[Ho Chi Minh City] Trung Nguyen Coffee – The Saigon Starbucks

I’m a caffeine addict (as opposed to the caffeine intolerant P) and getting a cup of starbucks on my way to work was a daily routine in Singapore (I guess having a branch in our workplace lobby helps). I’m having withdrawal symptoms in Saigon as there is no Starbucks here!

Many of my friends recommended Trung Nguyen – a popular coffee chain in Vietnam to help curb my caffeine cravings.

TRADITIONAL COFFEE, HUYEN THOAI/LEGENDEE – The recommended (as well as the most expensive) coffee option in Trung Nguyen . This small cup of coffee costs more than any of the main courses we had below. Legendee is made from the finest Arabica, Robusta and Excelsa coffee beans. It tasted very rich with a fragrant aroma and a distinct taste of cocoa. It reminds me of mocha but amazingly there was no cocoa added at all. Delicious and a great way to start the day!

Trung Nguyen also has a small food selection and we tasted a couple of them.

GIA LAI DRIED NOODLES – Two thumbs up! A nasty mix of bee hoon, shallots, bean sprouts & minced pork with the customary mint leaves (appeared in almost all Vietnamese dishes) and lettuce. The accompanying soup with thin slices of beef tasted full bodied and satisfying. This is a house special in Trung Nguyen and my must order here.

VIETNAMESE SPECIAL FRIED BEEF CUBES with Coffee Sauce – Tender beef cubes in a tangy spicy sauce. It is very tasty but my dining companions and I cannot taste even a hint of coffee.

SUNNY SIDE UP with baguette – Well cooked eggs with runny yolks. A very simple dish but it managed to brighten up our meal. The baguette was decent – warm and crusty.

Overall, Trung Nguyen is a good place for coffee and a simple meal. It is my current favourite coffee place in Saigon (Angel in us coffee is a close second!). Lets see whether it will replace my dearest Starbucks by the end of my Vietnam stint!

Trung Nguyen
Add: Opposite Diamond Plaza (34 Le Duan Street, District 1 Ho Chi Minh City)
Spend: VND 152,000 Per Pax ($9.5 Per Pax)

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