Cô Chung Vietnamese Restaurant (Plaza Singapura)

Cô Chung Vietnamese Restaurant (Plaza Singapura) is a casual Vietnamese restaurant on basement level two of Plaza Singapura, the large mall at the Dhoby Ghaut end of Orchard Road. The name means "Auntie Chung", after the cook whose family recipes shape the menu.

Auntie Chung had a long career in nursing in Vietnam and became head of a hospital nursing department before she turned to cooking. She was born in Hòa Bình in the north and grew up in Đắk Lắk in the Central Highlands. That mix shows in a menu that covers several regions. This outlet opened in February 2020, and a second branch later followed at Boat Quay. Founder and managing director Phạm Khánh Lý leads the business.

What to order

Pho is the main draw. There is beef pho (phở bò), chicken pho (phở gà) and a house special called Revolution Phở. Reviewers have praised the clear beef broth and tender slices of beef. From the north come bún chả Hà Nội, grilled pork with rice vermicelli, and chả cá Lã Vọng, turmeric fish with vermicelli. Bún bò Huế, a beef noodle soup from central Vietnam, is also on the list.

If you want a break from noodles, try cơm tấm, broken rice with grilled pork, or bánh xèo, a crisp rice pancake. Small plates include fresh and fried spring rolls, nem nướng grilled pork rolls and bánh bèo, small steamed rice cakes topped with shrimp. Bánh mì comes with fillings such as grilled pork, shredded chicken or meatballs. A charcoal grill section adds beef wrapped in betel leaf and pork ribs.

Coffee, drinks and desserts

Vietnamese coffee gets a full section of its own. Choices include black coffee, milk coffee and egg coffee, plus coconut and avocado versions. Durian coffee appears when the fruit is in season. There are also lemongrass and passion fruit sodas, iced teas and Vietnamese beers such as Saigon and 333. To finish, desserts include caramel flan, banana sago, coconut jelly and pandan cake.

Good to know before you go

• The Plaza Singapura outlet does not take reservations, so just walk in. The Boat Quay branch does accept bookings.
• Vegetarians have a short menu of their own, including a pho made with Impossible beef, plus vermicelli and broken rice dishes. Our vegetarian and vegan guide has more ideas.
• Lighting is low and the decor has Vietnamese touches, so the room feels calmer than a food court.
• The restaurant also delivers, and its website links to online ordering.

Getting there

You will find the restaurant in unit B2-20 of Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Road. Dhoby Ghaut MRT station is the nearest, and it links straight into the mall's basement. You can arrive without stepping outside. The mall sits at the start of the Orchard Road shopping belt.

Nearby

For more places to eat, browse our list of restaurants in Orchard and River Valley or our Thai, Korean and Asian restaurants. If you want to keep costs down, our guide to cheap eats on Orchard Road covers mall basements and food courts. You can check menus and the Boat Quay address on the Cô Chung website.