From a hip bar vibe to a modern family restaurant design, Aquaknox in Makati underwent a restaurant renovation and opened again in November last year. A splash of colors will greet customers as they enter the restaurant starting with a blue painting of fishes near the 2nd staircase that leads to their mezzanine dining area.
The walls are adorned with almost life-size paintings that depict life in Vietnam. The seating furniture also evokes a lot of modern colors. A frame on the right side is devoted to customers who have enjoyed their famous naked crab and has become part of the “crabilicious” family.
I’ve been to Vietnam and even the pho/s served on the side streets is quite a warm bowl of delicious topped with as many basils and bean sprouts as you prefer. There is more to Vietnamese food than the familiar pho houses that are around the metro and Aquaknox dishes up the best tasting Vietnamese dishes at the affordable price that it should be pegged at.
On the Table
Goi Cuon PHP 100
Fresh spring rolls with shrimps, lettuce and noodles
Fresh spring roll is the healthiest starter in any Vietnamese table. The translucent wrapper vividly shows the encased shrimp, pork, lettuce and vermicelli noodle inside
Chao Tom PHP 160
Prawns skewered on sugar cane served with lettuce and noodles
Instead of removing the barbecued prawn from the sugar cane stalk and wrapping it in lettuce together with noodles, I took a bite immediately of the minced prawns from its skewer. The prawn was soft and almost crumbles upon bite with a toasty taste of sweetness.
Goi Buoi Von Tom Noung PHP 150
Pomelo salad with grilled shrimps, cabbage, cucumbers, carrots and Asian basils
Refreshing plate of sweet citrus, grilled shrimps combined with the crunchy texture of cabbage, cucumber and carrots. This appetizer plate reminds me of a beautiful colorful flower garden that is edible.
Cahn Ga Chien Voi Toi (8pcs) PHP 150
The chicken lollipop is one of the tastiest I’ve ever tasted. It has a nibble of crisped skin and the chicken meat is flavored with spices.
Saigon Banh Xeo PHP 285
Saigon sizzling crepe with chicken, shrimp, shitake, onions, and bean sprouts served with lettuce wrap
The Foodie Club, who I was with for this specific Sunday lunch, raved about the Saigon crepe of Aquaknox. They enjoyed the soft crepe with pieces of chicken, shrimp, and shitake that they kept puncturing the crepe for more bites.
Hu Tieu Or Mi My Tho PHP 195
Shrimp, ground pork, pork slices in soup with rice noodles or egg noodles
Bun Thit Voi Cha Gio PHP 195
Combo with a choice of satay and a crispy roll
Ga Roti Voi Gao Nep PHP 170
Grilled chicken with sticky rice, scallion oil and crispy shallots
Thit Heo Nuong Voi Gao Nep PHP 160
Grilled pork belly with sticky rice, scallion oil, and crispy shallots
Cua Rang Moui Toi – naked crabs PHP
Chef Danny’s Garlicky Crab, otherwise known as naked crabs.
The naked crab is one of my favorite dishes that Sunday lunch. I love the garlicky bits that are tasty and crispy but not overly pungent.
Aquaknox is famous for its naked crabs since they take the hard work out of eating the crabs. They serve the crab meat sophisticatedly out of the shell, which means minus the nitpicking, and leaves mouthful of tender white crab flakes for crab-eaters to easily attack.
The restaurant definitely serves more than flavorful warm broth of phos. Aquaknox is one of the restaurants worthwhile and affordable to grab modern eclectic and succulent Vietnamese dishes.
Aquaknox More than Pho
800 Arnaiz Avenue (formerly Pasay Road)
Corner Amorsolo Street, Makati City
(63 2) 894 3380
Tales from the Tummy Aquaknox Album
Photo Courtesy:
Richard of www.talesfromthetummy.com
Carlos of www.foodiemanila.com
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Recent Table Guest