Red Yen: Southern Vietnamese Cuisine in a Beautiful Setting

April 22, 2020 Taipei Expat

New safety measures for COVID-19: Surfaces are disinfected regularly, and there are usually several metres between tables.

Delivery information: Call them or send a message with your name, Chinese address, and telephone number to arrange delivery. They offer free delivery within Tianmu for orders with two or more mains.

On a quiet alley near Lanya Park in Tianmu lies Red Yen, one of our new favourite restaurants in Taipei. Red Yen serves some of the best Vietnamese food we’ve had in our lives — their dishes are quite healthy and prepared with fresh ingredients that are organic and locally-sourced where possible. And if the food alone wasn’t enough to make us fall in love with Red Yen, the restaurant is also absolutely gorgeous. With a leafy entrance, dim lighting, and elegant yet cosy decor, it makes the perfect spot for a date or an intimate dinner.

Feeling inspired by the beautiful interior, we decided to start off our weeknight dinner with cocktails. Our first choice was the mojito ($280, pictured right), which was an excellent balance between sweet and strong. We could definitely feel the alcohol after a few sips, but the subtle sweetness of the sugar and fragrance of the mint kept it from being overpowering. This was one of the better mojitos we’ve had in Taipei, and we made a point of ordering it again. The Lychee Red Yen ($270, pictured left) was also fantastic: it wasn’t quite as strong as the mojito, but it was light and sweet without being cloying. We loved the pretty way it was presented, with a fresh lychee and basil garnish.

The next drink we ordered was a margarita ($270), and we were happy to discover that it was just as good as the first two. This was another strong cocktail, but again, it was impeccably balanced and very easy to drink.

We also ordered an Old Empire IPA ($260), which was crisp and citrusy. This was a very nice accompaniment to our meal, but we were a little too enamoured by their cocktails to be overly impressed.

Red Yen doesn’t have an extensive menu; instead, it focuses on a handful of starters, mains, and desserts that it executes flawlessly. Our first starter was the prawn and pork rolls ($180), which may sound basic, but was anything but. These delicate fresh rolls were stuffed with a selection of fresh vegetables, rice noodles, prawns, and pork, accompanied by the most heavenly home-made sauce.

Next, we ordered the winter vegetable salad with tamarind and ginger dressing ($220). This was a warm salad of lightly cooked vegetables, with a tangy, slightly sweet dressing that was absolutely magnificent.

Our last starter was the pork and mushroom banh cuon ($180). This was another rice roll, but very different from the first — the skin was thicker and chewier, and the filling was deliciously meaty yet not heavy at all, the mushrooms soaking up the flavour of the pork while adding a nice lightness to it. It was just as good as the first two starters, and there’s no way we’d be able to choose a favourite between them.

For the main course, the first thing we ordered was the Southern beef stew ($380), which we chose to eat with pho. We loved it. The stew was mild yet packed with flavour, the potatoes just melted in your mouth, and the meat was so tender it practically fell apart. The pho was a nice addition, as it helped to bulk up the dish a little so that it was nice and filling.

The next dish we ordered was the turmeric fish and dill with rice noodles ($380). We weren’t sure what to expect with this dish and had been kicking ourselves a little after ordering it because we’re not the biggest fans of turmeric, but it turned out to be one of our favourites of the night. The fish was soft and delicately seasoned, with the turmeric adding a nice, mild flavour. The noodles were served with thinly-cut vegetables, fresh dill, and a dressing on the side that was simply exquisite. The textures and flavours worked wonderfully together to make a light, fragrant dish with just the right amount of crunch.

After the fish, we started on our next order; chicken curry served with a generous slice of crusty baguette ($340). This dish was another winner, with a rich, creamy texture and a slight sweetness coming from the sweet potatoes inside. It was absolutely divine when paired with the baguette, which was delightfully crusty on the outside yet soft and fluffy on the inside.

The last dish we ordered was the Vietnamese meatballs ($340), which was accompanied by the same incredible baguette we’d had with the curry. As expected, the meatballs were heavenly, served in a beautiful tomato-based sauce that was warm and comforting while still being nuanced and somehow delicate in flavour. This was the ultimate classy comfort food, and we wiped up every last trace of sauce, wishing there was more.

We were already pretty stuffed by this point, but we couldn’t help ourselves: dessert was just too hard to resist. The first to arrive was the apple crumble with cinnamon ice cream ($180). This was served cold, which threw us for a second, but it was actually quite nice once we got used to it. The cinnamon ice cream was locally sourced from nearby Baire’s Ice Cream (also highly worth visiting) and added a lovely hint of spice.

Next came the ginger chilli chocolate brownie ($180), which was served with Baire’s vanilla ice cream. This was an interesting choice that was heavy on the ginger, with the chocolate flavour taking a backseat. The chilli gave it a mild kick that was quite enjoyable, and it paired nicely with the smooth vanilla ice cream.

The last dessert we ordered ended up being our favourite by far: banana tapioca che with coconut cream ($180). Che is a traditional Vietnamese sweet beverage, dessert soup, or pudding, and this version was definitely more of a pudding than anything else. If we had to liken it to anything, we’d choose warm rice pudding, but with delicious creamy flavours of coconut and banana and a slightly different texture. It was absolutely heavenly, and we hope they keep it on their menu forever.

We had also ordered a Vietnamese drip coffee with condensed milk ($120) to go with the desserts, which was a great choice. Vietnamese coffee is dark roasted and strong, but the condensed milk counteracts this with a rich sweetness, making for an almost dessert-like beverage. It was a lovely way to end our meal.

Check out their menu down below — do note, however, that this changes seasonally.

All things said, we really can’t recommend Red Yen enough. We had a wonderful experience there — everything was perfect, from the gorgeous setting to the incredible food and drinks. We’ve visited Red Yen for a catch up with friends and with our parents, and both times our experience was magnificent. We’re dying to come back here for a date in the future. Any takers?

What’s the vibe?

Classy, beautifully-decorated Vietnamese restaurant perfect for intimate dinners. Customers were a mix of Taiwanese and foreign.

Worth it?

We can’t oversell this place enough — the food is incredible! It comes with a slightly higher price tag, but we it was completely worth it.

Would you go back?

We’re already been back once and will definitely be back in the future.

Last updated April 2020

Red Yen

Chinese Name: 紅燕餐廳

Hours:
11:30AM–3PM, 5–9PM
Closed Mondays

Phone: 02 2838 3400

English Address: No 7. Lane 50, Section 2 Zhongcheng Road, Tienmu, Shilin District, Taipei City