Great food , fresh flavors and excellent service, they were kind, fast, and welcoming

This ranks no 4 in the best meals of my life. I'm surprised they don't already have a Michelin star only bib gourmand. That's good for us because when they get the star that they deserve, the waitlist becomes intolerable and prices go up, so come here now before everybody else does. You will not be disappointed Everyone here except me is a fashionista without being pretentious so dress accordingly. Without exception everything is good but some are just way beyond good. The stand outs are golden nest(shrimps), short rib clay pot, crab meat fried rice, and the seared duck salad. I know you may have had those dishes before, but not the way they make it - superb! The pho was OK. Service from the host to our server is attentive with our being obtrusive. This restaurant is worth the trip alone. read more

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Sochi Saigonese absolutely lives up to the hype. It's been there years since we ventured here, and everything is still amazing. We came on a Saturday evening and made a reservation only about an hour beforehand. We were pleasantly surprised to be seated immediately, which was the perfect start to an incredible dinner. Every dish we ordered was outstanding. The Original Egg Rolls were perfectly crisp and packed with flavor. The Golden Nest was beautifully presented, featuring perfectly cooked shrimp and an incredible creamy cilantro lime sauce that we couldn't stop talking about. The Short Rib Claypot was the star of the night. It was fall apart tender, deeply flavorful, and paired perfectly with the toasted baguette. For drinks, the Green River cucumber vodka cocktail was refreshing, crisp, and one of the best cocktails we've had in Chicago. We finished with the Good Morning Vietnam, and if you're a fan of espresso martinis or coffee cocktails, this is an absolute must order. What really elevated the experience was the service. Every member of the staff was warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming without ever feeling overbearing. The pacing of the meal was perfect, and the team made us feel like valued guests from the moment we walked in. The restaurant itself is chic, stylish, and has a great atmosphere that's perfect for date nights, celebrations, or dinner with friends. Between the exceptional food, impeccable service, and beautiful ambiance, Sochi delivered one of our favorite dining experiences in Chicago. We'll absolutely be back, five stars all around. read more

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Last stop of the day on my day of eating and it was for my absolute favorite monthly activity: supper club!!!! This is a Vietnamese restaurant in West Lakeview and they are a Michelin bib. Love that! Super underrated honestly because I feel that no one ever talks about it. The interior is very clean and sleek, but feels very calm. They have kind of weird hours because they are only open from 4 to 8 so plan accordingly this is definitely not a late night place. I love that all of their dishes felt super fresh and very flavorful. My favorite was the bone marrow fried rice, which is a side and the veggie noodle salad with tofu. Also, really liked the beef rolls and egg rolls. They were sold out of the spring rolls, but those looked good alas. I also loved the chicken curry because the sauce that it came in was excellent and it has me wanting to make my own curry. The crab fried rice was OK. I just think it lacked some flavor and felt a little dry. The dessert was a miss in my opinion. There's so many good desserts in the city and the cheesecake was just so subpar. Cute place and definitely a good spot to go with parents or group of friends! read more

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Wow this place blew my mind and I'm still thinking about it today! The space is a modern bright area with various seating and in the summer, they open the front area so that you can enjoy the nice weather. The service was attentive and friendly. The dishes are all very sharable and all had so much flavor to explore. The betel leaf and egg rolls were a great way to start and the eggplant was also unique and delicious. Each dish has an incredible sauce that comes with it and it's absolutely addicting! The duck salad and the crab fried rice were the absolute stars of the night. They are both "must gets" in my opinion! I will certainly be back soon! read more

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I have been to Sochi several times now, and each time I have always loved my meal. I've tried the roasted eggplant, slap ya mama crab fried rice, market salad, beef short rib clay pot, and sun rice. I think the eggplant is a must try. I love the garlic scallion oil and nuts with the roasted flavor of the eggplant -- it's the perfect appetizer. The slap ya mama crab fried rice has plenty of crab throughout and it's absolutely delicious! the market salad is also great, nothing bad to say about it. very flavorful and fresh, and enough for a full entree. The sun rice was also great, it was nice having all of those flavors mixed together. Lastly, the beef short rib claypot was great. It comes with a toasted baguette that has a buttery coconutty flavor to it (not too strong), which made it more interesting. The meat was really good too! The service is always friendly and casual, they have good recommendations and will check up on you. The interior is clean and has a nice aesthetic, and they open up the windows in the warm weather which I like. Overall, I LOVE this restaurant and will be coming time and time again! read more

