Loved their soup bowls. They have an entire vegan menu! Everything is really good. The tofu wraps were enjoyed by the entire group!

Hip restaurant with walls that open up during the summer months to let in the cool breeze. The place is divided into two sections where one is primarily for dining and the other has an island/bar along with high tops. Surprised to find that they actually brew their own beers! The imperial egg rolls were very tasty, but the side of lettuce and noodles looked like they were simply designed to fill up the otherwise empty space on the plate. As for the noodle bowl, I ordered the Bun Bo Hue and was delighted to find some tasty toppings. It even had a chunk of pig blood curd and pig knuckles! Delicious. Though the flavor didn't quite pack the punch that you would expect :( in fact, it was rather bland and the soup was not hot enough to cook the bean sprouts. And customer service, well, let's just say he delivered the food and gave us the bill. In all seriousness, food was fine and beautifully displayed. Customer service was no frills. read more

All good!! Atmosphere. Food. Service! Would recommend the Garlic noodles for sure! Save room for dessert... if you can! read more

Excellent food and drink! 10/10 recommend anytime you're in Seattle!!! Great variety of options too!

This location is awful. They had to google how to make a drink (literally saw them) and when we tried to order a dessert, server didn't even know what it was so I had to show them on the menu? Then after having to flag down a server to close out our bill, another server stops us to ask us to pay? Like WTF? Just go to Cap Hill location, guys. read more

This is a great modern vibe Vietnamese restaurant. Menu Selections are wonderful staple Vietnamese fare with a little updated twist on the flavor of dishes and more. Bar menu is great as well. Service is efficient and price is fairly reasonable. I tried the vegetarian vermicelli noodles and it is amazing! If you're in the area of the tech campus in Seattle like google and Amazon and craving Vietnamese food check this place out. read more

Ba Bar - Vegetarian Vermicelli Noodles - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

If you like lemongrass you'll most definitely like this place. However, I'm not the biggest fan of lemongrass flavor so the chicken and rice wasn't anything spectacular. The spinach tofu paper wrap didn't have much flavor to it either. The roasted eggplant and sweet potato laksa were the better of the dishes and had some more flavor and texture to it! However, even though the place was packed we got a table quick and the food came out fast! read more

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I agree with the mixed reviews. The staff here have always been nothing but friendly. The oxtail pho broth is really addicting (the meat itself is a little Bland) and can be served on the Luke warm side. It's a fun place for lunch or HH, good vibes and easy location for those working in the area. I haven't ever had an issue with getting a table. Sitting outside in the summer is a nice option to people/dog watch. read more

Ba Bar - Vermicelli with chicken. Love the 'sauce' it comes also a very good portion of food - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Vegans & Vegetarians: YES! ALWAYS good food! ALWAYS good service! Lunch time gets a bit crazy in this area, so would recommend visiting during off-times if you can, but definitely a place worth checking out! They have vegan options, so that's rad! Their vegan cabbage salad is BOMBBBBB! I am only part time Vegan, so I have also tried the little spring roll thingies that come with a sauce and salad. SOoooOooOoOoo good! I am REALLY surprised by some of the less than 4-5 star reviews. I have been here several times and it never disappoints! Prices are a tad steep or my taste, but ... the quality is great and you're in DT Seattle... so ... it's expected. Would definitely recommend as one of my fav's in the SLU area! read more

I've been here 3 times during happy hour, and I have to say, I'm a fan. Drinks: They have interesting concoctions, which is fun to try! (I did get HH bites once as well, which were tasty and clearly labeled gluten free, vegan, etc.) Service: I've found them to be very attentive in the bar area, constantly checking to see if I need anything. Ambiance: It fits in with the SLU vibe: modern and new (despite that food is inspired by an older tradition of Vietnamese street food). This has become a go-to spot in the neighborhood! read more

