I still love the food at the original Ba Bar 10 years after my first review. When I need a super tasty, comfort meal to make me feel good, I order the Bun Cha Ca La Vong, the rice vermicelli with Washington Rockfish. It is one of my favorite restaurant dishes in Seattle and it hits every single time. It includes fried rockfish with tumeric, fresh dill, green onions, fried shallots, an Imperial Roll (yes!), fresh mint, basil, lettuce, cucumber, pickled vegetables on a bed of rice vermicelli. *Chef's kiss!* This Ba Bar has A/C (a beautiful thing in Seattle), free and paid street parking nearby, and a nice, low lights vibe. Service the last three times I went was good--friendly and efficient. They also have an excellent happy hour if you drink and like wings and such. If I lived closer, I'd probably go there all the time, but I don't, so I go whenever I'm in the Capitol Hill/First Hill area around lunch or dinner time. The only thing I don't like is they charge for takeout boxes. I think last time I ordered a pretty big order for myself and friends, I was charged 3%. Not cool. But that's the only beef I have with Ba Bar. NOTE: The pics below are from my review 10 years ago. Sorry I don't have any recent pics. Alas, they no longer offer the catfish or the beautiful, layered cronut. Tears. read more

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I decided to try this place after seeing its high Google rating, but unfortunately I left disappointed. The prices felt very high for the portion sizes, and the food didn't taste authentic to me. I came during happy hour, which requires purchasing at least a $6 drink with each food item which was ok, but it didn't feel worth it. I ordered the egg rolls appetizer and was surprised to receive only one egg roll cut into bite-sized pieces. After adding the drink minimum, I ended up spending about $14 for a single egg roll and a small serving of vegetables, which felt very overpriced for what I received. Overall, the food wasn't bad, but it also wasn't memorable enough to justify the cost. With so many great Vietnamese restaurants nearby, I'd probably choose somewhere else the next time I'm craving Vietnamese food. read more

Ba Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I purchased the Garlic Crab Noodles, what I got was garlic noodles. For $31.00 dollars, and a $5.00 dollar tip. I expected to atleast see some crab. The noodles were good but I was very disappointed i paid that much to only get a few tiny pieces of crab! And you didn't get alot. The service here is always super nice, but that's not enough for the price you pay! read more

Ba Bar - Garlic Crab Noodles! - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The Crispy Pork Belly rice plate and the Supreme Chicken were incredible! I especially loved the sauces. read more

Ba Bar - Crispy Pork Belly - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I'm not sure why I haven't eaten here sooner! I very much enjoyed the food, atmosphere and appreciated the late night happy hour. My friend suggested Ba Bar and since I am a big fan of Vietnamese food, happily went along. I was really feeling the decor and the lively atmosphere, not to mention the service was excellent. Very friendly staff and quick food delivery. What I especially liked was the amount of items, both food and drinks that were available on the happy hour menu and the prices were very reasonable. Between my friend and I, we ordered, a Moscow mule, red wine, Saigon chicken wings, crispy imperial roll lettuce wraps and pho Tai Nam. Everything was tasty and really hit the spot. To top it off, I purchased some cookies at the front register. I will be sure to return next time I'm in the area! read more

Ba Bar - Menu - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The ambiance is nice. It was weird though. They make you get a drink for $6 to get happy hour deals. Never have I seen that before. I ordered lemongrass soda and got lemonade. The pho was the worst I've ever had and expensive. Barely any meat! The eggplant was very bland. read more

Ba Bar is a reliable choice for a quick and filling meal. I was impressed that they offer a dedicated vegetarian menu, which is a unique find for this type of cuisine. The Food: The chicken pho was flavorful, and both the chorizo and tofu banh mis were delicious. A major plus is that the sandwiches come with a side of soup. Value: Portions are quite generous for the price. Service: The staff was very fast, though the ambiance is fairly standard. Overall, it is a great four star experience for a casual lunch. read more

Service is okay, water is alright, and the soup is awesome. I feel like some weird energy from the other customers, but it's okay, the flowers are beautiful and luckily I got to sit next to a giant plant with a blue pot! read more

