Ashley H.
Yelp
Bánh khọt is one of my favorite hidden gems of Vietnamese cuisine, and I'm always on the hunt to find new places to add to my list. When I saw Banh Knot Lady on my Yelp, I knew I had to check it out. Overall, after finally visiting, I was pretty pleased with my experience, although there were a couple of things they could improve on.
AMBIANCE: This is a very no-frills, hole-in-the-wall place with small, cramped tables. There are traces of Vietnam throughout the space, with local music playing and Vietnamese snacks for sale on a counter. We opted to dine in because, as you know, bánh khọt is best when it's made fresh!
FOOD:
I ordered the shrimp-only bánh khọt (20 pieces), which took 20 minutes to prepare. It totaled to around $37.
The bánh khọt was delicious with a thick, creamy, and crunchy egg batter. I also appreciated how plentiful and plump the shrimp was. The nước mắm was the perfect ratio of sweet and salty. Pair that with the vegetables provided, and you have the perfect Vietnamese culinary experience.
One concern: I thought it was very strange that they do not have a public bathroom. As someone who loves to eat bánh khọt with lettuce wraps, I found it rather unsanitary not to be able to wash my hands before eating. They could benefit from providing hand wipes if they aren't going to have a bathroom available for customers.
OVERALL: not my favorite but a solid spot to hit!