Looking for a Vietnamese restaurant in the Philippines where you can have real tasty pho? Annam Noodle Bar in Eastwood is the move. Inspired by old-world recipes and cooking methods from Northern, Central, and Southern Vietnam, Annam Noodle Bar’s menu boasts iconic and authentic Vietnamese street food favorites that can be relished at any time of the day. The refreshing flavors, varied textures, and vibrant colors add a touch of the west to these Vietnamese dishes.
Known as “NamNam Noodle Bar” in Singapore, Annam Noodle Bar now has been repackaged with a modern twist. This restaurant located at the ground floor of 1880 Building in Eastwood opened last July 6, 2016 and I was one of the first who was invited to try out their dishes. 🙂 Whether you’re team pho, team banh mi, or both, it’s hands down a delicious meal you can get for PhP 500/head or less. Plus, it’s time to get healthier. Annam Noodle Bar takes pride in the fact that 95% of their menu does not contain Monosodium Glutamate (MSG).
Review of Annam Noodle Bar (Eastwood, Libis, Quezon City)
Ambiance:
Bright lights, nicely spaced out table settings, and wooden accents set the cozy mood. Every element from the chic industrial interior, tightly arranged communal seating to the menu is carefully curated to evoke the nostalgic street setting in Vietnam. Overall ambiance provides a sense of retreat from the hustle and bustle of Eastwood’s vibrant streets, so guests can come and enjoy a lunch break from the office or a premium dinner with friends.
Service:
Annam Noodle Bar applies a quick-service concept and the way things work here are pretty simple: take a seat at either one of the long communal tables, by the counter, or the regular tables at the back. The staff hands you the menu and the order list where you will check the items you’re getting, much like in a shabu-shabu restaurant where you tick all the ingredients you want for your food. Wait for the food shortly and enjoy. Service was welcoming, helpful, and neat.
Food:
The Crispy Imperial Rolls (PhP 200) got the ideal crumb, chew and crunch. The rolls were not too greasy but juicy and hearty enough to be qualified as a solid appetizer at Annam. Covered with crispy exterior, the meaty fillings tasted great, especially with the sweet and sour dipping sauce.
Vietnamese sandwiches are a foodstuff you can eat even on the go. A product of French colonial Vietnam, the sandwich combines the basic French baguette with Vietnamese take on common French cold cuts or roasted meats. Annam Noodle Bar’s banh mi varieties look interesting.
For fans of heat, banh mi made of chili-lemongrass chicken, egg omelette, chicken floss (PhP 230) and the one filled with fried catfish with spices (PhP 230) are recommended. Both had a smear of a sweet, buttery, mayonnaise-like spread, and plenty of crisp vegetables. These are insanely tasty combinations of contrasting textures and flavors, but the overall impression, as with much Vietnamese food, is of lightness and freshness.
Served with powerful, pungent condiments to accompany the aromatic broth, the star of the night must be the Pho Australian Wagyu Beef Sliced (PhP 550). The rich, crystal clear, intensely aromatic soup was almost tantalizing. Tastes include both sweet and salty; and the feel, cooling and warming. As with other Asian cuisines, it’s all about balance—yin and yang, if you may. There’s also a handful of fresh herbs and spring onions added to the bowl. Chewy and oozy, moist and tender, the wagyu beef was excellent. Chili sauce and fish sauce are made available on the table for those who like a jolt of extra flavor to their pho.
Out of all the drinks on the menu, the Lemongrass-Ginger Iced Tea (PhP 150) is the particular standout. It was love at first sip! The earthy aroma of the lemongrass and the heat from the ginger made up an exotic taste that is pleasing and delightful.
Plenty of dessert choices looked tempting but I my eyes were all for the Chilled Dried Longan, Lotus Seeds, Water Chestnut, Seaweed Dessert (PhP 180) because I thought it’s Vietnam’s version of the Filipino halo-halo. 🙂 Food for the Viet is medicine, and most of their dishes include desserts that draw natural ingredients such as herbs, fruits, vegetables, beans and seaweed together with nutrition in mind. Lotus seeds brought a nutty texture; and the finely sliced seaweed, an interesting and refreshing touch of soft gelatin. Longans are like lychees but more succulent in taste.
