Bac Nam Serves up North/South Vietnamese Cuisine in Honolulu

In our search to explore cultural cuisine across Oahu (at an affordable price), we came across Bac Nam. I love it when a hole in the wall restaurant that you pass by everyday, owned by a local family, is open and has room to seat you immediately! Bac Nam is an unassuming Vietnamese restaurant on S. King street that stays true to their name (which literally translates to north/south) serving up Vietnamese food from both North & South regions of the country.

There is plenty of street parking outside the restaurant and a few spots behind the building as well. Immediately we noticed the place was very clean on the inside with a lot of seating available. We were greeted by a friendly staff with menus in hand to take our orders. The menu has a wide variety of Vietnamese food from appetizers to entrees, noodles and rice dishes. There is also a vegetarian menu for the non-meat eaters out there.

Vietnamese Cuisine

Vietnamese cuisine is known for its fresh ingredients, minimal cooking, abundance of leafy greens and aromatic herbs all complimented with rich bone broth soups and rice noodles. This, along with its use of meats as more of a garnish or side dish makes Vietnamese food a healthy meal choice. The most common spices are chilis, lime, ginger, garlic, shallots, and peppers. Fish sauce, another common base ingredient, once cooked or diluted with lime juice and spices, transforms into a rich and appealing aroma that is the main marker of Vietnamese food.

Spring Rolls

As with other asian cuisine traditions Vietnamese meals are made for sharing so we ordered several classic dishes to get a variety of tastes. First on the list were our all-time favorite – spring rolls. If you like Chinese egg rolls these are next level! The hot crispy rolls are served with lettuce leaves and fresh mint to make wraps which can be topped with the classic fish sauce dip served alongside most Vietnamese dishes. I could literally just eat these for a meal and be happy any day.

Vietnamese Pho

After spring rolls we opted for a another Vietnamese classic – pho, a traditional soup made with thin slices of beef or shredded chicken that is served with bean sprouts, basil leaves, lime wedges and rice noodles. The aromatic broth contains spices and herbs such as cinnamon, star anise and cloves. This is one of the most popular and well-known Vietnamese dishes, an evolution of Chinese (for the noodles) and French (for the beef) influences combined with the fresh produce of both north & south Vietnam to create this signature (and delicious) steamy bowl. If you’re looking to try a classic Vietnamese dish the pho at Bac Nam will not disappoint!

Bun Noodle Bowls

Next on the list, was a dish featuring cold vermicelli rice noodles topped with a protein of your choice known as Bun. This dish is served in a bowl with shredded lettuce, chopped mint leaves, bean sprouts, cucumbers, and for our meal, the sautéed lemongrass chicken. It also comes with a side of sauce you can pour over the bowl like a dressing composed of fish sauce vinegar and shredded carrots & daikon. Yum, this is a great dish on a hot day to fill you up while still feeling light and refreshing.

Finally, we had the grilled beef short rib…. this was the one dish on the table where one serving just wasn’t enough to share. We should have got an order for everyone! It’s served a la carte so it makes a great side to something like the Bun bowl or you can order a side of rice to round it out.

In our experience, Bac Nam Vietnamese Restaurant had great service, a comfortable atmosphere, and excellent food at an affordable price. The owners Mr. Dam Huyn and his wife Kimmy were there serving and cooking for their guests creating that special mom & pop experience you won’t get in larger venues. What we tried in this one visit was just scratching the surface of what Vietnamese food has to offer and we’ll definitely be coming back to this lovely neighborhood restaurant!

Check the links below for more Honolulu restaurants:

Leahi Health: Hawaii’s Healthiest Hole in the Wall

Do-ne: Japanese Food With Soul

Ohana Dish: Japanese Plate Lunches Made With Love

by Honolulu Vibes