A Night To Top Christmas at ST25 by KOTO

A letter from the editor:

Dearest reader,

As of late, I’ve been on the losing end of a battle to renew the honourable practice of restaurant reviewing within the local Vietnamese English language media landscape. 

Still wrapping my head around the demoralising concept that one pays a platform a hefty sum to be recognised, nevermind the fact that such sum never lands in the writer’s pocket, I instead daydream a scenario where merit and positive experiences shared amongst writer-restauranteurs are enough to see your restaurant’s name in the spotlight. 

Therefore I present this story on my terms, so thank you for directing your attention here, where I will now take you with me on a dinner for two read that you can recreate for yourself anytime at my choice luxury Vietnamese eatery, The Sofitel’s ST25 by KOTO. 

Love, Becca

A Night To Top Christmas at ST25 by KOTO

On Sunday the 16th of May, I made my serendipitous second visit to ST25 by KOTO since their Christmas Media Launch Party extravaganza, where I witnessed their ongoing evolution as tastemakers of change, charity work, community skill building, and of course, culinary prowess as a leading institution for five-star Vietnamese delights.

If you were lucky enough to attend the first feast of canapés, you’d remember being greeted through the entrance of the landmark hotel decked with enough fairy lights to light up a small village. You’d also know the bar for this restaurant has already been set very, very high. 

Those of us in attendance last year were already in awe of their community ethos in flow, in undertaking the ongoing mission to train people from underprivileged backgrounds to masterfully execute five-star service in an iconic location such as The Sofitel, bringing honour to themselves, their families, and their nation that proudly boasts its delicacies far and wide. 

Travelling forward in time to last month, the small plates we ordered were quite impeccable, and indeed a step forward from the moreish morsels I’d once gobbled, in a classy round-two display of local talent-meets-luxury ingredients, to be shared intimately between two with the timed perfection of a full-table spread you will not soon forget.

Dish of the Day

The dish of the day was arguably the first to arrive, ST25 by KOTO’s take on Bắp Xào, which arrived in divine crunchiness. An outer shell of some sort of deep-fried wonton-like rice cracker forms the sumptuous vessel for fried street-food style sweet corn, mixed in with herbs, vegetables, and seasonings that take the dish notches above the city’s endless belt of Bắp Xào vendors. 

The Glorious Spread

Equally impressive, the restaurant’s fusion spin on a classic Beef Tartare was uniquely inventive, fresh, and decadent, elevated by the ooey gooey drippings of a rich egg yolk coating the raw meat, herbs, and other delicious fixings. Backing up the first two dishes with finesse, the remaining servings of Yellowtail Kingfish and Crab Fried Rice rounded off the meal splendidly with the alluring aromas of the sea, coupled with small elements of crunch and zing to leave a happy dance upon your palette. 

A journey in itself, the evening’s cocktail accompaniment of their signature “Canh Chua” was mesmerisingly reminiscent of the ocean, and uplifted by the condensed essence of local herbs found in regional markets across the country, staying true to the humble national dish to which it pays homage. 

Adding to the list of reasons to allow your next epicurean adventure to take you to ST25 by KOTO’s stunning venue, they have furthered their endeavours to uplift Vietnamese talent by newly hosting a collection of masterfully handcrafted Vietnamese-made take-home souvenirs, including bags, tapestries, and plush toys.