Lúa - Vietnamese Restaurant & Bar

"North Williams’ Lúa serves a robust selection of Vietnamese food, from house-made woven rice noodles to street food snacks. Fried wings tossed in a balanced-yet-flavorful fish sauce glaze are a surefire pick from the latter category. It brings the light, crisp crust of Korean fried chicken and hints at the glory of Pok Pok’s famous Vietnamese wings. They’re served with banh mi-style shredded, pickled daikon and carrots for tartness and crunch." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden, Dianne de Guzman

"Airy and stylish Lúa on North Williams comes from the team behind Vietnamese deli, Lotus Kitchen, so it’s guaranteed that the banh mi game is on point. Where the modern restaurant also excels is in little touches like the house-made boba and bánh hỏi, woven rice vermicelli wrapped into rolls to accompany proteins like crispy-skinned slices of pork belly and grilled meatballs. The shop’s bánh hỏi also comes with pickled vegetables and cucumber slices, topped with crushed peanuts and mint, plus nuoc cham for dipping." - Nick Woo, Krista Garcia, Janey Wong

"North Portlanders long-accustomed to trekking miles south or east for banh mi can now beeline to Lua for stellar Vietnamese fare. Its banh mi sliders are an ideal size for lunch; however, the restaurant’s rice noodle bowl entrees are also a worthy diversion, topped with crispy proteins (including tofu), pickled vegetables, herbs, and plenty of fish sauce. For soup options, Lua offers many varieties not often spotted on other Vietnamese menus, like canh bí dỏ tôm, a pumpkin shrimp soup abundant with alliums and cilantro. In typical Williams fashion, the space is bright and modern with both indoor and outdoor seating." - Nathan Williams, Eater Staff

"Located on North Williams, Lua serves a massive variety of Vietnamese standards, including fish sauce wings, gỏi cuốn (or salad rolls), and bún. And while Vietnamese egg coffee might not come to mind as a summer drink, the one here is different. Bold, dark roast espresso arrives over a mountain of pebble ice, topped with creamy salted egg custard — the earthy flavor of the coffee is well complemented by the custard, making this the under-the-radar drink of the summer. Those who don’t drink coffee should get a thirst-quenching lychee mojito jasmine tea." - Seiji Nanbu

"Another highly anticipated Vietnamese opening, Lúa is set to open on North Williams in April. Owners Alvin Wang, Phumitas Kaewklang, and Raymond Chau will make rice noodles in house for various dishes, offer an array of sizzling plates including breakfast staple banh mi chao, and cold-press juices for breakfasts and cocktails. North Portland’s Vietnamese offerings are limited compared to the city’s other neighborhoods, but the opening of Lúa will not only add some new heat to the game on Williams; its house-made touches, like restaurant-made tapioca pearls for boba, should make it a destination citywide." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden