Monsoon absolutely lived up to the hype of its unique Vietnamese meets Pacific Northwest fusion. It's a perfect elevated restaurant that is still casual. We started with a dozen of the shucked oysters, which were perfectly prepared and not overly briny. From there we tried the Bò Lá Lốt and is instantly my new go-to dish whenever I come back. I'd never had it before and now I'm already craving it again. For mains, we ordered the Lemongrass Clay Pot Chicken and the Drunken Chicken. The Lemongrass Chicken had incredible flavor, especially the broth, which was so good it's worth taking home if you don't finish it. The only downside was navigating all the bones. The Drunken Chicken ended up being my favorite main dish. It reminded me of sweet-and-sour chicken, but without the overwhelming sweetness that usually takes over the dish. A quick heads up: definitely make a reservation if you can because this place gets BUSY. We lucked out and snagged the last four seats at the bar. Even with the crowd, the service was friendly, attentive, and the food came out surprisingly fast. Monsoon is one of those places where you immediately start planning what you'll order next time before you've even left the restaurant. read more

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A few colleagues recommended Monsoon to me last year, but I never made it during previous trips. I finally went today and overall, it was a lovely meal. I ordered the catfish claypot, which came highly recommended, and it truly delivered. The flavor was rich, savory, and comforting with a beautiful presentation. My one note: order a small side of jasmine rice. The dish does not come with it, and while the claypot stands strong on its own, the sauce deserves something to soak it up. You will want every last bite. The location is charming, tucked into a quaint neighborhood across from a cozy coffee shop and bookstore. The restaurant itself is spacious with a well stocked bar. One side feels ideal for families and larger groups, while the other side leans more date night or casual drinks. It strikes a nice balance. Pricing runs on the higher side, especially since entrees do not include rice or sides and portions are not particularly large. It is something to keep in mind when ordering. Service was decent and attentive, though I would have appreciated stronger menu knowledge. Simple questions like whether a dish is gluten free or whether it includes rice or vegetables should be easy to answer. A bit more confidence and familiarity would elevate the experience. I also would have appreciated seeing Vietnamese representation at the front of house, given the cuisine. Would I return? Yes. The food is good and the space is inviting. I am just not in a huge rush, as the overall experience did not fully match the quality of the dish itself. read more

Monsoon Seattle - Vietnamese iced coffee - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I had the pleasure of visiting Monsoon Seattle for a friend's birthday celebration during the summer of 2025. Our server for the event was delightful and the selection of appetizers, cocktails, and entrees our group ordered were all scrumptious. As a crab lover, I was particularly impressed with the restaurant's preparation of the Whole Saigon Dungeness Crab that I ordered for my meal. The dish was loaded with garlicky, cheesy, and crabby flavor (sweet, briny, buttery, and rich), and it was a joy to eat. The dining room was packed when we arrived, and the space was tastefully decorated and felt appropriate for the occasion and my friend's demeanor and understated elegance lifestyle. I highly recommend Monsoon Seattle! read more

Monsoon Seattle - Whole Saigon Dungeness Crab - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Another takeout delivery day from Monsoon Seattle located on Capital Hill. This time I chose the Crispy Vegetarian Rolls with Taro, northwest tofu, carrot, and woodear mushroom, the Lemongrass Tofu with vegan crispy Northwest tofu, which includes lemongrass, red peppers, and assorted mushrooms, and the Grilled XO Prawn with Rice Noodle that includes jumbo prawns with house-made XO sauce, wide rice noodles, bean sprouts, and green onions. Even delivered in takeout boxes the food presentation was on point and the taste, delicious. I really love the cuisine creativity from the kitchen at Monsoon and I truly love the Grilled XO Prawns dish! read more

Been to Monsoon several times throughout the years and has been a staple. Came for lunch at Monsoon and shared a couple plates with the group. We ordered the vermicelli bowl combo set, the green beans, sticky rice, and the Bo la lot. The vermicelli combination bowl had perfect amount of protein, came with one shrimp and one imperial roll. Good for sharing or for one serving. The green beans were very saucy, needed some type of carb to balance out the flavors but overall it was good. My favorite was the Bo La lot and the sticky rice! Overall, everything came out hot and fresh to order. Highly recommend! read more

