kinako-anko
On January 29, 2022, I visited a highly recommended Vietnamese restaurant called "Quan Com 11" in Osaka, which my friend in Tokyo had praised as a hidden gem. The restaurant opened in September 2016 and offers authentic Vietnamese cuisine. As I arrived just before the opening time of 11:30 am, I was greeted by the sight of the Vietnamese national flag with a red background and a yellow star hanging outside. Inside, the atmosphere was filled with exotic vibes, making me feel like I was actually in Vietnam. I chose the Vietnam Set for lunch, priced at 1400 yen, which included fresh spring rolls, fried spring rolls, green papaya salad, chicken pho, and a dessert of white balls and tapioca in coconut milk. While waiting for the food, I poured myself a glass of cold jasmine tea provided on the table. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 prevention measures in Osaka, alcohol service was suspended, so I couldn't enjoy Vietnamese beer as planned. After a short wait, my main dish, chicken pho, arrived. The simple yet flavorful soup contained bean sprouts, green onions, and chicken, which I enhanced with cilantro, lemon juice, chili, and fish sauce available on the table. The flat rice noodles in the pho were smooth and delicious, perfectly soaking up the soup. I also enjoyed two types of spring rolls – fresh ones with lettuce, cilantro, shrimp, and rice paper, and fried ones with a peanut miso sauce. The green papaya salad, garnished with two shrimp chips, had a crunchy texture and a sweet and sour dressing. Lastly, I savored the dessert, a coconut milk-based dish called Che, with white balls, tapioca, and a red goji berry. As more young female customers started to fill the restaurant, I realized that Vietnamese cuisine, which is healthy and vegetable-rich, is popular among women. After indulging in Vietnamese sweets, I decided to explore Japanese sweets next and walked 200 meters to the Tanimachi 9-chome intersection. Bon appétit! (●^o^●)