Tonkin Vietnamese Cuisine – Home Style Northern Vietnamese Food in Anson Road

After the successful launch of Tonkin Vietnamese Noodle Bar in Orchard Central, owner Jenny Mac has opened another new outlet Tonkin Vietnamese Cuisine along Anson Road. Tonkin is the northernmost region of Vietnam, where it is rich in rice production. At Tonkin Vietnamese Cuisine, you would not only be served with Vietnamese rice dishes, but also a range of tasty authentic northern Vietnamese food, where the recipes were handed down from one generation to the next.

Vietnamese cuisine is gaining more devotees in Singapore. Jenny is not new in the F&B scene, she was the owner of the defunct Hanoi Vietnamese Restaurant at 100AM Shopping Mall. Now focusing on all her efforts at Tonkin, she has moved beyond common bowls of pho (beef noodles) and fried spring rolls and are introducing many more traditional dishes from their homeland.

Unlike the food from southern Vietnam where coconut milk are often used, the northern Vietnamese cuisine have lighter and more balanced flavors. According to the lady boss, the reason for not having strong flavorings was because Tonkin Vietnamese Cuisine focuses on serving healthy food.

For the entrée, there is Fresh Spring Roll ($4.90) where fresh vegetables and prawn are wrapped in rice paper and you could dip it in peanut sauce to enhance the taste. On the other hand, the Fried Spring Roll ($4.90) offers the crispy-fried version and tastes best when dipped with sweet and spicy sauce.

There is also the Green Mango Salad with Shrimps ($9.90), where the sourness of the mango makes this dish very appetizing and suitable to have before your main dish. The shredded green mango were slightly hard, but it was definitely fresh and sour.

The black and seemingly unappetizing Los Leaf Rolls with Pork ($9.90) is definitely not a dish you can judge by its looks. This is the dish where you have to eat it while it’s hot, so that you may taste the blend of the aromatic betel leaves together with the succulent minced pork.

One of the specialty not to be missed is the Special BBQ Fish with Lemongrass and Chili Padi ($22.90). Although lemongrass and chili padi may sound like the fish is heavily flavored, it was actually very lightly seasoned and there wasn’t even any tingly sensation from the chili padi. In fact, the ingredients actually brought out the freshness and sweetness of the fish, such that condiments were not needed.

For meat lovers, Tonkin Vietnamese Cuisine also serves lovely BBQ Pork Belly/Pork Balls with Noodles ($11.90). The pork belly was surprisingly not oily and very addictive through the hint of sweetness from the marinate. The pork balls, though barbecued, encased the essence within, hence it was not too dry and tough.

In addition to all the food above, they also serve pho for people who crave for it. There is the Hanoi Beef Noodle Soup ($9.90), where good quality beef is used to enhance the taste of the dish. There is also the Pork Ball Kway Teow Soup ($8.90), and interestingly, small chunks of black fungus were used, giving it a slight crunchiness. For both dishes, the noodles were very smooth and slim; easy to slurp it down. If you prefer soup that is lighter and more appetizing, you could try the Hai Phong Fish Noodle Soup ($10.90). The savory and sour soup base aids in opening up your appetite, while the silky and thin noodles helps to fill your tummy.

Before heading back to work, why not get a cup of Viet Drip Coffee ($3.90) to perk yourself up? The strong aroma that fills the air and the taste that lingers, how could you resist it?

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