Hẻm Kitchen & Bar

Walking up to Vietnamese restaurant Hẻm in Chinatown feels like rolling up on a lively street scene, especially when a big group of people are passing around giant plates of pork belly and pineapple fried rice on the squat-height table outside. The whimsy continues inside where giant booths are built into mock brick tunnels, as if the restaurant was designed by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. No matter the night, big groups of people pack out nearly every table splitting tangy beef carpaccio, razor clams, baked oysters, and scallops with little fried quail eggs. Go here with a legion of seafood-friendly folks for a casual night out, or a birthday pre-game.

photo credit: Quit Nguyen