The food and service here is unmatched! Definitely good for a date night or a more upscale night out. I would highly recommend the drunken chicken and the red plate if you want variety ! read more

Monsoon Bellevue - Drunken Chicken Red Platter - Vietnamese Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Avoid this place. It's especially disappointing because it presents itself as an Asian fusion restaurant, yet our experience felt disrespectful and hostile. We came in with our kids expecting a pleasant family dinner. After we had already been seated for about 15 minutes and placed our order, staff suddenly objected to the Fiji water bottle we brought for our children. What made the situation worse was the inconsistent explanations from staff. One employee claimed outside bottled water was prohibited due to "state policy," while another dismissively said it was simply his own "policy." Instead of calmly offering a reasonable alternative for families with kids, the interaction escalated unnecessarily. The staff began yelling in front of our children, removed the food we had already ordered from our table, and told us to leave. Most upsetting of all, racist and anti-Asian remarks were made during the confrontation. No customer should be treated this way. Our experience felt discriminatory, disrespectful, and completely lacking in basic decency and professionalism. read more

Loyal Customer, $800+ Spent -- Birthday Celebration Handled Poorly I visited Monsoon Bellevue for my birthday with a group of 12. I've been here many times over the years for birthdays and group dinners, and until this visit, I had never experienced anything like this. We called ahead and were told our party size and the fact that this was a birthday celebration were fine. Based on past experiences, Monsoon has typically offered a small birthday dessert or acknowledgment, so we came in expecting a normal, welcoming experience. Our group spent over $800 during this visit. While the food was okay, the service was extremely poor. Our server, John, was curt and unfriendly from the start, and there was no acknowledgment of the birthday at all, which was already a noticeable departure from how previous celebrations have been handled here. The situation escalated at the end of the meal. After only about 45 minutes, just as we brought out two birthday cakes and were preparing to cut them, we were abruptly told we had to leave because we had "been there too long." While saying this, the server pointed to his watch, clearly indicating that our presence was an inconvenience. He also stated that other parties were waiting for our table. However, there was no one waiting in the lobby or outside, and multiple tables were visibly empty at the time. This made the explanation feel inconsistent with what was actually happening in the restaurant. When we spoke with the manager, he said there had been a "miscommunication." In reality, it appeared there was no communication at all between management and the server. The manager had previously indicated everything would be fine, yet the server acted as though none of that had been discussed. When pressed, the manager said there was nothing he could do, offering no resolution or accountability. The overall experience felt rushed, dismissive, and unwelcoming, as though we were not wanted there. I can't speak to the reason for that, but the impact was clear. Everyone at the table felt the same way -- extremely disappointed -- and every one of us agreed we will not be returning. Given my long history with this restaurant, this was especially upsetting. I would strongly caution anyone planning a birthday, celebration, or group dinner to reconsider this location. read more

My best friend picked this restaurant for lunch and while I was excited to try it, I was super disappointed in the flavours and textures of the food we tried. I hated the vegetables in the fried rice, I thought it ruined the texture and made it annoying to eat when I tried to pick out some of the greens. I didn't love the chicken either, the flavour was just one I didn't like. Our server was friendly and the service was fast and efficient. We got our food to the table fairly quickly and had a good lunch other than the taste of the food. But that's just my personal preference. read more

Monsoon Bellevue - Vietnamese Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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My friend took me here as part of an early birthday celebration on a Friday noon around 12pm. This is a Vietnamese restaurant located around a smaller section of downtown Bellevue and not too far from Downtown Bellevue Park. It's also nearly opposite Matcha Magic and not far from Ginza as well. For it being Bellevue, the interior really does live up to that, as I saw fancy lighting and utensils around, and we were seated pretty quickly despite the bustling inside where most tables were filled. The menu consists of standard Vietnamese cuisine dishes, along with some other things I didn't expect, more on that later. For me, I got the combination vermicelli noodle, which is very standard in terms of regular bun but was big and very satisfying overall. There could have been a lot more nuoc cham, grilled prawns or maybe another egg roll or three to justify the price tag of $20 before tax, though. Flavor profile overall is definitely on par with bun but I felt not every ingredient - the noodles in particular - were fresh. But the lemongrass chicken definitely made up for that with its grilled and fresh aroma. My friend got drunken chicken classic lunch bowl, something I don't expect to see in such a restaurant but the name was very tempting. Though I do have to ask: why was the chicken coated like it usually is for General Tso's chicken? He said it wasn't as satisfying as it should be, and there could have been a lot more on his plate than what was presented. Not a bad experience here in general though prices are relatively high and nothing really stood out to me overall. Service was solid all around, with our server refilling our water when needed and asking how we were doing. Great pre-birthday meal, though I don't really see myself coming back here. read more

