Vietnamese Foodies has finally opened its second branch. Located in the newly finished Burj Vista Residence (Tower 1) on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard in Downtown Dubai, it has free parking available in Dubai Opera P3. But in case that is as confusing to you as it was to me, you can always valet the car for a very reasonable AED10 in-front of Arz Lebanon.
Step in and the first thing you will notice is the 10-meter-high ceiling. It gives this new incarnation a sense of space and grandeur. A talented Vietnamese interior designer, especially flown in from Vietnam, has done a wonderful job in creating an environment which is modern yet still connected with the cosiness of the original branch.
The food is pure Vietnamese Foodies. With summer nearly here there’s nothing better to start a meal with than a couple of refreshing Vietnamese summer rolls or Goi Cuon. Vietnamese Foodies do theirs so well, although their Nuoc Cham sauce could do with a little more kick. I always order their appetizer combo which, in addition to Goi Cuon, also includes chicken spring rolls, crispy wonton-like ravioli and two of my all-time favourites, chicken satay and duck sausages. Note to self; order Goi Cuon Tom, chicken satay and duck sausage instead of the combo next time. I am not a big fan of the Vietnamese version of papaya salad preferring the tarter, tangier, spicier Thai version, but I ordered one for my guest, a novice, to try. He loved it.
Appetizer combo
Refreshing
Goi Cuon
Papaya salad
No meal at Vietnamese Foodies (or any Vietnamese restaurant) would be complete without some pho. This is particularly so when you have a restaurant which makes it so well (their broth and seasoning is sensational). I ordered the Beef Brisket Pho for my friend and decided to try the Shredded Chicken Thigh Pho myself. I love the fact that they have a small size. It fits in perfectly when you have ordered several other things. The other thing I love about Vietnamese Foodies pho is that it is not sweet as some other restaurants make it. I’m not an expert. I simply prefer my pho savoury and a little sour rather than sweet. Hoi An’s at the Shangri La is slightly sweet…but amazing, nonetheless.
Pho la la la la, la la la la 
Beef Brisket Pho
Chicken Thigh Pho
If anything, service has improved at this new branch. You can tell someone has spent a lot of time and effort training, training, training. But in addition to being well trained the staff are friendly, polite and infinitely accommodating. It’s wonderful to see this home-grown restaurant branch out with this level of professionalism, exceeding the high standards it originally became famous for. Well done to Lily and her amazing team. The residents of Downtown Dubai and Business Bay are in for a real treat with this new opening. Vietnamese Foodies is highly recommended by this blogger and well worth a detour.
Hey! Now read this –
Xerxes physically dines at, or orders from,
each and every venue he reviews. He pays in full for whatever he and his
companions eat, drink, take away or occasionally throw at each other. Xerxes accepts
no money, gifts, discounts or free meals in return for reviews or favouritism.
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