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Sochi is a Michelin recognized Vietamnese restaurant in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. We were able to sit at the bar with no reservation. All of the dishes and everything on the menu takes vietamnese dishes and elevates them. Really delicious and unique flavors and really enjoyed the brisket pho and crab fried rice. The staff is great and friendly and got great service while we were there. If you are looking for something new and different this is a great spot to go to. read more

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Great Place! I've been going to Sochi over two year and and every meal has been delicious. The restaurant is spotless. We like to sit at the bar and watch them prep the food, the entire staff is friendly and work well together as team. read more

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Quaint and bright restaurant with a twist on classic Vietnamese dishes. The slap yo mama crab fried rice was really good. The jumbo prawn dish was my favorite, the sauce was sweet and perfect with the rice and refreshing salad. The shaking beef was tender and the bone marrow fried rice was seasoned well. The servers were attentive and the food came out quickly. Definitely worth a try! read more

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When I first went to Sochi it was amazing but I feel like something has changed & this past time I noticed questionable billing on the receipt. I ordered the deboned chili salt chicken. The chicken was pretty good, tender, decent flavor profile. The buttered fries weren't for me- a little too rich. The waiter was friendly and helpful, though (I hate to say this) had a musky odor that lingered a bit after he left. The person who sat us (he's served me a couple times now) has a demeanor of being annoyed and unenthusiastic about being at work. I get it, work sucks, but don't make people paying for service feel like they're inconveniencing you if you work at a restaurant. Finally, I guess it's on the bottom menu, I only noticed a $6 "restaurant charge" after I paid. These hidden fees seem very questionable and I feel somewhat taken advantage of / ripped off by it. Particularly if they expect guests to tip on top of this service charge- it's a shameful money grab. Sochi has dropped from a top pick to very mediocre in my opinion. The food is still good but the service & bad bill behavior needs to be cleaned up. read more

Very cute place, plenty of street parking. The gin and juice is great. Spicy chicken wings was really good. The bone marrow fried rice was good but I don't think I would order it again. Would def come back read more

We popped our Michelin cherry by trying Sochi and what an incredible place. The ambiance is classy but inviting. I highly recommend you make reservations to make sure you get a table. We went on a Saturday night and it was packed. The shaking beef was perfectly cooked - so tender and delicious. I enjoyed the bone marrow rice that came with it. The Slap Mama fried rice was also delectable - the crab really adds that special something to the dish. The vegetable curry actually tasted like home. So much TLC is taken by the kitchen, it's so delightful. There were a few dishes that were sold out, but we are MORE than willing to go back again to try them. Sochi was such a special treat! Thank you. read more

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Fantastic Michelin Star restaurant in the heart of Lakeview. All the dishes were fantastic and they have a wide variety of drink and brews. The staff is very friendly and the vibe is fun and retro. Also, if you have a concert at Schubas, this is a great pre-game since it's right across the street. read more

Wow, so glad I finally tried Sochi! It's a beautiful space and the food is incredible. My party and I shared four appetizers and four entrees. Each and every one of them was outstanding. Highlights included the Grilled Betel Beef, Deboned Chili Salt Chicken, Slap Mama Crab Fried Rice, and Shaking Beef. We enjoyed several bottles of wine with our meal, and pricing for everything was a great value. Service was excellent all night. The only dud was dessert: we shared the cheesecake, which really wasn't that good. Still, I'm giving this place five stars. Also of note, the bathroom is clean and beautiful. Can't wait to become a regular here!!! read more

Sochi Saigon Kitchen - Grilled Betel Beef - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Took my mom here for her birthday. It is really nice and bright inside. Felt clean and trendy. The staff were really nice and the owner even came out to talk to my mom in Vietnamese, when we were asking about the details of the menu. The food was pretty good. Everyone's favorite was the shaking beef. I was a little skeptical because the meat in the version my mom traditionally makes can be a little chewy, but the filet mignon was great. It had great flavor and texture. We also got the grilled betel beef, crab fried rice, and short rib clay pot. The betel beef and crab fried rice were ok, though I'd probably try something else next time. The short rib clay pot was a stew and the short rib was also very tender. Overall we enjoyed our experience and it was nice to go for a special occasion! read more

