One of the Best: Ba Noi's

Ba Noi's has been known as one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in Manila. It never fails to delight the taste buds which always yearn for Vietnam's clean flavors. This led to the humble hole in the wall restaurant in Makati to expand to other areas, particularly Pasig. And when my sister suggested that we have lunch there a few weekends ago, it was an easy yes. 

Hello, Ba Noi's.

It has been quite a while since I've last dined in Ba Noi's. I remember that I would usually grab a bowl of phở and its tender stir-fried beef. 

My First Bite: Xoi Vietnamese Kitchen

I love trying out new restaurants. A huge smile is always plastered on my face whenever I see a new establishment while mentally jotting down, “Must try this place soon.” I’m lucky that my family, at some moments, especially when they are hungry, is as adventurous as I am. Thus one day, we found ourselves in yet another Vietnamese inspired restaurant.

Hello, Xoi Vietnamese Kitchen!

 

I had my heart and tummy targeted on another restaurant but my mom insisted that we try this place out instead as she was too hungry to walk.

Vietnam in Makati: Вà Nôi’s

I hate it that I’m easy to bribe. RESTAURANT YOU HAVE NEVER TRIED BEFORE seems to be the magic word. Thus when a friend told me that we’ll be trying this restaurant I haven’t tried before (or maybe I did but it has been years ago and my tummy memory failed me), I begged my mom to allow me to go (yes, I still ask my mom for permission). But, the plan to dine in a Japanese restaurant became… a Vietnamese dinner.

The inner nerd in me usually prevent me from socializing at night thus I lead a home-work-home life (or the level up version home-work-corporate event-home life). But whenever people invite me to try out new restaurants, I AM ALWAYS GAME (as long as it’s near). 

Thus, one Thursday night, we went to Makati, near Greenbelt 2 and walked along the dark streets of Legaspi Village. Some of our friends were already waiting inside Вà Nôi’s, a hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese restaurant located at Greenbelt Mansion.

Ramen Girl Moment: Wabi-Sabi

I’ve been dying to go to The Collective ever since I found out about this costume heaven store called Skitzo. I still remember how much I begged and begged my mom to accompany me to go to The Collective to try on some wigs and costumes (a big fan of Halloween here) but it was always postponed, cancelled, and eventually, forgotten.

Food Trip! October 1, 2011. First stop MOA, second stop, The Collective. Yes, The Collective, the place I have been dying to visit since last year. Finally, I can try on some wigs (that story will be on another blog though). 

I’ve read about this cute noodle place called Wabi-Sabi from so many blogs and the quaint interiors and good reviews made it very interesting to me that I just have to suggest it to my food loving friends.

They agreed! Okay, the organizer did! Yey!

October 1 was a gloomy day thanks to a typhoon that made things worse for some provinces. But it did not change our minds to check Wabi-Sabi.

 

Restaurant Favorite: Pho Hoa

I love Pho Hoa, its chicken dishes, marinated prawns, spring rolls, tenderloin beef, crepe, and their sweet vinegar dip. Now, let me share with you my love affair with this restaurant.

Vietnamese food? Why?

That was my first reaction when my mom told me to try this restaurant. I was quite iffy since I have never tried Vietnamese food… ever (before).

I then read through the menu and I was surprised that not everything sounded so foreign to me. They have grilled meat, several chicken dishes, soup, salad, and even desserts such as crepes. I remember that I was fond of chicken when I was young so I ordered Grilled Chicken with Fried Spring Rolls (which I thought was just like your ordinary lumpia). I was surprised though that they served it with vinegar… sweet vinegar. And that was the start of our wonderful love story.

Years later, I have tried several other [non-spicy] dishes and I would say that I’d still go back for more. My must-orders though are the Fried Rice Paper Roll with Pork and Vermicelli (PHP127) and the Tenderloin Beef with Rice (PHP295). And that was what my mom brought home for me for dinner one happy Tuesday night.  

Fried Spring Rolls freshly removed from the take-out container

The Fried Spring Rolls were still the crispy and scrumptious rolls I remember. You could taste the pork in every bite. It wasn’t as oily as well. It was not the type that will make your lips shine and blind people when the light hits it. Plus dipping it in the sweet vinegar brought out the savory flavors of the stuffing of the roll.