Sao Nam

WHY GO

Tuck into traditional Vietnamese favourites, prepared the same way for years, at this charming eatery.

WHAT TO ORDER

Order the deep-fried chicken spring rolls to appreciate the various dipping sauces that accompany the dish. Sao Nam’s yellow-coloured chicken and prawn pancake also includes slices of starfruit to ensure it is brimming with contrasting flavours. Another very tasty and popular dish is the mangosteen and prawn salad, full of sweet and sour tastes and flavoursome goodness.

Two dishes that have been on the menu since the restaurant’s inception are beef stew and the chicken curry with their own unique spice profiles. The chefs ensure that the meat in each dish remains tender and juicy while the complementary sauces are rich and thick. The chicken curry is both sweet and spicy with chunks of sweet potato providing a contrasting texture.

The beef noodle soup is generous and as good as any other found in Vietnam. Bong thien ly or sky flowers is an interesting dish that isn’t listed on the menu but is worth asking for just in case the chefs have been able to secure a supply in the markets. The flowers are lightly fried in garlic and are absolutely delicious.