When Malaysian chef Adrian Chong Yen opened Sol in 2018, he had never actually visited Latin America. He had, however, noticed a connection between the region’s cuisine and South East Asia’s, through shared ingredients and techniques, and decided to follow that observation to its natural conclusion. 7 years later, and Sol delivers on that connection with ever greater clarity.
The vibe: The architectural drama hits immediately - high ceilings and soaring arched windows give views of Bến Thành Market's bustle while flooding the dining room with light.
A soundtrack of hip hop and reggaeton provides the perfect backdrop for the mixed expat and local crowd that swells during happy hour. Abundant succulents further build that mental bridge between the cross-continental climes of HCMC and CDMX.
The food: This isn't about disappointing takes on 'fusion' food that have you wishing for one or the other. Chef Adrian has over a decade of experience cooking in Singapore and brings a precise touch to the proceedings.
The focus falls most firmly on Mexican food. The signature crab chicharron trades traditional tortilla chips or pork rinds for - hear us out - deep-fried soft-shell crab, the crab designed to be the scooping device for guacamole.
The cochinillo asado is our favourite dish at Sol; hunks of suckling pig with dramatic shard-like crispy skin that rise from the plate like limestone karsts emerging from Hạ Long Bay's emerald waters. If those waters were a BBQ corn purée, of course.
For groups of four keen on sharing, the Sol seafood platter arrives fully loaded over ice. Soon, liquid nitrogen will be billowing over your table.
The drinks: Pisco sours and margaritas dominate the cocktail menu, complemented by local craft beers on tap and a wine list featuring South American bottles. The Sol margarita is a real treat, smoky from premium Mezcal and with ground dried grasshoppers around the rim in place of salt. A complimentary post-lunch shot of guava and lychee juice is a welcome touch.
Time Out tip: The excellent Pasteur Street Craft Beer, on the ground floor below Sol, is ideally placed for a tightener before dinner.