Vietnam Restaurant

Forty years is an impressive lifespan for a business. Sure, camels and koi fish usually reach their 40th. But restaurants? Almost unheard of. Unless, of course, you’re a city institution that’s been serving some of the best Vietnamese food since 1984.

photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

Vietnam Restaurant, tucked away on North 11th Street in Chinatown, is that institution. It runs a tight ship—everyone from solo diners to rowdy groups of friends are warmly welcomed and seated immediately, and steaming plates of food arrive within minutes. The wood-paneled dining room is cozy and casual, but works just as well for a midweek date night as it does dinner with your eight closest colleagues. The menu is huge, so whether you’re craving a grilled pork vermicelli bowl or tofu curry, you’ll find something you like (even if that means a Flaming Volcano or Suffering Bastard from Bar Saigon, the adjoining second floor bar).

photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

But the real reason Vietnam has gotten to its 4th decade is that—and we swear we’re not being dramatic when we say this—everything they serve is comforting and delicious. The pork claypot is unbelievably tender, and balances peppery heat with creamy coconut milk. The broken rice platters are piled with crisp, fresh vegetables and char-grilled meat or shrimp. And we’re thinking about tattooing “BBQ Platter” on our forearms (the accompanying crispy spring rolls are the best in the city).

photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

So head to Vietnam when you want to go all out during your lunch hour, have out-of-town visitors coming for the first time, or want to start the night with a flavorful noodle feast and end it with Polynesian cocktails. After a rhino’s lifetime of service, they’ve (nearly) perfected it all.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

BBQ Platter

The sampler platter to end all sampler platters, this one has excellent crispy spring rolls, beef-stuffed grape leaves, and char-grilled chicken and meatballs, all served with rice vermicelli, lettuce, and crisp veggies. If you’re here with a group, it’s a must.

photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

Pho Tai

The pho here is serviceable, but definitely not the reason you visit. We like ours with flank steak (which is always tender), but you’ll need to add a lot of lime, scallions, and hot sauce to make the broth really shine.

photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

Pork Vermicelli Bowl With Grilled Shrimp

You can get the vermicelli bowls with about 100 different topping combinations, but this is a colorful, comforting classic. The pork is grilled, the shrimp is caramelized, and the fresh herbs and sweet-spicy fish sauce tie it all together.

photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

Salt And Pepper Shrimp

Plump shrimp are lightly fried and tossed with garlic, onions, jalapeños, and a generous helping of salt and pepper. It’s everything you want in a dish—crispy, light, salty, slightly spicy, and just plain gorgeous.

photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

Pork Claypot

This dish is intensely flavorful and filling. It’s savory, salty, and slightly sweet, and one of the best entrees here. Get it.