Glenn C
Google
Recommended dishes- Betel Leaf Wagyu, Charred Pork Jowl, Baby Clam Bites, Mi Quang Noodles, and Mekong Delta Reverie. Removed some things due to room as usual. Also, the review didn't work with Vietnamese words, so see the menu for Vietnamese translations.
I have been to this excellent new East Village Vietnamese restaurant twice, though the first time was much more abridged. The first time I was there was a week or two after they opened, but I couldn't get a table. The next time, I went here with one of the many groups I usually eat with. The service was friendly, and the inside is a bit dim for photos. My choice of drink was the tasty and unique Hong Kong Milk Tea cocktail.
The first appetizer, or small plate, to arrive was the tasty Baby Clam Bites for $12. The clams were chopped into small pieces and had a very mild chew. They lacked any briny flavor, which I liked, and I tasted plenty of lemongrass, along with other herbs. The rice crackers had a texture very similar to shrimp crackers, and their slight glutinous texture paired nicely with the clam.
My favorite appetizer was their outstanding take on Betel Leaf Wagyu for $21. The dish was an elevated take on the Vietnamese street-food classic, served with plenty of greens, rice vermicelli, and fish sauce. Said greens are there are since you're supposed to put the pieces on the leaves and eat them together, though it lacked the rice paper, so it was a tad messy. The beef itself was extremely tender and had a mild herbal flavor from the lolot leaf.
Also excellent was the Charred Pork Jowl for $12. Pork jowl can be overly chewy or overcooked, but this was neither with the pork very tender and flavorful while being only very mildly chewy. The dish also came with a few grilled shishito peppers and a sauce, which I believe was a spicy mayo, which went pretty well with the pork.
Also tasty was the Lemongrass Kumquat Tofu for 12. The tofu was slightly firm, with a mildly crispy exterior and a light sweetness. This was also nice and a break from the heavier appetizers.
Last and least of the appetizers was the Chili Shrimp Salt Wings for $15. I found the flavor, unlike everything else, to be just a little bit bland, which is unfortunate, as the wings themselves had a nice light batter and were tender. I would recommend leaving the flavored salt on the plate as an extra, since I think it would work better for customizing the amount of flavor on each wing.
As a main dish, I ordered the Quang Nam Golden Noodle separately for $24. This was a large bowl with two large shrimp, plenty of ground pork throughout, some crackers to break up into the soup for texture, and a boatload of noodles. The broth itself was warming and flavorful, with some greens and chili available in case you want to change the flavor partway through. This was delicious, and if this spot were easier to get into, I'd go here often just for this comforting dish.
The rest of the groups shared the Mekong Delta Reverie for $35. In terms of the description, both Vietnamese words refer to two types of fermented fish paste. The dish arrived as a large pot cooked at the table, with the toppings on the side and a broth inside containing many different aromatics, as well as beef and, I believe, some rice noodles at the bottom. The vegetables included banana blossom, bitter gourd, and other things, while the seafood included a couple of large pieces of fish, multiple shrimp, pork belly, and, unfortunately for me, some squid. As I have a cephalopod allergy, I only tried the broth once it was boiled, which was heavily aromatic with a ton of lemongrass, a slight fermented flavor, some sourness, which I presume was from tamarind, and a bunch of other flavors. It was delicious and massive, and I think three people could share this along with two other appetizers and leave comfortably full.
This is an excellent new Vietnamese place in a sea of Vietnamese spots. Compared to most of those, the flavors here are just better, and they specialize in dishes from regions less common in NYC. Would recommend heavily.
