Branding itself as a Vietnamese restaurant, Yuan Yee appears to be a refreshing change amid the string of pub-cum-restaurants in the Rama 5 Bridge neighborhood. But don’t get your hopes too high because, despite its Vietnamese offerings, Yuan Yee’s food is, at best, a pale imitation of that country’s cuisine. The menu is stocked with the usual suspects from minced shrimp on sugar cane to pho, and yet the kitchen still fails to pull off even those predictable, unadventurous items. The tired pak moh yuan (steamed pork dumplings topped with deep-fried chopped shallot, comes with frugal stuffing and thick, overcooked dough. Also far from memorable are the fresh spring rolls, which are only “fresh” in name. What you get, instead, are two small rolls of feeble greens, minced pork and some moo yaw wrapped in rubbery dough. Even the recommended kuay jub yuan (Vietnamese-style noodles) struggles to pass muster. The noodles are overcooked, and turn into a gooey blob while the broth tastes like it benefits from an instant noodles seasoning pack. Considering ordering the “Special of the Month” items to jazz things up? On our recent visit, the garlic baked clams was a complete let-down. The overall taste was definitely garlicky and buttery but that’s about it. The soggy accompanying toasts didn’t do much help to salvage the dish. And maybe it’s just our bad eyesight, but do email us if you can find any clams in there. The only decent dish we can recommend is the naem nuang. There are a dozen or so of somtam varieties on offer along with pub grubs favorites like deep fried chicken wings but we were kind enough to not review those. Food aside, the atmosphere is pleasant. There are both an airy, mosquito-free outdoor area and private rooms with karaoke machines. Prices are also another draw with most items under B100. Are pocket-friendly prices and an agreeable ambiance enough to make you drive out of town for such a pedestrian meal? We didn’t think so. No corkage.
