Nam Phuong

There's no shortage of Vietnamese joints on Buford Hwy and all points north of the city. Most of them are average at best but there are a handful that does some fresh and tasty grub. Some excel at a few items while others are good across the board... And this place is one of them. They now have two locations, the original up on Jimmy Carter and there's a smaller one that opened not too long ago at the old Pho #1 space on Buford Hwy which is closer to town. Both have the same menu and the food is pretty much consistent at both locations. 

First, a quick lunch at the new location... It didn't smell like hamster vomit anymore like when it was Pho #1 and it's just a helluva lot cleaner now. Let's hope the food is just as fresh and so clean clean.

DIY Vermicelli with Grilled Pork. Always fun to play with your food. But they were kinda chintzy on the vermicelli and prok. Still tasty, though.

Spring Rolls on Vermicelli. Bowl of soft thin noodles with super crispy crunchy spring rolls. Now, this is the kind of filler I'll ram down my pouch. Don't forget the fish sauce.

Seafood Congee. Kinda watery-er and nothing like Chinese congee but it didn't have to be because it was friggin' dericious in it's own right. It should thicken up with time but it didn't take long to finish it, so, I don't know if that theory of mine is true.

Time for another trip to the original location for dinner...

Fried Chicken Wings Glazed w/ Fish Sauce. These are fucking awesome. The end.

Papaya Salad. The portion is no joke but the flavors coulda been a bit more intense for me... Nothing a little Sriracha and fish sauce can't fix.

They have a nice prix fixe family menu selection depending on the amount of people you want to feed but the 4 person menu is more than enough for about 6 people. The price for this feast  is one of the best values in town and it includes most of the greatest hits...

Summer Rolls. Fat and plump rolls that would make a Clermont Lounge stripper blush when she takes her first bite. Squirt.

Lotus Root Salad. I lurv lotus root but this was just ok, it was kinda boring with muted flavor. The deep fried prawn chips were good though.

Vietnamese Shaking Beef. Tender nuggets of meatgold that will make your booty shake.

Caramelized Catfish Fillet.A bit over caramelized and too sweet but still a good tasting dish.

Sweet and Sour Soup with Shrimp. Fragrant, tasty and filling. What else do you want?

Salt and Pepper Squid. This is one of the best versions in town. Light, crispy, tender and not greasy at all. So pho king good.

It might not be the best Vietnamese in town but they are consistent across the board. The ingredients are fresh and clean, the cooking is executed with vibrant flavors, the service is quick and friendly and they are exceptionally clean for an Asian resto, especially for a Vietnamese joint.

Me like you long time.

2 Stars.

4051 Buford Highway Northeast
Atlanta, GA
(404) 633-2400

5495 Jimmy Carter Blvd
Norcross, GA 30093
(770-409-8686)
http://www.namphuongatlanta.com/