Little Vietnam Guillemard Road Review : Budget Al Fresco Dining

 

A full-course meal for two at just $50?

With rising inflation, having a meal at a restaurant can easily rack up to $50 per pax for a full-course meal that includes starters, mains, desserts and drinks. During one of our weekly dining escapades, we discovered this spot by Geylang River with a row of eateries. We chose the one that has the most crowd- Little Vietnam.

Little Vietnam

Littel Vietnam at Grandlink

Located at the start of Geylang River on Guillermard Road, Little Vietnam is located at Grandlink Square, a dodgy-looking mall that seemed to be stuck in the 1980s. Little Vietnam provides indoor dining that spans over 2 shop spaces.  While the seats are ample, it does feel a tad cramped indoors.

Little Vietnam Interior

They have an outdoor seating area too. We recommend dining outdoors as it is less claustrophobic. It may be al fresco dining by the river, but it is not as glamorous as dining on the Singapore River ala Boat Quay or Clark Quay.  

Al Fresco At Little Vietnam

Instead, you get a kampong feel while dining outdoors, setting the mood for the evening. Seats were packed closely to each other. Even if you are at separate tables, conversations can be heard clearly from the next one. This is not a place for deep conversations. 

Self Service

Self Service

Since Little Vietnam does not have a service charge, do not expect full service. You would have to get your own utensils and condiments from a trolley.  Given the 'savings' we would have, it was not an issue for us.

The Food

Let's get to the good part. The best part of this is the meals. We had to scan a QR to check out the menu and were surprised to see most items listed were a single digit. While QR code ordering is not everyone's cup of tea, it is probably done to save cost for service staff.

Value for Money Vietnamese Dishes

In total, we had 2 drinks, 2 starters, 1 Pho Tai, 1 main, a large plate of prawns and dessert for just a notch above $50 ( Final Bill at $52.2). That is a total of 8 items. The restaurant does not charge GST or service charges, so what you see is what you pay. Do note that payment is only by cash or pay now.

Starter

Gỏi cuốn( $3.80)

Gỏi cuốn

2 Pieces of Vietnamese Spring Rolls with peanut sauce are provided. They came stuffed with prawns, mint leaves and bean sprouts. While they are filling, they are less minty than some of the other Goi Cuon we have tried in the past. Instead, the bean sprouts provided the dominant flavour for these spring rolls.

Chả giò( $6.00)

Cha Gio

Chai Gio is the fried version of Vietnamese Spring Rolls. The rice paper is well-fried and crispy. One of the better dishes.

Main

Pho Tai ( $8.20)

Pho Tai

Got a Pho Tai since it is probably the sample dish most would order if they are looking for individual dishes. The sliced beef was soft and easy to eat. Pho Thai is considered to be a healthy noodle soup dish given the ingredients and rice noodles used.

Thịt kho trứng($7.50)

Thịt kho trứng

This braised Pork belly and egg dish is right on the money. Tender Pork Belly that is flavourful. The portions are a tad small, but at the price point, we can hardly complain.

Tôm nướng muối ớt ($18.50) 

Tôm nướng muối ớt

Usually, we would skip the seafood as it is the most expensive item on the menu. Since the rest of the dishes were affordable, a little indulgence was worth it. This grilled salt and chilli prawn is a popular Vietnamese street food.

Spicy!

The portions are huge, with 8 prawns in total. It comes with a dipping sauce of salt, ground black pepper and lime wedges. Technically, you need not peel off the skin with your hands; it can be done with your teeth. The downside of doing so is that it is spicy until it inflames your lips. Still, worth every bite.

Dessert

Bánh chuối ($4.20)

Bánh chuối

This is an interesting dessert. It comprises steamed banana cake, coconut cream, peanut butter and tapioca starch. It is a warm dessert and is refreshing after a hearty meal.

Drinks

Ice Vietnamese Tea ($1), Lemongrass Drink ($3)

There are many drink options, from smoothies to Vietnamese and local drinks. The price is decent enough.

Verdict

Despite the close seating, we were happy with our meal. While it may not be the tastiest Vietnamese food, it is authentic and definitely one of the more affordable options.  The place may not be the best place for chit-chat, but it has its charms. 

Little Vietnam

In terms of value and quality, it is on par, if not better, than the ones we had sampled at Joo Chiat Road. Service was fast despite the crowd.  If you can overlook the quirky mall, Little Vietnam is worth a visit. Do head there early for seats as we noted that it can get full by 7pm on a Saturday evening.

There are a couple more food options in the vicinity. Soi 72 (Thai) and  Honey Night (Korea) are on our list for the next visit.

Disclaimer
The views on this post are based on personal experiences and opinions. The ranking is based on 5 stars. Rankings are based on personal experience and may not reflect the same as what others may have experienced.TWD is not liable for any experiences by the reader at the establishment. #notsponsored