Everything Random

My son and I went on an all-boys trip to the island of Phu Quoc. While several of the reviews are not really very optimistic about the island, we find the place quite enjoyable. In this post I will talk about the restaurants that we find good and worth the buck and time.

Vietnamese: Anna’s Nha Cuon Restaurant

Anna’s Nha Cuon looks pretty unassuming from the outside, but once you step in, it feels like a small, tidy living room that decided to become a restaurant when no one was looking. Staff are friendly in that genuinely glad-you-came way, and there’s this relaxed, unhurried vibe that makes it easy to linger over one more drink or one more plate.

The food is truthfully Vietnamese, very comforting, and very “let’s order one more thing just to try it.” Portions are generous, prices are reasonable, and the menu is full of classic dishes and rolls, complete with photos so you’re not playing menu roulette if you don’t speak Vietnamese. Fresh ingredients really show up here, especially in the rolls, and everything tastes like someone actually cares about what leaves the kitchen.

Italian: The Home Pizza

The Home Pizza feels like that reliable friend’s apartment where everyone ends up on a Friday night. It’s on the main street, easy to find, and the inside is surprisingly polished: modern decor, nicely done lighting, and a cozy, slightly chic atmosphere that still manages to stay casual.

Food-wise, this place is exactly what you want when your brain suddenly decides it needs pizza and pasta more than anything remotely local. The pizzas come on proper hand-tossed dough, with toppings that range from classic to “I didn’t know you could put that on a pizza, but okay, I’m in,” and you can even do half-and-half if you’re bad at deciding. Add friendly, attentive staff and you get that simple equation: good food + good people + nice room. My son, who is choosy about pizzas, was fully satisfied.

Asian Fusion: Hien Charcoal Kitchen

Hien Charcoal Kitchen is where you go when you want dinner to feel a bit like an occasion without needing to dress up for it. The space is small and intimate — about 30 seats — with a rustic, cozy setup and an open kitchen where the charcoal grill is basically the main character of the room.

The food here leans more Japanese-inspired these days, with a focus on carefully grilled dishes that come out tasting smoky, precise, and just a little bit fancy without being pretentious. Everything feels deliberate — a smaller menu, well-executed plates, and flavors that are a bit more refined. The umeshu was good and besides the quirky decor that features koi fishes floating in the air, this place I should say is one that’s worth a visit. Desserts are good and if you are sweet-toothed, you probably need to give it a try.