One of my favorite places in Madison! It's amazing to see the growth throughout the years that I used to come here in college, post grad, and now my occasional visits. This is a place where I enjoy the appetizers more than the entrees. They have a big menu, so I feel that is where they kind of struggle with a star entree for me. Thai iced tea - too much half and half so couldn't really taste the tea Papaya salad - medium spicy level, had a kick at first but it wasn't present throughout the rest of the salad. Not that flavorful so if you're looking for the sour and strong taste, wouldn't recommend this. Pan fried Pork dumplings - it's fake pork but I can't even tell the difference! The sauce is great and not super salty. Egg roll with spring roll - unique item but didn't stand out. Egg roll gave a crunch but not much taste Spring roll - always a solid choice. The sauce is amazing! Umami and perfect amount of salty. Coconut sticky rice - more like a soup/congee texture. It was hot and the coconut rice overpowered the mango so it didn't have a cohesive taste. [[HIGHLIGHT]]2 individual bathrooms.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Parking is free but difficult to find. Would recommend making a reservation. Service was ok, had to look for our waitress a couple of times for more napkins and water refills. read more

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My daughter and I dined at Ha Long Bay after hearing how wonderful it was from a friend. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior is contemporary, airy and pleasant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our server, Mariana, was very enthusiastic and helped us figure out what we might like. I ordered the pineapple ginger specialty and my daughter ordered the stir-fried peanut specialty. She really enjoyed hers. I enjoyed mine as well, but felt there was way too much sauce for my preference-I may ask for less sauce next time. There was a great deal of food and I was able to turn it into two additional leftover meals! read more

Ha Long Bay - Menu - specialties - Vietnamese Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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We moved to WI from California. Saw this vietnamese food place and was excited to try it out. Got to say, it is a bit underwhelming. Food is completely bland, no flavor at all. I ordered the following: 1) basil fried rice ($15) 2) hot and sour soup ($5) 3) broken rice with bbq pork ($19) ** Bonus, free egg rolls The price is ok, but the portion is small. 1) basil fried rice barely had any basil flavor, the broccoli took away any flavor left. The rice is soggy and the bamboo shoot seem like it comes out of a can. 2) hot and sour soup lack has some flavor. Still missing the sour part. Im addition, it is very thick, I think it has too much starch added to it. 3) the broken rice is not made with broken rice. It's made with the same rice as everything else. The bbq pork is drive, again lack seasoning. The fish sauce is so sweet. It's missing the salty part and flavorfulness. I think 3 stars is fair. read more

While in the area we found this place on Yelp for Vientanemse food. The restautent has a modern [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambience is modern and bright.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our servor shared with us it was renovated a year ago and is family owned. We were fortunate to grab the last open table. Service was prompt and friendly. We started with the Fresh Spring Rolls with Pork and Shrimp. The spring rolls were a wonderful mixture of seasoned pork loin and shrimp with cilantro, crisp lettuce, and bean sprouts. We also tried the Mi Xao Dion with Chicken and Hu Tiue. The dishes were very flavorful and large portions. Service was very good and offered recommendations. read more

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Have a reservation! This place is usually busy and there can be a 15-20 minute wait for walk-ins, even in the middle of the afternoon. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The new layout has less seating and more alcohol, so it makes for a longer wait with drinks.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I tried a new dish this time-- the Praram Long Song with Chicken. It was very good with lots of veggies and a peanut sauce on top. We also tried the Lychee-tini with a lychee floating in it. It was not a super strong martini and had a nice refreshing lychee flavor. The Yellow Curry lunch portion and the Pad Thai lunch portion came with veggie soup or cucumber salad. We went with the soups which were a clear soup and some veggies. The menu is smaller than previous, but still pretty good portion size and flavor. read more

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We loved this place! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambience is modern and clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service is prompt and friendly. Food was amazing - we all enjoyed our dishes. Would definitely return. read more

