Looking for a really good Vietnamese restaurant...
What and where are the best spots around the N.Y.C. area, Chinatown and beyond...need a good fix! Thanks, Serious Eaters!
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18 Comments:
Ask any Vietnamese person (which I'm not) and they will tell you that there aren't any. But I think there are some hopeful ones popping up run by young Vietnamese food lovers, who are dissatisfied for precisely the above mentioned reason. Stay tuned! Other than that, Xe Lua on 86 Elizabeth is pretty good.
pickle at 11:06AM on 03/03/09
I second Xe Lua as well. The pho and bun is good. I had the carmelized salmon with the hot and sour soup. Both have really good flavor, and the fish taste fresh. If I am correct, the young lady there looks like the owner, and she's Vietnamese. It's also one of the cleaner place that I've been to as well. The waitstaff don't check on you so just give a polite wave if you need anything, and they'll bring it to you. If you want tasty vegetarian Vietnamese food, you should try Lan Cafe in the East Village. It's tasty, but the portion is small for the price that is being charged.
casadelun at 1:48PM on 03/03/09
The first two comments must have never traveled to Sunset Park where there is DELICIOUS Vietnamese food up and down 8th Avenue - aka: Brooklyn's "Chinatown."
My favorite is Gia Lam II which is RIDICULOUSLY cheap and has AMAZINGLY delicious food. I'd recommend the pork Vietnamese sandwich - I think its $4 and it can easily count as two meals. My mouth is watering just thinking about it...yummmm. Also - the Shrimp on Sugar Cane is to die for. Truly if you are looking for great, authentic, cheap Vietnamese food, you must trek out to Sunset Park. Its an adventure to a really vibrant neighborhood. 8th Ave and 55th in Brooklyn. Must go!
alliect at 3:11PM on 03/03/09
@alliect,
any other favorite restaurants besides Gai Lam II when you're down by 8th ave and 55th st?
foodinmouth at 3:35PM on 03/03/09
@alliect,
Yea, I've never eaten around Sunset Park before. Manhattan does not have good Vietnamese food, and I guess I kinda gave up searching after three years. However, I will need to trek to Sunset Park this week to try out their stuff there. Have you ever had their pho? I usually get pho or bun. Hope I won't be disappointed.
casadelun at 4:17PM on 03/03/09
I don't know if it's authentic (and I am sure people will jump on me for it) but Omai in Chelsea is pretty solid.
Big B at 5:47PM on 03/03/09
^ More an upscale place than a cheap and authentic pho spot..
Big B at 5:49PM on 03/03/09
I think Pho Bang on Mott St. can hold it's own. I've gone with several Vietnamese friends and they enjoy the pho, as well as the rice and vermicelli dishes. Only problem is that like many Chinatown establishments, service is nonexistent.
Koreanita at 7:54PM on 03/03/09
Back to Sunset Park: I like what I've tried so far at Thanh Da (the larger one, with tables, on Seventh Ave.); I'm due for another visit.
EatingInTranslation at 8:55PM on 03/03/09
After having Gia Long a couple years ago, it didn't seem like it was any different from any other Viet place in Chinatown. It's possible that nothing matches pho from home.
TrashedOut at 12:14PM on 03/04/09
We've been regularly schlepping from Queens to Bath Beach, Brooklyn for years now after reading a great review of Pho Tay Ho in the NY Times. It has never once let us down. It's not fancy, and the food is not "gourmet" Vietnamese, and the service is perfunctory (the waiters seem to have minimal English) but it's always great and hearty, and also ultra cost effective:
http://events.nytimes.com/2004/10/27/dining/reviews/27UNDE.html?_r=1
We lament the passing of Ahn in the East 20's about a year ago - it was our favorite Manhattan Viet eatery; the food was great, the decor and service was good, as were the prices. Bao Noodles on 2nd Ave near 23rd Street is another good choice in the area, though more yuppie/bar scene oriented. Pho Grand on Grand St. is an even better option, though I've only been there once - great Pho.
MMinNYC at 1:47PM on 03/04/09
@casadelun: I have had their pho and its spicy and delicious. Interesting tid-bit: they actaully serve it with the meat on the side. Ex: Pho w/ chicken comes with a breast of chicken on a side plate so you can add in the amount you want, and leave the rest to eat at your own discresion.
@foodinmouth: I'm having trouble remembering the names of the other Asian style places where I've dined on 8th Ave, but, if you like Mexican food, there's also a lot of great, authentic choices on 5th Ave in Sunset Park - which is closer to the subway, so hurray!
Rico's Tacos on 5th Ave and 52nd has excellent tacos (my boyfriend loves the tounge!) Tacos Matamoras on 5th and 48th is also really good - humongous portions, and I like Eclipe, on 4th Ave and 44th Street, for their mole burrito. MMMMMMMMMMM, delicious.
The point: Sunset Park has some of the best, authentic Asian/Mexican food in the city and its all super cheap because it hasn't been "discovered" yet. Definetely worth the trip if you're looking to explore.
I have my own food blog if anyone is interested:
www.groceryhag.wordpress.com
:)
alliect at 2:42PM on 03/04/09
I haven't tried the restaurant in sunset park - I've had my eye on it ever since Dave Cook (aka EatinginTranslation commenter) wrote about it in "Where to Eat along the Marathon Route" article in the nytimes. I really like, strangely enough, Binh Duong in Bloomfield, NJ.
http://offthebroiler.wordpress.com/2007/08/08/nj-dining-binh-duong/
prunesaregood at 8:35PM on 03/04/09
try Pho Tay Ho in Bensonhurst area of Brooklyn. It's on 23rd Ave and 86th Street. There are some reviews on yelp if interested. Best pho and spring rolls ever. Their grilled meats are delicious as well. Take the D train to 25th Ave.
midnightsnack at 2:36AM on 03/05/09
@ MMinNYC and midnightsnack: I've been to Pho Tay Ho only once, several years ago, and my writeup doesn't do it justice, but the native Vietnamese speakers at our table praised the banh cuon cha lua, which I'd never have thought to order on my own.
Bonus: a refreshing dessert a short walk away.
EatingInTranslation at 10:59AM on 03/06/09
Thanks for the suggestions, EatingIn Translation! This thread got me psyched for Pho Tay Ho, and we'll probably go tomorrow. I'll check out the banh cuon cha lua, as well as the spumoni!
MMinNYC at 2:06PM on 03/06/09
The better ones are all in New Jersey. Great place in Bloomfield. Cheap, fresh, fantastic.
Juman23 at 2:45PM on 03/06/09
Nha Trang Place in Jersey City is a lot closer than Bloomfield, great food, dirt cheap prices, easy ride on the Path train to Grove Street station, and a real favorite among locals. Highly recommended. 249 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07302
justcook at 12:51AM on 03/07/09