VBQ: Best of Vietnamese BBQ and Bang! Bang! Bar in Poblacion

Vietnamese cuisine is trending, and if you are craving for a taste of Vietnam, this is the place to go for a satisfying fix in Poblacion, Makati. VBQ is Chef Mikel Zaguirre’s streetside Vietnamese barbecue and hot pot place with a Vietcong-themed Bang! Bang! Bar.

This is a great spot to have dinner to kick-off your Poblacion crawl or eat in between drinking sessions.

 


First Things First

VBQ is located on a block bordered by Guerrero and P. Guanzon Sts., and you can pass through either streets.

VBQ Vietnamese BBQ & Hot Pot
4970 Guerrero St. / P. Guanzon St., Brgy. Poblacion, Makati
Telephone: +63 917 624-1282 (for reservation)
Operating Hours:
VBQ BBQ & Hotpot: 11.00am to 3.00am
Bang! Bang! Bar: 6.00pm to 3.00am
Facebook: VBQ Restaurant
Instagram: @vbq.ph

It’s a barbecue place with accents of Vietnamese communist red color without air conditioning for authentic street-side feel.

VBQ Menu: Appetizers, Spring Rolls | Salads, Specialties, Dessert | Vietnamese BBQ | Beverages

Chef Mikel Zaguirre aims to wow you with not your usual Vietnamese food, handcrafted sauces and authentic ingredients.

I loved their sauces. Mix the chili oil, pickled garlic confit and chili paste with aromatics.

Also, ask for Muoi It Xanh sauce made with cilantro, green chili, aromatic with condensed milk—good to go with the meats.


Appetizers

Bun Thit Nuong (Obama Noodles)
Bun Thit Nuong – Obama Noodles (₱290). Popular Vietnamese dish of cold rice noodles topped with grilled pork, fried spring roll, pickled vegetables, house-made pork sausage, herbs and peanuts then dressed with Nuoc Cham

This was the signature dish and our favorite at VBQ. Mix the BBQ meat with the cold rice noodles, pork sausage, veggies and the sweet fish sauce from Vietnam.

Fresh Oysters (₱250)
Fresh Oysters (₱250). Freshly shucked local oysters topped with soy sauce and spring onions

We liked the oysters as is, freshly shucked, or maybe you can ask for toppings on the side and just add based on preference.

Papaya Salad
Papaya Salad (₱220). Fresh unique papaya with green mango topped with house-made beef liver jerky, peanuts, shallots, herbs, sweet chili sauce and puffed rice

This was a good dish to refresh the palate and stimulate the appetite with papaya-green mango salad.

Fried Oyster Mushroom (₱250). Deep-fried oyster mushroom served with house-made Peanut sauce and Nuoc Cham

Order this Mushroom cracker to munch on while you wait.

Banh Xeo Vegan
Banh Xeo Vegan (₱290). Vietnamese Pancake made vegan, filed with Pumpkin, Shitake mushroom, Enoki mushroom, onion and bean sprouts then sided with Mam Nem (fermented Anchovy sauce)

This gets mixed reviews, but it was a good healthy option and good to share, too.

 


Specialties

Suon Khia (Pork Ribs)
Suon Khia – Pork Ribs (₱320). Sweet and Spicy glazed pork ribs topped with bell peppers and cilantro

We loved the sweet and spicy glazed tender pork ribs topped with bell peppers, shallots and cilantro to balance the flavors.

 


Vietnamese BBQ

The highlight of the meal was freshly cooked BBQ with Vietnamese spices and sauces.

Each order was good for 1-2 persons. Best to order a few, and the service team can bbq on charcoal for you.

Scallops
Scallops (₱290).

Our favorite was the scallops. Best eaten off the grill.

Chicken Thigh (₱170)

You can order chicken thigh or breast portions, which were sliced already, ready for sharing.

Gindara
Gindara (₱290)

There were a few seafood BBQ options—salmon fin & belly, smoked milkfish belly and our favorite gindara.

Pork Belly
Pork Belly (₱180)

A different take on grilled pork belly with Vietnamese flavors, still juicy off the grill.

When Chef Kel is in the restaurant, he’ll cook the main meat for you.

Angus Ribeye (₱490)

There were different beef options: Angus Belly, Oyster Blade or the best cut, Angus Ribeye

 


Beef Pho Pot

The Pho at VBQ was not your usual one because this one was charcoal cooked on the spot—hotpot style.