I was a little suspicious about this place at first. But after eating here, I have to say I absolutely loved it! The cocktails were so good... I got something with espresso in it and it was good but slightly too sweet for my liking. My friend got this spicy cocktail and that was super delicious; I wanted to bite into the Thai chili so badly but my spice tolerance decreased since I just got back into the states from Italy and Spain. My friend got one of the salads and that was good. The nuoc mam/nuoc cham was super yummy with the salad. I got the Thit Bo Kor/kow and that was super good; reminded me of how my parents make it. The service was super fabulous. The staff was so sweet and kind... I recommend having a reservation before going here but I am so thankful they were able to squeeze me and my friend in last minute when we walked in. The ambiance was super trendy; the space was bright and bigger than I expected. Great for dates or having dinner with a few friends. Overall, I highly recommend coming here! read more

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TLDR: DEFINITELY WELL DESERVED MICHELIN BIB. It's my new fave. We came here for dinner on a double date and literally everything was tasty! We ordered 8 or 9 dishes (a combo of starters, salad, and mains) for the 4 of us and it was a little too much food but we still ate it ALL. *burp* Definitely get the Slap Yo Mama Crab Fried Rice, the Short Rib Claypot (available on Fridays and Saturdays only), and the Spareribs!! I could've had 4 or 5 of those spareribs it was so good. The lemongrass and fish sauce marinade is finger-licking good! There's some serious umami in the crab fried rice that just makes you wanna keep eating it--and that's exactly what I did. Every bite was nice and crabby. The Short Ribs in the claypot were so tender and flavorful. The toasted baguette they give you for dunking in the broth was the perfect touch. The egg rolls were solid but most egg rolls are. The Pho was super warming and comforting but not everyone thought it was worth the $25. (Also, Phodega is my go-to joint for copious amounts of yummy pho for less than $20.) The service was fast and friendly and the ambience is modern minimalist chic. There are a lot of house plants which give welcoming vibes. read more

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This was my first time here and I was blown away! I've tried a lot of Vietnamese restaurant, but the dishes here had their own twist and are packed with flavors and so addicting. You will have trouble stopping yourself from wanting to lick the plates clean! We got the chicken wings, pho, and short ribs. The wings were crispy and coated with a deeply savory sauce. The crunchy fried garlic and the thinly sliced celery added another dimension of flavors. The pho's broth is so clean and clear, yet so rich and comforting. Our favorite was the short ribs -- omg each bite just melted in your mouth. It was a satisfying ratio of lean and fattiness while the meat and daikon soaked up all the flavors from the rich broth. I totally get why they would include bread on the side; I absolutely used them to sop up all the meat juices and broth. By the end of the meal, there was only about half a cup of short rib broth left, and I took it home anyway to eat it with rice! I will definitely have to come back to try more dishes! The service was great! The atmosphere was very modern and cozy! read more

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First of all the food was incredible. It was so delicious. If you only care about the food, not the prices, the ambiance or service, then this is the place to go. The service was meh. It seemed like we were inconveniencing them. We put that we were there for our anniversary and no one acknowledged it. We had chosen Sochi to celebrate our anniversary and the closing of our new home, so it was disappointing that our joyous occasion was not worth anything here. The prices for the food were not worth it in my opinion. While it was delicious, there are better or just as good foods for less at other places. read more

Pros: So much flavors. Nice vibe. Cons: Small portions. Not great value. Overall the flavors are good and a cool date night but the overall effect wasn't love. It was like. Gotta order some apps and some sides. Clean. Friendly. Trendy. read more

Service was amazing. The attention to detail that the owner and staff had was great. The atmosphere was great. My fiancé and I sat at the bar so we could see how everything was being made. I can't stop thinking about the fried rice and chicken. read more

