If there is anything that bring friends together, it is because of 1.) crisis, 2.) of a life moment and 3.) most definitely because of food (and good coffee, if I may so add). And so when I met with friends last Saturday, I decided to kill two birds with one stone and invite them to Tra Vinh, so we could bond over delicious Vietnamese food and chat on the happenings in our lives lately.
Yipp. Tra Vinh is no stranger to WhenInManila. The restaurant has been featured two times before cause we love to eat here! Its hard enough to find Vietnamese restaurants around the metro and to find one that you like to eat at… its kind of rare. 🙂
You can read the articles here btw: Tra Vinh Manila: A Delicious Vietnamese Gastronomical Experience and Trà Vinh of Australia: A Taste of Vietnam in Manila
Tra Vinh has just release a new items on its menu and we are excited to try them!
We had Tôm Chiên, a dish made of of pan fried large tiger prawns with the traditional Tra Vinh salt and pepper mix. Me likey. Really flavourful, can be easily shared by 2 people — or just yourself. I know I can. :p
We also had the Cá Chiên, fried salt and pepper fish with onion and herb toppings. You think you’ve eaten them all, all salt and pepper dishes, but this one is seasoned differently. It tastes even different from the Tôm Chiên, which is surprising cause they use the same seasoning. The fish is BIG. The herb toppings are worth the mention, because the onions are just slightly sautéed, and not caramelized, which gives it a wee bit kick when you chew it together with the fish.
Our favorite is up next. It is one of the newest dishes on their menu, and has become one of their signature authentic dish – the Canh Chua Cá, the Vietnamese Fish Soup. It is a traditional Vietnamese sweet and sour soup with seasonal fresh fish, served with noodles or rice. It’s good for 3++ pax, di ka mabibitin.
I was tempted to go for noodles but the rice loving kid inside of me won. Hehe. If you ever tried this dish, can you let me know how it goes with noodles? I am dying to know.
We also tried Bánh Xèo, the Vietnamese pancake. It’s new on the menu too. It’s crispy Vietnamese pancake with shrimp, pork and veggies. Kinda like our okoy but much bigger and have softer shell because it was cooked under low heat. It is served with lettuce, mustard leaf, herbs, mint and the Tra Vinh special dressing.
We were told that the proper way to eat it is to cut the pancake into little pieces, roll ’em in lettuce or mustard leaf with your herb of choice, put some dressing on it, and Voila!
At Tra Vinh, they also served yummy drinks, coffee included. I was able to try their Vietnamese Iced Coffee. It was served with a drippy cup on top of the glass, containing hot coffee. At the bottom of the glass, sweet milk. Yum.
They also have the blended one, so you have two options. It is served in a mason jar. 🙂
Speaking of blended, they have awesome shakes. Fresh! I got to try the avocado shake. In all fairness, it was not watery, and I am excited to try the Guyabano when they are in season, which is soon!
Now if you are a juice person, there’s a refreshing drink you can try at Tra Vinh. They call it Tra Vinh Home Brew Vietnamese Iced Tea. I don’t know what’s in there, we were trying to guess… hmmm probably a hint of mint? Hehe. Nevertheless, we liked it so much, we asked for another round of it. It reminds me of the beach. Recommended specially now that summer is here. Nakakarefresh, promise. 🙂
If you are ever in the are, don’t forget to go to Tra Vinh for your lunch and/or dinner. There are lots of healthy finds and new dishes to try!
Trà Vinh Philippines
109 Unit 3 N.S. Amoranto Sr. Ave cor. Cordillera Ave, Quezon City
Telephone: +63 2 742 1718
www.facebook.com/TraVinhPhilippines/
