I was grumbling about my futile search for the Vietnamese restaurant on Facebook and my friend/ex-student commented that it…
…was in the block of shops right behind the bank across the road from the hotel where we were staying.
Upon hearing that, I went to see where exactly it was when the hotel shuttle came to get us at 4.00 p.m. and take us back. Well, it wasn’t in the block right behind the bank nor in the next block. You would have to turn left after the latter into that road – it is among the shops on the left, not far away but not visible from the main road, Jalan North Yu Seng.
It was open so I stepped right in and had a quick glance at the menu and thereupon made a reservation for 3 for 7.00 p.m. – I was forewarned that it could be quite full. That night, we got there promptly before 7 and took our seats at our table and placed our orders.
Of course, we HAD to try their pho bo (RM18.00)…
…which was good and they gave us this plate of Thai basil leaves and taugeh (bean sprouts)…
…to add, should we feel like it and we were also told to add the special chili sauce and whatever sauce provided at every table for that extra kick and to bring the taste to a whole new level. Well, it was nice but no, it did not get me jumping with delight the way I saw some people responding when they had this at some Vietnamese restaurant in the country or in the country of origin and no, you would not catch me rushing back for more.
Another Vietnamese specialty that I often see people praising to the skies is the banh mi (RM17.00)…
…and that too was nice but no, it did not get us all excited – at the end of the day, it was what it was, a sandwich!
Actually, the two dishes were very filling especially with all the soup in the big bowl of noodles and the bread but we just had to order some other dishes – after all, we do not have a Vietnamese place in Sibu and not even a decently-good Thai place, so we would not want to miss the chance to try as much as possible. Just eat whatever we could, I told the ladies.
We did not want those Vietnamese rice paper rolls – we can make our own at home and went for the banh xeo pancake (RM16.00)…
…instead. We were supposed to break up that crusty pancake and wrap it with the filling using the vegetables by the side along with everything else but it was rather hard so no, we did not really enjoy it.
These mini banh khot cakes (RM17.00)…
…were much nicer but no, it did not sweep us off our feet and no, we did not think we would want to have that again.
The nice Vietnamese lady boss from Ho Chi Minh City, married to a local, persuaded us to try the goi du du thom thit or papaya salad (RM20.00)…
…which wasn’t the best we’ve had. I did not like the fried shallots that they sprinkled on top with the not-very-well-crushed crushed peanuts. Somehow, I found the taste rather distracting and was put off by it. The one here in Sibu would be a whole lot nicer…and we had good ones at our favourite now-closed-down Thai restaurant and also at the other place but some people told me that their Thai chefs too had left.
This may not look all that photogenic but actually, we thought that was the best dish we had all night, their ca nuong or grilled eggplant (RM12.00)…
I ordered the caramel custard minus the caramel and replaced with some Vietnamese coffee sauce instead (RM7.00)…
…for dessert but I would prefer caramel…or gula Melaka.
Yes, the place was crowded, almost full and being a rather small place, it got rather noisy especially when some people simply had to converse with their friends like they were giving a speech to everyone in the house. Tsk! Tsk!
I can’t remember if this was the one I was looking for and yes, I hear there are others in the city. The total that night came up to RM123.00, inclusive of drinks, and after that experience, no, I wasn’t all that keen on checking out the rest. You can go and have all the pho and the banh mi you want and you will not hear me bemoaning that we do not have a Vietnamese restaurant in Sibu ever again.
Lộc Phat Vietnam House (4.398125, 113.988722) is located at 635, Jalan Sim Cheng Kay, off Jalan North Yu Seng.
...STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! 
Come to think of it, I think I have not had any Vietnamese food for a while now. I don’t remember eating any of what you had shown above.
You never had the pho and the banh mi? There’s a nice place at Mid Valley/Gardens – my girl and my missus had the pho there and they said that theirs was much nicer.
I guess by now you know me well, not into this type of cuisine but of all the dishes, I only like the grilled eggplant.
Yes, dunno how they did it but it was very nice. You may like the pho, rather mild/light – not strong on those Thai/Vietnamese fragrances. The rest, don’t bother.
a sandwich with lots of yummy meat inside. that’s nice :D.. Banh mi, i like these..
I love sandwiches, just that l was expecting something more seeing how people seem to rave over it.
the signboard is so bright and colourful that it would be hard to miss if you were walking by! 😀
…at night!
Always love it when they give huge amount of greens with pho.
I did not mind that – it was the overall taste that I felt that fell kind of short.
Didn’t know they have grilled eggplants in vietnamese food.
They have! I had it again at another Vietnamese place the other night, this time in Kuching. Also very nice!