Kimberly L.
Yelp
Review #834
2025-004
Food & Drinks Order:
Golden Pear Salad (organic greens, Korean golden pears, honey-roasted mixed nuts, burrata cheese, cabernet dressing), House Chicken Wings (Viet style seasoning), French Fries (ketchup, spicy mayo, aji sauce), Ribeye Steak with Garlic Noodles (smoky grilled 12 oz. ribeye, wok-seared mushrooms, green onions, asparagus, garlic noodles, aji sauce), Oxtail Fried Rice (8-hour braised oxtail, basil, onion, 2 sunny-side up eggs)
Lychee Peachee (jasmine iced tea, peach purée, lychee), June Lemon (lemonade, yuzu, peach purée)
TIPS: Noodle Refill: comp pho noodle refills for dine-in only; 5% discount for cash payment
Formerly Gatten Sushi, then Kozo Sushi, NAM Kitchen took over almost a year ago, dishing out modern Vietnamese cuisine with subtle Peruvian flair. We walked in on a Sunday night without a reservation & was offered an open table by the door; mistake on our part, but I had a hungry child so we took it instead of waiting.
After ordering, our drinks were quickly served, followed by appetizers: fries, wings, & salad. I thought it was a bit strange with our drinks in glassware, but water in plastic cups. Typical fries (probably frozen, definitely not fresh/hand cut) with 3 dipping sauces; pricey for the serving size. The Viet-style seasoned wings tasted like honey-garlic; had a nice crust with tender meat. I loved the salad best with the sweet, juicy Korean pears & cabernet vinaigrette; the burrata tasted ok & didn't have the creamy texture of "fresh" burrata, but the cheese felt out of place for this flavor profile.
The garlic noodles came first. The noodles were springy but didn't have garlic flavor, or even essence. The ribeye was grilled between a medium-rare to medium-well with some large pieces of fat & some gristle, with mushrooms & a sprinkling of asparagus, & paired with aji sauce. It was a pretty good dish that could have been executed better. The fried rice was served last & was the better entree with chunks of tender, braised oxtail, topped with 2 perfectly cooked sunny-side eggs... breaking the runny yoke to mix with the rice = satisfaction.
I had the Lychee Peachee: floral jasmine iced tea mixed with peach purée & crowned with a lychee. It was light & refreshing to balance out the heavy dinner. My brother's & son's June Lemonade was also a good pairing; loved the citrusy yuzu marrying the lemonade & sweetned by the peach purée.
NAM Kitchen's decent sized menu consists of appetizers, phở, chef special dishes, garlic noodles, sides, & drinks with moderate to slightly high prices & generous portions. They also have a wine wall carrying Apothic Red Winemaker Blend, Hook or Crook Cellars Field Blend & Cabernet Sauvignon, Three Thieves Cabernet Sauvignon, Jameson Irish Whiskey, etc. if you need a wine/alcoholic pairing.
Friendly service, but could use a little attentiveness for refilling our water cups. The dining room is spacious & I don't recommend sitting near the entrance, especially on a windy day. Our hot plates cooled fairly quick due to the constant breeze. The plaza consisted mostly of eateries so parking can be challenging during lunch/dinner rush.
NAM Kitchen offers a different spin on Vietnamese food to pique your taste buds.
Recommended: Golden Pear Salad, Oxtail Fried Rice, House Chicken Wings, Ribeye Steak with Garlic Noodles, French Fries, Lychee Peachee, June Lemon.