Tonkin - Vietnamese Cuisine — Restaurant in Newcastle upon Tyne

A Hidden Gem for Vietnamese Cuisine – Highly Recommend!

We were instantly drawn to Tonkin from the outside—the quaint charm of the restaurant was inviting, and my partner was particularly taken with the contemporary Asian interior. The decor showcased a keen attention to detail, creating a warm and stylish atmosphere.

Despite being a small restaurant and fairly busy when we arrived, we were seated quickly, and the staff greeted us with a friendly welcome. The service was prompt and efficient, making for a great first impression.

For our meal, we ordered the beef pho, 3-colour coffee, and summer roll. The coffee leaned on the sweeter side, which might not be for everyone, but it was still enjoyable. The summer roll was wonderfully fresh, packed with crisp ingredients. As for the beef pho, the broth was flavourful, and the stone bowls they used helped keep the soup warm for longer—a thoughtful touch. However, we felt the beef could have been a bit more tender, or perhaps offering different cuts as an option would be a nice addition.

Portions were generous, and for the price, the value was excellent. Our food arrived within 15 minutes, which was impressive considering how busy they were.

Overall, Tonkin is a fantastic spot for a hearty, well-priced Vietnamese meal. We’ll definitely be back to explore more of their menu. Highly...

Being a lover of Vietnamese food and especially Pho and having some time in Newcastle, I quickly looked up the local spots and being near the station I headed straight over for a 12 o clock lunch at Tonkin. The Vietnamese flag outside made this place easy to find and I loved the cosiness and colourful decor. The friendly waitress smiled and made me feel immediately welcome.

I ordered the beef pho and a Vietnamese drip coffee with condensed milk, two things I had greatly enjoyed on my travels in Vietnam.

My high expectations were easily satisfied when I tasted the delicious broth, lighter and fresher tasting than some I have had but delicious and hearty. The selection of condiments and fresh herbs and beansprouts gave me an opportunity to play with and experiment with the flavours whilst enjoying the succulent noodles. I finished everything even lifting the heavy stone bowl to my lips to finish off the last drops of the now spicy sweet and tangy broth.

A lovely little place with delicious food and authentic Vietnamese...

Good service - authentic coffee - with potential

We heard of this new Vietnamese place in Newcastle so we went to give it a try despite the other only one in Newcastle is not recommended.

The space is small but there’re two floors. If you come with a large enough crowd 20 people, you might get the whole floor for yourself - we did that. Booking required.

Due to the numbers we had almost tasted the whole menu. The drinks were ok but the coffee was really authentic, would definitely recommend that if you come. The other star dish was the beef salad. Other than that, the food was rather blend and needs more flavor. Still very disapponting compared to the Vietnamese food I know.

I would usually give 1 star but giving 3 because the owner seems to take feedback seriously and hence there’s hope that it’ll improve. I might actually give it another try...