Ha Long Bay - Chicken - Vietnamese Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Ha Long Bay [meaning Descending Dragon] is an outstanding restaurant on the east side of Madison. This is a place you'll keep wanting to return to if only to sample to massive variety of delicious dishes available. They were packed, I think they most always are, and the server were able to keep-up with the load. They've remodeled and it is superbly well-done. Reservations strongly recommended (if not almost required.) Parking can be a challenge, but that's not their fault :) If you go once, you're almost certainly going to become a repeat customer read more

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I feel bad writing this but this was truly the worst Vietnamese food I have ever had in my life. The papaya salad tasted like rotten fish (yes I know the sauce has fish sauce in it, but this was putrid and inedible), the vermicelli bowl tasted like what I could make at home, maybe worse. The noodles weren't cooked properly and the meat was so so dry. No picked daikon or carrot with it either. read more

Went here on a Wednesday around 5:20 and was very impressed that we could get a table right away. In the time we were there, it seems like they start filling up around 5:45/6:00 and there aren't all too many tables. Our waiters were quick to come get our drink orders and appetizer. We got a mango on sticky rice drink and a Thai iced tea, and them ordered the chicken egg rolls. On accident they ended up bringing us the chicken wonton, but once we let them know we ordered the egg rolls, they were quick to fix the mistake and get them out. In all honesty, it was probably a good mistake because now I want to go back to try the wonton. They looked and smelled so good! The drinks were both very tasty and were needed when we both went with a hot spiciness for our main dishes. The mango on sticky rice was a fascinating drink that was delightfully mango forward, sweet, and kind of creamy. For our main meal, we ordered the stir-fried rice noodles with chicken, the Pad Kee Mao with tofu, and tom kha. The soup was good and it had a softer spice level than the other dishes. The chicken dish had less of a sauce feel than anticipated, but you could taste the stir fry process, giving it a comforting flavor. The tofu dish conversely had a lot of sauce and a good sweetness to go with the hot spiciness. As mentioned, we got both dishes at a hot spice level and it did build a little. It wasn't like a spice on your tongue heat, but moreso a spice in your throat and warms your body. Both dishes also held up well as leftovers. Overall, all of the food and drinks were pretty tasty and we want to come back to try more. Our servers were also pretty prompt and friendly. It was also great to see the front of house helping out the servers by boxing up food when they could see they were very busy. This seemed like a sign of a well-run restaurant. The only thing that would make us think twice about eating in again would be the noise level in the restaurant when it's full. We'd definitely get takeout though. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]We ate here on a Friday night and it was packed. It is a smaller space with lots of tables so it was pretty loud.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We were seated after five minutes, but we did have a reservation. Our server was friendly and speedy. We started with the crab rangoons. They were perfectly crispy and had a generous amount of filling. They put white onions in theirs which definitely added extra flavor. For our mains, we got B4: Bun Cha Gio and VR1: Com Chien. I've never had Bun cha (Vietnamese rice vermicelli salad) before, but it didn't have much flavor, so I'd probably get something else next time. The Com Chien (fried rice), was really flavorful and a generous portion. read more

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We used to come to Ha Long Bay religiously and were sad when they closed to update the interior. The owners sold to their nieces and they re-did the interior to be much more modern. We miss the neighborhood feel of the old place however it is aesthetically gorgeous and well decorated. Had we not been to the old Ha Long Bay we wouldn't have said anything about it. The food here is always spectacular and I am pleased that even with new owners it continues to be the same recipes. I've order the Pad Thai and it was delicious. This time I got Laab and my companions got Curry and Drunken Noodles. Everything was delicious! We also got the Curry Puffs which are always a favorite. Our server wasn't super personable and we could tell he didn't want to be there. However I witnessed other servers being attentive and charming, so will not be deducting a point for one mediocre server. All in all, we are pleased our Ha Long Bay has maintained and I hope Madison continues to show up for this amazing restaurant. read more

