We love a good, piping hot bowl of beef pho or a freshly made banh mi baguette sandwich anytime of the day – whether it’s home delivery or dining out at a restaurant. There’s just something about authentic Vietnamese food that makes it so satisfying! Modern Vietnamese restaurant Que recently moved to 111 Somerset after two years of operating in a humble coffeeshop stall in Toa Payoh. We sent EL reader Jason Keys for a taste test!
Reader review: Vietnamese food at Que
If you’re like me, and the travel restrictions of 2020 are preventing you from visiting your favourite holiday destinations, why not do the next best thing and enjoy the equivalent culinary delights on offer here in Singapore? Following a recent realisation that my memory of lying on the beaches in Thailand and Vietnam was beginning to fade away, I gathered the family and ventured down to see the good people at Que for some authentic Vietnamese nosh.
The ambience
Que, pronounced the same as “que” in “que sera sera”, means “hometown” in Vietnamese. And this place presented exactly the kind of casual, down-to-earth feel that I was looking for to bring back those memories of the healthy, yet very tasty, home-cooked meals from the restaurants of Hoi An. The restaurant is located just a short walk to the south of Somerset MRT, away from the throng of people trawling Orchard Road. The parking around there is also a lot cheaper, too!
The front of the restaurant is open to the shopping mall footfall, which is not our normal choice for a dinner venue. However, the quieter location and friendly staff made it a comfortable setting as we sat down to eat in the spacious open area adjacent to the kitchen itself.
What’s on the menu?
Having turned 15 last month, our daughter is starting to expand her tastes in different cuisines; however, the spring rolls are always a favourite and we couldn’t resist giving Que’s a try. So as a starter we indulged in the fresh goi cuon signature pork and prawn spring rolls ($5.50 for two pieces) and the fried spring rolls ($6.50 for four pieces). Sure enough, they didn’t disappoint.
Next up, we went for another favourite – beef pho – although we spoiled ourselves with an upgrade to wagyu slices ($10.90, plus $9). We asked for the spices to be kept on the side so we could add to our own preference; the staff happily obliged, and the result was close to the best beef pho I’ve had in Singapore. After that, we experimented a little more broadly and shared the salmon bun cha que – a salmon and vermicelli noodle salad ($14.90) – as well as a banh mi premium beef baguette ($9.90). All of the food was so fresh, and the meat marinated with so much flavour, that for a moment we did feel like we were in the back streets of Hoi An.
For something to wash the food down, I went looking for the usual Saigon Beer. In a neat twist toward fusion style, Que offers a selection of Belgian craft beers and fruity ciders. It didn’t take me long to suggest that the combination of a beef banh mi and Belgian beer would send my rugby mates drooling.
Home delivery
Vietnamese food menus tend to have a lot of choices and Que’s is no exception. And trying some of the other dishes will be a simple matter, as the restaurant offers online ordering. With a minimum spend of $50 (easily achievable for our family), and a delivery charge of $5, we’ll take advantage of that soon!
Que
111 Somerset Road, #01-K10
8028 6337 | que.sg
Liked our Vietnamese food review? Check out more on our Wine & Dine page!
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