I was blown away by the tasty food and service at Ba Bar! After working out nearby, my friend and I came here for a very late and well-deserved dinner. We looked over the menu and had many questions because some of the items we weren't familiar with. Our wonderful server came by and answered everything so patiently! Like we asked about the spinach tofu paper wrap and whether that was like a spring roll. (It's not! The "paper" is actually made of tofu, like a tofu skin.) and what exactly is the banh nam, which is described as a rice tamale (it's like fine mushy sticky rice steamed in banana leaf!). We ended up ordered both those things, plus the cucumber salad and the crispy imperial rolls. (We wanted the dumplings too, but they were out of them!) Our food looked so delicious - presentation was really nice! We had to ask our server how to eat the imperial rolls and the tamale. He said there's no wrong way, but told us how he would recommend it. The imperial rolls were like egg rolls and came with lettuce leaves and mint leaves and pickled veggies and rice noodles. You put all of that stuff into the lettuce leaf and then dip it into the sauce, so it's like a lettuce wrap. This was my favorite - the flavors were amazing. And the veggies were so fresh. I would definitely order this again. The tofu paper wraps were really tasty too and the cucumber salad was really refreshing and delicious. The rice tamales were really good and had an interesting texture. Not really like Mexican tamales, but reminded me of the sticky rice things you might get at dim sum. I'll definitely come back here to try more things from the menu. The prices are high for Vietnamese food. It's more like hipster high-end Vietnamese fusion. Apart from the good food, our server was the best and came by often to check on us and chat with us! Overall a great experience! Get he imperial rolls!!! read more

Ba Bar - Rice tamales (banh nam), crispy imperial rolls, cucumber salad, and spinach tofu paper wrap - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Good people, awesome food, and great drink selection. I've been here virtually daily for more than a year through staff and customer service changes. Overall the staff is very friendly and has good knowledge of how to make great drinks. I can ask for something ambiguous like "an old fashioned that's not very sweet" or "a dry gin drink" and they typically hit the mark. I drink here much more often than I eat here, but every time I order food it is fantastic. If you like the cuisine offered at Ba Bar this is the place to be. The only feedback I'd give is sometimes I may have an empty drink for a while before a bartender will ask me what's next. Of course some bartenders are better than others, but occasionally a bartender on duty will not "look up" enough and pay attention to the remaining sustenance in customers' drinks. Otherwise I'm super happy and will continue to return 3-5 days a week for the foreseeable future. read more

The Garlic Crab Noodles are a must! They are so flavorful and I will come back just to order them. The pho is really good too! read more

Ba Bar - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Overpriced (Americanized) Vietnamese food. Having grown up eating LA's Vietnamese restaurants of $6 pho bowls, and $7-8 vermicelli bowls, this place is overpriced to me.. the cheapest bowl of pho is $12 on their menu... but this is Amazon land and sits in the South Lake Union neighborhood, so I guess it's no surprise it's pricier. They do have a $6 weeknight drink special my friends were thrilled about though! We ordered: - Mì Vt Tim $14.50 Duck leg confit, ramen noodles, chives, Chinese date, Chinese celery, longan, shiitake - Hue Dumplings $6.50 Vegetarian boiled dumplings, served 5 on a plate - $6 Old Fashion - tofu and rice I actually really wanted pho, but wasn't about to pay $12 for a bowl. I split the Duck leg confit noodles and the dumplings. The flavor of the broth to the duck leg confit was great! There was a big portion of duck in the noodles too. The dumplings were interesting, the dough had an interesting slimy texture to it. I am happier going to a more traditional Vietnamese restaurant than this trendy place. read more

Ba Bar - $14 duck confit ramen - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We typically go to the capital hill location and happened to be in the SLU neighborhood so popped in! Surprise! Our fav Capital Hill bartender transferred to this location. While capital hill is more convenient, Josh makes the trip worth while. The familiarity and comfort you find in a person is underrated. We'll also be transferring! read more

