Saigon in Hong Kong: One of Ho Chi Minh City’s favorite food stalls is now in Hong Kong — well, sort of. Cô Thành will be serving faithful Vietnamese dishes inspired by “The Lunch Lady” Nguyen Thi Thành, whose humble hawker stall was noticed by Anthony Bourdain and has since become an international sensation.

Look & Feel: Cô Thành is a rustically casual restaurant decked out with Saigon street signs on the walls. There are counter seats along the open kitchen, and a few small tables as well.

On the Menu: It’s a relatively limited menu at Cô Thành: think bún Thái (tom yum soup-based vermicelli), bún mắm (shrimp and fish paste vermicelli), bánh mi (baguette with cold cuts), as well as càphê sữa đá (Vietnamese iced drip coffee).

Meet the Chef: Son Pham is the head chef at Cô Thành. Son has extensive international kitchen experience, having worked in three-Michelin-starred restaurants in New York, Japan and Copenhagen as well as spending decades mastering Vietnamese home cooking.

Jeng: The ingredients are sourced directly from Vietnam. The bún Thái soup is clear and refreshing, and the spiciness is just right without covering up the fragrant soup base. The Bánh Mi baguette is extra crisp, filled with fresh cold cuts and vegetables.

Not So Jeng: We kind of like everything here…

Service: Friendly and efficient. The team welcomes feedback from the customers.

Great For: Casual after-work dinner; weekend lunch with a friend or two.

FYI: Cô Thành is first come first serve only – be patient and wait a bit to be seated. The restaurant is the brainchild of Brian Woo, who apprenticed with The Lunch Lady for three years before bringing the concept to Hong Kong. He also runs Three Monkeys in Sheung Wan.

This writeup was based on a media tasting. The Loop HK doesn’t guarantee/sell restaurant review coverage. See our editorial policy here.