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Good food but not providing rice with a $24 catfish lunch meal is criminal. Wish that Bellevue had more inclusive family dining... not their fault, tho. read more

Amazing food, service and experience! Soft music playing and a chill ambiance. A good place to catch up with friends, going a date, or grab a nice lunch/dinner. My friends and I got the Luc Lac. The beef is sooo tender and flavorful with the juices and onions. Highly recommend getting this dish. It doesn't come with rice, so make sure you order some or eat the beef on its own as I did. Was mouthwateringly delicious! We also got the noodles which were pretty bland in my opinion. Not worth getting. The eggplant dish was surprisingly amazing! I will definitely be ordering this again. All 3 dishes were plentiful and filling for 3 gals. Place is kind of spendy so not an eat everyday at kind of place but once in a while. Will be back here again! read more

Monsoon Bellevue - Luc Lac Beef Tenderloin, Garlic Noodles, Asian Eggplant - Vietnamese Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Having been to both the Seattle and Bellevue locations, I think the Bellevue location is better for ambiance, and Seattle for food and service. Maybe it was a slow early-dinner crowd and the staff was warming up, but the staff at the Bellevue location the day I dined couldn't have been less bothered to check in, and wait times for ordering and food were very long. There was less catfish and much more rice in the Bellevue version of the dish than the Seattle one, and it was difficult to eat out of a bowl with a very narrow base read more

Monsoon Bellevue - Catfish Claypot - Vietnamese Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Amazing food and ambiance, and my only complaint is the small portion relative to the high price My favorite dishes were the catfish clay pot and the savory banana cake (must try!) read more

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Free parking on the side or in the front on the Main Street. It is recommended that you make reservations even for lunch. They have bar seating and two seating sections. Comfortable booths with intricate lighting fixtures near the bar. We ordered the Asian Pear Salad which was refreshing and cold. The grilled pork belly with pickle radish was flavored so well and dangerously delicious. For lunch we ordered from the lunch bowl portion and got the drunken chicken rice bowl which had huge pieces and tasted delicious. read more

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Decent spot for an elevated date night dinner! My partner and I sat at the bar top and were provided excellent customer service by our bar tender. I am giving Monsoon 3/5 stars because although the interior was well decorated, very clean, and had amazing service the food and drinks did fall short. For your value, dinner for two that included two drinks came in at around $115. We ordered the Catfish, noodles, and the eggplant stir fry. Although the catfish was seasoned well, nothing blew our mind as the catfish portions were on the smaller side. The noodles lacked color and fell short of expectations: missing fish sauce and acidity. The eggplant was good and our group had no complaints on it. Monsoon provided a good date night experience overall! read more