Food is excellent and prompt, atmosphere open, bright and clamorous. Absolute zoo at peak hours-visit in between standard meal times for fantastic Vietnamese fusion cuisine from flavorful pho to luscious pork belly to exquisite pastries and creative cocktails. Efficient, knowledgeable staff. Many allergy friendly and vegan options. Seating is designed to move diners along IMO. Interesting people watching. Will definitely try their other locations to see if they are a bit more comfortable for lingering over cocktails! On Tuesday's they have a wing special 10 wings for $8 but you have to get a drink. It's not on the menu ask you server about it read more

Ba Bar - Tuesday wing special! - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I rarely give out 5 ratings but this place was very good. Service was incredibly fast and pleasant, the menu was robust and full of great options, and the atmosphere was clean and inviting. Really a great experience despite it being at 5:00pm on a Tuesday. read more

Great food! I love grabbing my food to go, it's typically the same quality as eating in. The service is fast and efficient. When eating in, the space is cozy and very comfortable. read more

Starting at 5pm they need more than 1 bartender. Waited 30m for a drink. Perhaps they were short staffed. When the drink arrived it was nothing to "write home about". Food was fresh and tasty. read more

The restaurant looks cool and inviting. I didn't try any of their full meals, I only purchased their home made macaroons, of which 2/3 didn't really taste very well, and they were a little stale, if you go here I would avoid trying the macaroons. read more

Ba Bar - House Made Macaron - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I hesitate to leave a bad review, and I seldom do it. Especially it being a Vietnamese establishment. But my experience was pretty bad. Waiter misheard me and sat us at a two person table when I said three people. Okay that's fine. It was a misunderstanding, which he apologized for. But trying to resolve it was a CLUSTER. Finally sat down, no water until after entrees came. Other drinks came after entrees. Waiter seemed annoyed I even dared to ask for anything... Food was okay. It's what I expected since I've been to Ba Bar before in uvillage. I'm giving two stars because the drinks were good and my kid enjoyed watching baseball on their TV. And the location is convenient for folks who work in the area (mostly amazonians). Y'all should really consider QR code ordering. It's more appropriate for this restaurant's vibes. read more

Kinda went here on a whim to this place based on a recommendation. Was craving some Vietnamese, but it felt like an Americanized Vietnamese spot, which encapsulates basically the majority of mediocre spots in SLU. I'd recommend other spots if you're looking for some authentic cuisine. Kinda pricey too, sadly read more

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Love this spot!! Service is always amazing & quick. Clean, fun atmosphere & the food is so great! read more

Ba Bar - Crab noodles, Cucumber Salad (Dinner), fried rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I think I would give SLU Ba Bar a 3.5 maybe. I came here on a Saturday at about 4 to grab some happy hour. We were lucky enough to find parking but I can't imagine what it it's like if we weren't from the area and had to circle around town to get paid street parking. Ba Bar has a very cozy sexy feel once inside, although it was a tad bit too dark at the bar area (wish it was lit a little more to see the menu). We had a bartender that didn't pay us much attention and went on his lunch break without notice, so our second bartender provided us with good service and checked on how we were doing. We ordered a couple of "drop in the bucket" which is a shot of whiskey with a can of rainier for only $7. For food, we had the Saigon Chicken Wings, Lemongrass Beef Skewers and Xiu Mai. They ran out of the Pâté which was kind of disappointing on a Saturday afternoon. The food for happy hour was decent. There's a few flaws I can pick out. Lemongrass Beef skewers were really dry... it was nice it came with a bit of vermicelli noodles however the hoisin sauce to dip is weird. We asked for a side of fish sauce instead. The Xiu Mai is pretty much meatballs with tomato sauce and banh mi baguette that you use to dip into the sauce but our sauce was more like a soup/stew and had a lot of oil. The meatballs were well seasoned though. And lastly the best dish to order out of the 3 is the Saigon Chicken Wings. I wish they came out in an even amount of wings instead of my boyfriend asking if I wanted the last odd one haha. I've been to other Ba Bars and I don't think it's convenient for me to come to this one compared to the others. But this is my second time trying happy hour and it was alright- decent. read more

