At Pink Bellies in Charleston, experience a vibrant mix of modern charm and bold, artfully crafted Vietnamese dishes that keep diners coming back for more.
"Vietnamese American spot Pink Bellies offers lunch on Upper King, Thursdays through Sundays. Grab a seat in the stunning dining room and order the garlic noodles, lamb dumplings, or an “Animal Style” cheeseburger (an ode to In-N-Out). Take a look at the cocktail list for creative concoctions like the pho cocktail with gin, a hit of Sriracha, and fish sauce." - Erin Perkins
"A Vietnamese restaurant known for its standout soft shell crab dishes, particularly the fried crab sandwich on a milk bun with shrimp pate, tartar sauce, pickles, and dill." - Erin Perkins
"Stop by rollicking Vietnamese restaurant Pink Bellies for the garlic “KFC” wings. Despite the moniker, these are far superior to anything the fast food chain puts out. Chef Thai Phi covers the chicken in a sweet soy glaze and tops it with bleu cheese and pickled daikon." - Erin Perkins, Parker Milner
"The food here is whimsical, sometimes a little theatrical, and generally doesn't take itself too seriously, but it all comes from a very particular point of view—that of chef Thai Phi. He's been wowing Charleston since his days working a food truck parked near the College of Charleston campus, and his menu at this slick and so-not-a-food-truck restaurant is very much an evolved expression of his Vietnamese-American viewpoint, from paying homage to his love of L.A. with the Animal Burger, to his family's culinary heritage. Standouts include “OG” garlic noodles, banh mi with blueberry jam, and some chicken wings that easily stand alongside the best in town. There is also a strong cocktail game here, from a smoked whiskey cocktail that is still balanced beyond the party trick, and a pho cocktail with gin and a dash of sriracha and fish sauce that is one of the most popular drinks on the menu." - Stephanie Burt
"Pink Bellies began in 2014 as a small food truck near the College of Charleston serving Vietnamese comfort food to students and locals. Now, it has a home in a new space on King Street, which is impossible to miss thanks to their neon pink lighting that never fails to remind us of Janelle Monae’s “Make Me Feel” music video. The savory garlic noodles with pulled pork, pickled onions, parmesan, and sriracha are what you want, but also throw in an order of lamb dumplings, along with the Not Fried Chicken Ice Cream: a dessert that looks like a chicken drumstick from Life Raft Treats." - jai jones, emily yates
