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After visiting Vietnam and falling in love with its cuisine, Sahil Sambhi wanted to do more than just open a restaurant. He aimed to bring Vietnamese culture and the authentic culinary experience of the "S-shaped land" to India.

Sambhi met with Pham Sanh Chau, then the Vietnamese Ambassador to India, to share his vision of opening the first authentic Vietnamese restaurant in New Delhi. "The Ambassador provided immense support during our trip to Vietnam. Thanks to him, we connected with local ingredient suppliers and had a knowledgeable tour guide to help us source raw materials and spices directly from Vietnam," the founder of VietNom shared with Elle India magazine.

During this visit, the restaurant's head chef, Bhim B. Tamang, and his team collaborated with two local restaurants and engaged with Vietnamese people to better understand their festivals, culture, and eating habits.

Indian Restaurateur Sahil Sambhi. Photo: Forbes People

The first restaurant opened in 2019 in New Delhi and received positive feedback from diners. Sambhi then opened the next restaurant in Mumbai in July, 2024.

At VietNom in Mumbai, attention to detail goes beyond the food. The restaurant's interior features soft, curvaceous designs and prioritizes natural materials like rope, jute, and rattan in beige tones. This creates a space that is both fresh and full of Vietnamese charm.

"During a short business trip to Ho Tram, Vietnam, in June 2023, I savored dishes like pho, banh mi, and goi cuon. When I heard about the opening of an authentic Vietnamese restaurant in Mumbai, I couldn't resist arranging my schedule to see if the flavors matched my delightful experience in Vietnam," shared Isha Mayer, editor of Elle India magazine, and a customer of Sahil Sambhi's restaurant.

Byisha Mayer describes the dishes on the VietNom menu as "tasty and colorful." She begins her meal with a traditional Vietnamese iced milk coffee, followed by avocado and salmon spring rolls. The rolls are fresh and burst with flavor when dipped in sweet and sour sauce. Mayer is particularly impressed by the restaurant's hot and crispy burger and the fusion-style chicken pho.

The dishes of the restaurant use ingredients imported from Vietnam. Photo: VietNom

The menu at VietNom features dishes made from ingredients imported directly from Vietnam, ensuring authenticity and quality. Elle India editor Byisha Mayer described the offerings as "richly flavorful and colorful," starting her meal with a traditional Vietnamese iced coffee followed by fresh avocado and salmon spring rolls, which burst with flavor when dipped in the accompanying sweet and sour sauce.

In addition to traditional meat-filled baguettes, the restaurant also serves a notable fried tofu variant, and Mayer was particularly impressed by the restaurant's fusion-style chicken pho. The VietNom pho adapts to local tastes without compromising its Vietnamese essence.

One must-try dish at VietNom is the cha ca, inspired by Hanoi’s famous Cha Ca La Vong, made with river fish fillet and served with coconut milk, dill, and shallots, paired with noodles. For salad lovers, the papaya salad and pomelo salad are sure to impress even the most discerning palates.

Mayer considers VietNom to be an ideal dining spot for lovers of Vietnamese cuisine in the heart of the "city of dreams," thanks to its diverse menu and rich flavors.

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