Between Taiwan and Vietnam

Although São Paulo is the world capital of gastronomy, as advocated by many, the city still lacks restaurants that include the Southeast Asian cuisine. So being said, this weekend was very interesting. Two surprisingly great discoveries: Taiwanese restaurant Sweet Heart and Vietnamese Miss Saigon.

Sweet Heart

R. dos Aflitos, 2628 - 82 - Liberdade, São Paulo

A friend briefly told me about this place, hidden in a dirty alley in Liberdade neighborhood and even though I had just eaten an oniguiri from a nearby shop, I feel curious to explore it. So I walk down to what seems to be an abandoned alley and find the place. I get in and stand in there trying to figure if it looks clean enough, but besides the first sketchy appearance of the place, I get convinced to order something. The owner speaks Mandarin with me, assuming I am Chinese/Taiwanese. She realizes that I am not a native speaker and we start that poor Portuguese/Mandarin intercalated awkward conversation.

I order a Taiwanese noodles soup with fish balls, shrimp, chicken, meat and vegetables. The flavor of the soup is very subtle and it feels very healthy. They have also many vegetarian options, as many Taiwanese are vegetarian. I poured tons of pepper into mine (there is a jar with it on every table) and it was just the way I like it: burning as hell.

They do not accept credit or debit cards, only money, but everything is very cheap. I paid 26 reais for this plate. It was a delicious surprise. Simple, to the point, warm happy tummy.

* * *

Miss Saigon

Alameda dos Jurupis, 1374 - Moema - São Paulo

I had really low expectations for this. Usually Asian food other than Japanese cuisine in Brazil is poorly represented. Adding that to the cliché name: Miss Saigon. Seriously?

Well. First of all, the service is amazing. The waiters were all very very attentive and friendly. Good start. Then, we ordered a Bún Thịt Nướng (R$40,00);

Bún Thịt Nướng is a popular Vietnamese cold rice vermicelli noodle dish topped with grilled pork, fresh herbs like basil and mint, fresh salad and bean sprouts, and chả giò (spring rolls). The dish is dressed in fish sauce (nước chấm). Also, the dish is topped with roasted peanuts, Vietnamese pickled carrots, nem nướng̣ [grilled garlic pork sausage] or grilled prawns

And a of course, a Phở Bò (R$39,00 - Beef Noodle Soup with Rice Noodles) - which was perfect. I was ecstatic that I found a great Phở in São Paulo!!!!

The waiter then told me that the cooks and owners were all from Vietnam, and that they came to Brazil escaping from the Vietnam War, and remained adrift with no food in the Chinese sea for at least three days before being rescued by a Brazilian boat! The owner is here in Brazil for 35 years now, but luckily for us, he decided to open the restaurant, which has less than a year and a half now.

Please order the Lychee fresh juice! Also, try the Vietnamese coffee. Brazil is know by its great coffee, but dude.. Vietnam's coffee will rock your world. It is prepared like in Vietnam!!! Pure love.

Took long 5 anxious minutes of my time. I was dying to try it.

Ta-daa! Yummyy!!! Super happy with this coffee and everything else.

You gotta try it, seriously. And look at this cute rickshaw... *Hanoi feelings*.

Great that they are open on Sundays too!

Peace out folks!