New Vietnamese restaurant opens in Ipswich, adding to international dining flavour

A Vietnamese delicacy. Picture: VK VIETNAMESE CUISINE (Image: Archant)

VK Vietnamese Cuisine, in Northgate Street, is offering contemporary Vietnamese and Dim Sum dishes, ranging from stir-fries and noodles to coconut curry and deep-fried catfish.

VK already has an eaterie in Chelmsford, and decided to open up in Ipswich because of demand. Owner Shahab Syed said, “We get customers travel from Ipswich all the way to Chelmsford to come to our other restaurant.”

He said this was the only Vietnamese restaurant in Ipswich. “We are very excited to open. We have had a good response so far and have half filled our bookings for this evening already.

“If you haven’t tried Vietnamese food you need to. We are the only place in Ipswich which serves it, and our food is also gluten free and suitable for vegans.”

A Vietnamese dish. Picture: VK VIETNAMESE CUISINE (Image: Archant)

The restaurant, in the building which was formerly RaRa’s ice cream parlour, was decorated with balloons for the grand opening.

VK says that the blend of flavours in Vietnamese cuisine is different from any other Asian style. The food relies on a blend of local produce and vegetables as well as material sourced from Vietnam, to bring out the authenticity and flavour of the food.

Vietnamese cookery is known for its fresh ingredients, with many dishes featuring fish, rice, herbs, vegetables and fruits.

This is the latest restaurant to open in Ipswich, adding to the already strong international flavour for dining in the town, including Lebanese, Moroccan and Turkish cuisine, sushi and Japanese delicacies, and many Asian and Indian restaurants.

Other eateries launched recently include German Doner Kebab in Westgate Street, which was officially opened by The Only Way is Essex star Joey Essex last weekend, a new fish cafe run by former Mortimer’s owner Ken Ambler within Arlingtons in Museum Street, and The Forge Kitchen Smokehouse and Bar, close to The Waterfront,

There are also other new restaurants in the pipeline, including Spoon World Buffet, due to open in the former Iceland store in St Matthew’s Street, Pret a Manger in the former Grimwades store on the Cornhill, a new Nando’s for Ransomes Europark and a fish-and-chip shop in Upper Brook Street. Plans have also been submitted to change the former Grabs kitchenware clearance shop into a restaurant.