Billiard Hoang
Vietnamese restaurant · Columbia City
3220 S Hudson St, Seattle, WA 98118
Highlights
Bahn mi, pho, and fish sauce wings at a pool hall
Bahn mi, pho, and fish sauce wings at a pool hall
"There are not many restaurants where you can eat bánh mì and play a round of pool at the same time. That alone makes this bare-bones billiard hall worth visiting. Add delicious Vietnamese food and a plethora of seating, and you have a terrific group dinner setting. The fried tofu is wonderful, whether it’s stuffed inside long gỏi cuốn or stacked on a large, $7 bánh mì. But we especially enjoy the crispy fish sauce-slicked wings and the bún thịt nướng, it’s refreshing and satisfying—definitely worth sinking the eight-ball on purpose to give it your undivided attention." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley
"This Vietnamese spot in Columbia City is a bonafide classic that hasn’t missed a beat. Almost everything at the bare-bones pool hall with a large dining room is phenomenal—and under $20. Artistically assembled lemongrass chicken vermicelli bowls could feed you for lunch and dinner, rice plates with char-marked short ribs rival those of a fancy steakhouse, and crispy fish sauce-slicked wings are among Seattle’s best. You’ll also never have to wait for a table, whether that’s for an early lunch with the soundtrack of pool playing or a weeknight dinner with a big group of friends. And you know that, no matter what time you go, there will be outstanding Vietnamese dishes waiting—and maybe an intense game of nine-ball, too." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley
"Don’t be fooled by the unassuming (you might even say sketchy) exterior or the fact that this “takeout spot” is also a Columbia City Vietnamese dive bar slash pool hall. You can and should get food from here, whether that means the hot and crispy egg rolls or the banh mi, which has scrambled eggs — an addition you didn’t know you wanted until you bite in." - Joey Carreon
"This Columbia City pool hall/sports dive has been a buzzy neighborhood hangout since 1987, and the quality of its kitchen justifies a visit — either for takeout or for a fun dine-in experience. Noteworthy items include banh mi, bun (dry noodle bowls), and soups like bun bo hue, bun rieu (crab meat with tofu and rice noodles), and bo kho (beef stew with noodles or bread). Bun mang vit (duck noodle soup with bamboo shoots) is especially popular here." - Jay Friedman
"This Columbia City pool hall/divey sports bar is a popular hangout for some in the Vietnamese community, and the quality of its kitchen justifies a visit for a variety of menu items, including the pho. You can get it simple with just thin-sliced steak or meatballs, but best is the dac biet, which comes with steak and meatballs plus tendon and tripe. There’s also an oxtail version. Fresh herbs add to an already aromatic broth, and you can count on consistency — Billiard Hoang has been around about 30 years." - Jay Friedman