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The Thursday night wait was about 15 minutes. I hadn't been to Ha Long Bay before, so I was excited! The chicken satay appetizer was mid though, the chicken didn't have a lot of flavor and it really needed the sauce. The wonton egg noodle soup was soooo good. The service was decent, they package your leftovers for you! [[HIGHLIGHT]]I do wish the decor felt more... cozy. The space had a lot of neutrals but zero decor on the wall :/ would have loved to see more personality around the restaurant![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Will definitely be back though read more

Ha Long Bay - AP15. Chicken Satay (GF) (4) - Vietnamese Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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It's been a long time coming, but I finally made it to Ha Long Bay. It was pretty busy for a Sunday night but my gf and I were seated almost immediately. We started off with the fresh spring rolls which were very yummy. I usually prefer a spicy peanut sauce but this sauce was perfect. I ordered the shrimp pad thai which was a very large and filling portion. My gf ordered the deluxe pho and she said it was good but not the best she has had. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Also, i'm assuming this a popular first date spot as we were sandwiched in between two.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Overall, the food was very solid for the service and the price point. I will definitely be back to explore more of the menu! read more

Still a 5 star review. This was my 1st time back since Ha Long Bay re-opened. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance and esthetics are improved. The dining room feels less chaotic.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]There is a nice little bar with I think 6 seats.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The menu still has all my beloved favorites, including the pan-fried dumplings. New... thy are now available with "impossible pork" and these were outstanding. The squash curry is still outstanding. My companion had the Pad Thai and said it was one of the best renditions he's ever had. New: They have online ordering and now take reservations. This is a huge plus. I was fortunate enough to chat with one of the "Sisters"... second generation owners. She was very charming and thanked me cod coming back... and I'll be back. read more

Ha Long Bay - Vietnamese Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Ha Long Bay has been a go-to spot for my family for a while now! Shout out to Unc for putting us on. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Then I ended up going to college in Madison and this spot provides so much comfort during the cold dreary winters.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I stopped in again this summer and the place had bern renovated with several modern touches without losing that comforting vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They have an awesome mix of Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. You can really just order anything and it WILL be delicious! I always get an order of the pork and shrimp spring rolls. The Pho Dac Biet is always amazing. On my most recent visit I ordered the Thit Bo Tom Nuong and it did not disappoint. My wife and son ordered the Pad See Ew. Whether you're a Madison native or just visiting, Ha Long Bay is a must! Tell em Jordan sent you. read more

I went to this restaurant with my cousins and we had a blast! We went on a Sunday night and it was packed! It was over an hour wait but it was worth every minute. Our server was very nice and helpful with the menu. We got multiple appetizers to share as well as entree's and the portions were great. It was very authentic food. All the tables were full, the bar seats were all taken, and there was a long line for takeout. A very popular spot! I got the Pad Se Ew and it was delicious! read more

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Ha Long Bay in Madison is finally open again! They've kept the same menu but have freshened up the decor, it's now brighter and more inviting. Prices have increased which is totally understandable. It's still affordable and delicious. Waiter stated the noodles are homemade now, which is nice! But I really do miss who crispy the old ones used to get, the ones for the Par Lad Nar. All in all, so happy they are back! read more

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So happy Ha Long Bay finally reopened. The remodel really refreshed the space. I was worried the food was not going to be as good as before but happy to find that it is still good. Ha Long Bay is one our favorite restaurants in Madison. read more

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-yellow curry- burnt beef larp- very low quality -new redesign-too fancy for willy st and caused all tge prices to go super high read more

The interior is so pretty! Our server was very friendly and enthusiastic. I do like the food. The shrimp was actually deveined and clean. Their bean sprouts had better days though. I had pho here and their jalapeños are super spicy so add with caution. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Very pretty restaurant[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] but the food was just okay. I ordered the tom kha noodle soup and was not a fan. It was a little too acidic and the pho noodles were not fully cooked. read more

