We've moved over to Wordpress! Check out this post here Alice Vietnam
For a Phon time, call Alice.
Welcome to Vietnam Alice. It's down one of the many adorable side streets in the Kagurazaka area. One day someone with more Instagram clout than me is going to post something here and it will lose some of its charm. Kagurazaka is wonderful, check it out. Kagurazaka is packed to the brim with Italain, Spanish and French restaurants that are run by actual Europeans who have taken up residence in Tokyo. There are also several Michelin starred Japanese restaurants that are incredibly secretive and hidden in plain sight. One day they will reveal their secrets to me...but not right now. I only have enough money for noodles. This is a great place for a reasonably priced, big lunch.
Vietnamese Beach House Realness
Vietnam Alice is located in a two-story house next to an equally adorable Spanish place that does paella and sake pairings. This house looks like it would be right at home in Cape Cod or some place people wear Sperry topsiders. White wood, lots of green plants and plenty of bedside stand tables repurposed to hold wine glasses.
Eat With Your Eyes
Presentation is just as important as flavor in Japan. I'm currently writing this in Chicago, where I am reminded that here in the US we occasionally dim the lights to create a dramatic, date night atmosphere. I personally have nothing wrong with this but I just forgot that it happened. Dimming the lights in Japan is not an option if customers cant see what they're eating first. It might appear that you're trying to hide something. In a country where "you start the meal with your eyes" your table top game needs to be on point. Here we have our bouquet of coriander, peanut sauce, chili sauce and teapot filled with soy sauce. The first of many, cute, little touches that make Vietnam Alice incredibly chill.
Appetizers are up. It's summer time in Tokyo, giant stocks of asparagus are everywhere and they taste incredible. Here they are served with slices of steamed squid, baby leaf lettuce and covered in salt, pepper and a light lemongrass dressing. This was awesome with a bit of extra chili sauce. If you're a squid fan you're going to love this.
We ordered the Spring Roll moriawase (platter) which came with fried, raw and steamed spring rolls with different types of filling. The portions were much bigger than expected and they nailed it on presentation again. They came in these cool metal stacked basket trays and we each got one basket to ourselves which was grand news because these little guys were excellent and I wasn't about to share them. The deep fried spring roll was perfectly crispy and packed with bits of pork, vermicelli and carrots. The raw spring rolls were filled with greens and shrimp and each came with their own recommended sauce. Peanut for the deep fried and chili for the raw spring roll. Use whichever you like though, it's a free country. The steamed spring rolls were my favorite. The skins were super thick and had a really nice texture to them after eating the crispy deep fried spring rolls and the stretchy raw spring rolls.
Fun details note! See those chopsticks? They use peanut shells as chopstick rests. Everything in this restaurant had its own unique touch to it. Really enjoyed soaking this place up.
I got the basic Pho with lean cuts of brisket. It was exceptional and there was a ton of meat. The noodles were perfectly cooked, a little al dente so you actually have something to chew on. Loved it
Takao won though. He ordered the braised pork Pho which had a slightly more Japanese take on my dish. The broth was your usual aromatic, ginger and onion affair but the style of pork and those FLAWLESS hanjuku eggs were straight out of a ramen restaurant. Hanjuku eggs are slow cooked eggs that are a typical ramen topping. This bowl of Pho ramen had it all. If you can get great Pho back home than I would suggest going for this Japanese take on the dish.
Time to Plot Dinner
While the amount of food was perfect for lunch I was definitely not overly full. Order yoruself a Vietnamese coffee and start thinking about dinner. They make a great coffee with beans from a nearby roasters. They let it slowly drip over a healthy serving of condensed milk at your table. You stir it up when its done and ask for ice if you want it cold.
Once your coffee is ready I would recommend thinking about checking out some of the nearby temples in Kagurazaka. Spend some time wandering the area. Then once 5 o'clock hits sit yourself at one of the countless wine bars they have in this area. They have amazing ones all over and some of them are serving up some awesome food. If you like French Food there is a place nearby serving Michelin Starred Lyonnaise food at prices mere mortals can afford. We went there back in early spring if you're curious to read about them. Bottomline though, Vietnam Alice is a great place to have an awesome lunch for very little. With beers, coffee and appetizers this meal was around 15 USD and it was delicious.
Enjoy Kagurazaka, it's unlike anywhere else in Tokyo.
Vietnam Alice in Kagurazaka
Closed Mondays
Tuesday to Sunday
11:30 AM - 2:30 PM
5:30 PM - 10:30 PM
Nearby Stations:
Ushigome Kagurazaka
Iidabashi Station (I recommend coming from here so you can walk up the hill and take in the sights)
Nearby Attractions:
Comments
Post a Comment