Whenever my husband and I feel the need to eat well on a low budget, we head to Chinatown and stake out a table at Nha Trang. The Vietnamese food here is authentic, good and dirt cheap. Service is efficient and the turnover high. Don’t expect anything fancy in terms of décor. Sometimes, you even have to share a large table with one or two other groups.
Not that the food suffers at all. Sit down for a comforting bowl of Pho’, rice noodle soup in clear beef broth. Variations are in the toppings you desire—sliced raw or cooked beef, beef or fish balls, sate beef, seafood or chicken. For $3.75, this is a real deal. Crispy spring rolls and summer rolls with shredded pork or shrimp are great. The barbequed shrimp roll on a sugar cane are flavorful, as are the froglegs stir fried with chili and lemon grass. Prices range from $3.00 to $8.00.
For the cheapest meal, opt for the rice dishes with a small portion of an entrée on top. My favorite is the Com Bo Luc Lac for $4.50. Beef cubes are stir fried in soy sauce and garlic. The portion is not big, but enough for lunch or dinner if you also order an appetizer. The curry chicken is good as is the squid, chili and lemon grass, and barbequed pork chop over rice.
Bun’s are perfect in the summertime. Cold rice vermicelli is served in a bowl with shredded carrots, pickles and bean sprouts and your choice of beef sate, chicken curry or spring rolls. Sweet and sour sauce and mint leaves are mixed in for a refreshing summer meal. These are $3.75 each.
Drinks are a must here. Order the French ice coffee with condensed milk when you first sit down, and wait for the hot water to drip through the small percolator. The fresh lemonade is not too sweet and very refreshing. The longan ice is another personal favorite. The rainbow ice or the green bean with coconut milk are great for dessert. These are shaved ice with jelly and various sweet beans in syrup and coconut milk.
One time, some tourist friends stopped by for a meal by themselves and were persuaded to order the soft shell crab special as well as other pricier items. The meal was delicious, but they left paying more than they had expected. Stick with the lower priced items and you can often get away with a check of $14.00 including tip and drinks for two people. That’s a bargain.
There is a new branch called Nha Trang Center at 148 Center Street, tel: 212-941-9292. This is new and more pleasant. It is geared towards the courthouse crowd as well as the many companies which have sprung up nearby. Seating is more comfortable and table sharing is rare. Prices and food quality are the same as the old branch, making it a better bet.