Ba Bar - Oxtail pho, Vietnamese baguette, and water with a lime in it. - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Only pro here for me is the late hours. We stopped by after another bar for some food around 10pm since Ba Bar was open until 12am. The vibes are very chill and laid back yet it was busy. Service here isn't the best. Immediately when walking in 2 different hosts let us know they'll be with us in a minute which wasn't the problem. The issue was the odd behavior from the cooks as you see the kitchen when you walk in the front entrance. 3 of the male cooks began looking my man and I up and down then started whispering, and then visibly pointed at us and laughed at us? Weird and unprofessional. The hosts and servers were friendly however it seemed they didn't really want to be at work as their minds seemed elsewhere. Before being given menus after being sat we were immediately asked for ID in a stressed tone. The vibe and tone was giving maybe underage college students try to sneak in or give fake ID often here so they are trying to be very cautious. Understandable, checking ID at a bar or for alcohol is the law. What we didn't like though is we did not want to order drinks but to order off the happy hour menu you are required to purchase an alcoholic beverage. We skipped the happy hour and got pho off the regular menu. Food. Terrible. My boyfriend is not the type to really critique or complain. However he really was unhappy with his meal and not a fan at all. I agreed with him. We both chose different types of pho but had the same issues with broth and noodles. Noodles were definitely old because it was sooo hard to unclump them and the broth was the worst part. Broth had a weird taste unlike any pho I've ever had and was not appetizing. I did not finish my pho broth just being honest. I love pho and have tried many restaurants and this just isn't it. Maybe we came on a terrible night? All in all we will not be returning and I would not recommend. read more

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Food was great, highly recommend. We reserved a table for lunch. The waiter refused a table. When we named the manager with whom we had reserved, he gave us a table. Once we were seated, service was great. read more

Was craving pho late at night and I'm so happy I found Ba Bar. We sat at the bar, the service was quick and friendly and I loved my food. I got pho with a Chinese doughnut on the side - delicious. Good gluten free options as well! read more

They have a great happy hour all afternoon for food! We came here on a weekend in the early afternoon and got a seat right away although it was quite full! We shared some of the happy hour bites which was a great idea because then we got to taste more items. My bf also got the Vietnamese coffee which was delicious. I had an iced tea which was unsweetened and made in house. For the dishes we had the mushrooms, salad, sliders, and pork. Everything was delicious!! I highly recommend coming here or to the other location. They don't offer brunch at the Capitol Hill one, but it has a great ambiance. The bar looks awesome and I'd love to come back in the evening someday for cocktails and dinner! read more

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Did rain put a damper on plans? Stop by Ba Bar and experience some flavorful Bún Bò Huế. This next statement will be sacrilegious, but the complex flavors rival some Bay Area staples. Tables are spaced out to where crowd noise is moderate and generally non-intrusive. Will happily visit again on the next Seattle trip. read more

Ba Bar - Bun Bo Hue. - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We showed up for a late lunch on a Saturday, so it was a bit of a wait for a table for two. We shared an order of the Saigon chicken wings, which were scrumptiously sticky and full of flavor. I got the pho tai lan -- I loooved the spice level but I think I still prefer traditional pho over this pickle-y variant. The beef was so tender it ended up eating the entire bowl anyways. My husband got the lemongrass beef vermicelli bowl, which he absolutely loved. The beef itself was tasty enough to eat all on its own, but really came alive when mixed with the noodles, veggies, and nuoc cham. It is on the pricier side, but definitely tasty enough to justify paying more than many other Vietnamese restaurants. read more

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Friendly and fast service. Crispy spring rolls were perfect along with the Pho Hanoi. They allowed for modifications so I had the chilies on the side to make sure I can control the spice level. The fried Chinese donut is the first time I've enjoyed along side a pho (usually I eat it as part of breakfast with soy milk) and made for an interesting pairing with the soup. Soups base was flavorful and made a perfect meal on a slightly chilly fall evening. read more

