It's a true student joint…read more
Opened since 1985 (!!!!) by a philosophy professor from Vietnam, you can actually still see him almost everyday, as he is still manning the back kitchen and comes out to the bar say hello the regulars who are sitting at the bar having aperitif and chatting with each other and the girl behind the bar.
The restaurant is tiny, seating no more than 20 people at a time, if there's no vietnamese live karaoke occupying the back tables. The ambiance feels like a 70s Asian student meet-up to talk about the government - filled with books and records (and they sell books as well, but not the ones on the shelf). It's hard not to fall in love with the nostalgia. 5EUR student price for their main dishes. Albeit small portions, it's hard to argue with that price. And non-student price is a mere 6EUR for a quick eat.
It's not 100% vietnamese food - they have nem, bo bun, and pho, but it also has curry and spaghetti, etc. I had the bobun and it was not the rice noodle that i was expecting, but big thick Chinese noodles with minced pork and some nem. It was good for its price but not much more than that.
They do not accept credit card or ticket resto - which means cash only.
They also close early (8:30pm) and it's ridiculously difficult to get a seat regardless of what day of the week you go if you don't show up before 6pm. If you're alone, you can get an empty seat at the bar for a quick meal, but if you are in a group, do try to go as early as right before it opens or else you might have to eat elsewhere. No reservations.
I feel guilty about giving it a 3 star because it's a wonderful little place, but honestly it's not a place for people to try really good food, but for people who enjoy the wistfulness the place brings and to cheaply fill your bellies.
