Em Oi Restaurant – Vietnamese with a Twist!

Vietnamese cuisine is all about the balance of ingredients and flavours to make not only a delicious but also a healthy meal

Did you miss those great dining experiences during the last few years like I did? Well good news, let me introduce you to a brand-new spot in Hamilton, Em Oi Vietnamese Restaurant. (emoirestaurant.ca/) Em Oi is not the typical Vietnamese restaurant that you may be used to dining in. There are no self-order sheets in sight, but instead, you are welcomed into a beautiful atmosphere (definitely Instagram-worthy esthetics) with the most professional staff ready to make your experience unforgettable. Walking in almost feels like the team at Em Oi is welcoming you to their own homes.

In Vietnamese, “Em oi” is used as a phrase of endearment. It is like calling someone close to you “sweetie.” In most Asian cultures, food is a very important part of life. It brings people together during the good and bad times and food is truly an act of love. Vietnamese cuisine is all about the balance of ingredients and flavours to make not only a delicious but also a healthy meal. The owners, Tai Huynh and Hannah Huynh (partners in business and in life) wanted to stand out from the Vietnamese restaurants we are all so used to and give the community a more welcoming place to enjoy Vietnamese food. When you step into Em Oi, you will immediately feel the difference, between the ambience, staff, and most importantly their food.

So, let’s dive more into their food selection. I really liked their menu since it is more focused and does not include hundreds of items. I don’t know about you, but I prefer to dine at a restaurant that knows what they are good at creating and serve those dishes with pride. On their menu, you will find everything from rice paper rolls, soup, noodles, and of course, the classic Pho and Bún.

If you haven’t tried Vietnamese food before, I will give you a quick rundown on a few of their most popular items.

Phô pronounced “Pha,” is a noodle dish that is swimming in a delicious, rich broth. What makes a good Pho is the quality of the ingredients that goes into the broth. It is like the chicken noodle soup your grandma makes for you when you have the sniffles. It takes fresh herbs, vegetables, bones, and lots of patience and time to bring this broth to life. The broth is served with vegetables, rice noodles, herbs, and meat.

I tried the Pho bò tái which is the pho with the eye of the round steak. It came with a deliciously rich broth and thicker rice noodles, which I much prefer over the

thinner noodles that other Vietnamese restaurant uses. This dish is simple and delicious. As the days get colder, this is a perfect dish to keep you cosy and warm. Co-owner Hannah Huynh oversees the menu and purveying the ingredients, she ensures everything is the best quality and freshest she can get her hands on. This is the dish I recommend if you have never had Vietnamese food before.

Bún thı t n’ón’g – this traditional Southern Vietnam dish is usually served with cold rice noodles with tons of meats, vegetables, and herbs, and topped with n’ó’c mam fish sauce and peanuts. This is one of my favourite dishes since every component is so full of flavour.

I also tried the Tom Nuong Satay, Cha Gio which is the grilled satay shrimp with an imperial spring roll. The freshness of their ingredients really shined through in this dish. The shrimp were large, juicy, and grilled to perfection! This was probably my favourite dish of the items I tried from Em Oi.

Ca phe sua da (also known as Vietnamese Iced Coffee) — traditionally brewed using a coffee “phin” (which is the Vietnamese version of the pour-over coffee maker you see all over homes and coffee shops these days). Em Oi uses a very popular coffee brand, Trung Nguyen, to brew their coffee. If you are a coffee lover, you need to stop by and try this ultrasmooth, rich dark roast coffee that has a beautiful cocoa note. Note: this type of coffee takes a little extra time to brew so make sure you order this ahead of time.

It might be a little surprising to think of an Asian country that loves coffee as much as Vietnam.

Most Asian countries favour tea over coffee. It all started in 1857 when a French Catholic priest brought an Arabica tree to northern Vietnam to try to start a coffee plantation. Today, Vietnam is actually the second-largest exporter of coffee in the world!

A few unique dishes Em Oi offers is the Bo Kho, a Vietnamese braised beef stew that is hearty and perfect for the colder days, and the pomelo salad with shrimp. Pomelo is the largest citrus fruit and tastes like a grapefruit. This salad is very refreshing and great to start off your meal. There are also several vegetarian dishes on the menu to choose from, such as the vegetarian pad Thai and the sizzling plate vegetable stir fry.

Every detail from the décor, and staff uniforms, to the plates that are used, has been meticulously thought through by the owners. Their attention to detail is truly what makes them stand out from any other Vietnamese restaurant you may come across in the Hamilton area.

Em Oi Vietnamese Restaurant is located at 542 Upper Wellington St, Hamilton, ON L9A 3P5. Prices range from $15 to $20 per person for an entree. To make a reservation, call (905) 387-4582.