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Fyi: We're Californians touring Seattle for the first time. Randomly walked into here for lunch. Ordered a chorizo banh mi, a pho tai ox tail, and vietnamese coffee with coconut milk. What we liked: -ox tail was so tender and pho broth was aromatic with cinnamon and anise. - the tamarind soup that came with the banh mi was tart, and got lots of vegetables. -Viet coffee with coconut milk- surprisingly the viet coffee shown through the coconut milk (different from my usual experience of coconut milk being too pronounced). Things that could be improved: -chorizo banh mi- the chorizo's strong flavor masked over the pickled vegetables and other stuff in the sandwich -pho- portion size was a bit smaller compared to california. But then again this is the first pho place we tried in Seattle. Maybe that's the standard here. -price point- a bit higher than expected. The bill came to $51. Waitstaff was awesome and informative. Plenty of bar seating as well as high and low tables. Modern decor. Quieter atmosphere than your usual pho place. read more

Ba Bar - Chorizo Banh Mi and tomato tamarind soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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One of our favorite Seattle restaurants! Great dishes and really good cocktails! The seasonal cocktail came with a special ice cube in shape of a soccer ball for the World Cup! They have a big screen to watch the game! USA won today! Our favorite is the rock fish dish, the nuggets are insanely good and we always get the Pandan cream puffs! We tried the butter prawns with the Chinese donut for the first time today and it was really good too! read more

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I have been a regular customer for a long time, but after today's visit I don't plan on coming back. The portions have become extremely disappointing, especially considering the prices. We paid nearly $60 for a bowl of Bun Bo Hue and a vermicelli dish, yet both meals contained very little meat and were filled mostly with vegetables. The Bun Bo Hue was especially frustrating. It came with only two thin slices of pork, one meatball, very few noodles, and mostly broth and vegetables. The vermicelli dish was similarly lacking in protein. I understand that food costs have increased, but charging premium prices while significantly reducing portions is not acceptable. As a longtime customer, this felt stingy and poor value for the money. Unfortunately, this experience has convinced me to take my business elsewhere. read more

In short This was a great HH spot and all the food was delicious, if a little overpriced. Just a couple quibbles with the stuff we had. Definitely a fun place to eat appetizers. In long We've been meaning to check this place out forever and ever and finally got to one. We aimed for lunch, got stuck in I-5 traffic on the way down, and switched to HH to fit around other errands. That traffic is exactly what keeps us from trying so many good spots in town, btw. The staff were super nice, and the setting is really pretty--gorgeous old wood, high ceilings, fairly airy even on a muggy day. The cocktail list here is fun for sure. This is part of what can make a fusion place fun: At a good one, you get unexpected touches that work. Slushy cocktails are nice this time of year, and one modeled from the flavors of a Bomb Pop are a nostalgic way to bend an elbow. I had the housemade iced tea, which was loaded with flavor. I wish more places had good scratch iced tea like Ba's. Pho Ha Noi Up north where we live, you get 3x this much soup for a few dollars less, but it tasted really good. The broth was over on cinnamon and not as steaming hot as we would have liked, but we demolished every bite. Everything else was HH-priced and easily worth trying: Fancy beef salad More salad than beef by 15x. Great flavors, fresh veg, nice dipping/dressing sauce, but scant on the protein. Would still order again. Meatballs Soft and tender, great gravy with it, nice fresh white bread for sopping. Nice dish but kinda subdued compared to the other stuff. Beef carpaccio High in the running for best carpaccio I've had. Crisps to make a little garnished cracker of a bite. Lovely tender beef with great drizzle and fresh veg over it. Marinated shiitakes Perfect amount of butter, bursting with flavor, nice warm (spicy-ish) dipping sauce. On the next table, the grilled pork belly looked and smelled delicious, too. We'd definitely come back in the right mood, though I'd probably head elsewhere when I needed a big satisfying bowl of soup. read more

This place is trendy and the patio is absolutely a vibe (with very nice overhead warmers that kept us warm on a 27° evening). The staff are fantastic and friendly. I got the garlic butter prawns appetizer, which were good but not great. There was not a lot of flavor in either the prawn or the garlic butter, and it just felt like it was missing something. The Chinese donut was good but still relatively tasteless. However, the drink I got was fantastic. I got the "Family Business" which is pear infused pisco, cranberry balsamic shrub, Foro Amari, and citrus. I don't know what two of those things are but it was one of the best cocktails I've had in a while. The downside? It was $15 and probably four ounces. Just tiny. Hard to get the scale of how small it was in a picture. Bravo to whoever crafted this cocktail, I just wish there were more of it. read more

