Gia An - Vietnamese Cuisine — Restaurant in Hamburg

Quintessence:

This is probably the most authentic Vietnamese restaurant in Hamburg. They use herbs like perilla mint, mint, fish mint, thai basil, coriander etc. The food (that is meant to be served hot) is served hot not lukewarm. Their fish sauce tastes like fish sauce. It is not diluted until it tastes like flavoured water. They also have Vietnamese sweets and Vietnamese drinks like che.

In detail:

I have been quite a few times to this restaurant quite a few times over the years. If you look for a fancy-schmancy restaurant, this is not it, but the food is extremely delicious! They have been very consistent with their food quality. I have had dishes like goi cuon, cha gio, banh cuon cha lua, hu tieu nam vang, bun thit nuong cha gio.

Whenever I ordered a soup or a noodle dish (not banh cuong though as it is often eaten at room temperature) it was served hot, and I literally mean hot, not lukewarm. The soups always came with a separate plate containing mung bean sprouts, lime wedges, thai basil or other herbs. This is the way it's supposed to be served. There are a lot of Vietnamese restaurants where you don't get that separate plate, but the bean sprouts are added into your bowl directly. Moreover herbs are expensive, but they are used in authentic Vietnamese cuisine. In addition there were always other condiments and sauces like hoisin or sriracha on the table that I could add into my food.

Their fish sauce is served to dishes like banh cuon, bun thit nuong cha gio, cha gio. You can also get it with your goi cuon instead of their hoisin sauce if you ask. Finally this is a restaurant that didn't dilute their fishsauce into aromatic flavoured water. It tasted like fish sauce and it was served in a separate bowl. I have been to other restaurants where they just put the fish sauce under their dishes like bun cha gio so you don't get to see the fish sauce.

Their goi cuon contained herbs like perilla mint, mint, coriander etc. It wasn't stuffed with lettuce only like other restaurants would do it.

Depending on when I went there they still had selfmade Vietnamese sweets. Moreover they have Vietnamese coconut milk drinks like che suong sa hat luu or che thai. You don't get these frequently...

This is it. One if the most authentic asian restaurants in all of Hamburg. Amazing food for a fair price, hidden away in Hamburg Jenfeld - really of the grid.

But don't let that stop you from treating yourself to the most authentic and delicious vietnamese food you'll ever get this far away from Hanoi. And boy are you in for a treat. The food is amazing! Flavourful with a home cooked vibe to the dishes, served with fresh and fragrant herbs, spicy chilies and refreshing drinks. Satisfaction guaranteed!

The service is efficient, friendly and accommodating. I once turned up with a friend of mine minutes after closing and they still served us and where so nice to us, even though we stalled their much deserved closing time. Thank you once again!

The decor used to be typical to Asian Street Food restaurants (very basic) but they changed all that and redid the restaurant. Purists, regulars and people in the know may shrug off the redesign but I think its great. Hopefully people whom are not accustomed to asian Street Food won't be dissuaded by the backroom flair any longer.

The little trip to Jenfeld is time well spent. As a tip, get there on a saturday or sunday morning. The place is bursting with people from all walks of life. Asian families dressed to the nines, groups of young people looking a little hung over from last night, old wrinkly asians all busy chatting away and most likely me, taking the whole scenery in, slurping my jumbo Pho and just being content.

I'll...

Oh my good - Jenfeld. This Part of Hamburg is not really known as a top place to go and to go out for. But "top location" often means a typical place for hipsters and/or tourists. So - follow the stars of the web and get surprised.

To me Hoang Mai is one the most authentic Vietnamese restaurants in Hamburg. Uuuugh, yes it is strange here.

First problem - the door is closed. In general you enter the restaurant via the shop beside. Hey if you solved this problem, the spartan interior and green walls may make you think "am I right here".

YES YOU ARE!!!

The waitress suddenly turned up, presented the menu. Asked If we are in first time. Explained all options of the menu (in really perfect German). Some of the food is vegetarian, but can be ordered with broth. In this case, broth is made of bones - no longer vegetarian at all. Good to now but anyway - bone broth, sounds really good!

YOU ARE RIGHT HERE!!!

Because most of the people here are Asians. One more point to assume the food is authentic!

YOU ARE RIGHT HERE!!!

Because the taste is "mmmmmmmm" really incredible. Portions are OK. Referring to the amount and quality, the price is ok, not cheap but neither expensive.

So follow the stars - 'cause Google will help you to find the...