NamNam was established in 2012 and has become one of the most popular restaurants in Singapore. The speciality Pho Noodle -probably the most widely-recognized traditional Vietnamese street food in the world- has captivated my palate and left me asking for more! Another interesting point is the fact that NamNam promises not to add any MSG to their dishes. Healthy food FTW! 

NamNam's dining concept is self-service and quick dining. When you come into the restaurant, find a table to sit down; you can choose either a private table, a communal table, or the 'bar-style' stools. Look at the menu provided on the table, then write down what you want. Next, bring your order paper to the cashier and pay. A waiter will serve the dishes to your table. If you need more utensils -bowls, chopsticks, spoons, tissues-, help yourself by grabbing them at the utensils cabinet. 

In an interior design point of view, NamNam sticks to its branding: Asian-style street food. It uses 'tegel kunci' for floor finishing; it is a type of tiles that are traditionally used for flooring, the same as in Indonesia. NamNam decorates its space with a bar, wood tables and chairs. Every element is in tune with traditional Vietnamese design, but with a modern edge.

Now, let me take you through my food experience at NamNam!

Since they are having a lunch promo, we order the Value Lunch Set (SGD 9.90), which include Vietnamese crunchy salad, Pho, and traditional Vietnamese drink (Viet coffee or lotus tea). The crunchy salad contains pickled vegetables, fish cake, pork belly, and peanuts. It tastes very fresh, a little bit sour and sweet. 

The Pho comes with rice noodles, herbs, broth, and a choice of beef or chicken slices on top of it. I pick beef, it is perfectly cooked and delicious. The noodle is similar to ones served in kwetiau dishes, but smaller. The best part of the Pho is the broth; it is light, yet has a rich beef flavour to it. A little trivia: Vietnamese people usually eat Pho for lunch, but people all around the world seem to eat it whenever they feel like it!

We also order NamNam's traditional spring rolls. What makes Vietnamese spring rolls different from other kinds of spring rolls is their wrapping/ skin. They use an ingredient called 'rice paper'. When the skin is dried, it becomes very crispy, thin, and transparent. The spring rolls contain vegetables and fresh cold boiled prawn. They are complemented with hoisin peanut sauce on the side. 

Last but not least, the drinks. Both the Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk and the lotus tea are very nice. It is also interesting to see the iced coffee's straw, made of bamboo. The best part? You can take the straw home!

And we finally come to the end of this blog post! I will definitely come again to NamNam in the future. I haven't had the chance to try Banh Mi, another traditional Vietnamese food that NamNam also serves. In conclusion, the dishes are fresh, healthy, and delicious. I also had fun 'experimenting' with some sauces and ketchups provided on the table. It is indeed a little bit pricey for my Indonesian wallet, but worth the money. I love NamNam!

M.

NamNam Noodle Bar

Official Website: Click Here

Opening Hours: 10 am to 9:30 pm

Outlets: