After two sisters spent weeks raving about the incredible seafood pancakes they had in Nha Trang, our cravings finally reached a breaking point. While hopping on a flight to Vietnam wasn’t on the cards, yet, we found ourselves at VietSmith, IMM, Singapore.
About VietSmith
VietSmith takes classic, comforting Vietnamese street food and elevates it into a modern dining experience. Their menu spans from traditional rich, slow-simmered pho broths to street snacks, such as delicate rice paper rolls stuffed with fresh herbs, tender shrimp, and crisp vegetables. For this meal, we didn’t try their contemporary dishes such as the famous grilled Saigon Chicken.
The Feast
Four of us gathered around a table overflowing with flavours: two generous mains paired with four sharing favourites. Having yet to visit Vietnam myself, I can’t speak for the authenticity, but the dishes had won me over.
Here was what made our table:
- Sliced Beef & Meatball Pho ($15.90): The broth was deeply savoury, coating every strand of perfectly cooked pho noodles. The sliced beef was tender and tasted great soaked in the broth.
- Grilled Chicken Dry Vermicelli ($13.90): A vibrant bowl of springy noodles topped generously with chicken, eggs, and vegetables. Like the kang kong, it had came with this strong, flavourful smoky aftertaste.
- Stir-Fry Kang Kong ($8.90): Water spinach generous served with that smoky wok hei aroma.
- Fresh Spring Rolls with Prawn ($7.90) & Fried Yam Roll ($7.90): The crispy yam sticks offered a satisfying crunch alongside light, refreshing rice paper rolls packed with prawns.
And the Pancake
We couldn’t find an exact match for the Nha Trang pancakes our sisters loved, but we ordered their close cousin: the savoury prawn and coconut mini pancakes ($14.90).
I usually steer clear of coconut-flavored dishes, having prefer the coconut itself, but the dish was a wonderful surprise. The delicate coconut batter was fried until crisp around the edges, perfectly complementing the prawns without overpowering them.
Sips & Final Thoughts
To wash it all down, I took a chance on the traditional Vietnamese drip coffee with ice ($5.00). Past experiences left me wary of its sharp acidity, but this aromatic brew was remarkably smooth with the sour aftertaste faint.
I took a look at the reviews as I was doing up this post, and I have to agree, the service was impossibly fast. We had barely finished choosing our drinks after submitting the main food order when the piping hot dishes began arriving at our table.
Overall, I find it a satisfying meal. Delicate, flavourful, and not too strong on the stomach. The dishes had left us four completely full, and coming out to a reasonable $25 per person.
*Not a sponsored post. All prices are in Singapore dollars.
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