The Overview

If Saigon's heat has you seeking a break from broths, look no further than bun thit nuong, a dish that's more salad than soup. At Nhu Lan, an open-air corner shop opposite Bitexco Finance Tower (soon to be Saigon's tallest structure), it takes the form of an oversize bowl holding a mound of cool bun (rice-flour vermicelli) hiding carrot and radish pickle, shredded Thai basil, perilla and lettuce, and scallion greens softened in oil; on top of all this sit slices of smoky grilled pork and chopped peanuts. Give the bowl of fish sauce and chilies served alongside a stir, pour it over the noodles, and sit back to enjoy the collision of flavors, textures and temperatures. Soft fresh spring rolls stuffed with pork, prawn and banh cuon—rice-flour pasta sheets rolled around chopped pork and mushrooms—are also major draws at this long-established eatery.

Tel: +84 8 829 2970

Website: nhulan.vn