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Came for the Pho, which was OK. Expensive, but you are definitely paying for the ambience and the location. Located in Downtown Bellevue, Monsoon is an upscale restaurant specializing in Vietnamese cuisine. Also It has a sister restaurant in the Capitol Hill area of Seattle, which celebrated 25 years last year. This location opened in 2008. I came during lunch time on a Monday, and even though they have a weekday lunch menu, I was focused on getting their Pho. There are 3 variations: eye of round and brisket; mushroom and onions; combo combining the meat and mushrooms. I chose the combo ($18) and it came out soon after. There were two big positives: The accompaniments (bean sprouts, Thai basil, and jalapeno) were very fresh. The broth flavor was very good, not oily at all, with a hearty clean flavor of beef with just the right amount of sweetness. But it just wasn't served at the right temperature, as if it had been taken home to cool down. The added basil didn't curl because the soup just wasn't hot enough. The choice of meats was limited to the eye of round and brisket, with the former supposed to be served rare. This was the first time I've had Pho with mushrooms, and now I know not to add it to Pho in the future, but glad I tried it. Tripe, tendon, and beef balls with a lot hotter broth would have really elevated this dish, but understand why it is not offered since this is not really a Pho restaurant. Service was OK. As it was bit busy, it required a bit of patience in the process. I did really like that each table was offered a carafe of tap water to serve themselves. And it is beautiful inside, with an impressive bar with every type of liquor I could think of. Pretty sure they would be able to make any cocktail one would want. read more

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TLDR: overpriced for what you get, wouldn't go again Went in the evening on a weekend with a reservation. It's on Main St so find parking somewhere else before you get here. Lights inside are dim for the bar/lounge ambiance. The service was pretty slow. Got the Lemongrass Chicken Claypot ($25), Red Platter ($34), and a large white rice ($7) to share in a party of 3. The chicken claypot was a tiny portion and tasted ok but not great. The red platter is even worse, with only 2 small pieces of each protein. A lot of the items in the platter lacked flavor and just tasted salty. read more

Monsoon Bellevue - Lemongrass Chicken Claypot ($25) - Vietnamese Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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Went here for a late dinner since they are open until 11pm on Friday. It took about 15 mins to get seated, not sure what took long since yes, it was busy but there were tables available. The host was also available so again, not sure of the delay. Once we were seated, water was provided and our waiter was super attentive. I ordered the Lemongrass Tofu with a side of rice. The food was good, nothing to write home about. Almost $19 dollars (18.50) for my entree, rice not included seems a bit expensive but I guess we were Bellevue after all. I think there are better Thai places in Bellevue so I don't think I'll be back. read more

Monsoon Bellevue - Menu. - Vietnamese Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Service was good. We were a large party and the restaurant was very accommodating for us. Ordered the pork belly, ribs, albacore and tofu fresh rolls, papaya salad, and pear salad as appetizers. The pork belly and spare ribs bad good flavoring. These all tasted good and fresh. For the main I ordered the drunken chicken. This was just okay. The chicken wasn't that crispy. The sauce flavor was a bit off. Not sure what they were going for. read more

Monsoon Bellevue - Vietnamese Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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One of our favorite spots! Appetizers are great and always need to order the Drunken Chicken!

We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Monsoon. The restaurant was booked up for walk-ins this Saturday evening, but we were able to get a spot at the bar right away. We started off with the Saigon Nog, which was rich and delicious. My husband and I split the Lemongrass Tofu and the Asian Eggplant and loved both dishes! Each plate had lots of unique flavors, perfect seasoning, and I may not be able to resist getting them again when I return. The bartender was awesome, knowledgeable and fun. Our food came out promptly, which was great because we had a short turnaround before our next event. All in all, a wonderful experience! read more

This restaurant had a very nice interior. Excellent for photos. Portions are decent and great for sharing. They are known for their catfish, and it was a good dish, but not anything special. Their wheat noodles were filling and had a good taste to them. The cocktails were excellent and they had a wide selection of their own signature cocktails. Service was on top of it and they were very attentive! It is pricey, so I don't see this becoming a regular option for me. read more

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Their grilled tofu is just right on point! I tried the green platter, and the only thing I wished was "more tofu". It was a busy Friday night so we just sat at the bar. The service was quite slow, I guessed maybe they were just busy. Definitely be back to try more. read more

Monsoon Bellevue - Red platter - Vietnamese Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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We walked in for Sunday dinner at about 6pm and were seated right away. We didn't have a waiter come by until maybe 10 minutes after we sat down. We ordered the red platter, pork chops, and clams. Food came out quick. I thought the pork chops could have used a bit more seasoning. The platter was good to share amongst our kids. The restaurant is quite dim so we couldn't make out much of our surroundings. read more

