"There’s something to satisfy everyone's various cravings on this Haller Lake spot's 15-section menu, which makes Lotus Pond akin to a diner full of Vietnamese classics instead of pancakes and grilled cheese. The spam bánh mì is a comforting sandwich, while orange-tinted lemongrass grilled chicken over jasmine rice has the power to improve a garbage fire of a day. Want wontons in hot broth, escargot-studded sausage, or cured pork belly shoved in a split bao with pickled vegetables? They’re all going to be great. And much like a diner, you could also just all pile in a booth to snack on fries with gravy alongside a round of Cokes. Only here, the gravy is phở-spiced, and is so rich and tasty that we would gladly slurp it like soup." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley, gabe guarente