Introduction
Tucked away in the heartlands near Heartbeat @ Bedok, 412 Bedok North Ave 2 (#01-122), Singapore 460412, Bac Viet is a Vietnamese eatery that puts the spotlight on Northern Vietnamese cuisine and offers some serious surprises for those in the know.
Ambience & Setting
The space occupies a former gelato parlour, and while much of the industrial‐brick and concrete aesthetic remains, there are thoughtful Vietnamese touches sprinkled throughout – lanterns, a mural reminiscent of Saigon street art, and a softly lit, casual vibe. It’s a modest size, more intimate than large-scale, making it suited for a relaxed lunch or dinner with friends. The location is roughly a 15-minute walk from Bedok MRT.
What to Eat: Dish Highlights
Signature: Bánh Dà Cua (Red Rice Crab Noodles)
This is the standout item here and rightly so. The bowl of noodles features wide, red-tinted rice noodles from the Hai Phong region, steeped in a crab-drenched broth, topped with fresh prawns, pork wrapped in lá lốt leaves, shredded crab meat and crunchy pork lard. The texture of the noodles is different from our usual chinese Kway Teow, but it is pleasantly chewy and breaks apart easily, which I reckon it is probably rehydrated like store bought pasta. The broth strikes a balance of sea-sweetness, umami and light tomato tang, rather than being overwhelmingly rich.
Phở Bò
At Bac Viet, the Phở Bò is described on the menu as “Northern Vietnam family recipe … broth is slow cooked with beef marrow bones for at least 10 hours”. The broth leans on the lighter side – clear, clean, with a “sweet-sweet” finish rather than heavy or overly savoury. Because the broth is lighter and more subtle than richer bowls elsewhere, it might not satisfy those who crave a deeply hearty or intense beef-marrow soup. The portion of beef slices were pretty generous and tender.
Cháo Canh
The Cháo Canh at Bac Viet is a less common Vietnamese noodle soup. The eatery describes their dish as “chewy tapioca noodles served in our slow-cooked pork-bone broth, with handmade pork-balls, fresh fish & vibrant herbs”. The dish had clean and fresh flavours (thanks to fish slices and herbs) but felt a little too light in depth of flavours. The Cháo Canh is worth trying for its uniqueness and fresh elements, but if you’re looking for the deepest flavour punch, the pho or the signature red-rice noodle dish might hit stronger.
Final Verdict
Do note that the menu is quite focused, probably as this is a small set-up and some flavours might feel underwhelming as the food is lightly seasonsed. If you’d like to experience Vietnamese food beyond pho and banh mi and specifically want to discover a rare dish like bánh dà cua then Bac Viet is worth the visit. It balances authenticity and comfort and is a refreshing alternative to more mainstream Vietnamese eateries in Singapore. Go with the signature dish, consider sharing a side and enjoy the flavours.
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Bac Viet
412 Bedok North Ave 2, #01-122, Singapore 460412
Google Maps Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZauSeLVPAQRjihgKA
