Perched on the corner of Merrion Street and New Briggate, on the former site of one of your local, late-night, dancing-on-tables cocktail bars, sits a tiny taste of authentic Vietnam. Welcome to Nam Song.
A café, restaurant and bar all in one delicious package, Nam Song has been serving traditional ‘phin’ coffee and mouth-watering Banh Mi in Sheffield for several years – but it wasn’t until this May that its culinary talents arrived in Leeds.
And thank goodness they did. Entering Nam Song is like stepping into another world. Fragrant aromas burst from the open door, and we stand waiting to be seated (and dutiful scanning the NHS QR code) amid a sea of colourful paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling. The orange walls are plastered with vibrant posters and photographs, the floor by the window strewn with brightly coloured cushions. We remove our shoes and sit cross legged to peruse the menu, breathing a sigh of relief as we do. It almost feels like we’re on holiday.
Nam Song means ‘five rivers’ in Vietnamese – so-named owing to the seven hills and five rivers of its founding city. The menu is split into daytime and evening, with a small but perfectly formed collection of dishes available from each. Starters include sticky but fresh summer rolls – either kept simple or stuffed with prawns, chicken or tofu – as well as their deep-fried counterpart, the spring roll, and crispy chicken wings.
During the day, diners can tuck into the king of the sandwich, the Banh Mi – a French baguette halved and filled with pickled veg, spring onion, chilli, sriracha and your choice of pork, tofu, mushroom or chicken. We opt for the Nam Song Pork, which has a rich, curry-like flavour that’s complemented perfectly by a sweet and sour blend of lime and hoisin.
In the evenings, Nanh Mi swaps out for Com Tam (broken rice dishes), which come in the form of a vegan butternut curry and a caramelised pork belly option. But we’re here in the daytime, which means our other choices are Vietnamese classics Pho (noodle soup) and Bun (vermicelli noodle salad). I order Bun with ginger tofu, and don’t find myself disappointed. What arrives is a rainbow bowl of goodness – pickled carrot and daikon nestling beside fresh white noodles, mint, cucumber, cabbage and a pile of deliciously sticky-sweet tofu.
When Nam Song isn’t serving up bowls and rolls of delicious food, it’s serving drinks – from authentic coffee to decadent cocktails. You can drop in for a traditional latte with condensed milk, or try out the likes of a coconut daiquiri, pineapple margarita or mango bourbon smash if you’re feeling that way inclined.
But there’s more to this place than just the menu. Nam Song was created thanks to the experience its founders had travelling in Vietnam, a time during which they not only discovered the amazing culture and beauty of the country, but also learnt about the devastating effects of the ‘agent orange’ chemical weapon on the population.
Today, the café exists in part to support the Kianh Foundation, which runs a centre for disabled children in central Vietnam, offering specialist care for young people with a range of needs. And if you were wondering why everything from the venue’s walls to its social media posts to its website is orange? It’s all about supporting and raising awareness of this important cause.
So next time you’re in the New Briggate area and fancy an unforgettable sandwich, a caffeine hit or a steaming bowl of pho, look no further than Nam Song.
Booking isn’t essential, but probably advisable for busier times. Just head to the website to secure a spot.
