Mix Restaurant, Nha Trang, Vietnam - Restaurant Review

Cuisine: Authentic Greek
Style Points: 4/5
Location: Nha Trang
Price: ££
Overall: 4/5

The quirky decor and much needed fans inside Mix Nha Trang

I fell in love with Greek food when I visited the Greek island of Kefalonia and sampled some of the finest food the beautiful island has to offer. So when I heard that there was a restaurant that was serving up authentic Greek food in Nha Trang I just knew I had to visit.

Located just a stone’s throw away from the beach, the restaurant is conveniently placed to offer an alternative lunch and dinner choice to the typical Vietnamese and even Russian restaurants that dominate the coastal city. We arrived at the restaurant at around 1pm and it was already getting packed with tourists from around the world looking to try a ‘new’ cuisine and even some returning to dine at the restaurant which is always a great sign. The interior of Mix is clearly styled on the Vietnam War and the Viet Cong and I actually loved the jungle green interior and simple wooden furnishings. I especially loved the heavy duty fans that can be found on every wall and provide some relief from the beating sun.

The famous Greek hospitality, or Xenia, is shown immediately as you set foot in the restaurant and are greeted by the very obviously Greek patron Alex whose accent makes you feel as if you’ve suddenly been transported from South East Asia to the Ionian Islands of Greece.

The Food?

After speaking to Alex about how he found himself all the way in Nha Trang from Crete, we perused the menu to see what would take our fancy for lunch. The menu offers a great selection of traditional Greek favourites including fresh hummus and tzatziki, a selection of souvlakis as well as huge meat platters that could easily feed a large family. We decided to start with Melitzanosalata, a traditional Greek aubergine/eggplant dip made by blending charred aubergine with garlic, olive oil, tomato, parsley, and topped with crumbled feta and served with fresh pita bread. The pita smelt delicious and was soft and warm, perfect for dipping into the rich melitzanosalata that was full of mediterranean flavour. We also tried the Hummus which was also full of flavour and of course only acceptable when eaten with copious amounts of pita. I definitely recommend either of these starters as the perfect prelude to the main event.

Melitzanosalata

Traditional Hummus

Speaking of which, I decided to try a Greek dish I had never had before, Chicken Patatogiros. Patatogiros is kind of like a Greek open sandwich with a mix of grilled meat (chicken, pork or beef) coated in herbs and spices, and served on an open pita bread with French fries and Mediterranean vegetables on the side. The portion itself was Greek, meaning it was big! It was also quite simple in terms of cooking yet delicious and that is what really sums up Greek food.

My husband, under the enthusiastic recommendation of Alex, tried the mighty Britzola, a half kilogram pork steak served with French fries, tzatziki and side salad. The steak looked like it came straight out of Greek mythology yet somehow my husband managed to devour the whole thing. It was slow cooked on the grill and took around 30 mins to arrive but it was certainly worth it as the steak was juicy and tender which is always a difficult task where cooking pork is concerned. The tzatziki was also a perfect accompaniment and had a creamy texture with a garlic kick to it. It was a great dish and I could see why there was just a bare bone left on the plate.

The Price?

The Hummus and Melitzanosalata were 80,000 Dong each or around £2.70/$3.45. The Britzola was 250,000 Dong or around £8.50/$10.70 and the Patatogiros was 130,000 Dong or around £4.40/$5.60. We also had a coconut juice and lime juice which were between 50,000 to 60,000 Dong or around £1.90/$2.40.

Our meal for two cost around 650,000 Dong or £22/$28 which is very reasonable considering the big portions you get.

Overall?

Mix Restaurant is a casual dining venue with a warm and welcoming atmosphere and fantastic service with big smiles. Although the restaurant does get busy it is for a good reason as the food is certainly authentic and the portions follow the Greek tradition, making it no wonder that many tourists return to the restaurant several times during their stay in Nha Trang. To sum it up, Mix is a restaurant that you must visit if you find yourself in Nha Trang and want a taste of the Meditteranean.