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[Food] - it was great but portion is small compared to the price. Also the entrees do not come with rice, you need to order as extra but server doesnt tell you that. [Service] - it was okay. Nothing out of the ordinary. [Ambiance] - the place looks nice and cozy. Seems like a good place for a date. [Others] - Parking is absolutely horrible. Also there is a mandatory tip for a group which is fine/expected, but the server doesnt clarify it when you pay. I had to ask if it's included or if i need to pay tip. Her response was "yes its included but feel free to hit No Tip"... As if it was suggested I tip again? They need to train their servers better. read more

Monsoon Bellevue - Vietnamese Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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We're regulars at Monsoon Bellevue and it continues to be one of our favorite spots. The service is always excellent -- staff are professional, warm, and attentive. The food is consistently fresh and beautifully prepared, with great care given to food sensitivities. We really appreciate the many options for gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan diners -- it's clear they take dietary needs seriously. Weekend evenings can get very busy, and service understandably slows a bit, but it's always worth the wait. No complaints here -- the quality of the experience shines through every time. The ambiance is stylish and inviting. It does get a little louder on weekend nights, but that's part of the vibrant energy of the place. Overall, Monsoon Bellevue delivers an outstanding dining experience -- delicious food, thoughtful service, and a great atmosphere. Highly recommend. read more

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Pricy, and not good service. I went there twice. The first time got lunch special, but it's pricey for a pho. Second time I went there, I sit there for more than 10 minutes after being seated, but there is No water, no hello, no staff came, no menu. Even there were staff walking around us, giving dishes to the next tables, and they didn't even bother to ask us. So I had to leave. Will never come back to this place even it's just 1 minute walk. read more

Monsoon Bellevue - Vietnamese Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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This place was recommended so we had to try it. Was able to grab a couple of seats mid-day with no reservations. Had the Combination Bowl, which gives you lemon grass chicken, beef skewer, grilled prawn, and an imperial roll. If you're unsure what to get, the combo lets you try them all. The bowl was plenty of food for one person and depending on how hungry you are, you could have leftovers. Also tried the Drunken Chicken appetizer because I had to try it. Chicken was cooked perfect, and combined with the crispy and the sauce, I thought it was great. My guest said it was on the sweeter side for them, so heads up if that's a deciding factor for you. I thought the sour balanced it nice, but the sweet is there. We sat in the bar area and got a table. Lots of natural light comes in through windows and there's good people watching out to the street. read more

Monsoon Bellevue - Appetizer Drunken Chicken - Vietnamese Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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Nice place with good Vietnamese food options. The good is their Pho options that are only served during lunch times and there is parking in the back. The not-so good: They only split bills two ways only for large party gatherings. Reservations up to 4 people is free and there's an up-charge if you bring a birthday cake. Staff is friendly and the place is pretty good since there's also a bar! read more

Monsoon Bellevue - Combo pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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One of my favorite Vietnamese spots! We went for lunch for a little Sunday Funday, and wow -- the pho broth was perfection, and the drunken chicken bánh mì... holyyyyyy goodness. I totally forgot to film one of the dishes, but I'll include it below! Such a great spot for fun drinks and fantastic food, whether you're coming for lunch or dinner! Everything we got with ratings: 1. Bloody Alternative (8/10) -- one of the most interesting Bloody Mary's I've ever had, it had reduced pho broth in it! 2. Imperial Rolls (9/10) -- love these so much, love how they serve it with lettuce and noodles to make a little wrap situation! 3. Bò Lá Lốt (8/10) -- not filmed but always a go-to item, it's marinated flank steak wrapped in la lot leaves, fire! 4. Got this Gin drink with basil seeds in it but forgot the name (5/10 -- a little too sweet for me, loved the basil seeds tho) 5. Pho Ha Noi (8.5/10) -- broth was so flavorful and tasty, and love how they serve it with a Chinese doughnut that you dip in the broth 6. Drunken Chicken Bánh mì (9.5/10) -- star of the show, was so saucy and their drunken chicken is AMAZING, so on a bánh mì it just made it even better! read more

