Descend into an oasis of restaurants surrounded by artificial rivers and wooden bridges and discover Mekong Riverside Cuisine. One of nine venues in the Prosper Center’s food court, this serene haven offers authentic Vietnamese cuisine with Parisian embellishment. The colonial French décor and earthy atmosphere provides guests a soothing environment, although the lighting was a bit bright. Service was excellent, with plates changed in between courses and dishes explained knowledgeably.

The combo platter (¥62) comprises three appetizers. The chicken skewers with sautéed peanuts were suitable, and the spring rolls stuffed with pork, shrimp and light vegetables were perfectly crisp. The breaded shrimp cakes were the real stand-outs. The juicy breaded shrimp are lightly baked and topped with green onions, accompanied by a dash of sweet chili sauce. The scallops and pomelo salad (¥45) contains slivered scallops sprinkled with sesame seeds, peanuts, basil leaves, spring onions and luscious pomelo. The scallops’ mild flavor alongside the fruit’s juicy sweetness creates a balanced blend. The beef brisket with curry sauce in a hot pot (¥58) was pleasant but lacked flavor. The tang of curry that we had anticipated was missing, but the brisket was cooked flawlessly. The staple Vietnamese pho was very well executed. Delectable slices of medium-rare beef were served with turnips, onions, scallions and fried garlic and savored in an umami-flavored broth. For dessert, try the black glutinous rice with coconut cream (¥18), a delightfully gooey treat served with a milky cream for a gentle sweetness.

Sarah Ting Ting Hou