Pháp Uyển
Dharma Garden
17/2- 17/4 Nguyễn Huy Tưởng, P.6
Bình Thạnh District
0916 943 877
lienhe@phapuyen.com
www.phapuyen.com
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A unique and special treat surprised Hai and I this afternoon when we stumbled upon Pháp Uyển tucked away within some quiet Bình Thạnh District streets.
Lovely is the word that comes to mind to describe our vegetarian lunch experience today.
Set in the midst of a peaceful residential neighborhood, this simple, yet elegant restaurant is housed in a converted home, featuring a large shaded and treed front patio dining area. There’s additional seating in each of several interior rooms which have been tastefully converted to dining areas.
A lovely shaded patio garden to enjoy your lunch
We tried to find a table on the shaded patio, but the lunchtime crowd filled them all … we settled for a nice, linen-cloth-covered table inside. I did run upstairs to consider the additional seating areas available on the second floor. But found those, too, were filled to capacity – in the upstairs case, with a dozen Buddhist monks enjoying their vegetarian lunch.
The excellent vegetarian food here appreciated by a roomful of Buddhist monks
The shaded patio, the tasteful interior decor and the overall serenity of Pháp Uyển, however, weren’t the only appealing elements of our lunch.
There was, of course, THE FOOD! Beautifully presented and delicious vegetarian food!
The “Soup” page from the extensive menu
The extensive menu, presented in both Vietnamese and English, offered a wide choice of Vietnamese vegetarian appetizers, soups, salads, rice dishes, hot-pots, and “salty dishes.”
It’s almost impossible for me to choose my favorite. Each of our 4 selections was amazing – beautifully presented and truly delicious:
The Bông Bí Nhồi (Deep-fried Tempura Pumpkin Flower) was a pleasant surprise. The batter-dipped flower with a lightly crunchy tempura shell was stuffed with a creamy tofu filling … almost a mild ricotta cheese-like texture and flavor. Yummy for sure.
Bông Bí Nhồi (Deep-fried Tempura Pumpkin Flower)
Gỏi Củ Hủ Dửa (Coconut Palm Heart Salad)
The Gỏi Củ Hủ Dửa (Coconut Palm Heart Salad) was beautifully photogenic, tangy, fresh and crunchy.
Okay, so maybe I can choose a favorite now, as I write about this wonderful meal. It would have to be the Chân Nấm Kho Tộ (Braised Mushroom Stalks in Claypot). The texture of the mushroom stalk were simply remarkable. How can a single bite be chewy, crunchy, and tender all at the same time??? But, it was superb. A delectable mushroom flavor with a lightly salty sauce.
Chân Nấm Kho Tộ (Braised Mushroom Stalks in Claypot)
Bún Gạo Xào (Stir-fried Rice Vermicelli Noodle)
The thin, lightly threaded rice noodles making up the Bún Gạo Xào (Stir-fried Rice Vermicelli Noodle) were as fresh and light a noodle dish as I’ve ever enjoyed. Yet another remarkable taste treat in this memorable lunch.
This could easily become one of Hai and my regular Saigon dining stops. Our bill for this truly enjoyable, unique and delicious lunch was just 150.000vnd ($6.75).
Put this on your must-visit list for sure!
OPEN 6:00 am – 10:00 pm
UPDATE – February, 2019: In just the past two weeks enjoyed several more wonderful meals here. A “must try” for sure!
UPDATE – February, 2023: Another great vegetarian dinner here tonight!
Pháp Uyển
Dharma Garden
17/2- 17/4 Nguyễn Huy Tưởng
P.6
Bình Thạnh District
0916 943 877
lienhe@phapuyen.com
www.phapuyen.com