“Cong” is one of the most recent arrivals on the gastronomic map of Thessaloniki. A place where Vietnamese cuisine is celebrated, which, although very popular abroad, was missing in our city. The name, which means “worker” in Vietnamese, focuses on the custom in Vietnam where workers, returning home after work, would eat together with their families around a large table. This is what it calls us to do in its space too!

“Cong” started its operation on 9 Proxenou Koromila Street, on Christmas Eve 2023 and is designed in such a way that the visitor has the feeling of entering a house.

Wood, water, metal, fire and earth co-exist in the space, the five elements of nature that signify creation, while in each bite, the taste balance is clear, as the customer becomes a partaker of the experience, at the large table of “Cong”, which contributes to making its philosophy a reality.

“Cong’s” Kitchen

The cuisine of “Cong”, is representative of Vietnamese cuisine in its largest part, with adjustments made, however, to be more familiar tastes and to our own culinary habits. For example, the fish sauce that is widely used in almost every dish of Vietnamese cuisine, is used here in relatively small quantities to match the flavors we are familiar with. After all, in the majority of them, the Vietnamese flavors are not too strange compared to what we are used to and as has already been proven by the operation of “Cong”, they are particularly liked by the people.

On the menu you will find classic Vietnamese flavors such as Phở soup, the most famous dish in Vietnam, cooked with chicken or beef, served after its broth has been boiled for 12 hours, in lots of fresh herbs. It resembles French consommé, the aristocratic clear, delicate and extremely rich in flavor and aroma broth – an influence left over from when Vietnam was under French occupation – and is ideal, especially for the winter months, as a very tasty, warm experience.

Another great suggestion – again influenced by the French baguette – is the Bánh Mi. They are served with beef, pork or chicken or, for those who don’t eat meat, with their vegetarian version, with tofu.

From the salads, the colorful Green Papaya Salad stands out, with celery, onion, colorful cherry tomatoes, sprouts, crispy onions and spicy fish sauce dressing, and from the appetizers, the Crispy Fried Chicken Strips with viet-lime sauce.

The menu, which as a whole is rich in fresh vegetables, but also protein, is enriched by rice bowls, cooked with steamed jasmine rice, cong mayo, hand-made cucumber and carrot pickles, fresh onion, lime, crispy onions and fresh herbs that you can choose with filling of your choice.

Vietnamese coffee dessert

As for dessert? Soon, you will be able to find in the catalog a tiramisu, made from “cà phê”, the Vietnamese coffee, that is, that will surprise you with its taste!

How about a walk on Proxenou Koromila street, to try the flavors of the first purely Vietnamese street food spot in Thessaloniki?

Tip: “Cong” operates daily, 13.00 – 24.00. You can dine on site or with take away, while soon, delivery will also be available.