This was my first time at Ha Long Bay! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior was absolutely upscale and classy. The accents of gold really make the place feel warm and welcoming.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We ate at the bar due to the wait time and loved our experience! It was fun to watch the bartender make these yummy and pretty looking drinks. The food was great! It was my first time having pho and it was yummy. :) my fiancé says that the Pad Thai is the best in town! read more

Ha Long Bay - TN1. Pad Thai & PH7. Pho Tai Nam, Bo Vien - Vietnamese Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

First I have to give a shout out to our server Cole. Nicely done. We each had a specialty drink - loves the whiskey pho! Apps were good and servings were plentiful. The red curry panamg with shrimp was wonderful and the most unique dish I've had was the LS7 - Nem khao Tod. What a great dish recommended by Cole. Oh and the ambiance was clean bright and smooth tunes! read more

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Mariana at Ha Long Bay was an excellent server and hostess -- warm, attentive, and made our family dinner feel special. We were headed out of town and met family here for a break from the usual Wisconsin fried fare, and it was absolutely worth it. The food was fantastic and the service top-notch. Having lived in Southeast Asia for a decade and grown up in Seattle, I'm not easily impressed when it comes to Asian cuisine -- but Ha Long Bay exceeded expectations. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town! read more

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Ha Long Bay This restaurant is om the corner with lots of potential s but at the moment the restaurant vibe is confusing. It cannot decide if it wants to be a Vietnamese family restaurant or an after hour Thai bar for the thirty-somethings to grab a drink and hookup or a classy white tablecloth for couples. The place gets a lot of natural sunlights from the large windows, this I loved. The menu is extensive with both basic Thai and Vietnamese dishes. I heard several bad reviews from families so I decided to stop in. I brought a few friends along. I ordered a hot papaya salad, crab meat cream cheese wontons, and a hot chicken green curry, and a grilled pork rice platter. The rest of my group ordered Vietnamese pho. The wontons were good but no crab meats, not even a trace or a hint of it. The papaya salad was almost perfection, missing crab paste and padaek and the "hot" chili. The "hot" chicken green curry had four thinly sliced chicken meat and plenty of veggies, but again no "hot" chili. Nothing. Nada! The dish had that perfect balance of coconut cream and green curry paste aromatics and sweetness. But no heat. It could have been perfection with some heat. The dish is enough to share among two people. The grilled pork rice platter is typical but good enough for a second visit because you know you'll get what you ordered. I cannot personally say anything about the pho except the quantity reflects the price. Everyone who had pho said the broth tastes like beef bullion powder in hot water, watered down. The noodles were too skinny, stringy. If you're a pho person you'll have to ask for the side sauces: hoisin and sriracha and garlic chili and fish sauces. Each came in a tiny sauce bowl. We had to ask multiple times for more. Our server was patient and professional and attentive. However, a well dressed woman who wore a lot of makeup, came to take away our plates. She had these long chest length hair and when she reached over, the tips of her hair dragged over the food we were waiting to be boxed up. Don't know who she was, maybe management trying to help. Yeah looking beautiful was nice but no thank you, don't want your dyed hair in my leftovers. The dishes this restaurant serve is for non-Asian customers. If you're are Asian or you know your heat level and have high expectation for authentic Thai and Vietnamese food especially pho, you will be disappointed. I really wanted this place to be my regular or a place I'm proud to take my friends to when they come to town. At the moment, it's not. I'll try again next spring, hopefully this place will get their shiat together by tgen. There is room for improvement. I suggest the followings: 1. Make a clear decision on what vibe and or customer base you're serving. 2. Refinishing the menu. It's not about quantity. It's about quality. Serve three great dishes that people will drive five hours to eat it, twice a month. Be that restaurant. 3. Don't leave out utensils on the tables. Yeah it conveys fancy dining but the thin paper napkins kill that notion upon sitting down. read more

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I really like Ha Long Bay. Menu has a nice variety of entrees and the food always comes out great. I've been several times and will certainly be back. [[HIGHLIGHT]]One suggestion I think would make a huge impact on the dining experience would be to add some decorative sound dampeners. Quiet the place down with something that looks interesting (hang from the ceiling?) to catch the sound.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It's not crazy loud, but it would be a nice addition. read more