Ba Bar - Xiu Mai which is a French baguette and meatballs in tomato sauce (but ours came out like a soup/stew, very oily too) - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Ba Bar always hits the spot. For a late dinner - I had the Combo Vermicelli Bowl by default after asking our server if he recommended that or the Bun Bo Hue, and he mentioned that the Bun Bo Hue was sold out yet the Combo Bowl was always a good option. And it was. I like all them meats over rice noodles with a side of that sesame sauce. MMM HMMM. Of all the meats with this entree - I really enjoyed the chicken thigh the most, as it was juicy and flavorful. Imperial Rolls were slightly overcooked, but they were still delicious. I was most surprised though by the Xiu Mai on the late night happy hour menu. IT WAS SUPERB. They were beef meatballs in a light tomato broth, served with jalapenos and a baguette. It doesn't sound like much, but they were very good and the soup actually warmed me up from sitting by the open window at the restaurant. I loved dipping the baguette in the broth though, as the broth was my favorite part of this dish. So much lime and jalapeno flavor, which was outstanding! Any time I visit Ba Bar during happy hour - I have to get this again and again. As for drinks - I had the Coconut Daiquiri, which was A-O-K. It was served in a coupe glass, which was unexpected. But I was mostly disappointed with the lack of alcohol in it, though it tasted like it was made with fresh coconut. Glad it was on happy hour though because I wouldn't want to pay full price for this. Overall, Ba Bar serves yummy Vietnamese food in a modern setting. Glad they've expanded to SLU, too, since that's where a lot of festivals and events occur - so knowing Ba Bar is in town makes all the difference. read more

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Quickly becoming my new favorite spot for lunch delivery! While I am a bit sad they don't have veggie spring rolls to sub on this dish, everything else is so perfect. Pickled veggies add that extra crunch along with fresh cucumbers, herbs, peanuts, and huge grilled shrimp! Go easy on the side of sauce to make sure the lettuce doesn't get soggy, and you are set for the best lunch break ever. Portion is perfect for one, you feel full but light afterwards due to all the fresh flavors. read more

Ba Bar - New favorite lunch delivery! Shrimp Vermicelli lunch bowl - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place is very conveniently located for work-related lunches in South Lake Union, so I can definitely see myself coming back for more. The food was delightful and the portions really (almost too) generous. My papaya salad was pleasant all around, I just wish it had a tiny bit more seasoning for the amount of veggies on the plate. And the farmer's tamarind soup (which I would describe as the Vietnamese version of minestrone) was just what was so needed on a chilly day - hearty, full of flavor, textures and color. Keep in mind that there are two kitchens (regular and vegetarian - Ba Bar Green). Worth trying both. The service was a little all over the place, with a few hardly explainable faux pas (since the place was far from packed given the half-empty offices in the neighborhood). That said, the quality of the food made up for it. Coming back for some non-vegetarian dishes and desserts next time I am in the area. read more

The interior and service is great here. However, if you're looking for authenic pho, I don't recommend this place. Prices are pretty steep as well (~$15-18 per bowl) but still a nice place to come with friends and grab drinks. There vermicelli bowls are good (love those imperial rolls) and they offer free underground parking with validation. read more

