Xuan Mai Restaurant Bangkok

Authentically Vietnamese

Besides Vietnamese mainstays such as pho bo (beef noodle soup), pho ga (chicken noodle soup) and fresh spring rolls, Xuan Mai's menu also offers a speciality dish like delectable Vietnamese papaya salad (no, it's not som tum), which is a plate of crunchy shredded green papaya, drizzled with dried sweet pork and holy basil leaves - a refreshing appetizer that will leave you wanting more. Another not-to-be-missed is grilled chicken with coconut and mung bean sticky rice, served with a bamboo and cucumber salad on the side.

While noodle soup comes in a few varieties, the most notable has to be 'Hu tien My Tho' (South Vietnamese style noodle). Served alongside garden-fresh bean sprouts, basil leaves and a slice of lime, this noodle soup is a speciality dish from the town of My Tho, south of Saigon. Hu tien My Tho is best eaten with everything mixed together, including hoi sin and chili sauce. Don't forget to leave some room for desserts. Try 'Che troi nuoc', sticky rice flour and sweet bean dumplings in an aromatic ginger broth with a dash of ground coconut and coconut cream. The contrasting flavours of ginger and sweet dumpling is unforgettable. Then top everything off with scrumptious French Quarter beignets, a fried doughnut sprinkled with icing sugar.

Service is swift and friendly, with the charming owner serving the food herself. If you're wondering what's in your 'Com ga xao xa ot', feel free to ask her. She'll be more than happy to answer any question you may have. If you're looking for authentic, reasonably-priced Vietnamese food in an unpretentious setting, Xuan Mai would be the perfect choice.