Cherylynn N.
Yelp
Anyone get phantom preggo cravings?
I'm not talking about chips and ice cream, unless you're scooping out ice cream with some chips. YUM.
I woke up early Saturday morning with phantom preggo cravings and this time it was...snails. Not bougie escargot but Ốc, the Vietnamese drinking kind.
This meant one thing...mini road trip to Man Jose!
Nếm Restaurant serves an array of Viet drinking food (oysters, snails, clams, octopus, balut, etc), hot pot, and more mainstream items like pho, bun, and com plates. No booze; at least none was listed on the menu.
They're open for takeout, delivery (3rd party apps), indoor dining, and outdoor dining.
Staff wore masks properly.
Do note, depending on who's working, there may be a language barrier.
F O O D
* Ốc Hương Xào Sốt Nếm #1: Stir-fried Whelks w/ Nem #1 sauce ($13.95): https://bit.ly/3sQtfZl
For the whelks (sea snails), you can choose from several sauces: garlic butter, golden sauce = salted egg, tamarind, and nếm #1. It wasn't stated on the menu so I asked what nếm #1 was and our server said, it was "almond". I thought I misheard but he said, "yes, almond...I think you will like it." Cool, except it wasn't almond and it was more like chili garlic. Not a big deal but I think they should update their menu to avoid confusion.
Unfortunately, the whelks were overcooked so they were unpleasantly tough and very hard to chew. The nếm #1 sauce was flavorful and AZN spicy with a touch of sweetness.
* Ốc Nhật Nướng Mỡ Hành: Grilled Giant Japanese Clam w/ scallion oil, peanuts ($14.95): https://bit.ly/3yleuyK
Sadly, like the whelks, the clam was overcooked too so it was dry and tough (not enough scallion oil).
* Cá Kho Thịt Tộ: Caramelized Catfish & Pork Belly Claypot ($14.95): https://bit.ly/3Dn3QeA
The caramel sauce was rich, bold, and salty so rice is a must. Like the other seafood items, the catfish was overcooked. It also wasn't the freshest and had a strong muddy flavor. The pork belly were sliced like lardons so you don't really get that fatty, meltingly soft goodness.
* Cơm Thịt Nướng: Grilled Pork over Rice ($10.95 + $1 egg): https://bit.ly/3Dn4xVe
Given their specialties, not a dish we thought to order here but it turned out to be the best executed item.
The marinated pork was tender with some charred edges with plenty of scallion oil for added richness. The egg was perfectly runny, jasmine rice properly cooked, and nước chấm was tangy sweet with a good amount of fish funk.
S E R V I C E
Cordial and fast. Our kind server refilled my water glass without even having to ask.
A M B I A N C E
Love the outdoor garden patio with string lights. With the shade sails, it was comfortable dining in the warm weather. Most customers choose to dine outside.
P A R K I N G
Unlike the parking situation in Vietnam Town and Grand Century, easy parking in the shared private lot.
Overall, I think I may have visited Nếm Restaurant on an off day with the seafood/fish not being the freshest and being overcooked. They opened in the midst of the pandemic so they're still new and have potential. Hope others have a better experience.