Ba Bar - Imperial rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I actually quite like this place. Ba Bar is what I would refer to as a fancy vietnamese place...with a touch of western style service (+ higher food prices that come with that fancy scene :)) My colleague and I visited Ba Bar during lunch time around noon and got seated immediately at a bar. I love a stylish look of this place and the ambiance is quite nice. There's different things you can try and many of them are one-dish that you can order and finish quite quickly during your lunch hour. Both of us ordered Bahn Cuon (~$11 w/o tax/tip) and it was this nice roll of ground pork and some pickled veggies + sweet/vinegar sauces and some fresh veggies. We both loved it and finished all of our plates. I wouldn't say that the food is very authentic...but I would say that given the ambiance and the quality of food...it's good enough and didn't scream way over westernized that I wouldn't mind stopping by here again. My +1 goes to complementary shrimp crackers that they keep refilling the bowls at the bar. I swear I must have 10+ of those for lunches...so yummy!! :) And I missed having those back home in Asia! :) Overall, I think it's another great addition to SLU...definitely overpriced for traditional Vietnamese food you can get in International District..but still within the range of what you'd expect to pay in this area. Again, just want to iterate...love their complementary shrimp crackers :)~~~!! read more

Ba Bar - Ban Cuon - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I totally would've went to the original location in Cap Hill if my friend didn't specify there was one in SLU. Well with that being said, glad I came in to check this new location out. Located at the corner of Terry & Republican so it's pretty central to SLU area and easy to find. It was a pretty good sized group of us but they don't take reservations, so we put our name on the list and hung out at the bar and had a few drinks and waited. While having a few drinks, it took about 30 mins until we got a table. It was all good as we weren't in any hurry and they had free rice cracker/snacks to munch on. When we did get to our table, our friendly server was quick to go over the menu, make sure everyone had drinks etc. I decided to order the Bahn Cuon but they didn't have any more for the night, so my back up was the Hue Dumplings. The order comes with 5 dumplings, it was pretty tasty! Fresh rice wrapper, a little thicker than thin, slightly chewy in a good way, and the stuffing inside tasted great. Also I ordered the Frog Legs to share amongst a few and converted the skeptics as it taste like chicken. It was quite tasty, great seasoning on them and fried nicely. A few other people attempted to order certain items but they ran out of other stuff as well, so be sure to check with the staff or have a backup entrée in case. Other than that, everyone enjoyed their meals and was a happy camper. Staff and service was fine, pricing for food is on the higher side so yea, do what you gotta do. Ambiance is nice & cozy, dimly lit place to chat among the candlelight, good amount of tables on the backside of the restaurant and hi-top tables near the bar. Pretty much same menu as the Cap Hill location. Overall, it was a good experience and will be on my radar to come back again. read more

Ba Bar - Hue Dumplings - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Quick and friendly service! We ordered two Vietnamese coffees which were as expected as well as the happy hour Sai Gon chicken wings and crispy imperial rolls. Great table at the roll up window to enjoy the sun and cool breeze as well. read more

Whats with the low ratings here fellow Yelpers? I just recently went to Ba Bar after having it on my bookmarks for a while recently and I really enjoyed it. Let's start by saying that I don't eat meat so I am always on the hunt for a good vegan/vegetarian Pho option. You know, one that actually has a flavorful broth and not just watered down veggies? Well, Ba Bar has got it! The Vegan Pho ($10.50) had a great delicate mushroom broth with huge tons of tofu. I do think the portion was a little smaller than some of the more 'traditional' Pho spots in town, but actually I liked it. Sometimes after I finish Pho I am so darn full from all the liquid but after this I felt pleasantly stuffed. On top of some delicious Pho (which was prepared in literally seconds), great service and a clean cool vibe, there are some amazing drink options. Good cocktail list and a large selection of local craft beers. I recommend to anyone looking for a spot that feels more like a casual bar but with Vietnamese street food instead of the standard burgers and fries. read more

Strange to me that there are so many low reviews. I've been here a handful of times and all my experiences have been very good. I read some reviews saying the pho is too salty, and I thought, "well what do they know about pho?" Pho is already pretty salty broth-- As a viet person I should know right? But yeah, they were right, pho is actually way too salty for its own good. Adding anything more to it could ruin it for you. Other than just the salty issue, the food is actually pretty great.. interesting take on some foods. Friendly service. I'll come back to this review if things change. read more

