Annam Noodle Bar

I’ve been quite inactive in blogging events lately especially those related to newly-opened restaurants.  So when I got an invite to try out Annam Noodle Bar in Eastwood City, I just couldn’t contain my excitement!  The day I was invited was luckily a Philippine holiday so my schedule was just perfect!  It was actually Annam Noodle Bar’s first day of operations.  All the important folks behind Annam Noodle Bar were there.  Even the chef from the original Namnam Noodle Bar in Singapore.  So this was quite an experience!

Chef Nam is the founder and managing director of Annam Noodle Bar.  He spent seven years of his life in Vietnam before his family fled to Denmark when Vietnam fell to the communists.  Even though he has spent only seven years in Saigon, his parents ensured that Chef Nam kept to his Vietnamese culture & tradition.  

Chef Nam has travelled across the world working in various restaurant and hotels before he ventured into his own business.  That’s when Namnam Noodle Bar was born in 2012.  Namnam Noodle Bar quickly gained its success in Raffles City, Singapore.  Several more branches were opened at prime locations such as Wheelock Place, Suntec City & Plaza Singapura.

In 2015, Namnam Noodle Bar opened its first overseas branch in Jakarta, Indonesia.  And since it won the hearts of the locals, there are now three branches in the country with further plans to expand.

This year, Namnam Noodle Bar opens its doors in our country, the Philippines.  It’s called Annam Noodle Bar in our country and it’s located in Eastwood City.  As I entered the restaurant, I was very impressed in its interiors.  It’s super Instagram-friendly!  

Annam Noodle Bar‘s mission is to serve value-for-money, fresh and healthy Vietnamese street food in a nostalgic setting with a modern touch.  They serve Vietnamese street food favourites such as Pho and Banh Mi.  

Their selling point is that

• their food is affordable
• their restaurants are easily accessible and
• they do not serve monosodium glutamate (MSG).

For me, when I think about Vietnamese food, all I can think about is fried spring rolls and yummy Pho!  Both are available at Annam Noodle Bar, yay!

To order, we just need to fill out a form, put the quantity of the dish or drink, and give to the server for processing.  Pretty simple, right?  It’s also good that the menu has pictures of most of the dishes which helps a lot in giving us an idea on what we’ll order.

I know that words just doesn’t cut it especially in this world of food blogging.  The photos are what you need to see, right?  So I’ll make you hungry by showing you tons of food that we tried out that day.  I intend to go back to Annam Noodle Bar in the next few weeks.  I just have to eat the Saigon Fisherman’s Noodle Soup (which has the most awesome soft shell crab :D) again!

SMALL PLATES

Green Papaya Salad, Beef Jerky, Fresh Herbs, Peanuts (PHP 250)

Prawn & Sesame Rice Crackers (PHP 130)
I took a picture of the crackers together with the salad as it’s best eaten with them.  This is a starter I intend to eat again once I go back to Annam Noodle Bar.

Fresh Southern Rolls with Prawn, Pork, Fresh Herbs, Peanut Sauce (PHP 170)

Vegetarian Southern Rolls, Fresh Herbs, Peanut Sauce (PHP 170)
fresh spring roll with jicama, carrots, cabbage, served with a peanut dipping sauce

Crispy Imperial Rolls (PHP 200)

Caramelised Chicken Wings, Shrimp Paste (PHP 200)

 

BANH MI
Toasted baguettes stuffed with savoury meats, chicken pate, mayonnaise, hot chilli peppers, pickled carrots, daikon, cucumber and fresh cilantro

Fried Catfish with Spices (PHP 230) 

 

HANOI PHO
Hanoi is the birthplace of Vietnamese Pho – a bowl of rice flour noodles with intense broth boiled over 24 hours, garnished with fresh herbs and spring onions

Pho Australian Oxtail & Beef Balls (PHP 400)
I was told that Annam Noodle Bar’s broth is boiled for at least 24 hours.  No wonder that even without MSG, their pho is very tasty!

 

OTHER NOODLES
Other classic Vietnamese noodle recipes from Southersn & Central Vietnam

Saigon Fisherman’s Noodle Soup (PHP 380)
hearty bowl of mouse-tail noodles with seafood and pork in a piquant broth
This is my favourite main entree because of the soft shell crab!

Sautéed Lemongrass Pork Noodle (PHP 320)
Rice noodle, fried imperial roll, bean sprouts, peanuts

For noodle orders, if we think we need more of the toppings (which I think are already served generously), we can order.  The available toppings are spring onions + white onions (PHP 70), fresh herbs + bean sprouts (PHP 70), soft boiled egg (PHP 30), noodles – choice of rice, instant or fresh egg (PHP 60), Australian beef steak slices – 5 medium-rare slices (PHP 100), Australian  beef tendon (PHP 100), Steamed chicken (PHP 100), Beef balls – 2 pieces (PHP 100), Australian beef combination (PHP 130), Australian oxtail (PHP 160) & Australian Wagyu beef slices – 3-4 medium-rare slices (PHP 250).

 

VIET DESSERTS

Saigon Sally Sundae (PHP 200)

Chilled Dried Longan, Lotus Seeds, Water Chestnut, Seaweed Dessert (PHP 180)

Vanilla Pudding, Palm Sugar Caramel (PHP 150)

 

BEVERAGES

Pineapple-coconut lime Iced Tea (PHP 150)

Iced Viet Coffee with Condensed Milk (PHP 120)
This can either be served hot or cold

Lemongrass-ginger Iced Tea (PHP 150)

 

By the end of this year, Annam Noodle Bar will open its door in another Branch here in the Philippines.  The 2nd branch will be in Resorts World Manila.  Boy, I just am not used to writing about restaurants anymore.  I’m so hungry right now 🙁

——————–
Annam Noodle Bar
Unit 1880-4 Ground Floor, 1880 Building, Eastwood Avenue, Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City, Philippines
+63-2-9010070
10AM to 3AM Daily
www.namnamnoodlebar.com