Ba Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Nothing terrible to say about the food. It's more pricey than I think it's worth, but it's still good and marketed with a nice vibe. Moreso an issue with the service, I had come here and ordered a lunch special, the mi xao ga. Amidst trying to order another lunch special to takeout (which they didn't allow for good reason), I decided to switch my order from the mi xao ga to the bun cha ha noi, unaware that there is a lunch special version as well as a full menu version. When the bill came, I discovered that they had put in an order and charged me for a full menu version. When asking the server about it, they half-apologized and half-defended for the menu vs. lunch special being confusing while also standing firm on me paying the full amount. For full context, the only difference between the names of the lunch special and full menu item is that the lunch special has "bowl" in the title. I understand that confusion happened on both ends (server + customer) and I can amid fault for not double-checking, but I am still unsatisfied that: 1. There was no clarification when ordering that I wanted the lunch special, especially if this is a mix-up that has happened with other customers AND that I was switching my order from another lunch special. 2. There was no action taken to remediate the situation. I feel like I'm paying for their lack of clarification, whether it be the server not double-checking or the menu for being designed in a confusing manner. Overall, if you're looking for a lunch, make sure you read all menus and carefully specify if something is a lunch special or the full menu item, because it seems like not all servers will communicate with you. read more

Low key used to like this place a lot despite the over expensive prices. But after the last time when my friend had a somewhat poor experience with the lunch special due to confusion of the service imo, I've decided not to come here anymore. There's so many tastier and cost efficient Vietnamese places around the area if you just venture out, and honestly feel like I get better service there. read more

Love this spot! We've been a bunch of times, birthdays, get together, dinner before a night out, but usually later in the night, they have great hours! We have tried a few different items on the menu, the pho is good, crispy imperial rolls, but we always go back to the roasted chicken dish. Our order is "Roasted chicken, with broken rice and the egg added on top. Extra pickled veggies and extra of the green sauce that comes on the side". To die for! It's an amazing dish! I don't drink, but my husband also enjoys their cocktails. Great spot, definitely check it out! read more

Ba Bar - Roasted Chicken, with broken rice and add the egg on top! - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Had dinner at Ba Bar and really enjoyed the experience. The place has a cool, modern vibe with a nice mix of casual and upscale , great for a laid-back dinner with friends or a date night. It's so different than 10 years ago when I was living in this area We started with the chicken wings , crispy, flavorful, and on the sweeter side . The shrimp rice paper wrap was just ok. Then we had the bún bò Huế and pho. The bún bò Huế was rich and spicy with bold flavors, and the pho was comforting with a clean, aromatic broth. Both dishes were generous in portion and tasted fresh. Service was solid and the food came out pretty quickly, even though the place was a little busy. overall, Ba Bar delivered a great Vietnamese dinner. Would definitely come back next time I'm in Seattle. read more

Ba Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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One of the best Vietnamese places is the city! Their pho broth is rich and so good! Their fish sauce wings are juicy and really tasty! If you're lucky you will catch the owners hanging out and overseeing everything from the kitchen and service. Their bar is well stocked and their cocktails are awesome. I always wish I drink more and try their seasonal features! This place is good whether you need hangover food or craving a good meal! read more

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I know some reviews have given ba bar a poor rating because of service, but I think we can all agree that the food here is delightful! the restaurant itself is very cute and in the summer you can sit outside in the sectioned patio. I last came here on a monday night, so it wasn't as busy which is why I think we got excellent service. our server was new so hadn't tried all the dishes but still tried to make a few recommendations. I got the spicy pork belly plate, which was incredible. the pork belly is so crispy with great flavor and it pairs so well with the rice, carrot and cucumber mix. highly recommend and it's apparently a staff favorite. my friends got the garlic crab noodle, chicken vermicelli bowl and the vegetarian vermicelli bowl. they all said it was good, though the garlic crab noodle was more 2D in flavor since it's just an elevated butter noodle situation. the vermicelli bowls are a classic here, so if it is the first time trying Ba Bar and not sure what you would like, it is a solid choice. read more

