It’s always a good sign when a restaurant is packed.
And every time I walk past Hoi An Quan, which recently opened in Stirling city centre, its tables are completely full.
Some might put it down to the excitement of a new opening, but I’ve heard many locals vowing to go back after their first visit.
The Murray Place restaurant opened in March, aiming to serve up tasty Vietnamese cuisine.
Owner Dinh Chien Nguyen, from Glasgow, is passionate about cooking authentic dishes from his home country.
His friends and family were so impressed by his food, they encouraged him to open up his own restaurant.
So, keen to see what the hype was about, my colleague Alex Watson and I headed along to Hoi An Quan.
What is Hoi An Quan like?
We arrive at the restaurant just after 5pm on a Tuesday evening, and get a table straight away despite not having a reservation.
It turns out we’re lucky – within an hour, the place is full and bustling.
Hoi An Quan has been completely transformed since it was chicken and burger restaurant Smokeys.
Everything from the lampshades to the wall decor is Vietnamese-themed.
It’s a nice atmosphere, and we can see into the bustling kitchen where our food is being prepared.
There is plenty of choice on the menu, with options ranging from pho to sushi, and noodles to smoothies.
Vietnamese coffee is not something I’ve had before, but a friend who has been to Vietnam highly recommended it.
So, Alex and I order two Diet Cokes to drink (£5.50 for both), and I also ask for a cafe sua da (£4.50).
This is the iced version of Vietnamese coffee, served with condensed milk. The variation is recommended by our server, who warns me the coffee is very strong.
Luckily, I like it a lot.
The coffee flavour certainly is bold, but once the drink is mixed (with a satisfying stir), the sweet condensed milk balances out the bitterness.
After our meal, I end up going on an accidental three-mile walk, and I think the coffee buzz definitely has something to do with it.
Starters are a delicious bargain
Fresh Vietnamese spring rolls (gỏi cuốn) are where Alex and I begin our eating adventure.
At £3.45 for two, the vegetable version – lettuce, vermicelli, cucumber and rice noodles wrapped in rice paper – is a bargain.
Every bite is fresh and crunchy.
We also shared the takoyaki (£5.95), which came beautifully presented.
Each ball was perfectly crispy on the outside, giving way to a gooey centre and umami flavour.
Authentic mains hit the spot
It wouldn’t be a trip to a Vietnamese restaurant without a steaming bowl of pho.
At Hoi An Quan, it takes more than 12 hours to make the traditional noodle soup.
I choose chicken and beef brisket (£12.95), which are served in a bath of broth, herbs and noodles.
The dish is very flavourful, with fragrant herbs enhancing the soft meat, and surprisingly filling.
The only downside is how hard it is to eat.
I’m given the perfect spoon for the broth, but trying to stop the noodles from sliding back into the bowl is near impossible. Maybe I just need more practice.
Meanwhile, Alex tucks into the char siu banh mi (£7.00).
A crispy baguette-style bread roll is packed with Cantonese-style barbecued pork, coriander, pickles, carrots, chicken liver pate, all topped with a homemade sauce.
The meat is tender, sweet and spicy, and perfectly complemented by the crispy vegetables and sharp pickle flavour.
We also share a special full sushi roll (£12.95) filled with tempura-battered king prawn, cucumber, soft cheese, and avocado.
This dish was put together beautifully, with lots of detail on every piece.
The avocado and cucumber meant it was light and refreshing, while the prawn added a crispy element.
What was our verdict on Hoi An Quan?
Hoi An Quan is a welcome addition to the Stirling food scene.
Not only is it great to have a Vietnamese on our doorstep, but the food doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
When I got the bill, I could hardly believe it was only £50.
Every single dish arrived quickly and was absolutely superb, clearly made by someone who cares about what they are cooking.
We did have to go up to the bar to ask for the bill, but given how busy the place was, the servers had a tricky job on their hands managing the entire restaurant.
Hoi An Quan deserves to be as popular as it has been for its first month in business, and I hope it stays that way.
Information
Address: 34 Murray Place, Stirling, FK8 2DD
Telephone: 01786 643524
Website: hoianquan.co.uk
Price: £52.30 for two starters, three mains and three drinks
Accessible: Yes
Dog Friendly: No
Scores:
Food: 5/5
Service: 4/5
Surrounding: 5/5
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