Long Phung Vietnamese Restaurant (Joo Chiat)

Long Phung Vietnamese Restaurant (Joo Chiat) is a casual Vietnamese eatery in an old shophouse at 159 Joo Chiat Road. It serves pho and other everyday Vietnamese dishes, and it has been running for well over a decade.

It is one of the most popular of the many Vietnamese places along Joo Chiat Road. The staff are Vietnamese, many diners chat in Vietnamese, and Vietnamese music plays in the background. Reviewers often say it feels like a street-side eatery in Vietnam. In 2023 the team opened a second branch on New Bridge Road in Chinatown.

What to order

Pho is the main draw and takes up a large part of the menu. The beef broth has warm spice notes such as star anise and cinnamon, and fresh herbs come with it. One reviewer found the broth light on MSG.

• Pho dac biet: the special beef noodle soup, with beef slices and beef balls
• Pho nam: a simpler bowl with tender beef slices and a cleaner-tasting broth
• Bun thit nuong: grilled pork on rice noodles with greens and a sweet-sour dressing
• Cha gio: deep-fried spring rolls with a crisp shell
• Banh xeo: a large fried Vietnamese pancake, rich but hard to stop eating
• Spicy beef stew: a beef stew with lemongrass, served with a baguette
• Cafe den: strong Vietnamese black coffee

Prices are modest, which is a big part of the appeal. Other options include pho tai with rare beef, cockles and other shellfish, and fresh fruit smoothies.

The setting

This is a no-frills shophouse eatery. The room is plain and a little tight on space, with simple plastic chairs and the full menu posted on the wall. It often fills up at peak hours.

Good to know before you go

• Expect a wait at peak times, especially on weekend evenings. Queues of around half an hour have been reported.
• Come with a few friends so you can share spring rolls and grilled pork alongside your pho.

Nearby

Joo Chiat and Katong are known for their colourful Peranakan shophouses. The pastel terraces of the Koon Seng Road Shophouses are in the same area and worth a look before or after your meal. For dessert, try Birds of Paradise Gelato Boutique. If you want to stay in the area, Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong is a good base.

Browse more Thai, Korean and other Asian restaurants, or see all restaurants in Katong and Joo Chiat.