars Value: 3 stars Overall: 3 stars Cha Ca hanoi is one of my favorite Vietnamese dishes after having it in Hanoi. As mentioned earlier the version here is really aggressive with the sugar. Otherwise I think the flavors are pretty good. Dill and scallions are proportioned nicely and the fish is cooked well. The Bun Cha also suffers from being really sweet. It isn't that sweet in the places I've had it in Hanoi. I think I would have enjoyed my meal more if I only had one of the two. For the appetizers I had the spring rolls and the Vietnamese pizza. Spring rolls are pretty standard and delivered on kind of what I expected. The Vietnamese pizza is probably something I wouldn't order again.

One of the few Vietnamese joints in Kennedy town…read more Food: 3 out of 5 Ambiance: 2.5 out of 5 Service: 3 out of 5 Value: 3 out of 5 I'm still on the hunt for a decent bowl of pho in Hong Kong. Let's not be mistaken. This might be the least authentic Vietnamese place there is but is still a decent noodle joint in Kennedy Town. Imagine a typical Hong Kong noodle place but with some Vietnamese flavors. You can completely customize your bowl of noodles including the ingredients.

This place is so so so so underrated. It gets only one comment??? And it is not so fair!!! I…read moresecretly hope not many people will run for this place because I am a frequent at that restaurant and I would not wish to see tourists lining up for it. But this place indeed is a hidden gem. If you really insist on the so called "authentic" Vietnamese cuisine then please go to places you have been to and places you consider "authentic". But if you want to have a delicious and yet not pricey meal this is the place to go. Elsewhere might give you the taste you want but not necessary the taste you like. They have so many options. The ingredients are fresh and well made with care. The staff are efficient and it is usually full of people. I will admit that it is modified for the locals but still the food is delicious and cooked with care. I will recommend all the Bún. Is refreshing in summer and you can try out a lot of things if you order the signature combo Bún. Also highly recommend salty lemon soda water. It is the perfect match for a summer lunch.

Three Virtues Vegetarian Restaurant withstood the test of time. It serve up old-school dim sum that…read moretruly hits the spot. The staff are kind. The dumplings in soup are among the best I have ever had. It is definitely a "dumpling" great experience! The only drawback was that the dumplings could have been cooked a bit more and served hotter. This minor issue didn't take away from my overall enjoyment. The restaurant also offers free bentos for the elderly each month. Places like this truly have heart. They embody Buddhist values and genuine care for the community. I am a fan of this classic spot and look forward to returning for more mouthwatering dishes. It is always a "wrap!"

Atmosphere is a bit run down with fans blowing down onto certain tables such that many customers…read morecome and ask to be seated at a place that's not so cold. Salt and chili pepper fried mini oyster and tofu - first time eating veggie oysters and they have quite a distinct texture. There is not salt and pepper flavor - just fried with garlic with qatered down worcester sauce. Shark fin soup - uses the good fake shark fin and not vermicelli. However, charging. Way too expensive at $68 hkd for a single person portion. The fake shark fin soup at any outside snack shop tastes better and is around $30. Bean curd with fat choy - standard.

Our elaborate meal had dim sum - of course! Fried rice for the child and mapo tofu. And some…read morewontons in sweet spicy chilli sauce. The dim sum was superb. Thin and translucent to the point of being almost entirely transparent. The fried rice was simple but tasted great. The mapo tofu didn't have that Sichuan spicy zing to it. We, nevertheless, polished it all off. With jasmine tea on the side. Certainly a place to visit with groups, but they have little low seated tables too, if you want a date meal. Fairly quick service and I know I mentioned the language, but our server spoke English. I know I'll be visiting here again. More photos and detail on the blog - vegetarianvoyager[dot]com. Link also in profile.

I can't help but make a face when my family invited me to vegetarian dim sum during my vacation in…read moreHong Kong, but it was surprising good. Restaurant is located on the 3rd floor of Coda Plaza, it is a good 10 minutes walk from the nearest MTR station, so plan ahead. Seems like advance reservation is recommended for the weekend, as I see lots of people coming during the peak lunch hours. While I do not know what ingredients they put into their dim sum, they were delicious and not filled with mock meat. However, it is a little bit on the pricey side. Cost for Dim Sum was roughly $200/people. This visit to Pure Veggie House definitely changed what I thought about Chinese Vegetarian restaurants. I would definitely recommend this to friends.

I don't regret coming but probably won't return. It is more like a one time experience at the…read moreprice point. I completely dismissed this restaurant originally when I saw the gimmicky presentations, but some dishes offer a playful interpretation. Should try: Roast Pigeon was cooked perfectly. Succulent and juicy. They offer gloves which is a fantastic idea to eat the small bird. Beef char siu was tender and had good flavor and char texture. The thyme was decorative but added a nice scent. Interesting: Mangosten fritter is more for the look but also had a nice crab lobster sauce filling. Meh: Charcoal Buns were sweet and savory but does not taste different from the traditional version Sponge Xiao Lung Biao- Normally I love this dish but the change up here did not do anything for me. I wasn't too impressed by the filling nor the skin. If you are new to or want traditional dim sum go elsewhere. Also I didn't really order from the dinner style selections. Glad I didn't because they are small portions and didn't look that novel. If you are like me and had dim sum countless number of times, it is fun to try things with a twist. The woman next to me kept admiring how the food was presented. Look for the L signage and go to the second floor. Casual clean open dining room. Not crazy about the ant decals but it feeds into the playful nature of the restaurant.

Came here the other day for lunch. I've actually seen this place around on social media so it is…read morenot like I am completely unaware of it. However, just never had the chance to come. The place is fairly large actually, at least for a second floor restaurant? While there were a lot of people here, there was also a fair bit of seating. The service staff is pretty good, don't have any complaints here. The food aspect is quite interesting here. They have a lot of new stuff, which includes new takes on classic items, as well as new things that they invented themselves. I believe that some of these are quite similar to other things that people have experimented with, but it's no less welcome to see it. However, I wasn't a huge fan of the food overall. We got some stuff like pork puff pastries, the vegetarian siu mai (which sadly is not that great, but whatever), claims in chinese medicine soup (which was pretty gross), the truffle chicken, a few small dishes. Overall, I think they are trying a bit too hard to mess with things that are already quite decent. I appreciate the experimentation, but it's probably not for me.