Reservations are needed for a Friday night. The reception area is too small and the restaurant had guests waiting at the door (blocking it) for seating. Our server was attentive and courses were timed nicely and brought to the table as prepared, which allowed us to share and enjoy each dish. Water was available in a carafe for refills. The Spare Ribs were delicious, and the damp washcloths were appreciated! We also had the Duck Confit, the Watermelon Salad, Vegetable Fried Rice, and the Drunken Chicken. The chicken was awkward to eat due to the size of the pieces, and I had to break it apart using my chopsticks. It was tender and easy to do fortunately. Lighting was sufficient to see my menu and the faces of my party. I don't remember music, which is just as well since the sound level of conversation in the dining room was significant. Parking was difficult due to the location being on Main Street, which has multiple restaurants and retailers. We had to park in an alley behind the restaurant, enter the (clearly marked) door at the back of the building, go up a flight of about 20 stairs, and exit the building to enter the front of the restaurant. This process, paired with the entrance to the restaurant itself, was not especially accessible for those with mobility challenges. There may have been an elevator, but it didn't advertise access to our destination. I would return again, but allow time to drop people off at the door before parking. Star rating reflects difficulty in access and noise. Service and food/beverages were great! read more

Monsoon Bellevue - Vietnamese Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Returned after one year. Shouldn't have. Sad experience. The menu really hasn't changed nor has the wine list nor have the vintages on the wine list. Anyone want to drink a 5 year old Washington white? The wine list is cheap and uninspired. The menu has become boring. The service was unenthusiastic and as warm as a hospital room. The food was ok but can't make up for the awful overall experience. Who wants to waste an evening and almost $200. Not coming back. read more

Big fan of the food! The restaurant certainly seemed upscale, clean. The waitstaff was professional and prompt. There weren't particularly standout experiences or moments, but we were hella thirsty afterwards -- the food might have too much MSG? That or it was just too salty. Here was what we ordered: * Pork Belly: Just an appetizer but my favorite dish nonetheless! Despite the pork belly slices being thin, the pieces were sufficiently juicy and tasty. Just enough fat and not too much. * Catfish Claypot: I'm not normally a big fan of fish, but this claypot hit the mark. Plenty of pepper (my favorite) and I loved the taste. It was a bit *too salty, which I appreciate the rice bowl was for. However, I still wish there was just one fewer glob of salt added. The fish melted, had plenty of flavor, and wasn't dry at all! I would recommend both dishes, and I myself would go back for the pork belly at least. If future Yelp reviews point to less salty dishes, I would certainly come back for the catfish as well. read more

Monsoon Bellevue - Pork Belly - Vietnamese Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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Loved the food, loved the ambience. Service was a little lackluster. Asked for a fork and that took like a lifetime even after a reminder. Really loved drunken chicken. Veg fried rice was so so good, crispy and smoky. Loved the aroma and flavors. Veggie crispy roll was good too. Kind of interesting. read more

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Came here for weekday lunch. We ordered grilled pork belly and yellow curry boar. Unfortunately, my husband got food poisoning from the yellow curry boar. The boar was also pretty pricey as well. Pork belly was tasty. Service was alright nothing bad nothing special. Plenty of free parking in the back garages so that is nice for being downtown. read more

Monsoon Bellevue - Vietnamese Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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Food was solid like 3.5-4/5. Imperial rolls were small but tasted good dipped in the fish sauce and even wrapped in the lettuce. Not sure if it's supposed to be eaten that way. Comes with a bunch of greens and a small pile of vermicelli noodles though. Tenderloin was suuuper tender. I thought it was great. My friend thought it was bland. I disagreed and thought it was good. Onions were delish. The greens and tomatoes were ok. Not sure if that's supposed to be eaten with it. Drunken chicken had such a yummy crispy texture and flavor. That was our favorite. Farmers curry tasted like panaag curry. It was good with lots of vegetables. Order with side of rice. Service was okay. Nothing notable. Except the lady next to us noticed a bug in her meal and he didn't apologize which we found a bit unappetizing and weird. Ambiance is great. Fun atmosphere. read more

