Authentic Vietnamese cuisine comes to Saipan

Been looking for authentic Vietnamese food? The search is over now as Guam’s favorite Vietnamese restaurant—Truong’s—is now on Saipan.

“Vietnamese food is so unique. A lot of people would say that it’s like Chinese or Thai, or other Asian food, but Vietnamese cuisine is very unique. We’re excited to bring it here on Saipan,” said Triple J Enterprises general manager Jay Jones.

He guarantees that Truong’s food and services are “going to be first rate.”

Food experts said that, although Vietnamese food has been influenced over the centuries, particularly by the French and Chinese cuisine, it has retained its one-of-a-kind quality. Its uniqueness, they say, lie in its essential ingredients, which are, above all, fish sauce and fresh herbs.

Truong’s, named after the Vietnamese family that the Joneses had adopted in 1975, is strategically located between the World Resort Hotel and Grand Hotel in Susupe.

A member of the Truong family, Ly Truong, 38, said she is confident that Saipan would love the restaurant.

“Lots of people from Saipan go to Guam and eat at Truong’s. They already know this and they’ve been asking, when are you going to Saipan? So we’re here now!” said an energetic and cheerful Ly.

Ly is on Saipan primarily to train Truong’s chefs.

“We want everything to be excellent,” she said, noting that Triple J has brought in three chefs directly from Vietnam to work in the newly opened restaurant.

“I’m training them and making sure that we do it right. Truong’s is very particular with the way we prepare and serve food to customers,” Ly said.

Troung’s holds its soft opening today on Saipan. Truong opens at 11am to 10pm daily.

Becky Castro, general manager of Triple J’s Five Star Wholesale, said Vietnamese food’s uniqueness is derived from the “freshness of its essential ingredients.”

“Everything is fresh. What I love here is the fried lumpia. You can’t have a real Vietnamese food without lumpia and the fixings of mint leaves, bean sprout, noodles, and the fish sauce,” she said.

Ly, who works as executive chef for the family restaurant, said among the customers’ favorites are shrimp, crispy noodle, combination soup, pork chop, fried rice, chicken lemon grass, and beef salad.

She said Truong’s makes use of locally grown vegetables and herbs.

Truong’s is headed by restaurant manager Felimon Cenon. Truong’s has eight staff, including the chefs.

The restaurant can accommodate 85 people.

“Come and experience the taste of Asia’s unique cuisine,” said Cenon.

Cenon used to work for Capricioss Palau before coming to Saipan.

“I moved here for Truong’s,” he said. (Liberty Dones)

* * *

TRUONG’S

* opens 11am to 10pm

* located between World Resort Hotel and Grand Hotel in Susupe

* Menu prices: $4.95 to $8.95 for appetizers; $6.95 to $8.95 for entrees, including soup

* Call: 235-8050