Walter Ponce
Service: **★★★│**Food: **★★★│**Location: **★★★│**Price: **★★│**Portions: ★★
Co Chin Chin is a Vietnamese restaurant in Zurich’s Kreis 5, on Gasometerstrasse near Langstrasse, serving pho, banh xeo, banh mi and other Vietnamese classics in a modern dining room with a French-colonial touch. Having lived in Asia for two years and visited most of South East Asia, I have big expectations of Asian food, so when someone recommends an Asian restaurant in Europe, I tend to doubt.
Checking Google and a few blogs, I came across Co Chin Chin. Plenty of good reviews and some rumours about how busy it gets made me take the risk and go. If I am writing about it on my blog today, it is because it really surprised me.
The concept
What I particularly like: Co Chin Chin takes Vietnamese cuisine out of the traditional corner and puts it into a hip, contemporary restaurant with a pinch of French-colonial chic. The name itself is a nod to that history: Cochinchina was the French colonial name for southern Vietnam. The restaurant says its dishes are authentic rather than westernized, with a Vietnamese team in the kitchen.
Co Chin Chin menu: what to order
The menu is a journey through the culinary heritage of Vietnam. Well-known dishes such as pho soups sit next to less common ones, like Ché Dau Xanh, a traditional dessert with mung beans and coconut milk, or Bo Xao, fried beef with Thien Ly flower vegetables.
When I visited on a Sunday, everything was just right, from the atmosphere to the food. The variety of dishes impressed me as much as their impeccable preparation. My highlight was the Banh Xeo, the rice crêpe that you break up and wrap in a large leaf of lettuce with beef. This crêpe is often too oily, but at Co Chin Chin it was dry, crispy and just perfect.
We also tried the Crispy Duck with pak choi, which was amazing, and finished with some steamed rice dumplings. It looked like a lot of food, but it was a very light meal.
If you are new to Vietnamese food, a few dishes to look for on a menu like this:
- Pho: noodle soup with a slow-cooked, spiced broth, usually beef or chicken.
- Banh Xeo: a crispy turmeric rice-flour crêpe, eaten wrapped in lettuce and herbs.
- Banh Mi: the baguette sandwich born from the French influence.
- Goi Cuon: fresh summer rolls with rice paper, herbs, prawns and vermicelli.
- Bun Cha: grilled pork with rice noodles and a sweet-sour dipping sauce.
- Ché: a family of sweet desserts made with beans, coconut milk or fruit.
Share dishes, use the fresh herbs and lettuce that come on the side, and mix fresh and fried plates to keep the meal light.
Brunch and lunch
At weekends, Co Chin Chin has served a Vietnamese-French brunch, and at lunchtime there has been a lunch offer where you can also get Banh Mi, among other things. Formats change, so check the website for the current offer.
Co Chin Chin reviews: is it worth it?
Great decoration and ambience combined with authentic Vietnamese flavours. If you want real Vietnamese cooking in Zurich, it is a strong recommendation for the food. Where it scores lower in my rating is price and portions, and like most restaurants in Zurich it is not cheap.
You may also see it searched as “Co Chin Chin Brasserie” or “Co Co Chin”. This review is about the Vietnamese restaurant at Gasometerstrasse 7.
Where is Co Chin Chin? Address and getting there
Address: Gasometerstrasse 7, 8005 Zürich, Switzerland
Website: cochinchin.ch
Instagram: cochinchin_cuisine
Gasometerstrasse is in Kreis 5, also known as Zurich West, a former industrial area that has become one of the trendiest parts of the city, full of bars, design shops, galleries and restaurants, with the Prime Tower rising above it.
- By tram: Limmatplatz is a short walk away and served by several tram lines.
- By train: Zurich Hardbrücke station is close by, and Zurich main station (HB) is about a 10-15 minute walk.
- On foot or by bike: Kreis 5 is flat and easy to explore.
Nearby you will find Im Viadukt, with shops and a market hall built into old railway arches, the Josefwiese park, Frau Gerolds Garten near Hardbrücke, the Freitag Tower and Langstrasse, Zurich’s nightlife street. For another meal in the same area, read my review of Restaurant Viadukt.
Tips for your visit
- Book ahead, especially for weekend dinners and brunch.
- Check current opening hours before you go.
- Expect Zurich prices: eating out here is expensive compared with most of Europe.
- Ask about spice levels. Most Vietnamese dishes are not very spicy; the heat usually comes from fresh chilli or sauces on the side.
- Tipping is not mandatory in Switzerland, as service is included. Rounding up for good service is common.
FAQ
What type of food does Co Chin Chin serve? Vietnamese cuisine in a modern setting with a French-colonial touch, including pho, banh xeo, banh mi and traditional desserts.
Where is Co Chin Chin in Zurich? At Gasometerstrasse 7, 8005 Zürich, in District 5 near Langstrasse.
Is this a review of Co Chin Chin Brasserie? People search for it under both names. This review is about the Vietnamese restaurant at Gasometerstrasse 7.
What should I order at Co Chin Chin? The banh xeo was my favourite, and the crispy duck with pak choi was excellent too.
Does Co Chin Chin serve brunch? It has offered a Vietnamese-French brunch at weekends. Check the website for the current offer.
Is it good for vegetarians? Vietnamese cuisine has many tofu and vegetable dishes. Ask the staff about vegetarian options.