Hạ Long Bay Restaurant is a true gem for anyone craving authentic and flavorful Southeast Asian cuisine. The environment inside is calm, peaceful, and has an earthy, relaxed vibe that makes you feel instantly at ease. It's a great spot whether you're dining solo, on a date, or with friends. The food was absolutely delicious. Highly recommend the yellow curry -- rich, creamy, and perfectly spiced -- and the beef pho, which had a deep, savory broth and tender slices of beef. You can tell they put care into every dish. If you're looking for a warm, welcoming place with standout flavors and a serene atmosphere, Hạ Long Bay won't disappoint. read more

Good food and service. We walked in and got a table right away but I would recommend making a reservation even at non peak hours. We had imitation crab wontons (excellent) and spring rolls (just ok) . For entrees we had pad kee mao and bun tom nuong cha gio. Overall not the best Asian food I have had but pretty decent. read more

renovations look great!! loved the decor and all of their cups/plates. we thought the food was pretty good, i liked that the pho wasn't too salty but i think it could have had a bit more flavor. the drinks were great too :) read more

Ha Long Bay - Vietnamese Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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We are from Milwaukee area and we were visiting. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This place deserves a five star for food quality, variety, authenticity, service and ambience.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Jackpot. I honestly thought the prices should have been higher compared to similar restaurants we go to in Milwaukee. I would love to come back and try more dishes as we could only try so many things in 1 visit. Madison, you have a gem. read more

Stopped in at around 5 on a Friday for the first time after its reopening. It was starting to get busy but we were able to get a table right away. We got the table right at the window and due to the sun and hot weather, it was unfortunately an uncomfortable dining experience. The hostess did ask if the window seat would be okay for us but we didn't realize how hot it would be. I think that some blinds or curtains would be a good idea as it was difficult to enjoy our meal. Aside from that, service and food was good. We ordered the crab wontons, papaya salad, fried large rice noodles, and nem khao tod. Crab wontons were crispy and tasty. Don't expect there to be much crab when ordering. It's still good and I would order it again. Highly recommend the nem khao tod. It was my first time trying it here and I'd say it was the best thing I've had at HLB. It was crispy, aromatic, and flavorful. I've had the fried large rice noodle at Little Palace and it is another favorite of mine. Most of the noodles were completely submerged in the sauce this time which took away from the crispy noodles. And finally the papaya salad was okay. It was refreshing but seemed to be seasoned mainly with lime and not much fish sauce. Spice levels were not very consistent. The large fried noodles get pretty spicy so a medium was perfect. We got the papaya salad and nem khao tod hot, but could've been spicier. Overall, food was good and I'm glad their finally open. read more

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Potatoes are for the Irish, not the Vietnamese. When I pay 18$ for a curry dish, I didn't expect 1/3 of it to be a potato. another third was green beans, and the last third mixed veges. The curry sauce was very good, but I don't think that Viet Food is that much potato, no matter how good the curry is. I ate 2/3 rds of my dish, and forgot the rest. Now, I'll forget the address of HaLong Bay read more

Their food is good and the menu is varied and it's the best around Madison. The service is good and they are usually crowded. The parking is difficult after 4. I didn't eat there last week because of the parking. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance is the normal Thai restaurant look.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Best chicken fried dumplings I have ever had. Love the chicken Pad Thai and the Veggie Curry puffs. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The remodel really classes up the restaurant[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. Love that you can book an online reservation. Best Thai restaurant in the Madison area. Wait staff is very attentive. read more

