Singapore 2014 - Nam Nam Noodle Bar

Finding affordable good food in Singapore can be a real challenge - especially if you come from Malaysia. The currency makes everything 2 1/2 times more expensive, and a simple meal can easily cost RM30 after conversion. Therefore it is quite a surprise when one of the most successful fine-dining restaurant groups - Les Amis - has ventured into affordable Vietnamese food. Nam Nam Noodle Bar is a new concept fast-service restaurant that specializes in Vietnamese street food. I went to their outlet at the basement of Raffles City - they have another outlet at Wheelock Place. 

Nam Nam's decor is simple and chic. The menu has been pared back to the basics - with Pho and Banh Mi being the stars on offer. The Pho is reputably very good, but I was there for the Banh Mi as I was still nursing a craving for this simple yet delicious Vietnamese delicacy from my last trip to Hanoi. At Nam Nam they have about 6 varieties ranging from pork, chicken to sardine and tofu. I ordered what I thought was the most delicious-sounding on the menu - Banh Mi with caramelized pork belly, cold cut and chicken floss.

This Banh Mi is really great. It is packed with flavours from all the fresh ingredients, the bread is really good with a crunchy crust and soft centre, and the caramelized pork belly makes it really sinful yet delicious bite.

The other surprise was the drink I ordered. It looked really simple when it arrived, but was filled with pineapple, jackfruit, lychee and several other ingredients which gave it a unique tropical punch.