The new Vietnamese stall is a hit with foodies in the city
16:10, 24 Apr 2026Updated 16:02, 25 Apr 2026
Chef Nini outside his new food truck ‘Little Vietnam’ on Paul’s Street. (Image: Rebecca Lenihan)
From Masterchef to the Fifth Quarter, Chef Nini is here to bring top-quality Vietnamese food to Cork – and it tastes as good as it looks.
Nini is the chef at a new food truck in the heart of the city. The new ‘Little Vietnam’ is the latest food stall to open at the bustling street market on Paul Street, and its menu packs a punch, bringing amazing flavour. The new Little Vietnam stall is a neighbour of Cairo2Cork, which opened in October and is also very popular.
Chef Nini outside his new food truck ‘Little Vietnam’ on Paul’s Street. (Image: Rebecca Lenihan)
Little Vietnam is a family-run business, and the owners hope to fill a ‘gap in the market’ in Cork after noticing a lack of Vietnamese spots in the city. It was originally planned to open at Victoria Cross, but Little Vietnam was offered a prime spot on Paul Street two weeks before opening on St. Patrick’s Day.
Chef Nini was born in Vietnam and studied to become a chef in Bucharest, Romania. His talent was recognised early on, as he featured on Masterchef Romania before working in some of the top restaurants in Bucharest.
However, he traded a career in fine dining for something more personal with a food truck that “feels like home.” And the people of Cork are loving it! He told CorkBeo: “The people of Cork are so welcoming, and it is such a difference from when you are in a big city. People stop to say hello to you here, and I like it. Cork is also open and willing to try new things, and I think sometimes they are looking for that too, including new foods to try.”
The mouth-watering food and lemonade at Little Vietnam. (Image: Rebecca Lenihan)
Among their most popular menu items are the traditional Bánh Mì – a shredded pork sandwich which is a staple in Vietnamese cuisine – and the spring rolls, which Chef Nini says are a “must try.” Customers also love the homemade Lemonade and fresh pho soup. We tried a bit of everything on their menu, and with every bite there was a burst of flavour.
Chef Nini explained that the menu is packed with authentic, freshly prepared dishes that showcase the best of Viatnamese cooking with portions ideal for a lunchtime bite – with such popularity already, he shared how he hopes to one day be cooking in the kitchen of his own Vietnamese restaurant on Leeside.