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I love everything about this place the food, the atmosphere, the location... Everything! I met a couple there that I hadn't seen in a long time and everyone had fabulous food. read more

Team gathering dinner with reservation at 6pm , and we were able to get a semi- private room , which fits in about 30 people. Outside sign does not look impressive, the door handle stands out, and insider decorations were complicated and a little bit too much, maybe that is how club looks like. The waiter took our drinks order fast and served us in 5 mins or shorter. The food was pre-ordered, and the cousin is Asian fusion -- vietnam China and India elements mixed naturally. And the tastes were surprisingly great, highly recommitted beef cube, tender and juicy; also recommended the fried rice -- vegetarian or crab meat one. Both were seasoned just right. Meanwhile, highly recommended the garlic sauce asparagus-- I can eat the whole plate by myself, flavorful with very fresh juicy asparagus. I would put five stars on this restaurant considering I don't have to deal with the check. Food wise, recommended. The only thing to be concerned is the parking, very limited spots. read more

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Came back to try the dim sum and was a little bit disappointed in how few vegetarian options there were. The congee is all made with chicken stock and the rice rolls have meat in them premade. The things we did try were tasty though. The server was helpful and we sat on the patio again with our pup and were perfectly dry and comfortable despite the chilly and rainy day. read more

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Food was decent. I wish the ribs had fallen off the bone. Good flavor but nothing out of this world. Service was good despite it being quite busy. Loud environment, would like to try sitting outside if I eat here again. read more

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I'm swept away by Monsoon Seattle! Located in the Stevens neighborhood, near the prominent neighborhood of Capitol Hill, in eastern Seattle, Monsoon specializes in classic Vietnamese comfort food served in a stylish setting. It comes from the Banh siblings, Eric and Sophie, who have quickly become the duo representing the entrepreneurial spirit of the Emerald City with two locations of Monsoon, one in Seattle and one in Bellevue, and three locations of Ba Bar which has a more urban bar atmosphere, the Banhs are known around town as the "Saigon Siblings," which is also the name of their restaurant group as they have brought elevated Vietnamese cuisine to the masses in the Seattle metropolitan area ever since this particular location of Monsoon opened over a quarter century ago. What brought a group of friends and I here on a warm weekday afternoon was that we were in town on business and we were at the nearby Volunteer Park and we were looking for a place to enjoy a nice and quick group lunch for four. The fact that Monsoon also has a happy hour from Mondays through Thursdays was a major draw as we also arrived on a day in which we were eligible for the special pricing, but as we would peruse their menu only a couple of items on their Happy Hour Eats menu our table would be actually interested in dining on upon this visit, as there were a number of smaller items that made perfect for noshing on while drinking at their bar, but not for larger parties that wanted to try more of what they had to offer. Since we arrived at an hour that is considered lunchtime, the lunch menu at Monsoon is separated into categories including Small Plates, Vermicelli Noodles, Classic Lunch Bowls, Banh Mi, Monsoon Pho, Entrées, Vegetables, Side & Additions, in addition to their Happy Hour Eats, Drinks and their regular Cocktail beverage menu. Since I was with colleagues, I decided to order their Honeybush Fizz from their Non-Alcoholic Refreshment menu, which had peach, honeybush tea, lemon, honey and soda. From their Happy Hour Eats menu, their Crispy Imperial Rolls, which featured Carlton Farms pork, white prawns, glass noodle, wood ear mushrooms and nước chấm, which was sold for $2.50 less than what we would normally purchase the dish for, so we were all on board to order this signature menu item. From their regular lunchtime menu, from the Appetizer section, we ordered their Pork Spare Ribs, which were Carlton Farms pork ribs covered in five-spice dry rub, hoisin barbeque sauce, and green onions; their Green Papaya Salad, which was a combination of shredded green papayas topped with grilled prawns, mint, caramelized shallots and ground peanuts; Hamachi Fresh Rolls which was combination of Hamachi, avocado, lettuce and crispy shallots wrapped in spring roll rice paper. And from their Vegetables section of their menu we ordered their Wokked Brussel, which was topped with garlic, shallot, and soy sauce. Our drinks would come out first as they were nicely presented with my nonalcoholic beverage being crisp and refreshing. Of our five entrées, I really enjoyed the Pork Spare Ribs, Green Papaya Salad, and the Hamachi Fresh Rolls in particular as they were all nice in size plate-wise which allowed us to share all of our plates, which helped to keep the conversation going as our culinary adventure would carry on. Our total bill would be about 75 dollars for just our food, with our beverage order additional as well as the gratuity and tax, which in hindsight was rather reasonable overall. Would we come back to Monsoon, in a Vietnam minute as they have lively food served in a robust atmosphere. On weekend days, they serve a Dim Sum brunch with traditional favorites like Shrimp Dumplings and Pork Buns alongside Banh Mi and Pho on their relaxing deck surrounded by lush greenery and string lights only adds to the fun of dining out in the Emerald City. After twenty-five years, the Saigon Siblings still have what it takes to create tasty dishes in a happening setting, and Seattle and its visitors wouldn't have it any other way! read more

