The good thing about the Credit Crunch (and let's face it, there aren't many positives) is that it gives you the chance (/forces you) to explore the city's cheaper, less-SoHo-based restaurants. Nha Trang in Wan Chai is the ultimate credit crunch restaurant. It looks swanky inside but is actually cheap as chips ... and fantastic to boot.
The original version of Nha Trang in Wellington Street has been a staple of mine of for a while, a place to solve that mid-week craving of pho tai. It’s a great little café but the rather cramped interior and hectic atmosphere just isn't always what you want. This new restaurant with its identikit menu provides the solution for when you want your fix of pho tai in spacious surroundings with a bit of relaxed comfort.
If I’m being totally honest with myself, my cravings for Nha Trang are actually less about the pho tai and more about the Grilled Aubergine dish. It is phenomenal and rather boringly, I have it every time I go. The aubergine has been grilled and left to cool and, with its topping of shrimp and scallions, it is lip-smackingly juicy and sweet. It also contrasts nicely with the Pomelo Grilled Prawns Salad. The prawns sitting on skewers on top of the bowl were over-cooked but that didn’t really matter because in the grand scheme of things it is not about the prawns but about the bowl of pomelo covered with a tangy lime dressing. Our third shared starter was a plate of deep-fried vegetable rolls which E.L. had been going on about since before lunch and which therefore couldn’t be avoided. They were beautifully crispy without feeling too oily - and also contrasted nicely with the tangy pomelo salad!
Rather recklessly my friend L.O. decided to venture into the unknown and instead of the tried-and-tested pho tai, ordered the sizzling crepes Saigon, rice flour crepes flavoured with coconut and curry and filled with pork, shrimp and vegetables. Although it looked a little oily from where I was sitting, it was apparently really tasty - L.O. describing it as being in the category of comfort food!
It’s not fancy haute-cuisine but it is good, tasty food at fantastically reasonable prices in a nice setting. As such, perfect.
Shop No 2,
2/F Wu Chung House,
213 Queen’s Road East,
Wanchai
Tel: 2891 1177
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