Ba Bar - Ha Noi Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Well the service was so slow... I asked for a waiter 4 times and waited 20 minutes. So frustrating. The food was good really so hungry did care all I had was the spinach tofu dish. Wouldn't go back if you are in a rush... They said that at 1:30 there was a change in shifts... read more

Me and my family were having a great day until we came here. We had something important that day but we weren't in a hurry. We were one of the first people to come. We ended up waiting almost 40 minutes and were the last people served. We were going to be late because of the slow wait. Would not recommend. read more

Oh ba bar! I didn't even realize that I was missing you. Visited seattle after a few years and walked in front of Ba Bar. Realized it was missing from my seattle must visit back list. Was meeting family for dinner and decided to meet at Ba Bar. I ordered the pho Tai and they ordered the fish Bowl. We decided to forgo appetizers as the food itself was going to be enough! The first slurp and I didn't even know how much I was missing this flavor. The warm broth, perfectly cooked noodles, all the flavor of the spices. I went through my bowl in no time. The service was great, as always. I was too full to get dessert though was sorely tempted looking at the case. read more

We stumbled upon this little spot that was around the corner from the hotel we were staying at (wish we would have found it sooner). We came by for drinks and desert, but the food looked delicious!! We ended up having a coconut espresso float and it was amazing. The Almond torte was light and delicious as well. read more

Ba Bar - Coconut espresso float! - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Not sure why the YELP rating here isn't higher. This place is fantastic! I'm visiting Seattle on business and this is next door to my hotel, so I went here for lunch out of pure convenience. I sat at the bar, and was able to find an available seat right away at 11:45am on a Wednesday. The restaurant was busy but patrons with more than one guests didn't seem to have to wait long to be seated. I was immediately offered a drink when I sat down. I ordered the ice tea special they had for the day and a grilled eggplant salad for my starter. They were both great! I had Pho Ga for my lunch entree and it was also fantastic. The portions were generous and my food was brought to me in less than 15 minutes of ordering it. The staff is professional and attentive. I like a ton of limes (literally like two full limes worth) in my pho and they gladly game me even more than I asked for. I decided to finish my meal with their seasonal sparkling sangria. It was fantastic! Served in a champagne glass and topped with an orange peel and plum slice, it had the essence of cloves which made it feel like a fall beverage. Loved it! The menu isn't massive, but there are plenty of options. Patrons around me were ordering vegetarian and vegan dishes, but plenty of meat lover options as well. The grilled eggplant salad had an untraditional taste, and the pjs tasted very traditional. I like that there was a mix of new and old flavors available. The music in the background is hip and perfect for the atmosphere. It's not too noisy, but loud enough to where you can have a private conversation and not need to whisper. I'd dare to say you can even take a toddler here and the noise level would drown out a kiddo fussing. There are seats at the bar, they also have over half of the restaurant open for high top bar seating in the bar area, and there is also a more traditional restaurant seating area separated by a partitioned wall towards the back of the restaurant. The dress attire is casual (I came in yoga pants, sweatshirt and running shoes), yet most patrons were in business casual attire, most likely there on a business lunch break. I recommend this place if you enjoy Vietnamese food. I wish we had more options similar to this where I am from (SF East Bay suburbs). read more

Ba Bar - Filled eggplant salad and an ice tea special - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

If you're looking for legit Vietnamese food, this ain't the place. If you're looking for an American Vietnamese fusion, this is the spot. In my opinion, a little pricey but i guess I'm paying for SLU atmosphere. Service was great and the atmosphere was great. Overall not too impressed with food or price. read more

