Allow me to introduce Viettonic 2 to your life: an unassuming little Vietnamese spot on Kottbusser Damm, wedged between Kottbusser Tor and Landwehr canal, and, by nature and name, entirely and utterly unassuming. And before you ask: yes there is a Viettonic 1, somewhere in Spandau, but it’s not the one to visit - instead all of your attention should be on this gem of a restaurant.
“ But those who know and dare to ask will find a separate menu with dishes that veer into the more intriguing realms of Vietnamese cuisine
At first glance, this restaurant seems 100% standard Vietnamese-German affair, with outside signs announcing the existence of noodle boxes and cheap sushi rolls. But those who know and dare to ask will find a separate menu with dishes that veer into the more intriguing realms of Vietnamese cuisine (see our order-like-a-pro list at the bottom of this article). It’s a concept reminiscent of Thanh Koch or some of the lesser-known places at Đồng Xuân Center in Lichtenberg: bold, confident cooking that doesn’t pander to mainstream expectations.
The Food – Beyond the Familiar
While Pho Noodle Soups and fried spring roll dishes dominate the menus of Vietnamese restaurants in Berlin, Viettonic 2 offers a type of cuisine reserved for celebrations, centred around grilled dishes of Suckling Pork, Ducks, Geese, Chickens etc..
Do not make the mistake missing out on the starters though, featuring extraordinary dishes such as hoof salad with banana flowers and lotus root (the name may sound daunting, but it’s essentially a bright, fresh dish with thin slices of gelatinous pork trotter). Chopped Venus mussels with crispy rice paper is another distinctive option, or the rare slices of goat that are wrapped
Among the smaller plates, the fried salted chicken wings stand out—not just for their crisp batter but for the remarkable kaffir lime salt dip that accompanies them, a condiment that single-handedly elevates the dish. Fried corn with butter is pleasant enough but not particularly memorable, while fried thinly sliced brisket with vegetables and king oyster mushrooms—mistranslated on the menu as chicken thighs—proves to be one of the best things to order, a wok-fried triumph of umami and texture.
For larger dishes, there are two options that tend to draw the most attention: The roasted suckling pig and the roasted ducks. The first, available in smaller portions or as an entire pig (the pig needs to pre-ordered), is an impressive centrepiece. Roasted to perfection, its juicy flesh and wonderfully crisp skin are further enhanced by a deeply flavoured dipping sauce made from its own drippings and hoisin. And while the pig might be the most visually stunning dish of this section, we might just say that the duck is even juicer and tastier.
As for sides, yellow sticky rice with roasted onions or an optional order of Char Siu pork serves as the ideal accompaniment to the grilled dishes, offering a subtly sweet, aromatic counterpoint to the richness of the meats.
“ Roasted to perfection, its juicy flesh and wonderfully crisp skin are further enhanced by a deeply flavoured dipping sauce made from its own drippings and hoisin.
The Verdict – A Restaurant That Deserves More Attention
Despite having been around for a few years already, Viettonic 2 remains relatively under the radar, though it’s difficult to see that lasting much longer. The food here is bold, wonderfully executed, and refreshingly different, appealing to those who appreciate Vietnamese cuisine beyond its most obvious touchpoints of pho soups and noodles.
There is still a sense that Berlin’s appetite for Vietnamese food is somewhat narrowly focused, with anything straying from the well-trodden path of pho and summer rolls met with measured enthusiasm. But for those willing to venture beyond the familiar, Viettonic 2 is a rare find—one that quietly serves some of the most interesting Vietnamese food in the city.
OUR LIST OF FAVORITE DISHES TO ORDER
V0 Frittierte Maiskörner mit Butter
V2 Gegrillte Schweineplatte (Suckling Pig) 80 EUR
V3 Gegrillte Ente 45 EUR
V7 Hot Pot mit Stör 100EUR
V16 Gebratenes Ziegenfleisch 40 EUR
V19 Kuhhufensalat mit Bananenblüten und Lotuswurzel 30 EUR
V21 Klebreis mit Sha Xiu 15EUR
V22 Klebreis mit Röstzwiebeln 10EUR
V25 Gesalzene Hähnchenflügel 25 EUR
V38 Gebratenes Rindfleisch mit Gemüse und Hähnchenschenkel (Kräutersaitlinge) 30 EUR
