by Hồng Linh

HEALTHY OPTION: Sân Mây vegetarian restaurant is located in District 1, HCM City’s centre, making it a great place to meet up and dine. – VNS Photo Hồng Linh

A vegetarian restaurant was never something a meat lover like myself would have considered eating out at, but Sân Mây Café and Vegetarian Restaurant has changed my mind for good.

The restaurant is located on Nguyễn Văn Thủ, one of the busier streets in the bustling District 1 of HCM City.

When I walked in, I first noticed a row of cabinets on the right side, which displayed bottles of drinks, spice jars, and eye-catching decorative items. Wall paintings of magnificent mountain landscapes on the left could be seen from all floors.

After a quick search, I found a table on the second floor, the highest floor of the restaurant, which had a beautiful view of the ground floor below, bustling with diners and staff.

The restaurant’s golden-brown tones were notable and pretty, created by the perfect lighting arrangement with yellow light bowls and chandeliers of various colours.

With Christmas approaching, the restaurant is decorated with plenty of green vines and sparkling Christmas ornaments, lending it a cosy and festive feeling.

CHINESE OFFERING: A bowl of Szechuan-style tofu. The flavourful soft tofu will melt in your first bite. – VNS Photo Hồng Linh

After spending considerable time browsing the menu and looking through its wide selection of vegetarian dishes, I ordered a Szechuan-style tofu (also known as Mapo tofu), a mixed vegetable with straw mushrooms dish, and a bowl of steamed white rice.

The tofu dish was the star of my dinner that evening -- a steamy bowl of silken tofu blocks, sliced shiitake mushrooms, and a generous amount of flavourful sauce.

The soft tofu blocks practically melt in your mouth and pair very well with the savoury sauce with a light sweet tang, and bits of ground ginger lend the dish a subtle hint of spiciness. The wonderful combination of flavours makes the whole meal just delightful.

The restaurant also gives every guest a free iced tea, a fine drink, to accompany one’s filling meal.

The food came out in around 15 minutes, faster than I had expected. Some of my friends said they had to wait at least half an hour for their dish on full-moon days when many people go vegetarian for cultural or religious reasons.

The mixed vegetables with straw mushrooms were a mouth-watering display. This is a stir-fry dish with more than 10 ingredients, such as cauliflower, shiitake mushrooms, and runner beans.

Flavourful vegetables dipped in soy sauce, eaten with a bowl of white rice, makes for a delightful and healthy dining experience for only around VNĐ85,000 (US$3.50).

The restaurant also sells a wide variety of other tasty vegetarian dishes, including soups, noodle soup dishes, braised mushrooms, stir-fried dishes and even veggie 'meat.' Whatever your preferences for vegetarian food are, there is likely something that suits you here.

The menu features various healthy dishes made in several different ways, as well as serving breakfast, coffee and drinks from fresh fruit such as smoothies and juice.

Except for the hotpot, which is usually at VNĐ359,000 (US$15), prices for most dishes are around VNĐ85,000, which is suitable and fair pricing for meeting friends or a family dinner.

MEATLESS MEDLEY: A dish of assorted vegetables with straw mushrooms, cooked with more than 10 ingredients, such as cauliflower, shiitake mushrooms, and runner beans. VNS Photo Hồng Linh

Sân Mây also has another branch at District 10’s Lê Hồng Phong Street.

If you have never tried Vietnamese vegetarian dishes before and are looking for a place to start, Sân Mây restaurant is a fine choice, although on certain days, you may need to wait a little longer for your meals than usual. VNS

Sân Mây Café and Vegetarian Restaurant

155 Nguyễn Văn Thủ Street, District 1, HCM City

Tel: 028 3910 3939

Open: 8am to 9pm

Comment: A great vegetarian restaurant for friends and family, providing affordable and tasty meals.