Signs A Taste Of Vietnam Pho Review: Legit Vietnamese Food Under $15 Near Somerset MRT

Signs A Taste Of Vietnam Pho has affordable Vietnamese food in town

Restaurants with nett prices are becoming a rarity these days, so when I heard about Signs A Taste Of Vietnam Pho, I was excited to check them out. Not only are their prices nett, but their mains are all under $15 too! The cherry on top is their central location—tucked away in Basement 2 of Orchard Gateway.

Food at Signs A Taste Of Vietnam Pho

Signs A Taste was started by a deaf couple who hail from Vietnam. Their service staff are hearing-impaired too, though that didn’t hinder our ordering process one bit.

I had high hopes for the restaurant as it had a 4.7-star Google rating from over 600 reviews at the point of writing. I’m glad that their signature Beef Feast Combo ($13) did not disappoint.

For $13 nett, you get a generous portion of flat rice noodles in a beefy broth that isn’t too heavy on the palate. I’ve had pho where the soup was way too salty, but thankfully, this one was perfectly seasoned.

The broth here also had a slight tinge of sweetness to balance out the savoury flavours, which I appreciated.

On to the toppings: I was impressed by the amount we got in our bowl. There were beef balls, alongside shin and ribeye slices, plus fresh beansprouts for a refreshing crunch in between bites.

The beef slices were a tad tougher than I’d like, though that could be because they were sitting in the piping hot broth for a while.

If beef isn’t up your alley, consider the Chicken + Balls ($12) pho instead. This main came with the same flat rice noodles and tau gay, but with a clear broth, alongside chicken chunks and balls.

I liked how generous they were with the amount of rice noodles in each pho; small eaters can even share a bowl if they’re not feeling too peckish!

Unfortunately, the soup in this chicken-based pho was too salty for our liking. To counteract that, we mixed some sweet chilli and hoisin sauce into the broth, which helped lift some of the saltiness.

Thankfully, the chicken pieces were tender enough—the thigh cut was used, so there was no risk of overcooking here—while the chicken balls were bouncy and delicious.

For something quick and easy to consume when you’re in a rush, consider their banh mi selection. I was impressed by how much I enjoyed the Grilled Pork Banh Mi ($10)!

The well-buttered baguette was slightly crispy yet not too crusty, with a light and fluffy crumb that reminded me of the sandwiches I’ve had in Hanoi.

It was also pre-cut into halves, which meant you could easily share the sandwich with a friend if you were not that hungry.

This banh mi was packed to the brim with tender grilled pork chunks, stacked with pickled veggies that added a lovely acidity to contrast the meatiness. It was one of the better Vietnamese sandwiches I’ve had in a while.

No Vietnamese dining experience is complete without an iced coffee, so I opted for Cold Coffee With Milk ($5).

NGL, I was taken aback by how small the glass was—the cup wasn’t even full! Nonetheless, I set my prejudice aside and went in for a sip. This Vietnamese brew was properly strong, with just enough condensed milk so the bold coffee aroma still shone through. It was a delicious and potent pick-me-up, which I could use more of as a self-professed caffeine addict.

Ambience at Signs A Taste Of Vietnam Pho

The casual restaurant seats around 70 people. It’s quite spacious so I don’t think you’ll feel cramped even when it’s full house—I hear the restaurant gets very crowded during the peak lunch and dinner hours. Bright orange walls, hanging lanterns, and colourful artwork add a homely vibe to the space.

Signs A Taste Of Vietnam Pho is a mere minute’s walk from Somerset MRT Station.

The verdict

I don’t think you can find another Vietnamese restaurant in Orchard that serves up generous mains at such wallet-friendly prices. Although there were a few misses during our meal, the warm and friendly service made up for it. I’ll be back to try their other banh mi options!

For more delicious eats in town, read our full guide to the best food in Orchard. Otherwise, in other food news, Penny University has opened a new outlet in Geylang Serai with their popular brunch fare!

Address: 277 Orchard Road, #B2-15, Orchard Gateway, Singapore 238858
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 8:30pm
Tel: 8685 4838
Website
Signs A Taste Of Vietnam Pho is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Hor Kia Ee.
This was an independent review by Eatbook.sg.