I haven't officially eaten Vietnamese food other than Pho. I've only seen pictures of delicious, fried sweet and sour meats over sticky white rice. When a friend suggested we have our monthly lunch date at a Vietnamese restaurant, I was extremely excited.
One thing that I love about the states is the VARIETY of food, AUTHENTIC food. I was looking forward to straying from the usual samgyeopsal (Korean BBQ) or kimbap/kimchi jjiggae. At this point, Korean food is no longer "exotic" or exciting. It's a part of life!
As I mentioned previously, I've eaten Pho, and had NO interest whatsoever in ordering it again, despite the sub 30 degree weather outside. We actually planned on going to a different Vietnamese restaurant, but we couldn't find it, so we settled with Pho Ban Vienamese Cuisine. No, I did not spell Vietnamese incorrectly, that's how it was spelled all over the building. Sign #1 of an underwhelming "Vietnamese" experience.
One thing that I love about the states is the VARIETY of food, AUTHENTIC food. I was looking forward to straying from the usual samgyeopsal (Korean BBQ) or kimbap/kimchi jjiggae. At this point, Korean food is no longer "exotic" or exciting. It's a part of life!
As I mentioned previously, I've eaten Pho, and had NO interest whatsoever in ordering it again, despite the sub 30 degree weather outside. We actually planned on going to a different Vietnamese restaurant, but we couldn't find it, so we settled with Pho Ban Vienamese Cuisine. No, I did not spell Vietnamese incorrectly, that's how it was spelled all over the building. Sign #1 of an underwhelming "Vietnamese" experience.
I opened the menu, and it contained the typical Spring Roll and pho choices, but I was disappointed with the lack of meaty meals. Basically, chopped chicken and pork/seafood and rice meals with "egg rolls" on the side. I opted for the chopped chicken and rice, while my company ordered seafood noodles. We also ordered spring rolls for appetizers.
The appetizers were ok. Rice paper, lettuce, imitation crab, processed meat, noodles, and OF COURSE-pickled SOMETHING. Not terrible, NOT vietnamese or Thai-tasting either. Peanut sauce---tasted like jiffy and had an AWFUL chemical-like after taste. I dipped my roll once, and that was enough. No thank you.
Our meals came out, along with a hot onion/cucumber soup that was delicious. I would have opted for that and rice if I could have. Normally, the Korean Rice with rice gluten powder makes me incredibly sick, and lethargic. I want to sleep for days after eating it, but this rice was actually single grains! the way I love it. You should be able to pick up one kernel of rice with chopsticks :-). I was happy about that.
There was a measly portion of chicken, but I think this is due to a lack of animal protein in general in the Korean diet. Most Korean dishes have carbs, excuse me, rice as the foundation, so there's not much room for meat with all of the side dishes of sweetened and spicy vegetables.
I really just appreciated a meal out, that was different than the typical Korean meal. I hear theres an EXCELLENT burger spot called B-stove, so I'll have to try that out, and let the inner foodie in me give an honest review.
Enjoy some pictures below. I can't speak for the Pho, so if you're in Ulsan, and down to try a new restaurant, hit up Pho Ban in Samsan-dong next to the Lotte Hotel.