I've never been a big fan of Ha Long Bay until now. When I moved to Madison two years ago, everyone told me about this place. I went to go try it and I wanted to love it but the overall food and service left a lot to be desired and it was disappointing. I swore off Ha Long Bay and I told myself that I would never go back there. However, they closed for remodeling and they just reopened. I questioned whether I would be interested in giving them another shot, but I ended up going last night. And let me say, they have impressed me for the first time. All of the food I had was absolutely delicious and the service was great. The remodeling definitely brought a new ambiance to the place as it felt more modern. I will definitely be back! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]The recent renovations look wonderful, and the food here is consistently good; unfortunately, the service is not.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Hostess "Mariela" has been rude to not only me, but also to my friends on multiple occasions. She talks down to customers, with a disrespectful and condescending attitude that is quite distressing to be on the receiving end of upon entering the restaurant. Any question- no matter how politely it's asked- is responded to with obvious distaste and a reluctance to even reply. Rather than welcoming hungry customers into the establishment, she actually turns people away from enjoying what would otherwise be a tasty dining experience. After having witnessed multiple instances of "Mariela"'s unprofessionalism and rudeness here, I am sadly no longer a regular customer at Ha Long Bay (as I had been for years); but I do hope that this feedback is received so that necessary improvements can be made. read more

I ordered pad see eew with tofu but unfortunately they brought me the wrong dish (pad thai). I was fine with this and ate it anyways. It was decent, not the best pad thai I've had but not the worst. I also got Thai iced tea which was tasty but probably wouldn't get it again. The waiter was nice, the service was pretty fast and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the atmosphere was pleasant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I would defintely go back because I still want to try the pad see eew! read more

I am so glad they finally reopened! I have loved the food here for years! I love how they redid the interior. The Thai iced tea is the best I've ever had as well. The service is always good but they seem extra considerate since the reopen. read more

Ha Long Bay - Half eaten AP4. Crab Meat Wontons (4) - Vietnamese Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Our adventure to Ha Long Bay, after it was closed on the east side of Madison, for awhile, was not so awesome as it used to be. The food is not the same. It is lacking of substance and flavor. I ordered the dish that I love, pad won sen. It was not the size, or substance that you would have typically received a few years ago. I ordered it with tofu. The tofu was rubbery, and overcooked, and lacking a lot of the vegetables and noodles you would usually receive in this dish. They loaded it with tofu, to the amount that probably was equivalent to a whole container you could buy in a store. My picture reflects after I ate part of it, so not a good representation. But I didn't eat a lot of it, because my husband ordered three appetizers. However, there were very little vegetables in the dish. I felt like I was just eating rice noodles and tofu. The noodles were very dark, and not so much sauce left to flavor anything else. It was rather dry. My husband ordered the same dish, but added extra meat. His was more soupy, but he did order it extra spicy, and that didn't happen. Plus the amount of meat he added resulted in not a lot of meat, and a big waste of money. They also don't place any extra spicy concoctions on the table, anymore, so you can't add some of that chili paste to your meal. It does feel more open and free, however, and the plates they place the meals in, are rather lovely. While they did remodel with newer tables and chairs, which was nice, there is no decor throughout the restaurant. The painting is shoddy, at best. There is no good vibe going on here. Also, I got a glare from a staff member, that probably overheard our conversation at our table, that we were rather disappointed. While you used to have to wait for a long time to get seated, there was no long lines on the day we visited. Sometimes, new ownership needs to realize, that you need to stick with the food that brings customers into your establishment, and not change things up. Honestly, and sadly, it will probably be our last visit to this establishment. read more

Ha Long Bay - Vietnamese Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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This place is almost always busy. Avoid going here for dinner or risk waiting for a long time. I once tried to order take out dinner, and the time to prepare was 90 minutes. So decided to not do it. I took out lunch from here on a week end. I went pretty early. The place was almost full. Squash curry was excellent. I didn't know squash curry tasted this good. It had a silky smooth texture and a moderate flavor punch. Mok pa was another surprise item which tasted really good. It is fish cooked in leaf, and it has strong fish taste. But still really flavorful. I loved it. Pad Kee Mao drunken noodles was good. It was flavorful. Blueberry rangoon and thai iced tea were good as well. read more

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