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Was visiting Bellevue/Seattle and read all the good reviews so we decided to come and try. We got there before the crowd came so we got a small table near the window. They have bar side and lounge/restaurant. We sat in the lounge side which can accommodate larger groups or families. We ordered the Asian eggplant, Green papaya salad, Claypot clams and Bo La Lot ( marinated flank steak wrapped in la lot leaves ). The flank steak was super tender and went well with the leaves. The leaves had a hint of roasted flavor but didn't take away from the steak. The eggplant was really good with the subtle coconut taste to it. It was done right where the eggplant was soft but still had texture to it. It didn't taste mushy. The claypot clam was interesting as it had sour cream and chives on top. Well at least that's what we thought it was. It was different as it was like pasta sauce with sour cream. The service was excellent. The staff came around to make sure everything was going well, they removed the empty dishes quicklyl and they also provided good recommendations. We will be back to try other dishes. read more

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This was my second visit to Monsoon. Both times have been for a weekend lunch. I usually prefer hole in the wall, family run Vietnamese restaurants but I do appreciate the more upscale and lively atmosphere here. Out server was very friendly and attentive. The Lemongrass chicken was quite flavorful and the portion size just right. We did not order cocktails as I cannot drink during the day! The menu looked inventive and interesting. Next visit will have to be at night! read more

Monsoon Bellevue - Lemongrass Chicken Vermicelli - Vietnamese Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

While in town at the in-laws condo we ended up having dinner at Monsoon's Bellevue location. After we were seated, the service was prompt and helpful. The honey and I ordered the pork belly and duck confit buns and although we enjoyed them, they just didn't stick in my mind as particularly outstanding. The restaurant felt a bit crowded, and the tables a bit squished so taken with the fact they don't have indoor seating, I'm just not that likely to return. read more

The best thing we ate was the duck confit buns. Delicious shredded duck, a nice sauce, and perfect garnishes (especially the pickled onion). However, the drunken chicken was sooooo sweet. And the green beans were barely cooked and pretty crunchy. Mildly flavored I didn't enjoy them. I did love all the wonderful vegetables and brown rice in the vegetable fried rice, but it tasted almost unseasoned. It would be so easy to give it some flavors that would pop. Most disappointing was our service. Our appetizer came before the cocktail, and it was the wrong cocktail. They had to remake it. It would have come sooner, except the waiter stood holding the remade drink, chatting with the bar tender. No urgency here. When the appetizer was served my other asked for a fork. When the entree came he asked for a knife. It never appeared. We finally flagged down another wait person, who brought him the knife. We actually never saw our waiter again until I managed to flag him down to request our check. Overall, a disappointing experience. read more

Monsoon Bellevue - Vietnamese Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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We don't go here as often as we used to because they've been increasing the flavors and salt in their dishes. You need water after each bite. Nevertheless, the food is delicious, but we wish they'd tone it down a bit. We typically get their grilled pork belly, imperial rolls, catfish claypot, and drunken chicken. The portions aren't huge, but you will be full--just don't expect leftovers. There is an air of pretentiousness. The service is efficient but not necessarily warm and inviting, almost as if they are too busy for you? read more

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Wonderfully crafted (and strong) cocktails! Especially loved the whiskey rebellion and even the lemon pearl with the odd basil seeds. The bao buns were so amazing and the fried chicken was perfectly salty and juicy. Great service as well! read more

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Upscale Vietnamese-influenced restaurant in the heart of Downtown Bellevue. I've been here a few times and left feeling full, but not satisfied. It's not the most impressive or authentic Vietnamese food, but great ambiance and service. read more

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Great lunch or dinner spot located in old town Bellevue. Parking can be a challenge but if you're lucky, there's spots on main street and a few parking garages. Customer service service was amazing. Good recommendations. . Been there a few times and I always get Vegan entrees. So far, so good. read more

Monsoon Bellevue - Vegan Curry - Vietnamese Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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