Located opposite
Churchill Centre, Thanh Viet not only offers Vietnamese cuisine but also a decent selection of Chinese dishes as well. Some of their dishes can be ordered as a small or large sized serving but the small size should be sufficient for most people.
A dish that you can expect to see at any Vietnamese restaurant, the Rare Beef Pho at Thanh Viet had slices of beef that were tender and broth with the degree of spiced flavour that we desired. The soft rice noodles complemented the beef well and the onions provided a bit of crunch. Accompanying the dish were Asian herbs and bean sprouts that could be added to the dish for extra elements of flavour and texture.
Rare Beef Pho (Photographed by Jonathan Phoon)
Great for those wanting a tossed noodle dish, the Combination Dry Noodles had minced pork that gave the dish a meaty texture, and prawns and squids that were cooked just right. To best enjoy the dish, mix everything thoroughly to spread the flavour of the ingredients throughout the dish. The egg noodles we chose had a firm texture; those who desire a softer texture have the choice of having the dish made with rice noodles instead.
Combination Dry Noodles (Photographed by Jonathan Phoon)
Vermicelli salad dishes (Bun Bowls) are very popular at Vietnamese restaurants. The vermicelli rice noodles are typically topped with spring rolls, beef, roast pork, meatballs or chicken. The steak in the Beef Steak Vermicelli Salad that we ordered was not too tough, with Asian greens adding an element of freshness. A scattering of crushed peanuts provided a lovely crunchy element to the dish. To enjoy the dish, pour the Nuoc cham sauce (a sweet, sour, salty, savoury sauce) provided over the noodles and mix it in thoroughly to infuse its flavour into the noodles.
Beef Steak Vermicelli Salad (Photographed by Jonathan Phoon)
The portion size of the Pork Chops with Broken Rice was quite generous. The crisp coating of the pork chops set off the juicy flesh nicely. The chops also had a subtle lemongrass grass flavour, which made eating them an enjoyable experience. Aside from rice, the pork chops were accompanied with pickled vegetables, soup and Nuoc cham sauce. Those who are feeling hungry can order bigger versions of the dish, which has other ingredients such as pork loaf alongside the pork chop.
Pork Chop with Broken Rice (Photographed by Jonathan Phoon)
Pork Chop, Pork Loaf and Egg with Broken Rice (Photographed by Jonathan Phoon)
While the dish's name may not suggest it, the broth of their Beef Stew with Noodles had a spicy taste but the degree of spiciness should be suitable for most tastes. The slices of beef were cooked just right but we would have liked them to be a bit smaller for easier consumption. There were also slices of tofu whose plain flavour provided a foil to the spicy broth.
Beef Stew with Noodles (Photographed by Jonathan Phoon)
Compared to the Pho and Beef Stew, the broth of the Chicken Drop Noodle Soup had a more subtle flavour, allowing the taste of the chicken to shine through. The addition of spring onions and fried shallots ensured the dish did not taste too bland and the rice drops had the trademark soft and smooth texture.
Chicken Drop Noodle Soup (Photographed by Jonathan Phoon)
Among the rice dishes that features a stir-fried dish with rice, the chicken in the Lemongrass and Chilli Chicken with Rice had a distinctive lemongrass flavour and a bit of kick from the chilli. Helping to balance out the spiciness were fresh tomatoes and cabbage that were stir-fried with the chicken. We also enjoyed the Shaking Beef with Rice. The beef had a peppery flavour and there were slices of capsicum for a bit of sweetness.
Lemongrass and Chilli Chicken with Rice (Photographed by Jonathan Phoon)
Shaking Beef with Rice (Photographed by Jonathan Phoon)
One of the Chinese-style dishes that can be ordered, the quality of their Salty Fish Fried Rice was excellent. It had enough salted fish to give the dish its characteristic salty flavour. The rice was not too soft and it had the lovely charred flavour that is evident of a great fried rice dish.
Salty Fish Fried Rice (Photographed by Jonathan Phoon)
The ambience of the place is very relaxed and comfortable, and the carpark at the back of the restaurant provides convenient off-street parking. If you are looking for yummy Vietnamese cuisine while in Kilburn consider giving Thanh Viet a try.
(Photographed by Jonathan Phoon)
(Photographed by Jonathan Phoon)
