This is a Vietnamese restaurant you have to try.
Tucked in a little corner of Banawe is a humble restaurant called Tra Vinh that arguably makes some of the best Vietnamese noodles in Manila.
Tra Vinh originally hails from Australia, where owner Mike Ang first tasted its offerings. He loved it so much that he pursued a partnership with Tra Vinh’s owner, Mr. Van Chien Ho, to bring it to the Philippines.
Upon entering, you are greeted by simple yet homey restaurant interiors and decorations. The wallpapers, lights, and photographs instantly bring you to Vietnam.
FUN FACT: These straw hats were all brought in from Vietnam.
Tra Vinh has already been around for over a year and its popularity continues to grow. After visiting, now we know why. Here are the dishes you have to order when you go, from starters to mains to drinks and then sweet endings.
FUN FACT: Tra Vinh is actually a province in Vietnam where Mike's partner's wife is from.
Prawn Pomelo Salad
Freshly chopped vegetables with fresh prawns, fresh locally sourced pomelo, peanuts, herbs, and spices. Served with Tra Vinh’s special dressing.
Insider tip: Eat this by putting the salad on top of a prawn cracker and eating it with your hands, which is how it's typically done in Vietnam.
Fresh Spring Rolls (Prawn)
Rice paper rolls with fresh salad, rice vermicelli, and your choice of stuffing. Served with Tra Vinh’s peanut sauce.
Fried Spring Rolls (Prawn and Pork)
Fried rice paper rolls with your choice of stuffing. Served with Tra Vinh’s special sauce.
FUN FACT: Almost everything is made from scratch like their sauces, soups, iced tea, and even meatloafs.
Vietnamese Pancake
Crispy Vietnamese pancake combined with shrimp, pork, and veggies. Served with lettuce, mustard leaf, herbs, and Tra Vinh’s special dressing.
Insider tip: This is eaten by wrapping everything together and eating it with your hands. You can do it yourself or ask a server to do it for you.
Now, on to the main event.
Tra Vinh Special Noodle Soup
Tra Vinh’s original seafood and chicken broth topped with pork loin slices, fresh prawns, fresh slices of squid, fish ball, pork liver slice, quail egg, and homemade prawn cracker
Combination Beef Noodle Soup
Beef broth with 16 different herbs and spices topped with cooked beef shoulder slices and raw slices of New Zealand rib eye, beef balls, beef tripe, and garnished with garden fresh herbs
Spicy Combination Noodle Soup
Special 3 meat broth with 14 traditional herbs and spices topped with raw slices of New Zealand rib eye, fresh prawns, fresh slices of squid, beef ball, and garden fresh herbs.
Crab Noodle Soup
Carefully selected fresh, live crabs were used to make the broth. Real crab meat, prawns, squid, with fresh udon and topped with Tra Vinh’s own pork crackle and herb toppings.
BBQ Pork Noodle
Choice of noodle topped with specially marinated bbq pork, vegetarian spring rolls, roasted peanuts, garden fresh, pickled veggies, and Tra Vinh’s special dressing.
FUN FACT: Only Mike, the owner, knows how to create the perfect blend for all the soups.
If you want more toppings, you can actually get additional orders of the following:
Noodles 48.00
Mixed Noodles 30.00
Soup 35.00
Beef Tendon 50.00
Meat Slices 5o.00
Shrimp 35.00
Prawn Cracker 25.00
Beef Ball/Fish Ball 25.00
Quail Egg 10.00
Chicken Meat 60.00
To quench your thirst after taking in all of those, try these drinks:
Home Brewed Iced Tea
You can order this in a carafe or a mason jar, and it’s super cheap too!
Vietnamese Iced Coffee
Insider tip: You can order your coffee based on how much caffeine you want - light, regular, or strong.
After all that, make sure to finish your hearty meal with something sweet.
Special Mixed Beans and Sweet Vietnam Jelly
It’s the Vietnamese version of our traditional halo-halo.
Insider tip: Watch out for homemade coffee ice cream on top of coffee jelly on the menu real soon! We got a sneak peek and it's #TDF!
Have we convinced you enough to try this restaurant? Just use the Booky app and search “TRA VINH” to see the full menu and a map to help you get there.
If that isn’t enough, check out a review made by @eatsplorations, here. Don’t forget to share your photos with us on Instagram by tagging @bookyapp and using the hashtag #bookymanila!
Reservations are accepted
View their Instagram account
Unit 3, 109 NS Amoranto cor Cordillera, Maharlika, Quezon City
(02) 742-1718
