Kristen H.
Yelp
Eden Center is well-known for its dense and competitive Vietnamese food scene, so Hai Duong's long-standing presence here speaks volumes about the authenticity and quality of its offerings. Our group of six originally planned to dine at Rice Paper, but due to an unexpected extension of their vacation closure, we pivoted to Hai Duong--and I'm glad we did.
Tucked just inside one of the indoor entrances of Eden Center, Hai Duong is a no-frills space with ample seating and a clean, casual atmosphere. At 6:00pm on a Saturday, the restaurant was about half-full and we were seated immediately. Service is brisk and efficient--our food arrived in under ten minutes.
The menu is impressively broad, spanning from familiar staples like pho (with over a dozen variations!) and spring rolls to more traditional Vietnamese fare such as Bánh Xèo and Bún Bò Huế, and even more adventurous dishes featuring pork blood, heart, and tongue. Whether you're in the mood for rice, noodles, or soup, there's something for everyone here.
I opted for the #63: Chao Vit ($16.95), a Vietnamese duck rice soup that's essentially a savory congee with a deeply flavorful broth. It's served with a side plate of duck salad: tender pieces of dark and light meat on the bone, laid over a crisp, refreshing salad dressed in a tangy vinegar-based sauce. You can mix as much of the duck and salad into your soup as you'd like, creating a warm, rich, and texturally complex dish that's both comforting and satisfying. Duck isn't something I often see on Vietnamese menus, so this felt like a rare treat - and the portion was more than generous for the price.
Other standout dishes from our table included the Mi Xao Chay ($18.95), a heaping portion of braised tofu atop a nest of crisp vegetarian fried noodles, and the Bún Hai Duong ($18.95), which features rice vermicelli topped with grilled pork, shrimp, shredded pork, and crispy spring rolls. These were all hearty, flavorful, and well-prepared. While the pho and spring rolls were more standard, they were still solid and satisfying.
Some in our group remarked on the rising prices of Vietnamese food, remembering a time when dishes were under $10. But as someone coming from Seattle, where a bowl of pho can easily cost $25, I found Hai Duong's pricing quite reasonable - especially given the portion sizes and quality.
All in all, Hai Duong is a reliable and authentic spot in Eden Center for a Vietnamese fix. The food is fast, flavorful, and varied enough to keep you coming back to try more. I'll definitely be returning.