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I can see why this is restaurant is Michelin rated. All the food was flavor packed, fresh and delicious. The plates that the food came out on were shipped from Vietnam by the owner and I loved all the detail on the bowls and plates. Service was friendly and food was brought out at a surprisingly fast pace. Standouts for me were the spring roll, the chicken wings, and the crab fried rice. The chicken curry wasn't as strong in the curry flavor and it didn't impress me as much as the other dishes. But the chicken was tender and the presentation was really great. The original spring roll was so fresh! I loved the basil and the peanut sauce. Everything went so well together. The soshi chicken wings was perfectly crispy, juicy and tender. The green sauce went so well with the celery garnish. The crab fried rice had large chunks of crab was was flavor packed but not overwhelming at all. I loved the bites of shrimp and fish eggs with the rice. There's plenty of paid street parking around the area. Unfortunately there was only 1 women's bathroom to serve the whole restaurant, but there was lots of floor space with lots of tables. I loved the open kitchen concept where you can see the chefs work and prepare the food. Thanks for a great dinner! read more

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I loved Sochi Saigon Kitchen and give it a 5/5 stars, and let me tell you why: First, the ambiance is extremely refreshing. Nestled just south of Wrigleyville, the open-aired atmosphere of Sochi with the smell of sweet Vietnamese food is so nice and enjoyable. In regards to the service, our waitress and the owner of Sochi were so welcoming towards us the entire night as they answered all of our questions as guests from LA who wanted a quality dining experience. Since we were there on a Friday, I did the short-rib claypot special which is only served on Friday and Saturday and it was BOMB. The stew broth was unreal in my opinion, and being able to dip the baguette into it was heavenly. This place is a must try if you are in Chicago. read more

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For a Michelin Star restaurant I am quite appalled. I took my entire family here on a weekend and booked in advance and had heard great things. Unfortunately it was very disappointing. The portions were incredibly small and the service was bad. Our waiter barely paid us attention and was snappy when we asked for recommendations. For a fried rice dish - the portion we received was not enough for the even one person and we were a party of 5. There was barely crab in it and there was little flavor. The taste was mediocre - you would receive better portions and flavor from a takeout spot. The chili chicken was good - but again extremely minute portions. Would never go back. read more

I recently dined at Sochi Saigonese Kitchen in Lakeview, Chicago, and it's safe to say this spot has earned a place in my heart. The decor is welcoming and upscale. We started with spring rolls, a refreshing and light appetizer, and the original egg rolls, served with fresh mint and lettuce and a dipping sauce. The egg rolls were amazing. It's no wonder it is one of the most popular menu items! For my main, I ordered tonight's special--Sun Rice, served with an egg on top of rice and pickled vegetables and an egg quiche. Normally, I order the Duck Salad with banana blossoms, and there's a reason I continue ordering it! I love the tender duck with crispy skin so much! The special was excellent this time as well. I tasted my husband's Shaking Beef, and it was full of flavor! He also likes the Slap Mama crab fried rice. We concluded with the Coffee Flan, mm, it was so good. Think delicious iced coffee plus creamy flan. My husband and I had the pleasure to meet Chinh, one part of the husband-wife team behind Sochi, and her passion for the restaurant was clear. This is a labor of love, and it shows. Thanks for an excellent meal! read more

Sochi Saigon Kitchen - Sun rice - Vietnamese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great service...prompt and super friendly. It's just a happy place. Vietnamese food with the traditional French influences...pork, butter, sweet and tangy. Loved everything we ordered. Highly recommend! read more

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Finally got a chance to check this place out. I had planned to do takeout, and when I online to place my order, each item was $2 more than what was on their online menu. I decided to call it in, the woman was really nice, but it was still the same price. These restaurants really have to start updated their online menus. It's one of biggest pet peeves in the food industry. Anywho, I placed an order of their Spring Rolls, Saigon Pho and Slap Yo Mama Crab Fried Rice. The spring rolls came with shrimp, pork, rice noodle, lettuce, herbs and served with a side of peanut sauce and crushed peanuts. These were actually really good and refreshing. A very light way to start a meal. The Saigon Pho I felt could have used more flavor. I only tried a little bit; but haven't really been a big fan of taking out Pho or Ramen. Like to eat that stuff inside the restaurant. Felt like they could have given us more Hoisin sauce to add to the pho. It was served with grilled brisket, flank steak, cilantro, holy basil, and bean sprouts in a beef bone marrow broth. I'm a sucker for rice and knew I had to order the Slap Yo Mama Crab Fried Rice. While it's certainly on the pricey side, they definitely don't skimp out on the crab meat. This was also served with shrimp, green onion, egg yolk, butter garlic sauce, masago, cilantro and scallions. The slap to mama seasoning really went well with the rice and the shrimp and crab. This dish was delicious and would definitely considering ordering this again, but I will most likely dine in next time. read more

