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Vietnamese people in Munich A while ago, I was having a salad at Hans im Glück near Arabellapark. On my way back, I passed the small Vietnamese restaurant "Royal Le." As usual, I had my little notebook with me and noted that I had to try it as soon as I had room in my stomach. Strangely enough, this happened relatively quickly, and so I tried Royal Le a week later with a companion when I was hungry and in the mood for Asian food. Royal Le is quite small, no bigger than a generously sized living room, with about 10-12 tables – pre-set with tablecloths, colorful tiles on the walls, a large "Royal Le" sign above the bar, a glass entrance area, and overall a rather pleasant and convincing atmosphere. Vietnamese restaurants often have a lot of knick-knacks, kitschy decorations, and bright colors. Royal Le is very understated, decorated in light tones and with minimal clutter. Only in the entrance area is there a Buddha statue and a small decorated area.
During our visit, only two other tables were occupied, and this remained the case until we left. The restaurant has been open for just over a year and, according to the exceptionally friendly Vietnamese woman who served us, is doing very well. The restaurant offers authentic Vietnamese cuisine in various styles. From different appetizers, soups, and salads, to traditional rice rolls, rice noodle dishes, and the like, to a variety of desserts. The menu isn't comparable to a huge restaurant boasting thousands of different dishes, but the selection is still quite sufficient.
We were very hungry, so we ordered a starter, main course, and dessert. For starters, there were options such as two different filled spring rolls (with tofu and herbs, beef in lemongrass marinade, or shrimp, between €4.50 and €5), baked wanda, shrimp skewers in crispy rice, or (vegetarian) spring rolls. We opted for the shrimp-filled spring rolls as a starter, and they arrived at our quiet table for two quite quickly after we ordered. They looked and tasted good – an ideal starter. I have to admit that Vietnamese cuisine has always fascinated me, but I'm not entirely familiar with the ingredients and traditional dishes. So I asked, and the friendly lady recommended a rice noodle bowl with grilled shrimp for €16.90 as my main course – since I told her I didn't like spicy or heavy meat dishes. Traditionally called "Bún Tõ," it's also available with beef, chicken, pork, duck, or even with spring rolls and tofu. The prices for all the rice noodle bowls range from €13.90 to €16.90. I really didn't know what I would be served. When my food arrived, I was thrilled. A huge bowl of rice noodles, lettuce, cucumber, carrot, peanuts, herbs, and numerous – I mean really numerous – shrimp, all in such a quantity that I was struggling to finish it. The dish is very popular in Vietnam.
My companion opted for pho – a traditional Vietnamese soup, which is particularly flavorful due to its long cooking time and the use of high-quality beef, ginger, star anise, cardamom, and cinnamon. The soup also contains rice noodles, bean sprouts, and spring onions. It can be ordered in various versions, such as with tofu, chicken, beef sirloin, or as a salgon soup with tofu or shrimp. My companion chose the one with beef sirloin (€10.90). Our main courses were served simultaneously, attractively presented, and well-portioned. With the pho soup, you had to pick the herbs from the stems yourself and add the remaining ingredients to the soup yourself – I thought that was quite cool, as it made it feel fresher and more personal. Both dishes tasted excellent, although they were new flavors for me.
As mentioned, the restaurant's ambiance is cozy, and if you're looking for a comfortable restaurant in a quiet setting with little hustle and bustle, then Royal Le is definitely the right place for you. The restaurant is accessible via subway line 4 (Arabellapark station). Parking is also no problem if you're coming by car. If you don't find it right away, just follow the same route as to the slag heap, and it's right next to it – small and inconspicuous. The chef, by the way, is originally from Vietnam and gave our table a friendly nod and greeted us from a distance. Everyone was very friendly. The food was also delicious and not spicy – just as the waitress had promised. With Indian restaurants, for example, that usually never works. You can sing and dance your way through the menu, insisting on minimal seasoning, I've even tried "no seasoning at all" – but at almost every Indian restaurant, my mouth still burns after the first bite. 😉 Thankfully, that wasn't a problem at Royal Le.
So if you're looking for a cozy Vietnamese restaurant, then go to Royal Le. Delicious food, affordable prices, and friendly service. For a large bottle of water, an appetizer for two, two large and filling main courses, and a dessert (homemade coconut cream with mango mousse), we paid €47 including tip.
I'll be back: Definitely great fish. And being surrounded by nature is good for you too.
Place visited: Royal Le
Address: Arabellastraße 19, 81925 Munich
Website: Royal Le
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