Long Phung: Best Authentic Vietnamese restaurant in Singapore
I am always insearch of Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant in Singapore, and when you talk about Vietnamese food, you will come across some of their well know delicacies. One of them is Pho (Vietnamese Noodle Soup) which comes with proteins such as Beef, Chicken, and Pork among others.
Having travelled to Vietnam (more often to Ho Chi Minh City) for more than 10 years, I have been hunting for a Vietnamese Restaurant in Singapore, which serves Pho Bo (Beef Noodles) to the closest standard of Vietnam. One of my recommendations will be Long Phuong at Joo Chiat Road, which has been around for close to 15 years.
One day, my buddies made a special request for me to bring them for a taste of authentic Vietnamese food. We decided to pay Long Phung a visit.
THE EXPERIENCE
We arrived at 7pm and there was already a long queue. Usually, the restaurant will be packed during peak periods such as lunch and dinner hours. We were informed by a waitress that the wait might be at least 30 to 45 minutes. We were fine with it and waited.
My buddies asked how did I know about such a restaurant tuck in the middle of Joo Chiat Road? Well, previously, Joo Chiat Road was 1 happening night spot, with lots of bars and clubs. I used to frequent around the area with a mentor who taught me everything about Vietnamese culture. However, throughout the years, the government has cleared the area, and F&B and tourism instead. I would say, it is quite a similar situation as Geylang now.
Anyway, the wait was finally over, and we were offered a table nearest to the entrance of the restaurant. We were all so hungry and ready to eat. My buddies left the order to me, so I went for their Rare Beef Steak Noodle Soup (Pho Tai), Stewed Pork with Egg (Com Thit Kho Hot Vit), and their traditional Mini Pancakes (Banh Knot). For drinks, my buddies went for their popular Vietnamese ice coffee (Café Sua Da), fresh coconut and iced tea for me.
Please do not have high expectation of the restaurant decorations. The restaurant was simple with rustic tables and chairs, and the walls were decorated with photos of various dishes. Some people might feel the restaurant a little cramp. However, what I felt most important will be that they serve great authentic Vietnamese food.
The taste of the broth from the Pho Tai was tasty. The slice beef were thin, tender and served rare. The Stewed Pork was my all-time favourite, which was well seasoned and tender. The black sauce was sweet and went perfectly well on rice. My buddies enjoyed the Mini Pancakes and Ice Coffee very much.
THE OUTCOME
After so many years, Long Phuong is still my favourite Vietnamese restaurant for authentic Vietnamese cuisines. They do offer an extensive menu of items, much more than most Vietnamese restaurants in Singapore, so do check them out when you are here. The other plus point is that the prices are reasonable for such high-quality food. Its truly a hidden gem.
Long Phung
159 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427436
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