Taichung’s Budget-Friendly Vietnamese Cuisine: “Beef Pho” Topped with Lemon for an Irresistible Flavor

Text and photos by /Orange Dog Loves Candy

Taichung actually has quite a few popular Vietnamese restaurants, especially Fei Vietnamese Snacks in East District and Juan Vietnamese Snacks in Nantun, which are the most well-known. However, there are plenty of Vietnamese eateries of all sizes. Different districts have local netizens recommending their favorite spots. Recently, I came across this place, 【Vietnamese King】, through a Facebook ad—I’m honestly pretty easily drawn in by Facebook ads. I clicked on it and found the style quite refreshing, and the reviews were pretty good too. So I decided to check it out one lunchtime. The shop actually opens quite early, starting at 10 AM, but it wasn’t too crowded before the usual mealtime.

The address of 【Vietnamese King】 is on Datun Road, but it’s actually located on Datun 4th Street, very close to the intersection of Datun Road. Parking in this area is pretty difficult—there must be a lot of office workers around because the motorcycles are parked bumper to bumper, and it’s hard to even find a spot to pause briefly. The white storefront is quite recognizable, and the big letters “Vietnamese King” stand out. The shop isn’t very large and isn’t fully enclosed, but it has air conditioning. There are probably around twenty seats, and that’s about how many it can accommodate when full.

The interior matches the store front with a pure white color scheme, kept very clean without the greasy smell typical of snack shops. The kitchen is semi-open, but there’s no strong greasy odor either. There are three staff members bustling inside, including the owner.

Though I’m not sure which one is the owner, she’s a Vietnamese woman who married a Taiwanese man and opened this Vietnamese restaurant. Although her Facebook page says her Chinese isn’t great, I actually found our conversation quite smooth and fluent in person XD. Even with an accent, I could understand everything they said, and all three of them were very friendly.

Sauces and utensils are self-serve. What’s special is that they also offer freshly sliced lemon wedges and homemade fresh chili peppers, both of which you can take as much as you like. I think adding these two condiments really suits Vietnamese food.

The menu is a simple piece of paper, with not too many items. Most common Vietnamese snacks are available here—spring rolls, French bread, pho, and so on. What’s notable is the very reasonable pricing, with nothing over NT$100.

We ordered so many dishes we could barely finish, and it only cost nearly NT$500. No wonder office workers in the area come in groups for lunch here during peak hours.

【Noodles │ Beef Pho │ NT$100】

You can choose between pho noodles or rice noodles. I went with the thicker pho noodles. They were topped with slices of beef that were about medium-rare, along with plenty of chopped onions—but these onions were crispy without any raw or harsh bite, complementing the sweet broth nicely. The noodles held up well, and though they soaked a bit longer due to photo-taking, they didn’t turn mushy and still had a slight chewiness. The beef had a decent thickness and was tender too, which I liked. It’s a delicious bowl of pho. And it’s perfect with the shop’s homemade fresh chili and lemon, which add a Southeast Asian flair and more layers of flavor to the broth.

【Rice │ Pork Rib Rice (with soup) │ NT$70】

It wasn’t what I expected—I thought it would be fried pork rib rice, but it was braised pork loin slices instead. The meat slices weren’t too thin or thick, and the side vegetables looked very “fresh”—sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, and radishes. The portion was actually pretty decent. I’m not entirely sure about the rice itself, but it had a slightly long-grain texture with a hint of rice core, though the grains didn’t quite look like it. Still, it had a subtle aroma. The pork loin slices weren’t dry and surprisingly had a tender texture. The flavor wasn’t heavy (you can add chili yourself), and it came with a big bowl of soup. The soup turned out to be quite good—seemed like plain broth but was lightly seasoned, aromatic with a slight hint of spiciness. Overall, it was a pretty satisfying set.

【Cold Dish │ Fresh Spring Rolls │ NT$60】

They offer two types of spring rolls here—one is deep-fried, and the other is this cold version, which is the type I’m more used to. The spring roll wrappers are exceptionally thin and translucent but not fragile at all—you can see the colorful fillings inside. There were three rolls in total, each cut in half, so each roll had two shrimp, pork loin slices, cucumber, lettuce, and rice noodles. There was a dipping sauce that had a fish sauce-like aroma, with a unique fragrance and slight tanginess. I really liked dipping the spring rolls in it. Also, these spring rolls are made to order, not pre-made and waiting for customers, so the texture is noticeably different.

【Vegetable │ Shrimp Paste Water Spinach │ NT$70】

The richness of the shrimp paste is moderate, likely adjusted. There’s a decent amount of water spinach—probably enough for two or three people (at least two). Great for those who like veggies to go with their meal.

【Fried │ Lemon Chicken Wings │ NT$100】

This dish was just okay. Though for me, it didn’t stand out in flavor or texture, it was still tasty. The skin wasn’t very crispy, but the seasoning was appetizing, and the chicken was quite tender—there were about five or six wings.

【Dessert │ French Bread │ NT$70】

French bread from Vietnamese snack shops usually performs well, and Vietnamese King is no exception. It’s served as a whole loaf, with a generously stuffed filling wrapped inside, plus plenty of cilantro. The bread is baked to a crispy, fragrant, and chewy texture, with a unique aroma. Paired with generous pork loin slices and lettuce, it’s definitely a great item to order. Adding a cup of Vietnamese coffee would make it the perfect combo.

I didn’t take great photos of the food this time, but my actual dining experience was that it’s truly a very delicious Vietnamese snack shop. The portions, prices, and flavors are all great. It’s probably the combination of being affordable and tasty that earned it so many positive reviews online. I’d definitely recommend giving it a try, but it’s best to avoid peak meal hours if you want a seat right away—or come earlier (since it opens at 10 AM and isn’t closed in the afternoon). Just sharing my simple thoughts with everyone.

Vietnamese King
Address: No. 6, Lane 171, Datun Road, Nantun District, Taichung City (actually on Datun 4th Street)
Phone: 0968-688323
Business Hours: 10:00–19:00 (Closed on Sundays)

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