Sen Storm Noodle Bar & Grill

The Verdict

Sen Storm doesn’t look or feel like your typical Southeastern Asian restaurant—it has more of a bistro vibe. From the playful Bia Hoi backlit poster to the fresh take on a traditional mural, you’ll feel relaxed, casual, and ready for some quality grub.

The Sen Storm menu is divided into three parts: tapas, noodles, and grill.

“In the tapas part of the menu, you can definitely see a bit of French and Spanish influence,” Chef Pham says. “But it still has that authentic Vietnamese flavour.”

The taro and mushroom bombas, for instance, are everything you could want in a Spanish croquette: crunchy on the outside, incredibly light and fluffy on the inside. Same with the beef carpaccio, which is a special dish Chef Pham created in Hanoi over 10 years ago—the pho spices really elevate the carpaccio to another level.

As for noodles, Chef Pham’s Traditional Hanoi Pho is quite different to the more southern-style Pho. Instead of using cheaper cuts of meat that tend to lose their flavour once cooked, Chef Pham uses an entire flank to preserve the flavour of the meat. In short: it’s freaking delicious.

And if all that deliciousness wasn’t enough, get ready for the grill part of the menu. Chef Pham cooks up all sorts of game with a French twist. For instance, the mountain pepper-flavoured Yarra Valley venison is cooked in a French style and served on a creamy parsnip puree that’ll absolutely melt in your mouth.

And for those of us who often have to choose between good brew and authentic Vietnamese food, it’s great news to know that you can now do both. Sen Storm has an impressive drinks menu—from a wide selection of local beers and an extensive wine list to some very interesting cocktails, you won’t go thirsty or hungry.

Image credit: Annika Kafcaloudis