Beef Pho Pot
Beef Pho Pot (₱500). Beef Pho Stock served with cold rice noodles

It had a darker broth perfect for a late-night hangout after the drinking.

 


Dessert

Banana Spring Roll
Banana Spring Roll (₱140). Deep-Fried Banana in rice paper then topped with caramelized milk and peanut brittle and sesame seeds

This was the only dessert option which was like banana with yema.

 


Vietnamese Coffee

Vietnamese Hot Coffee
Vietnamese Hot Coffee (₱125)

I liked ending with the strong Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk in ice just like how you’d have it in Saigon.

You can check out their Vietnamese coffee beans butter roasted with a nice aroma.

Juices & Teas
VBQ Houseblend Tea (₱125), Guyabano Lychee (₱125)

Check out their teas and signature guyabano lychee for dessert. They were too sweet for our taste though.

 


Bang Bang Bar

After dinner, best to go to Bang! Bang! Bar upstairs for a round of cocktails to complete the VBQ experience.

Bang! Bang! Cocktails | Food List | Beer & Liquor

The bar glowed in Animo green with plastic gun highlights and comfortable lounge chairs.

Vietnamese Pizza
Vietnamese Pizza (₱180). Grilled rice paper topped with ground pork, spring onion oil, cilantro and sriracha

This was the best in the bar menu, thinly sliced pork pizza which was more like a quesadilla but using lumpia wrapper.

Pride and Tonic
Voyage (₱285). Lotus Tea infused Gin / Mancino Blanco Ambrato / Elderflower Cordial / Tonic Pride and Tonic (₱265). Cucumber Infused Gin / Peach Schnapps / Passion Fruit Liqueur / Tonic

I love gin-forward drinks because they are not too sweet and set you in a good mood for conversation.

Summer Hangover
Summer Hangover (₱265). Cucumber infused Gin / Coconut Rum / Cherry Brandy / Orange Liqueur / Lime / Pine Juice / Bitters

This was a bit cheesy but everyone loved this drink, which was a mix of everything tropical—coconut, cucumber, citrusy flavors.

Dear Cheenie
Dear Cheenie (₱265). Jose Cuervo Silver / Tequila sous vide Shanza Bing / Creme de Casis / Ginger / Basil / Lemon / Asian Spice Syrup / Grapefruit Bitters

The signature drink named after the love letter to the mixologist’s wife, made from tequila topped with haw flakes foam and clipped with a letter for the winning message.

Milf Tea (₱245)
Milf Tea (₱245). Oolong infused Reposado Tequila / Rum sous vide Pandan / Black Tea / Milk / Tapioca

For the winning cocktail, alcohol-infused milk tea to make sure you get lucky with your partner at the end of the night.

 


Final Thoughts

Overall, we love VBQ and will go back for the Bun Thit Nuong (Obama Noodles), Suon Khia (Pork Ribs) and Vietnamese BBQ (Scallops, Pork Belly, Gindara). Most of the dishes are ₱300/plate. Best to go with friends and order different dishes to share. End the night with Dear Cheenie or MILF Tea at Bang! Bang! Bar. Budget about ₱500/head + drinks.

One thing to note though is that VBQ is not air-conditioned, and you can smell like BBQ after the meal. Also, the beef pho is not your usual clear broth with deep flavors but more of a dark hot pot broth style.

Congrats to Chef Kel Zaguirre and VBQ team for transforming the Poblacion landscape with unique dining destinations!

 

VBQ Vietnamese BBQ & Hot Pot
4970 Guerrero St. / P. Guanzon St., Brgy. Poblacion, Makati
Telephone: +63 917 624-1282 (for reservation)
Operating Hours:
VBQ BBQ & Hotpot: 11.00am to 3.00am
Bang! Bang! Bar: 6.00pm to 3.00am
Facebook: VBQ Restaurant
Instagram: @vbq.ph

 

Live an Awesome Life,
Anton
Founder, Our Awesome Planet

Disclosure: Our meal was courtesy of our friend Reymont Choachuy.  I wrote this article with my biases, opinions and insights.

P.S. For late-night goers, check out one of the best lugaws in Poblacion located beside VBQ.

Lugaw Manila Menu

 

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