"Uptown has plenty of great Vietnamese places for certain soups or dishes, but this small spot specializes in doing everything well. Hai Yen’s shrimp-filled banh bot loc with fish sauce or beef-filled bo la lot are fantastic starters. Their spicy bún bò Huế or beefy phở dặc biệt could go for broth-to-broth with some of the city’s best bowls. And for anyone wanting some rice in the mix, pairing it with lemongrass pork chop or saucy bò lúc lắc is a wise move. Hai Yen gets busy with a rotation of regulars during dinner time, but it’s never so packed that grabbing a seat is impossible. Food Rundown Phở Dặc Biệt One of the best bowls of phở in the city. It’s beefy yet light, with enough sweetness and complexity from the rock sugar and warming spices. Each bowl comes with rice noodles and a meat medley of brisket, flank steak, eye of round, meatballs, tripe, and tendon. Bún Bò Huế For soup lovers who like a little spice, the bún bò Huế is excellent. Along with heat, the broth has plenty of lemongrass flavor and a generous amount of beef and pork. Bò Lúc Lắc Hai Yen’s shaking beef is perfectly tender, with some texture from plenty of sautéed onions. It’s covered in a salty, garlicky sauce, and you’ll want to get some of the sliced tomatoes and cucumbers involved for added freshness. Bánh Bột Lọc These shrimp-filled tapioca dumplings are one of our go-to appetizers here. They have a pleasant chew, and the nước chấm adds sweetness and umami." - John Ringor