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Food was on point, the egg rolls were great, served to my preference with noodles and lettuce. Cat fish was really good, served as an individual serving was really approachable I had the combo platter, an I have to say, never had lemon grass chicken like that, and it was a refreshing surprise! read more

Monsoon Seattle - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Oh my gosh!! Our visit time here today. Everything was off the charts good! We shared a half dungeoness crab cooked in a wok with amazing spices and noodles. The best crab and noodles we have ever had!! The ahi fresh rolls were unique and oh so fresh and good! The drunken chicken also did not disappoint! Thank you to Olympia for great service and guiding us with our choices! We will be back!! read more

We happened in here while killing time waiting for a train back to Portland. Definitely deserves more than the 3.8 stars. We all ordered small plates and enjoyed everything from green beans to prawn curry. read more

These were my favorite items from our meal - I recommend all of them: Pork Spare Ribs Seafood Fried Rice Crispy Imperial Rolls The ambiance is so cute. At night, it's lovely lighting that really compliments the beautiful decor! This is not a "come as you are" restaurant, you should definitely dress up - I thought I'd be overdressed, but I fit right in with the vibe. Definitely recommend for a solo dinner, date night, or really any type of dinner in between haha. Loved it and can't wait to go back to Seattle and visit Monsoon again! read more

Monsoon Seattle - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Modern high end Vietnamese. Good food, drinks and ambiance. This is a good choice for casual dinner as well as a business. I've been here for both. Monsoon always satisfies! read more

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Pretty good fusion Vietnamese food in Seattle! On the pricier side for sure but flavors are there and if you're looking for a cute date night spot, monsoon would do the trick. Got the catfish claypot (ga kho) and portion was on the smaller side but it tasted similar to home cooked catfish :). Fried vegetarian imperial rolls were also good and very crunchy. Curious about their dim sum course so will be back at some point to try that. read more

Monsoon Seattle - Catfish claypot - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Excellent Vietnamese food and they have a great herbal tea that I forgot the name of but was very refreshing. Excellent service as well and very cool / stylish interior environs. Also multiple locations throughout Seattle and Bellevue. Highly recommended! read more

Monsoon Seattle - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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My first time eating at Monsoon and it was great! Friendly staff and the Vietnamese food is healthy and delicious. My friend and I had a Banh mi sandwich so flavorful and it comes with a delicious cup of pho soup broth. The restaurant has lovely art and a great atmosphere. read more

Great modern Vietnamese restaurant in Capitol Hill. We went there as a group and it was super great to get multiple dishes that could be shared. Its definitely very modern - not really traditional Vietnamese which is something to keep in mind. Our waitress was pretty good considering we had a large group, everything came out correct which is nice. read more

