Vietnamese food is one of my favourite cuisines — where else can you find dishes that are incredibly healthy and wholesome, yet delicious? For those residing in Toa Payoh, Viet9 Baguette is a spot where you can enjoy some authentic Vietnamese dishes.
Viet9 Baguette is a takeaway stall that is run by a Vietnamese lady. Located within Toa Payoh Central, the shop specialises mainly in bánh mì, with a small handful of other Vietnamese dishes like spring rolls and grilled pork rice.
All dishes are prepared upon order, causing there to be a waiting time as the owner fills the baguettes and toasts the bread. Each bánh mì is hence warm and crispy when you receive them.
What I tried at Viet9 Baguette
The first dish I dug into from Viet9 Baguette was the Bánh Mì Thịt Nướng (S$6), a baguette filled with BBQ pork, pate and butter. Beneath the pieces of BBQ pork were crunchy pickled daikon and carrots, as well as coriander. I was instantly captivated by the gorgeous golden brown hue of the crisp and crackly baguette, which emanated the alluring scent of butter.
The BBQ pork pieces were tender with a slightly crumbly texture. The meat had a sweet and smokey aroma which reminded me of a less oily version of bakkwa. The pickled daikon and carrots were crunchy and tangy, providing the perfect contrast to the softer texture of the BBQ pork.
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Viet9 Baguette’s Bánh Mì Đặc Biệt (S$7), on the other hand, was one of the more mysterious menu items — its English translation merely read “Special Bread“, and it costed S$1 more than the other bánh mì on the menu. When I asked the staff what the ingredients were, she informed me that it contained an assortment of Vietnamese cold cuts and shredded chicken.
The Vietnamese cold cuts were chewy with a light savoury taste and a hint of sweetness. I loved the shredded chicken within, as it was fluffy and sweet, reminding me of chicken floss. When consumed together with the zesty pickled vegetables and crispy baguette, all flavours and textures were well-balanced, with a good mix of sweetness and savouriness.
I did wish that there was more shredded chicken, however, as I found the portion to be a little small in relation to the size of the baguette.
One of Viet9 Baguette’s non-bánh mì dishes is Cơm Sườn Trứng (S$7), a rice dish topped with grilled pork, an egg and cucumbers, served with a side of fish sauce.
On first glance, I thought that the amount of grilled pork was pretty meagre, especially given how the Cơm Sườn Trứng cost a whole S$7.
I must say that I quite enjoyed the grilled pork, for it was sweet with a smokey, roasted flavour. However, it was slightly on the drier side, and the amount of pork was quite little when compared to the large portion of rice.
The other elements, like the pickled daikon, carrots, fried egg and cucumbers, nicely furnished the dish with their variety of textures and flavours. The tub of fish sauce on the side was sweet with a good amount of saltiness to enhance its flavours, all while not being too fishy. The overall sweetness of Viet9 Baguette’s Cơm Sườn Trứng made it a dish that I’d recommend more for those with a sweet tooth.
Final thoughts
While Viet9 Baguette’s dishes weren’t extremely outstanding, they were still very satisfying and delectable. The bánh mì weren’t as generously stuffed as versions that I’ve tried from other establishments, but were still adequate in providing me with an enjoyable and filling meal.
I’d certainly recommend getting Viet9 Baguette’s bánh mì if you’re in the area and are looking for a reliable and authentic fix to curb your cravings. Overall, though I doubt I’d make a trip down just for these dishes, I would likely try another one of their bánh mì variations if I was nearby.
Expected damage: S$6 - S$8.30 per pax
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