A bowl of pho served with mint, lime and fish sauce at Bun Viet in Unterammergau, Germany, Sept. 8, 2023. (Alexander Riedel/Stars and Stripes)
In the heart of southern Bavaria, where traditional German dishes like schnitzel and potato dumplings traditionally accompany tall glasses of wheat beer, diverse cuisines can seem like a rare find.
Yet in the foothills of the picturesque Alps, an unexpected encounter with Southeast Asia occurred when I stumbled across Bun Viet during a recent work trip.
This small Vietnamese eatery sits along the highway running through Unterammergau, a small town neighboring the overpriced and touristy Oberammergau, which is home to the NATO School and a German military education center.
Bun Viet's interior provides a casual, comfortable atmosphere without frills. Its large outdoor terrace beckons visitors to take in the mountain views in the warm months. (Alexander Riedel/Stars and Stripes)
The outdoor terrace at Bun Viet in Unterammergau, Germany, offers a beer garden atmosphere with views of the surrounding Alps. (Alexander Riedel/Stars and Stripes)
Situated next to a store selling lederhosen and dirndl dresses, the eatery was once was a traditional beer garden.
In its current incarnation, bamboo lamps hang from the ceiling, while a wood-paneled bar and ocean blue walls offer a welcome tropical contrast to the game trophies and rustic farmhouse looks typical of the surroundings.
A small shrine adorned with offerings of fruit and incense aims to bring good luck for the owners at Bun Viet, a Vietnamese restaurant in Unterammergau, Germany. (Alexander Riedel/Stars and Stripes)
Notably, Bun Viet avoids the kitsch often found in Asian restaurants in Western settings. A small family shrine adorned with offerings of fruit and incense aiming to bring the owners good luck adds to the restaurant’s authenticity.
During my visit for lunch on a recent weekday, I sat in the spacious outdoor terrace, perused the extensive menu and enjoyed the view of Kofel Mountain.
Besides the flavorful noodle bowls the restaurant is named after, Bun Viet‘s menu surprises with a somewhat encyclopedic array of dishes falling under the umbrella of “Asian food.”
Options include curries, grilled and wok-cooked dishes, pad thai and even poke bowls, all prepared with a focus on regional ingredients, according to the menu. Bun Viet even sports a sushi selection that includes hand-pressed nigiri and maki rolls of tuna, salmon and eel.
The Vietnamese waitstaff, while friendly, presented a bit of a language barrier, speaking little German and even less English. This didn’t diminish the enjoyment of the experience for me, though.
Cha gio chay vegetable spring rolls with a sweet and sour sauce at Bun Viet in Unterammergau, Germany. (Alexander Riedel/Stars and Stripes)
Lunch got off to a good start with the cha gio chay vegetable spring rolls, which came fresh and crispy with a sweet and sour sauce.
In addition to numerous food offerings, Bun Viet boasts tasty homemade teas and lemonades. I cooled off with the nuoc chanh sa, a refreshing mix of black tea, lime syrup, brown sugar and pomelo juice.
While initially hesitant to order Japanese fare at a Vietnamese establishment, I gave some avocado and rucola and cream cheese rolls a try. The plate was generous and the rolls’ ingredients tasted fresh.
Avocado and arugula cream cheese rolls from Bun Viet's extensive sushi menu. The Bavarian restaurant features more than 50 sushi options. (Alexander Riedel/Stars and Stripes)
Despite this tasty culinary detour, however, I had to leave some room for the dish I really came for.
My Bun Viet stop was inspired by fond memories of a trip to Vietnam years ago. During that adventure, I had the pleasure of savoring one of its culinary treasures: pho, an aromatic noodle soup that is a source of national pride.
I vividly recall my tour guide passionately exclaiming “pho is number one in Vietnam!” And he was not wrong. The dish is ubiquitous and eaten at all times of the day.
A steaming bowl of pho, a staple dish of Vietnam, served at Bun Viet in Unterammergau, Germany, Sept. 8, 2023. The broth is prepared with herbs like coriander and mint as well as ingredients such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and a specially fermented fish sauce. (Alexander Riedel/Stars and Stripes)
Traditional pho is cooked slowly, sometimes for more than 12 hours. It emphasizes fresh herbs like coriander and mint as well as spices such as cinnamon, cardamom and ginger plus a specially fermented fish sauce.
Bun Viet’s version balanced all these flavors well and instantly transported me back to the bustling streets of Nha Trang, where I first smelled its distinct blend wafting from small family run shops.
This pho was prepared with noticeably milder spice levels to suit European tastes, which I did not mind one bit. While the sushi and spring rolls were good, the soup was clearly Bun Viet’s home turf and full of the familiar flavors.
Green tea complements fried banana with honey drizzle and peanuts, a delectable dessert at Bun Viet in Unterammergau, Germany. ((Alexander Riedel/Stars and Stripes))
After that, I had little room for more but couldn’t pass up the fried banana dessert with honey drizzle and peanuts. Together with a cup of green tea, it was the perfect capstone to the meal.
Bun Viet adds a welcome and exotic touch to the local restaurant scene, proving that whether in Bavaria or Vietnam, a good bowl of pho will always play.
Nuoc chanh sa, a refreshing mix of black tea, lime syrup, brown sugar and pomelo juice, shown at Bun Viet in Unterammergau, Germany, Sept. 8, 2023. (Alexander Riedel/Stars and Stripes)
Bun Viet is located next to a Bavarian clothing store in Unterammergau, Germany. The restaurant serves a large variety of Asian dishes, from Vietnamese pho to pad thai. (Alexander Riedel/Stars and Stripes)
Bun Viet
Location: Rottenbucher Strasse 9, Unterammergau, Germany
Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-10 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, 5-10 p.m.; closed Monday
Prices: Soups and starters range from 5.90 euros to 12.50 euros. Pho starts at 12.90 euros. Sushi ranges from 4 euros to 51.50 for the large sampler platter. A changing lunch menu is also available. Lemonades and teas are 6.90 euros, soft drinks start at 3.50 euros and coffee drinks are 5.80 euros.
Info: 08822 278-0819, Online: bunviet.de