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Food: the pho is really rich! Flavorful and not overly greasy Service: I went solo as a treat for myself and sat at the bar, the waiters are attentive. However they seemed unhappy that I left a 17% tip given that they charge you 3% on the bill to "offset costs" which I think it's kind of bullshit since everything is more expensive than last year anyways. And their pho is more expensive than other Vietnamese joints. They even threw away my take home box when I went to the bathroom :( Ambiance: elegant, I would say more suitable for a formal dinner or elegant friends meetup than a casual joint. read more

Sochi has been on my radar for awhile! I was so excited to finally check it out last week. We started with the original spring rolls, spare ribs, and roasted eggplant. I thought the ribs had a nice flavor with a great sauce but were a bit tough, and the spring rolls tasted slightly gamey. Would skip these next time. Next we ordered the slap mama crab fried rice, ben thanh market salad, and the shakin' beef. The fried rice was tasty although fairly simple, and the filet mignon was extremely tender and well seasoned. My favorite, though, was the market salad- the sauce was tangy and the perfect complement to the salty pork, which was crispy and juicy! We finished the meal by splitting the cheesecake and coconut jelly dessert, which had a nice presentation served in a whole coconut. The jelly tasted slightly watery and bland, but the cheesecake was airy and I enjoyed the mango topping. Staff was friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was buzzing. Overall, I felt that the ingredients were fresh and food well prepared, but in general most needed more flavor. I would return to try other dishes! read more

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We decided to come to Sochi for my birthday and we had an outstanding meal. Everything was delicious from the appetizers to the dessert! We had an amazing experience with incredible wait staff and our waiter Oliver was the best! We started with the original spring rolls, the lemongrass pork spareribs, and the veggie noodle salad. What was really nice is that they give you the exact amount of food for number of people. (We only had 4 of us eating the ribs so they brought out 4) The pork spareribs were really tender and easily came off the bone, and the spring rolls with the peanut sauce were divine! The veggie noodle salad had perfectly crisp tofu and Japanese eggplant and I loved the daikon in it which was pickled. We probably could have ended our meal there as it was plenty of food, but we kept going! I had the Sun Rice as my main dish and it was the perfect combination of sweet and savory. The lemongrass pork was perfect alongside the rice, sunny side up egg, cucumber and tomato. My husband enjoyed the vegetable curry which was a big portion size. We ended our meal with a black sesame cheesecake and tiramisu made with Vietnamese coffee. I preferred the tiramisu as the sesame cheesecake wasn't particularly sweet, but it was definitely a beautiful looking and unique dessert. The desserts are reportedly made by this family owned business' grandmother who lives above the restaurant. This is a great neighborhood restaurant with delicious, flavorful, ethnic food. The service is wonderful and you are in for a culinary treat! The only downfalls which would shouldn't deter anyone from coming here are: the restaurant is very loud, there are not a ton of vegetarian options, and parking was a little tricky on a Friday night. read more

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We made a reservation which required a non-refundable deposit, and noted that this was for a special occasion. We arrived at 5pm, and were the only party in the entire restaurant. The first words out of the host's mouth when we were sat were, "you only have 90 minutes" -- this table has another reservation. I looked at the menu, and there was a $6 "Restaurant Surcharge" on all bills. So, I basically had the choice of walking out, and paying the cancellation fee, or staying for a rushed dining experience, with a fee that wasn't disclosed prior to coming in. 40 minutes into dining, we were still the only party in the restaurant. I wanted to leave as soon as possible, so we ordered only an appetizer and salad. They charged $8 for a hot tea (a non-alcoholic beverage -- neither of us had any alcohol). I have no idea how this place made it on the Michelin guide (they don't have a star or anything) -- but Michelin typically has minimum standards for service, etc. We've eaten out at hundreds of restaurants in Chicago, and I can say that this was by far the most disrespected I have ever felt. At the time we paid the check, we were still the only couple in the restaurant. For a salad and appetizer, the bill was $60 after tax and a 20% tip. read more

