Ba Noi's

TravisV

3.0

One of the better, but not quite popular food joints along Kapitolyo is Ba Nois. The place serves great Vietnamese food, and for me that means delicious yet still healthy. As I was having a very hectic day, a quick food pit stop was a must. I ordered their Beef Tenderloin Bahn Mi (P220) and a sub-zero San Mig Light (P65) for late lunch. I didnt know that all Bahn Mi were made to order and a 15- minute wait was advised. My pit stop became a pit rest.The best thing about the bahn mi was the bread. They call it a Vietnamese Baguette (How’s that for fusion? : ) ) It was crusty, had a golden color, was very chewy, and had a mild doughy taste. It went very well with the sweet and savory tenderloin beef, sliced cucumber and carrots. It also had a special white dressing which I greatly enjoyed. A bit like sweet ranch with less tanginess. Of course, it wouldn’t be Vietnamese bahn mi without the fresh basil leaves. Next to Italian food, basil always reminds me of various Vietnamese pho and noodle soup. It adds the aromatic and fragrant twist that for me gives character to the whole sandwich. Without it, it would taste like an ordinary steak / cheesesteak sandwich. (No wonder, before the invention of toothpaste and mouthwash, early Romans actually chewed basil as breath freshener. ) The restaurant was decorated with monochromatic images of Hanoi and it exuded a modern- asian rustic feel. They also had a nice menu that made me want to order their other meat and noodle dishes.(i.e. grilled pork, curries, etc. ) and most specially the Vietnamese coffee.Despite the mushrooming of similar restos around the city, I think Vietnamese food still caters to a relatively niche market. Hopefully, with the likes of Ba Nois, it will just be a matter of time before more people appreciate it.

Murat Çakmaklı

4.0

If I summarize my experience in Ba Nois, I'll say it's AWESOME! The place is quite small and it looks like a residential house converted into a restaurant. The parking is small but this is not really a problem for us who like to try different cuisine. I believe Vietnamese food is not really a popular choice among Filipino people so it was quite a surprise that the place was quite packed when we ate there. As first-timers, we decided to order some of their best sellers and chef's recommendations. We ordered Pho Bo which is a noodle dish served with bean sprouts, chili, and lemon. Add some little chili and lemon to the soup (a combination of beef, noodles, and some vegetables) and this results to a more satisfying dish. We originally wanted to order fresh spring rolls but these were not available anymore at the time we went there so we opted to have the fried ones. Wrap a roll with a lettuce and dip it into the sauce to enjoy this dish more. I recommend this one.My companion ate Bun Cha Gio Thit Nu'ong (Fried Spring Rolls and Grilled Pork in Rice Noodles). I was not able to try this one but my companion said that it was also good but not really that exceptional.For dessert, we had Banh Pan Lon which is described as a pandan cake filled with mung bean, drizzled with coconut cream and toasted sesame. I like that it has the right amount of sweetness but I think this one is quite pricy. It looks very similar to our local puto kuntsinta but it has a texture similar to that of a gelatine and it doesn't stick to the teeth.Other minor issue is slow service but it was understandable since it was already peak hours. The staff is generally nice. It exceeded my expectations so I will surely go back for more!