Eva M.
Yelp
CÔBA Viet Kitchen & Ales is conveniently located in Lower Queen Anne, within easy walking distance from Seattle Center. On this day, we finished a show there and walked here for a late dinner. The food overall is pretty good. I would skip the banh mi cuz they are ridiculously overpriced at $13 to $14. The entrees are much more reasonable. When we arrived, they were quite crowded, and they asked us to order from the counter and pay first. Later, I saw others received full normal table service. Kind of odd. The food was a a wait with the crowd plus the many takeout orders. The staff was reasonably fast. The place is new-looking and clean with Viet deco. I would say this place is a somewhat elevated experience, similar in tone to Tamarind Tree.
The Food:
Prawns Mango Salad, $15 - 4 Stars
I rarely see a mango salad, so I of course tried it. It's very lightly dressed, and the under-ripe mango pieces made for a great salad base. Very refreshing and is a great light starter or a meal for the smaller appetite.
Beef Short Rib Rice Plate, $18 - 5 Stars
This is one of their most popular dishes. The beef ribs (sort of like kalbi) is nicely seasoned. On a budget, this combo makes a great standalone dish with protein, starch, veggies, and a soup. Highly recommend.
Fish Sauce Wings, $12 - 4.5 Stars
I don't recall the famous Mangosteen fish sauce wings much, but I do remember they were a bit smaller than these. These ones are big, crispy fried, and deliciously seasoned. At $12, I think the quantity is about right.
Spicy Eggplant, $10 - 3.5 Stars
A different take on the typical Chinese version, this one is also flavorful without swimming in oil or sauce. However, I wish it had more eggplant! I think the quantity of eggplant is the same as the sum of onions + bell peppers.