Finally had a chance to go to Sochi with family in town. The food was delicious and the service impeccable. Can't wait to go again. Highly suggest making a reservation and requesting to sit by the windows if you like the ambiance of a bustling city! read more

highlight of the meal was definitely the duck salad. it was super refreshing in the summer heat, and the duck tasted amazing! honorable mention to the crab fried rice - great flavor and generous portions of grab. interior is also cute, service was good. read more

I was excited try this modernized Vietnamese spot. The space is bright and trendy. What we ordered was good, not amazing. But it's nice spot to dine at if you are looking for a nicer ambiance and plating compared to a typical Vietnamese restaurant up north. I liked the original egg rolls. I haven't seen them prepared this way before and the were nice and crunchy. I thought the slap mama crab fried rice was mediocre. I would skip this if you are really looking for the crab flavor to come through. Prices are definitely a bit high, but that seems to be the norm nowadays. read more

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Ok so like the pho was good but it's not what we wanted. Like tbh when you go to a restaurant and they have "run out of this" and "run out of that". I get fresh ingredients and being like cool and healthy but like when everything you order is unavailable it's disappointing. Oh my god reading this out loud I sound like a Karen eewwwwww cringe!!!!! But like it's upscale dining come on they didn't even have CHICKEN. BRUH. read more

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The egg rolls were extraordinary, but for $9 a piece, they should be. The same can't be said for the Slap Mama Crab Fried Rice. Very little crab and only two shrimp. It does not look like the picture. I know crab is expensive but at the price point I thought it was expecting more. Overall very good. Food was tasty but not a good value. read more

From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere that immediately sets the stage for an exceptional dining experience. The menu is a masterful blend of traditional Vietnamese flavors with a modern twist, showcasing the rich, vibrant, and aromatic essence of Saigonese cuisine. The Deboned Chili Salt Chicken--flavorful tender chicken emphasizing on the salt from the sauce that accompanies the dish making each bite a delight. The Slap Yo mama fried rice was another standout balancing out a good meal with the combination of the chicken What truly sets Sochi apart is the attention to detail in every dish. The presentation is beautiful, and each plate bursts with flavors that are both familiar and refreshingly new. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the food, making excellent recommendations and ensuring that every guest feels cared for. read more

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I've never been in the restaurant, as we get it delivered. Everything we've ever ordered is always fresh and delicious. Love the coffee flan! read more

A friend referred this place, and now it will become one of our go-to's for Vietnamese food. The flavoring is so delicious and authentic. Loved the crab fried rice, steak vermicelli salad, and the flan dessert. Look forward to coming back to try more dishes! read more

It's probably a 3.5 for me, but food was very well prepared so I rounded up. The ambiance is great, simple, modern and fresh looking. Service was very good and extra attentive. Our drinks came out quickly and our water glasses were kept full. The only slight miss was food came out so fast we were rushing to try things before they got cold; the 2-tops didn't lend themselves to sharing plates because there was no space for all the dishes. The food was really nice to look at and as I said, cooked well. The misses - and for me a big one - were the flavors. They weren't the punchy, umami flavors of Vietnam. They were very muted or more fusion with Thai or Filipino cuisines. The egg rolls were the best thing we had, but skimpy on the herbs. It was nice they nestled the herbs in the butter lettuce so people who were new to this dish would know how to eat them. The ribs were tender, but not very lemongrass flavored. The sauce tasted like mayo and was very odd as the menu listed fish sauce. We didn't care for the chili chicken as the sauce is what usually makes it and it was not very well balanced; the chicken didn't have the distinctive 5-spice flavor. The pho was okay, not many noodles, but it was so very very greasy that we didn't eat much of it. I also thought it was odd it was served with a lemon wedge instead of lime and very few herbs again. I say all of this from the standpoint of being raised by an exceptionally talented Vietnamese mom cook. Prices were high for Vietnamese food, but I guess reasonable based on the type of restaurant elevated decor and current food prices. We probably won't return, but it's a nice introduction to some general flavors for those just trying the cuisine for the first time. read more

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