Hong Viet Vietnamese Food

Phở Bò (Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup)

On a rainy Saturday afternoon, my friend and I found ourselves craving for a warm bowl of traditional Phở soup. Nothing beats a serving of heartwarming soup when the weather is moody and threatens to crash all your weekend plans. We remembered seeing this new, homely Vietnamese street restaurant in front of the Jaro Small Market in Simon-Ledesma St.

Despite the threat of another impending downpour, we made our way to Simon-Ledesma Street. Hong Viet looked like something right up our alley! No fancy decor or expensive ambiance means the food must be good and affordable. We loved the kitschy Vietnamese music blaring from the speakers and the delightfully tacky wall decor that gave off a cacophonous Ho Chi Minh city vibe. The place is run by Vietnamese expatriates so we anticipated the food to be authentic, homestyle and unfussy.

The menu offered basic Vietnamese comfort food--beef noodle soup, rice paper rolls, dry noodles, Banh Mi, omelette bread plus iced Vietnamese coffee and tea preparations. There is nothing in the menu that's over Php 200 so it's definitely a commuter friendly eatery.

The Phở was aromatic, mildly spicy and meaty. However it lacked the essential coriander herb garnishing that is ubiquitous in Vietnamese cooking (it’s an herb I'm sadly allergic to). Instead, Thai Basil was the convenient substitute that lent a pleasant flavor layer.

Hong Viet's Banh Mi was surprisingly basic, not the extravagant sandwich I'm accustomed to seeing. It's a budget version but still satisfying and filling despite the super chewiness of the baguette. The bread needs more toasting though. It was chewy enough to yank your dentures out.

The eatery’s coffee and tea selections are as authentic as it gets. If you want to try some traditional beverages and noodles at home, they have items for sale such as pandan and chamomile tea, coffee and instant Pho noodles in several variants.

The owners told us they will soon be launching Vietnamese snacks like savory pancakes to go along with their coffee menu. That's something to look forward to!

Hong Viet is open daily from 8 am to 8 pm. Grab a bite of their Com Tam breakfast special if you happen to swing around Jaro Small Market that early.