[Shanghai] Bistro BB1 Vietnamese Delights 小金牛 (IAPM)

Bistro BB1 Vietnamese Delights 小金牛 | Dianping
Address: 淮海中路999号环贸广场L5-515 – L5/IAPM, 999 Huaihai Zhong Lu (徐汇区 Xuhui District)
Date visited: 2014.06 for lunch
Total bill: RMB¥212 for two people
Will return: Maybe for a quick meal

I have no idea what part of 小金牛 (Golden Bull) translates to Bistro BB1 but this is a Vietnamese eatery inside IAPM. Legit pho? Probably not. But it will do for a quick and easy meal in the mall. Vietnamese food is still mostly hopeless in Shanghai at this stage anyway. Cyclo is probably my most preferred choice for Vietnamese flavors in Shanghai.

Deep-fried soft shell crab in spicy salt (RMB¥88)
Recommend: yes
It’s like salt and pepper soft shell crab dish but missing the pepper. The batter is more akin to smooth Chinese American fried batter than the more chunky batter that is typically used for a dish like this. I think it is pricey for what it is but it is also delicious fried crab so I would get this again.

Sautéed water spinach with spicy dried shrimp paste (RMB¥36)
Recommend: maybe
A little on the fence about this one as the water spinach was slightly too slimy in texture for me.

Top graded thinly sliced beef on cellophane noodle soup (RMB¥88)
Recommend: yes
Pho bowls start at RMB¥45 and we chose the “top grade beef” pho at RMB¥88. At RMB¥88 a bowl, this is pretty pricey for pho, especially given this is a counter in the food court with a section of tables, not a restaurant with its own entrance and space. We split a bowl, which was enough for the two of us to share with other dishes.

They bring the bowl of beef and noodles topped with raw scallions and onions to the table first and pour in hot broth from a thermal jug.

The premium beef was surprisingly good–thin and super marbled. This is the kind of beef I wish could be at all pho places.

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