A note on the words: nuoc mam is Vietnamese fish sauce, used here to season the stir-fried water spinach. Cilantro (the fresh herb, not the dried seed) shows up throughout. Lemongrass is used as a marinade for both the fried tofu and the grilled pork on this menu.
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PHUONG NAM on Tabelog (English) — opening hours, payment details and the Japanese address are kept up to date there, not here.
So, it’s Hangover Meshi time. This time I went to “PHUONG NAM,” a restaurant in Roppongi serving proper Southern Vietnamese home cooking. The Vietnamese food here is the real thing and really delicious. It was a Friday night and everywhere was booked solid, and I was in a bit of trouble, but when I called they had a seat free in the back — a lucky break. So I went straight over and gave it a try.
Since it’s been a while since I came at night, tonight is a browse-the-menu-and-order-whatever-looks-good kind of night!
The logo looks so cool!
The usual stir-fried water spinach, but the light hit of fish sauce makes it feel different from the Chinese-style version, in a good way ^^
I think this one’s called yum woon sen? I really like green papaya, so I always end up ordering it. Delicious!
Cube-cut fried tofu — or rather, it looks like they fried a cube of tofu to begin with rather than cutting a slab afterward.
The fresh scent of lemongrass is really nice!
This one also carries that same lemongrass scent — grilled pork.
A fried rice with mixed vegetables, more like a pilaf ^^
Fried spring rolls! The wrapper is shredded into fine threads, which makes them even lighter and crispier — so good.
I wonder if this is the Vietnamese style!
A hearty 200 grams of diced beef chuck steak. Well-seasoned, so it makes a perfect drinking snack.
This one feels like something I could make at home ^^
Corn stir-fried with tiny shrimp in butter and fish sauce. An addictive combination!
Fried catfish ^^ Since it’s a white fish, it’s surprisingly light.
So, ordering a good variety of things left me completely full! I’d had the image that Vietnamese food carries a fairly strong smell from fish sauce and cilantro, but every dish here came together soft and mellow, and it was very easy to eat and delicious. Is that just how southern cooking is? Or have they adjusted it for Japanese tastes? Either way, it was delicious, so I’m glad I came!
PHUONG NAM (Vietnamese / Roppongi Station, Roppongi-itchome Station, Nogizaka Station)
Tabelog lunch rating ★★★☆☆ 3.5
I ate here and paid for it myself. Nothing on this site is a comped meal.
One more for the road?
