Minh Ky, Springvale by Bureaucrat

Another sojourn into Springvale for shopping meant another chance for lunch out there.  

This time, it was Minh Ky, a place where I've seen people queue up outside for a table.  

In its window, a glistening array of red roast meats.  Inside, it's a narrowish space that's decorated, but it's definitely a much smarter and cleaner set up when compared to most (if not all) of the other eateries in the area.  The floors are clean, the mirrored wall is spotless and the tables are reasonably spacious - you're not packed in like cattle as with most other places nearby.  Heck, even the toilet is simply, but nicely, cordoned off from the main eating area by a curtain.

Again, unlike other places nearby, where they confuse service as being gruff, surly and rushed, at Minh Ky, the staff are friendly and polite as they guide you to your table and take your order.

A complementary bowl of soup to start with.  The Lawyer found the quality and the taste of the soup to be better than most places.  Clear and fairly deep flavoured.

I went for the grilled chicken vermicelli noodle salad.  Quite a big serve, this was, and I had to get the Lawyer to help me finish it.  Lots of grilled chicken on the bone, and skin on.  It was almost half a whole chicken that was served up!  The chicken was tender and simply seasoned.  I also liked how all the veggies (shredded carrot, beanshoots, mint, spring onions) were fresh and crisp.  

The Lawyer went for the roast duck on rice.  While this was okay, it wasn't as good as he had hoped.  The duck was generally okay - however, not all of the duck had crispy skin (some of it was a bit chewy).  But the pieces of duck where all meaty, which was good. The rice was a bit, to quote the Lawyer, "tired".  By that, he means that it didn't seem too fresh and/or it had be sitting in the rice cooker for too long.  There was a reasonable mound of mixed veg (buk choy and wom bok).

Verdict

Food - 7

Ambiance - 7

Service - 7

Price - 7

Overall

A reasonable place to eat out in Springers.  The food was okay and reasonable, but nothing exceptional.  There was nothing that made me feel like I have go back in a hurry.  However, it has made a positive impression on me to return to Minh Ky if I was caught out in Springvale again and I needed a meal and I didn't want to take my chances with somewhere new.

Note that there are two Minh Ky's in Sprinvale.  We went to the one on Balmoral Avenue.

Address

Minh Ky

10G/8 Balmoral Ave 

Springvale 3171

Telephone:  8555 3241