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Enjoyed a vegetarian curry dish and appreciated the array of veggie friendly options. Cocktails were creative and delicious. Ambiance was nice as well. Didn't have trouble getting in on a Tuesday but it was busy. Weekends might be a challenge. read more

Came in on a Thursday evening around 6pm for a party of 5 and there was absolutely no wait. We got seated at a long high top near the open windows which was nice on a sunny evening. I ordered the Mi Vit Tiem - duck egg noodles. The food was pretty standard ( I think I prefer mi la cay in ID). Cute fun decor inside. Service was friendly and quick. Cocktails looked super tasty here- might try next time! SLU has ample parking and there's free Amazon garage parking two blocks down. Taking one star off for the pricing, a bit on the high side for Vietnamese food :,) overall good place for a light-ish dinner! read more

Ba Bar - Mi Vit Tiem - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Very delicious Vietnamese street food in a vibrant interior atmosphere featuring prompt and attentive service. Their pandan latte was also great, even though being a bit on the sweet side, and their rockfish vermicelli noodles were superb. I believe also a sister restaurant or spin-off concept from Monsoon (maybe same or similar chef). Excellent and highly recommended! read more

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Seattle, Capitol Hill. July 2024. This place is a fixture for Vietnamese styled food, on the downslope of 12th Ave leading to the International District. It is across a corner edge of Seattle U and is easy to find. Just keep in mind this is not the down and dirty kind of pho shop with cheap prices and straightforward food. The restaurant has a comfy interior with regular tables, hightop counters, an outdoor patio, and a full bar with seats. There no longer is a bakery case but some items are still available near the front. The food is put together nicely with flavors and colors standing out. If all you want is a bowl of pho, you may find it good but a little pricey for your taste. You can also get a banh mi, but it is not where the restaurant shines. Ba Bar is more about taking simple Vietnamese street food dishes and making them shine for American palates. If you go on a weekday they have a nice list of $15 specials that should make your happy. Sundays looks like a good time to bring your dog with you to the outdoor patio and get comfy with a weekend cocktail and a bunch of dishes. The bar has a nice listing of good brown liquor and the house cocktails are creatively named and nicely balanced. One thing that keep this place from being at the top of the lists for Vietnamese food is inconsistent service. It doesn't look like anyone in charge is always on the premises and that can give the staff free hand to do as they please. That means service can be spot on, non-existent, or anywhere in between. Keep that in mind when comparing this location to the other ones around the city. read more

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Every time we visit Seattle, we must stop by this location. Always greeted with a smile and they treat us with top priority. We love the whole staff because they're a team player. Every staff member treats you like royalty and they all have good spirits. Mi, shoes always making sure that we are happy with our meal. All their food is made fresh to order and it's consistent every single time no matter what you get. Everything comes out at an adequate time, and the presentation is off the hook. You know we will be back and keep up with the good work. read more

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Never had bad food here! Everything is soooo good. The rockfish dish, the garlic prawns, and the pho tai lan are my favs! Also, the pandan cake is AMAZING for a dessert treat. read more

Can confirm with the staff and owner that the Pho Ga and the Pho Tai Nam are seed oil free. But those were pretty much the only 2 options. We also tried some fun mocktails but they were so sweet/syrup heavy. I will probably stick to the lemongrass tea and the Vietnamese coffee next time. Service as super sweet and accommodating! Such a cozy pho spot! read more

Ba Bar - Pho Tai Nam - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Food looked at the open kitchen when we walked in, I am not sure what happened. I ordered grilled prawns. The menu description misleading, grill prawns, crispy pork, and shrimp imperial rolls. The server said the crispy pork was inside the roll. $20 dish, the food was cold, prawns were over cooked, the roll was not crispy and tiny. My friend pho bowl was small with few meat. He ordered extra mushrooms, 3 for $5, and they did not even cut them to make them look more. Another order was, garlic noodle, well, noodle with some garlic, if that is your main ingredient, added more, goes crazy for $20. Service was not great, have you asked for water 2-3 times. Heating patio, needed bigger heat lamp. Parking on the street. read more

