MANILA, Philippines – Fans of Vietnamese street food in the metro can now rejoice – a new Vietnamese street food restaurant, Annam Noodle Bar, is now open in the vibrant Eastwood City.
The casual quick-service restaurant was first launched in Singapore in 2012. Known as NamNam Noodle Bar there, it has gained immense popularity amongst local urbanites and tourists alike. Annam Noodle Bar in Manila is based on the very same concept as the original NamNam in Singapore, which pioneered the “trendy Vietnamese” restaurant. Annam is the brand’s first franchise outlet and will no doubt win the hearts of Filipino foodies.
“Annam is our version of the widely successful NamNam Vietnamese Noodle bar, which has rocked both Singapore’s and Jakarta’s dining scene,” Raymund Magdaluyo, Annam Philippines’ Managing Partner, quips. “For me, Annam represents what ought to be the future of our casual dining industry – food that’s great for the body and soul, ambience and vibe appealing to younger diners, and a culture of passion and service integrity embodied by no less than its original founder, Chef Nam Q Nguyen.”
Annam repackages the old-world concept of street food by giving it a modern twist. NamNam’s founder and Managing Director Nam Q Nguyen designed the menu to be one that is simple, healthy, and gentle on the wallet to make Vietnamese street food accessible and affordable for everyone.
Annam aims to evoke the nostalgic street setting in Vietnam, using various elements, from the chic industrial interior to the tightly arranged communal seating and the carefully thought out menu.
Based on classic recipes and cooking methods, Annam offers a wide variety of Vietnamese dishes inspired from the streets of northern, central, and southern Vietnam.
The selection of Hanoi pho pays tribute to the birthplace of Vietnamese pho with six flavours ranging from Pho Beef Steak Slices, the premium Pho Wagyu Beef Slices, to Pho Oxtail and Beef Balls. Quintessential to Vietnamese cuisine, each bowl of rice flour noodles is simmered with an intense broth boiled for at least 24 hours, then topped with lots of fresh herbs.
The noodle journey continues with more street noodle recipes. Star dishes include the Sautéed Lemongrass Pork Noodle – rice vermicelli with delicious marinated pork and fried spring roll, while the Spicy Hue beef noodle – a time-honoured dish from the city of Hue in central Vietnam packs a spicy broth. The Saigon Fisherman’s Noodle Soup is a hearty bowl of mouse-tail noodles with seafood and pork in a piquant broth and is always a crowd favourite.
Apart from noodles, French inspired savoury baguettes known as banh mi make the perfect breakfast or afternoon bite. Each baguette is baked to light, fluffy and crispy perfection, and topped with chicken pate, mayonnaise, hot chilli peppers, pickled carrots and daikon, cucumber and fresh cilantro. Best sellers include the Grilled Chicken, Egg Omelette, Chicken Floss; Caramelised 5- spice Pork Belly; and Sauteed Lemongrass Pork with Cream Cheese.
Enjoy a selection of nine “small plates” dishes complement the meal with the ever-popular Crispy Fried Imperial Rolls; and the traditional Vietnamese Fresh Southern Rolls with Prawn, Fresh Herbs, Peanut Sauce, while the refreshing Pomelo Salad and Tangy Mango Salad make great starters to the meal.
Vegetarians will be pleased with Annam’s meat-less options, including the Vegetarian pho with tofu, tomatoes, leafy vegetables and bean sprouts, simmered in vegetable broth; and the refreshing Vegetarian Southern Rolls with jicama, carrots, and cabbage, served with a peanut dipping sauce.
Those with a sweet tooth will be delighted with the wide variety of cold and hot Viet desserts, from the traditional Chilled 3 Colour Dessert and Chilled Dried Longan, to the all-time favourite Crispy Fried Banana with Coconut Sauce – for a sweet ending to the meal!
To kick-start the morning, Annam’s Vietnamese coffee, a full-bodied brew of premium Robusta beans, is bound to awaken the taste buds with its fragrant aroma.
The pocket-friendly restaurant also offers the ultimate dining deals available on weekdays. The weekday Value Lunch Set includes Fresh Southern Rolls, a choice of Chicken or Beef Pho, and a drink for only PHP 350. Take an afternoon break with the daily Viet Teatime Set that includes a drink with an option of any banh mi for PHP 200 or a dessert for PHP 180.
Annam is located at Unit 1880-4 Ground Floor, 1880 Building, Eastwood Ave., Eastwood City, Libis. Stay updated with the latest Annam news on Facebook and on Instagram. ADVT.