Li Bai, Cantoness restaurant
80 Đ. Đông Du, Bến Nghé, Quận 1,
Hồ Chí Minh/Saigon, Vietnam
… more pix on Google Maps & TA
Definitely will return.
The chilli paste!!!
Love their simple and elegant decor, even the menu is beautifully bounded. The service is on the spot. Presentation is beautiful and appetizing.
Li Bai (701-62) was one of top poets of China. Kids in China grow up with his poems.
The restaurant offers more than Cantonese cuisine. I’m so looking forward to an authentic Cantonese dinner, so we went.
Our bellies could only take two dishes:
Steamed cod: most wonderful.
Dongpo Pork 东坡肉: the meat is tender, dish is tasty and well presented but it’s not the traditional dongpo. The color of the meat is too light and dull, and tasted different. I was expecting the deep and shiny square pork belly, often served strings tied like a gift box. The mahogany color is from caramelized rock sugar. I don’t like my food sweet but this is one of few dishes that I don’t mind.
The freebies are delicious: tiny fried anchovy with the chilli sauce, and cashews. Their hot sauce is the best during my three weeks trip, hands down. What a treat! When I mention this to the young lady, she said sweetly “I can give you some to take home.”I wasn’t going to but after she refilled it toward end of the meal, I said, “ok.” since they’ll threw it away. … AND I shared it with my friends the following morning, and we finished it – we’re dying for a good chilli paste. I’ve two bowls of pho, seriously, all because of this.
Wish their ceiling could be a bit higher. Being on the third floor in the Sheraton, this will never happen.
We didn’t order dessert… because I want my durian -:)