Annam Noodles also serves the famous Viet coffee and sells it per box with 22 sachets. Diners who are curious about the taste of Viet coffee should try it. Brewed using top-grade robusta coffee beans that are selected to ensure quality and flavor, you can make your own full-bodied cup of aromatic coffee at home any time, any day. Adding sweetened condensed milk may enhance the taste as it’s the perfect counterbalance for the incredibly strong dark-roasted coffee.
Price for Value:
Prices are distinctively more expensive than your regular hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese food joint. I’d say it’s a little more top end of the “cheap-eat” market, but you can be rest assured that food and service are great in this nice space. As the adage goes, you get what you pay for, and you are certainly paying for darn good pho. If you haven’t tried Vietnamese cuisine before, this is the perfect chance to start with the appreciation. Try banh mi and pho. They’re pretty good stuff! 🙂
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
I love any type of soup and everything looks so good. I love the layout too where you can eat up to the counter so if I am by myself I don’t have to take up a table.
Right. That’s what I thought too. There are times when I just want to be alone and enjoy the moment as much as the food. This is a good place to do that. 🙂
A noodle bar! Oh, I would totally love this. This is my kind of food. And that sandwich looks amazing. Looks and sounds like a great place to visit for lunch or dinner.
I love a good noodle bar and this one sounds like up my street. The food looks really good and love the idea of being able to eat up at the bar especially if you’re alone.
Everything looks absolutely amazing! I love pasta and noodles in all forms, so this is something that I would really love. The Lemongrass Ginger Tea sounds amazing, too! I don’t know that I would have ever thought of seaweed in a dessert, though!
That’s a pretty high rating! I like the way they designed the restaurant because it gives you that “local” tropical feel. The food looks great as well. I’m sure it’s worth the price!
It’s a bit pricey than other Vietnamese food but I guess they make up for it with their food and service. I’ll try to check this out.
I admire your review because it’s true; the setting, decors and lightings are superb especially the food. Eastwood reataurants is a place to discover something new
I’ve never heard of a noodle bar before, sounds interesting. Also, I’ve never had Vietnamese food. Since I live in Arizona, I don’t know how “authentic” it might be if I found it out here, but I guess it’s worth a try. That sandwich sure looked good!
Wow! quite cozy for a Noodle Bar. If only those resto in Georgia offers the same ambient atmosphere for clients then mas masarap kumain doon. One thing I’ve missed while in the US for 6 months is the Chinese dishes. Bilang lang ang Chinese resto roon. Nice review Roch as usual.
Place looks great. The pho noodles look great on that photo. I think I want to try this but seems expensive compared to other Vietnamese restaurants. P200 for 3 rolls? I guess this one will have to wait for a special occasion.
This looks like a great dining option! I am drooling over the sandwich!
I love Robusta coffee!!! Btw I dunno if they know – Annam in pure form of the language Tamil means Rice! Perfect name for a restaurant…
I like vietnamese food. And i like the restaurants interiors. Very cozy and its like a family and barkada go to place
Everything looks so yummy. Looks like a great place to enjoy a nice lunch or dinner. I love any kind of noodles so I know i would enjoy it!
Okay, so I’m officially hungry now. It’s a good thing that we have a number of Vietnamese restaurants here in Bacolod so when the craving gets more frequent, I’ll just head to these restos since Annam is quite far from where I am. But it looks good – the ambiance, the food, and the ordering system. This is something my friends and I will try if I were still based there.
This looks a perfect place to eat or hang out with friends. food looks quite nice and yummy.
I liked those filled buns…Would love to try out..Yes, Vietnamese coffee is so good..
Sounds easy enough to order. The food looks great and the seating areas look inviting too! Nice find!
The food here looks like So Pho in Singapore. Vietnamese food is really expensive in Singapore, so I usually won’t go there for food..
Great environment.. Nice food.. Time for me to go and eat.. HUngry d…
The restaurant looks amazing. It is a place that would be comfy to catch up with friends and office buddies. The food would provide different variety of taste and choices chose from. It would be the first place i visit to eat if i i ever travel to Philippines to search out a Vietnam experience.