Ly Ly Vietnam Cookhouse

"Ly Ly, a casual Vietnamese spot on the Upper East Side, serves a pho for $24 with a whole smoked short rib in it. It gives the broth an intensely smoky, beefy aroma, and if that were all there was to this place, we’d still happily recommend it—especially in an area without a lot of Vietnamese options. But the rest of the food at Ly Ly is just as homey and comforting, and they also do tiki cocktails, like a fun riff on a mai tai in a pig-shaped mug. photo credit: Will Hartman Inside the sunken 81st Street restaurant, tables of people—some in sweatpants—slurp their soup and eat rice rolls. This cozy scene is reflected on the mirrored ceiling, making the whole place feels like a little haven. You’re guaranteed to see at least a few takeout bags loaded with banh mi going out the door, too. Food Rundown Papaya Salad Garnished with thin slivers of beef jerky, this papaya salad is bright, a little funky with fish sauce, and the veggies are plenty crunchy. Get it. photo credit: Will Hartman Ba (Dad's) Shrimp Rolls The appetizer to focus on. There is a symphony of crunchy, lacy fried rice paper, bouncy shrimp, a bunch of herbs and lettuce, and sauce that brings it all together. photo credit: Will Hartman UES Pho Make sure one of these is on your table. Seasoned with five spice, the smoked short rib is jurassic in size—and its smoky flavor infuses the 20-hour-simmered pho broth. It’s like barbecue pho, and we’re into it. photo credit: Will Hartman Bánh Mi with Grilled Marinated Pork For $12, this is a solid bánh mi, especially for the neighborhood. The bread is nice and crusty, it’s served with shrimp chips, and the well-charred pork is chopped into smaller, easy-to-bite pieces. Bánh Xèo This bánh xèo has a good texture, but it’s a little bland. The sauce that comes with it helps a lot, but there’s not quite enough of it for the entire crepe. photo credit: Will Hartman Bun Cha Ca Va Long Served with a vermicelli salad, this pan-seared tilapia in turmeric and dill sauce is a good break from the beef and pork-heavy menu—though we actually prefer the meatier dishes. photo credit: Will Hartman Grilled Lemongrass Chicken Bún Salad A big portion for $16, this flavorful dish would also be great for takeout. The juicy chicken in our to-go box held up well for leftovers." - Will Hartman