Bé Ù is a cozy takeout gem in East Hollywood dishing up vibrant Vietnamese street eats, from flavorful banh mi to comforting rice porridge, all while championing fair wages and community care.
"Virgil Village Vietnamese restaurant Bé Ù is still operating on a takeout-only model. Head over for banh mi sandwiches, available with lemongrass chicken, pork, or beef, alongside patê, pickled radish and carrots, jalapeños, cilantro, and aioli. Vegetarians can pick from the tofu banh mi or the egg-topped bánh mì ốp la. The rest of the menu spans dishes like popcorn chicken, lemongrass fish sauce wings, and chicken rice porridge. Place an order in advance to skip the on-site wait. Order pick-up directly from Bé Ù or delivery through DoorDash." - Rebecca Roland
"Weekends were made for porridge at Bé Ù. The gluten-free chicken rice porridge with homemade stock, shredded chicken, scallions, cilantro, fried shallots, and black pepper makes for a cold-weather (and cold season) pick-me-up. Diners might also find, depending on the season, Chef Uyên Lê’s Vietnamese vegan chao, which begins with homemade vegetable stock and plenty of grilled mushrooms. Check Instagram for the latest weekend specials." - Cathy Chaplin, Eater Staff
"Open to provide free meals to fire evacuees and first responders." - Rebecca Roland
"Virgil Village’s Vietnamese spot ensures that all stakeholders, from employees to locals in the neighborhood, win against the forces of gentrification. This means reasonably priced food that delivers deep, homemade flavors like banh mi, pork riblets, and tasty popcorn chicken." - Rebecca Roland, Eater Staff
"Head to chef Uyên Lê’s fast-casual restaurant for thoughtfully prepared Vietnamese food. While the bánh mì sandwiches and popcorn chicken appetizer are sure bets, the house-special caramelized pork and eggs served over rice is as comforting as gets. At Bé Ù, Lê’ strives to keep the food affordable for the local community, while still paying staff a living wage. The vegan bánh mì still comes in at well under $10, along with the chicken and rice porrige, and the bánh mì Ốp La (bánh mì with sunny side up eggs). Just be aware that that Bé Ù is take-out only — there is no seating inside." - Rebecca Roland, Eater Staff