https://www.seattleeatsblog.com/blog/ba-bar for all my pics! Ba Bar was a few doors down from a kitchen I worked at, and it quickly became "our" spot for after work cocktails and snacks on Fridays. There's a reason it was named Reader's Choice for Best Vietnamese Food by Seattle Magazine (there are 45 restaurants in Seattle with "pho" in their names, let alone the other Vietnamese spots, so this is a feat). The ability to get pho at four in the morning is a gift, one of the beautiful things about the Emerald City. Seattle spends so much of the year under ominous gray skies with the seabreezes whipping through the skycrapers and turning into a fierce, haunting wind. Hunching over a bowl of steaming broth, layered with flavors of lemongrass and ginger, slurping hot noodles, is possibly the best way to fend off the chill. And then you can go to bed, wake up, and get congee for breakfast just a few hours later. Ba Bar labels themselves "street food," but it's important to note that street food in southeast Asia isn't the same as grabbing a hot dog from the corner cart here in America. Street food here is usually defined as cheap stuff that's easily portable, but in Asia, the term refers to small shops and carts making simple foods the right way -- and often it's the best food you'll find in the area. It's not always portable, but you'll know it's good when there's a crowd lined up, slurping noodles -- on the side of the street, hence the name. It is simple, casual, fun, and absolutely delicious. Think grandma's recipes eaten on a stool in the middle of a crowded square with traffic whizzing past. Sibling restaurateur duo Sophie and Eric Banh grew up together in Saigon, where they learned the recipes used as the basis for Ba Bar's menu. "Ba" is Vietnamese for father, and they used the name to honor their dad, who they say inspired them. They're also the founders of Seattle favorites Monsoon and Seven Beef Steak House & Bar. One of my friends moved to California a few months ago, and we still text each other about Ba Bar from time to time. We went to lunch together and each got the spicy pork belly with banh hoi broken rice, lemongrass, chili, shrimp sauce, and nuoc cham. I'm a huge sucker for pork belly, and theirs is sweet and spicy, and perfectly tender and juicy. The lunch menu also has dumplings, congee, rotisserie duck, and of course, pho. You can get cheap pho almost anywhere in town, but you can't get pho with local brisket and oxtail, broth that cooks for days, duck confit, and slow-roasted brisket anywhere. And so the pho at Ba Bar is twice the price of a lot of places in town, but they're confident in their flavors and proudly proclaim that "life is too short for $5 pho." The vermicelli bowls were also reportedly a favorite of Padma Lakshmi while Top Chef Seattle was being filmed around town. A quick favorite among our group was their housemade elixir, Tian Chi, with vodka or rum. It has ashwaganda, gotu, shisandra berry, kava kava, and gotu soda. I've spent happy hours smiling from ear to ear and having deep conversations about life over perfect mai tais in the dim light from the bar dominating the middle of the room. Friends and I have had special cocktails crafted just for us by the bartenders, and late night shots to toast promotions and friendships. And every time, we shared a plate of the Saigon Chicken Wings. Every time. They're addictive, and all of us are in love with them. When we first started going to Ba Bar, we ordered two plates and split them while we sipped our cocktails. After a few visits, we quit asking each other if we wanted to go get drinks on Friday, and switched to asking if we were going to get wings on Friday. The menu describes them as a caramel sauce with rice vinegar, nuoc cham, garlic, and birds eye chili. They are a mouthwatering combination of sweetness, a whisper of spice from the chili, tang, tenderness, and satisfying crunch. Do yourself a favor and try them. The Xiu Mai -- local grass-fed beef Vietnamese meatballs in tomato sauce with jalapeno, lemongrass, and crusty French baguette -- is also a favorite. We shared it too, but word to the wise: finish it fast. The longer we let it sit, the spicier it got as the jalapenos steeped in the thin sauce. I started to get beads of sweat on my nose as we got to the bottom of the bowl, but I kept dipping my bread in anyway. There's also a tempting range of fresh French pastries -- a reminder of the French Imperialist influence on Vietnamese cuisine -- made fresh daily and displayed in glass counters by the door to tempt you. Croissants, cinnamon rolls, espresso, pate chaud, and multi-colored macarons. You can also take housemade jams and marmalades to go, including maple pumpkin butter. The place lives up to the origins of south Asian street food, encouraging lively conversations over simple, incredible dishes and delicious cocktails. read more

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