Perfect spot for Vietnamese street food and late-night cravings, but a nightmare of a parking lot.
My family was visiting from California last month, and naturally we needed to find somewhere to feed our party of 6 after our Seattle tourist trip. We arrived around 9 PM on a Thursday; I picked this restaurant because we were all craving Vietnamese food, and thankfully La Cà Bar is open late enough that we were still able to spend time eating together over a yummy meal.
We sat downstairs since we were there primarily for the food and wanted to actually sit down and eat together. It was pretty empty when we arrived aside from one table, and we were able to seat ourselves wherever we wanted. They close at midnight, so arriving around 9 PM still gave us plenty of time to order, eat, and enjoy ourselves without feeling rushed.
And then we proceeded to order an unreasonable amount of food.
Everything we tried was delicious. The spring rolls were definitely superb (especially when dipped in the sauce), and I highly recommend getting a few for the table because apparently my family and I devoured them ASAP while waiting for our main course.
I had to get the Bánh Xèo, because I have absolutely no self-control when I see it on a menu. The crepe was savory, filling, and delicious.
Since it was cold that night, I also ordered Bún Bò Huế, because apparently being cold means I need to consume an entire bowl of spicy soup. I personally missed the classic cubes of pork blood that I usually expect in Bún Bò Huế, but it was still flavorful and satisfying without them.
I also noticed the food here leans more toward Northern Vietnamese-style cuisine, but everything we had was still really tasty. I somehow managed to finish most of my food despite ordering enough to feed a second family.
My family enjoyed their meals too. My son got a bánh mì without the garnish and was impressed by how huge and satisfying it was. Teenagers can be difficult to impress, so when the teenager says the bánh mì is huge and good, I listen.
Our server was also really nice and friendly, which made the whole experience even better.
Now, parking...
Oh, sweet Jesus.
The parking lot is TIGHT. The surrounding streets aren't particularly spacious either. If you have an SUV like myself, or anything larger, prepare yourself.
I was genuinely relieved when I got back into my car and discovered that my vehicle had survived the evening without acquiring any new battle scars.
But honestly? Worth it.
The best part for me was how nostalgic the food felt. Vietnam is the country where I was born, so getting to sit down with my family and eat Vietnamese street food that reminded me of home was really special. We live far from where I grew up, so finding food that brings back even a little bit of that familiarity means a lot.
And after moving away, I really appreciate those little moments where a meal can transport you somewhere for a couple of hours.
So yes, 5 stars.
Great late-night option, delicious food, friendly service, generous portions, and a menu that scratched the Vietnamese food itch perfectly. read more