Instagrammers have been quick to visit the new V Corner Bistro & Bar on Nassaukade and we can see why. It’s not one of those places with angel wings or swings on the walls for people to pose for photos but it doesn’t need to be because the vivid, bold plates of food speak for themselves.
I’m no expert in Vietnamese food but anybody that eats it regularly will know that it’s all about clean, fresh flavours with a good depth of spice and flavour. You can literally see the flavour on the plate here, and I for one love to see a good helping of chilli with everything.
So what’s this exciting new place serving? Well, as spring approaches you can whet your appetite for the entree with some delicious spring rolls filled with prawn and pork, then as the weather heats up tuck into some refreshing summer rolls. Our favourite thing about the summer roll starter is that it’s naturally gluten-free (check with your waiter before ordering), and you can also order a vegan version without the prawn.
There are three kinds of bánh mì on the menu, too, including one vegetarian option. If you’ve never tried it before then you should – it’s a kind of Vietnamese sandwich made from baguettes stuff with delicious food. You’ll find a lot of food baguettes in Vietnamese cookery because France occupied the country for so long.
If you’re a fan of pho then you’re going to love this place because they serve two kinds – beef and chicken and you can order it as a starter or a main dish, which is also true of the spicy beef Bún bò. Bún bò is an absolute explosion of flavours, containing beef broth, fish paste (yum), pineapple and lemongrass with rice noodles.
Do you prefer something with steamed rice instead of noodles? There’s plenty to try, from the brilliantly named ‘angry chicken‘, cooked with lemongrass, to the ‘volcano fried rice‘, topped with a tasty cured egg yolk (can also be made vegan).
Then there are the cocktails, and they’re just as vibrant as the food. If you fancy something spicy then go for the ‘Saigon summer‘, which is literally mango tequila and chilli. If you fancy something a bit lighter then the ‘Hanoi autumn‘ is for you, containing Bacardi carta blanca infused with chamomile tea, mixed with pineapple and apple cider. Visit the website to try the delicious menu, which you can also read online.