The only thing you need to know about Bac Nam is that this place is LEGIT.
Our server (likely also the co-owner) was super friendly and accommodating as we wanted to order everything on the menu. As there were only two of us, we had to limit ourselves to three dishes.
If we were with more people, I would have been all over the banh xeo, sautéed unchoi and one of their house special curries (seemed everyone’s table had one except ours).
Seriously, our eyes were bigger than our stomachs. I wanted to order soooooo many things. I wish this place existed back home.
Vietnamese steamed dumpling (#5) ($8.50)
The banh bot loc were terrific. Some of the best I’ve had so far in my lifetime. The texture was spot on and the dumplings had a great sticky, chewiness to them.
Bar-b-q shrimp with pork (#21) ($14.95)
Oh em gee, these roll-ups on plate were money! If you’ve never had it before, you basically dip your rice wrapper in water then choose all the ingredients you want and roll it up. Our dish came with cucumber, pickled carrots and daikon, vermicelli, lettuce, mint and toasted chopped peanuts.
It also comes with their specialty house fish sauce which you dip at the end. Soooooooo good. The shrimp and pork were perfectly seasoned and nicely grilled. Everything was presented beautifully. Love how they give you enough wrappers at the beginning so you don’t have to bother asking them for more. Stuffed ourselves silly with this dish.
Rice vermicelli in crab chowder (#66) ($8.95)
Bun rieu!!! I’ve actually never had this before but knew I had to order this when I saw it on the menu. So delicious and freaking cheap! The broth had a nice tomato, healthy aroma to it. Lots of real crab meat in it, tomatoes, egg and some typical Viet mystery meat. If you want something unique and different than pho, try bun rieu. I’m a big fan.
Need I say any more? If you want legit, authentic Vietnamese food, you need to check out Bac Nam. Now if only I could find a place like this back home.
Bac Nam
1117 S King St
Honolulu, HI
(808) 597-8201
CHERRY BOB-OMBS 