Monsoon is what happens when Vietnamese flavors get dressed up for Capitol Hill without losing their soul. The room is modern but warm, all wood and low light, buzzing with energy even on a weeknight. We started with crispy imperial rolls and a green papaya salad -- fresh, sharp, exactly the kind of flavors that wake you up before the mains. The catfish claypot arrived bubbling and caramelized, the sauce clinging to rice in that perfect sweet-savory balance. The lúc lắc shaking beef was tender, deeply seasoned, and easily one of the best versions I've had in Seattle. Cocktails are no afterthought here. My friend's lemongrass gin drink was bright and layered, while the wine list leans smartly toward food-friendly bottles. Service matched the polish of the food -- professional without being stiff, and happy to explain dishes if you're new to Vietnamese dining. Prices reflect the neighborhood, but you feel it in the quality of ingredients, the care in execution, and the way a simple meal turns into a full evening out. Seattle has plenty of pho shops and casual spots. Monsoon is where you go when you want Vietnamese food that feels celebratory. read more

The food was good I recommend the prawn rice noodles. The servers were very nice considering we came in soon before closing. And the restaurant was very cute inside. read more

I came here around 12 and was greeted by a really friendly server, who asked us if we were all 21+ because I think the restaurant is divided into a more family-friendly section versus adults only. I tried the pho bo, which is a pho with beef and brisket. The soup was honestly not the best that I've tried, and did not give authentic broth, but the meat was really tender. Even though the pho was honestly mediocre, I liked my duck congee and the Chinese donuts were delicious. The ginger in it was so bitter and the chunks were a little too big in my opinion so I did have to take it out. Honestly I'm not sure I would come back again because service was a bit slow and the food was not great, but it seems like a good spot for large groups or families. read more

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I loved our dinner here!!! I enjoyed the pork belly because it was savory, juicy, and soft, a perfect complement to the fried rice. We also ordered vegetable spring rolls, watermelon salad, and catfish clay pot. We finished them all. I wasn't able to take photos of the food because I was starving. It was a great dining experience. The interior of the restaurant is simple yet pretty, the toilet is clean, the staff is accommodating, and the service is fast enough. read more

A couple of weeks ago, while dining with my family at your establishment, I overheard an employee on shift a young man who appeared to be of Mexican descent. The young man used the N-word, seemingly unaware that I could hear him. I recall someone addressing him by name, though I am not certain of the exact name--only that it may have begun with the letter "A." Although I otherwise enjoyed my meal, this incident was deeply upsetting. As a Black man, hearing that language used in a public setting made me feel very uncomfortable and unwelcome. I did not address it at the time, but I believe it is important to bring this to your attention so that it can be handled appropriately. I hope you will take this concern seriously and reinforce expectations for respectful and inclusive conduct within your establishment. read more

We went here for our friends birthday and had the most lovely time with our server Elaina! She was so lovely and gave us a df dessert to accommodate our df birthday friend! Thank you!! read more

Wait was long for absolutely no reason; waited about 45 minutes when there were many open tables. Was put on the waitlist; thankfully I tracked it, because when no other parties were ahead of us, we checked in, and was told "oh yeah, a table is ready now" only to be seated in the vacant table all along. I can only wonder what would have happened if we didn't check back in. Food was extremely salty , small portions and service was horrible - waitress only "checked" on us once we were ready for our check. When we were checking out, hovered over us - and when I said we needed some time, came back an additional 2 times within 5 minutes asking if we were ready to check out; surprisingly was more worried about getting paid than providing service. Definitely wouldn't return or recommend. Not worth the wait or the money. Now deciding where to grab a quick bite to eat, after just dining at the restaurant. read more

Excellent food! All of the vermicelli bowls were so fresh and all the meats were good including chicken and beef bowls. Cute inside and nice patio outside. Need to come back! Friendly service. read more

Monsoon Seattle - wokked lemongrass tofu - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I had dinner with a few friends and we shared a few dishes. The restaurant has low but nice lightening on the eye. The server was quick and responsive. The menu is one page and the drinks list is expansive. We had the following dishes: Crispy Vegetarian Rolls: crunchy, tasty and served with mint and a lettuce to wrap the roll and a sweet savory sauce to put on the roll. Delicious and I could eat 2 plates of them. Catfish claypot: the catfish was cooked in a clay pot in a wonderful sauce that was savory and a bit of sweetness due to the onions. The fish was in small pieces topped with green onion. Love, love the juice and the brown and white rice we ordered. This dish was a little light on the catfish for a dish that cost $24. My in recommendation is to add a few more pieces of catfish. Spicy Green Beans: the green beans were perfectly seasoned switch a slight crunch. Sometimes this dish is a bit fibrinous, but the beans were selected on the younger side. The mushrooms was nicely coked but could have been cooked for 30 seconds more. I would give the Brussels sprouts a go to see if they are better than the green beans. Wokked Wheat Noodles: this dish was simply perfect. The noodles were perfectly cooked and the sauce was a delight. The green onions were not excessive and I wanted to eat more. It we were dining family style. Even cold, which this dish was not served, the noodles are amazing. Wokked Lemongrass Tofu: I like tofu but I am not a fan. I loved this dish. The sauce, the vegetables, and topped with cilantro. Wondering how the dish is when the tofu is crunchy. Excellent job making me rethink about the possibilities of tofu. Lastly, major kudos for having vegetarian dishes that just come across as very good cuisine. Typically, when a restaurant has vegetarian or vegan items, so show they seem to all be devoid of flavor. Thank you for showing the others how it's done. This restaurant is a good choice. It is moderately to high price, but a great experience. read more

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Excellent chicken, crispy juicy and soyful savory taste A bit too sour with the pickled veggies Excellent service Great dining space read more

Monsoon Seattle - Drunken chicken - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Kiss of life food. Three of us split crispy chicken plate, combo noodles, shrimp dumplings, and it was enough for us all. Crispy chicken plate is a must 10/10. Sauce is to die for and yummy greens with. Shrimp dumplings were sizable and made one for each of us the perfect app. The pairing sauce also a win. Combo bowl is so well balanced and delicious to pair with chicken! I got the ginger beer and you should too as well as visiting Rachel's Ginger Beer whether or not you typically like ginger beer. Well read more

Monsoon Seattle - 3 dishes - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Oh my god! I am in love with this place. Very beautiful location and very thoughtfully put together. I loved the vibe. They have outdoor seating too. The service was super quick and very nice. They took care from end to end and had best recommendations. Food was the best part. The papaya salad had grilled shrimps which were super good. Claypot Catfish had such a heart warming taste. Drunken chicken is a must try too! I would recommend to have reservations as they can get busy quickly on even a weekday! read more

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Very spacious dining area with outdoor seating. Drunken chicken now comes with a soft boiled egg instead of an over easy egg. Although it was a 90 degree day, the AC was on full blast so was able to comfortably enjoy a piping hot bowl of pho. Really enjoyed the mushrooms in the combo pho. Service was terrific and they even gave us a complimentary banana cake dessert for a birthday. read more

Monsoon Seattle - Combination Pho Soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The food was delicious! I especially loved the duck bao buns - yum! We also ordered the orange chicken but didn't realize it would be so large ; wasn't able to finish it but had yummy leftovers! The ambience was a nice chic restaurant. The server was extremely attentive and helpful, and the cooks were friendly and welcomed guests from the front door through the bar at times. Would recommend as a nice dinner and lunch spot. read more

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We are from San Diego California and Post Falls Idaho. This was our first time eating at MONSOON and it was not a good day for them. The waitress was curt and did not show a real concern for the 5 of us, 3 of whom are Vietnamese and we who are used to authentic Vietnamese food, found it very much average. The young man who served us spilled my very hot Pha on my left leg and shirt. He sincerely apologized and the waitress made no attempt to apologize or even clean up the spilled soup in which my bowl of Pha was floating. Our 3 Vietnamese friends were disappointed in the flavor of the food. Suggestion: more broth in the Pha. However, the presentation was great and then, unfortunately the music was not in keeping with a Vietnamese theme. We may return but it is doubtful. read more