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Amazing late night spot! I admit I only considered it because we needed to find a place that was open at 10 a.m., but I'm so glad we tried it out! Service was quick, food was hot and tasty. We ended up eating here twice in two days. My only regret was not coming back a third time. Will definitely visit again when I return to Seattle! read more

Good for late night snack Got the following: Crispy imperial rolls: 3.5 stars, not enough pickled radish and carrots. These are intended to be lettuce wraps with the crispy roll in the middle and then add the pickled stuff on top. Lacked a little bit of flavor Saigon chicken wings: 4 stars, sticky and sweet and crispy! Hanoi pho: 2 stars, beef was super tough. Broth was decent. Smaller portion Tofu salad: 3 stars, good textures, good enough flavor. It's healthy ha Good drink options, but I didn't like the phofashioned - would go back for late night - decent as a dinner #2 read more

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Ba Bar is one of those spots that proves Vietnamese food can be both nostalgic and nightlife-ready. Late-night phở under dim lights, hip-hop bouncing off the walls, and that signature smell of charred lemongrass as the servers glide past with plates of noodles and rice bowls -- it's a Seattle staple for a reason. I came for a weekend lunch and ordered the Lemongrass Rockfish and a side of Phở Gà Hội An. The fish was buttery with just the right crisp, layered over rice noodles and a sauce that leaned bright and citrusy without being too heavy. The phở broth had depth -- not the grandma-level kind you find in Little Saigon, but rich enough to remind you of home. Portion sizes lean smaller, so I'd call it more "modern Vietnamese bistro" than hearty mom-and-pop. Drinks are where Ba Bar flexes. I tried the Nguyen Dynasty, a smoky-sweet bourbon cocktail that hits smooth, followed by their Vietnamese iced coffee -- jet fuel strong, just how it should be. Service was friendly but a bit slow once the room filled up. Not a dealbreaker, but noticeable. Come for the vibe, the cocktails, and that first sip of hot broth when it's raining outside. Skip the expectations of huge portions and just enjoy it for what it is -- a sleek Vietnamese spot that bridges tradition with Capitol Hill cool. read more

This is a great lunch spot for my mom and I post doctor's appointment. As soon as we sat down, I ordered a bag of the pork floss mochi cookies that I saw on the counter. I've seen pork floss in buns at bakeries, but not in cookies, so I was instantly curious. It was a soft cookie with a chewy mochi center and not too sweet. We ordered the vermicelli noodle bowls: Combo and the Rockfish. I like that each dish comes with an imperial roll, which are delish! We had to ask for more fish sauce though. We also ordered the caramel sauce wings, which were flavorful and crispy. I know it's good when my mom says 'we can come here instead of going to dim sum' - read: she's already planning our next visit. Service was friendly and helpful. We got there before the lunch rush and was able to find parking easily nearby. read more

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Lunch with a group of 6. Aside from some confusion about the time of Happy Hour due to conflicting signage, it was a good experience. The server was efficient but a bit impatient. The food was quite good and the drinks were good as well. read more

Ba Bar has a unique take on Vietnamese food or what I would describe more as Asian fusion. The restaurant has a very open floor plan and was packed with people which made it feel fun and youthful. We put our name down for a large party, but the wait was surprisingly only 2-3 minutes. Even more surprising, our food probably came out within 5-10 minutes of ordering it. The papaya salad was light and refreshing, a nice complement to the curry dishes. I really enjoyed the sweet potato laksa which had a red curry base. My favorite dish was the Ba Bar green curry which the waiter said was vegan (hands-down best vegan curry I've ever had). The eggplant side dish had a unique taste, but I would not order it again (hard to compare to the insane flavor of a Chinese fried eggplant dish). The Saigon Singapore noodles were a classic dish but lacked flavor. You can't go wrong with the imperial rolls! Overall, I gave this place a 4 because the two curries and papaya salad were so good. Also, the staff were speedy and very polite. read more

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