Visited Monsoon due to it being on Eater's 38 Essential. I personally feel that you could find cuisine on par and for less in the CID/little Saigon area. The food itself was tasty but definitely small portions considering the price. Tried the clay pot catfish, Bo la lot, and the mango sticky rice dessert. I didn't feel like this meal was anything special read more

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On a Lunch Break, found this place walking by. Quick service in getting in and ordering but would appreciate if I didn't feel rush in eating my food. Was ask 2 other times by another staff that wasn't the server if I was all done. My plate was half done. It wasn't busy when I arrived so felt like I can enjoy my hour lunch here but ended up walking around the neighborhood. Great location, outside sitting is highly suggested for a sunny day. The Food wasn't my favorite, felt like I had this elsewhere for a cheaper price even on a Lunch Menu. read more

Monsoon Seattle - Drunken Chicken Lunch Bowel - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I ordered to go, which meant that my order was sitting in a large thermal bag by the front door when I arrived. I have one thing to say: DRUNKEN CHICKEN. The portion of chicken was large and so, so, so delicious!!! I've been thinking about it all week, and am looking for a good excuse to order it again. Make sure to order a side of rice with it, since it comes without. Enjoy! read more

I love their prawn noodle bowl for the perfect gluten free, lite lunch in the summer. Such a great staff too! Great place for a work lunch or a catch up with good friends. read more

Waited 30 minute for an in person order to go, made it clear I was in a rush. They said it'd take about 10. Totally fine. I checked in after bout 10-15 minutes, they lady went back to check then disappeared. Then I go in to check on my order and it's just been sitting there for who knows how long... I get my food and it also didn't come with any rice which is odd... especially for a $20+ dish.... I got the drunken chicken. Food wasn't great either. Thanks for ruining my lunch break and I'm still hungry. Won't be coming back. read more

WHEN: Wed @6pm (Sep 2022) Although reservations were made for outdoor seating, that only applies to the front sidewalk. The rooftop seating was first come first serve and lucky for us there were open tables! The rooftop area is so lovely and with it being end of the summer, it was still daytime out and it wasn't too cold. Service was exceptional and overall the food was amazing. Here's what was had: BUT I'M A CHEERLEADER - $13 I forgot what was in this, but it was refreshing! I dont see it on the menu anymore sadly :( SAYULITA - $13 Chili & hibiscus infused tequila, lime, cilantro, house pomegranate grenadine, served up. This lovely drink was doth sweet and tart. Not a favorite but it sure it pretty. But if you enjoy a cosmo you'd like this. WOKKED WHEAT NOODLES - $17 Wokked wheat noodles, king oyster mushroom, egg, green onion. Choosing noodles to have with my foods because I enjoy them more than rice! This simple dish reminds me of a simple garlic noodle dish but with more flavor. It was good to share. CRISPY IMPERIAL ROLLS - $13.50 Carlton Farms pork, shrimp, glass noodle, nước chấm. It's pretty much spring rolls with lots of flavorful texture, deep fried. I like there's a side of vermicelli noodles and lettuce for that left over fish sauce (nước chấm) to eat with. It's so refreshing and the imperial rolls are yummy! It's just 2 w cut in half so 4 pieces in total. ASAIN EGGPLANT - $16 Asian eggplant, green onion, spicy coconut milk, shrimp sauce. I bit on the greasy side but not a complaint for me! This dish to share is so good and such wonderful flavors. A favorite for me. I didn't get rice but I imagine it to be wonderful with it. LUC LAC BEED TENDERLOIN - $35 Painted Hills Beef tenderloin luc lac, cognac, lime juice, watercress and cherry tomato salad. Such tender and juicy hunks of beef! Ahhh...this was so good. Yes, it's pricier than your local pho shop, but this isn't another average Vietnamese restaurant--its kind of a fancier dining experience if you ask me (in comparison that is). This place does brunch, lunch and dinner and it's not always the same. It has a drink menu with signature cocktails that I find creative and delicious. Oh and they have dessert. read more

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