The Good Bowl

The Pho Saigon was an interesting culinary experience overall. The broth and noodles were decent, though it lacked a certain depth of flavor. Despite the average taste, the swift service significantly enhanced the dining experience. The quick turnaround time allowed us to enjoy our meal without any unnecessary delays. Therefore, the efficiency of the staff made the meal quite pleasant.

We had a family reunion in TC and wanted to have an adults night out. I called and was able to get tables for our group (not sitting together). The morning of the reservation, the restaurant called back and let me know that they are able to sit us all together (thanks!). We arrived and were shown to our area right away. The menu is small and the ordering process was a bit confusing at first. Our server was helpful, and friendly. The cocktails menu is fairly small: I’d suggest to try the Hit by a Rickshaw (aka Old Fashioned), and Feisty Asian. Several of us ordered items from the Dim Sum section of the menu and liked all the Dumplings, Shrimp Netted Rolls, and the Bun Vermicelli Salad. On the Small Plates section, I recommend the Vietnamese Crispy Ribs (fantastic flavor), and Cha Gio. The Bun Cha was decent albeit dry (I wish that the chef integrated pork belly in the meat and had some greens under the meat); the Pho was quite good. All in all, we had a good time. I only took a few photos.

Probably one of my favorites in tc! Food is so good! I get chicken pho and different apps. Me and my friends use this spot as a girl dinner a lot! I highly recommend if you love Vietnamese food!

Fun festive Vietnamese restaurant. So many good choices on the menu. Our server was helpful and not overbearing. From the Pho to the dumplings we loved it! Nice clean Asian atmosphere

This was the first stop of our Traverse City vacation and we were so excited to have pho since my mom was raised in Vietnam. We did have a reservation and sat immediately. After that the service was sub par. We had just done a 7 hour drive and got waters but our waitress didn’t come to our table for 15-20 mins. Finally another waitress saw we weren’t helped and got our order. Once the pho got to our table they didn’t bring out a plate of veggies or sauce on the table. We had to ask for extra limes and sriracha. Apart from the slow service, the food was very good. My mom could tell their broth was authentic. Definitely check them out, just be weary of slow service during busy hours! Great pho all in all.

Good spot for Vietnamese cuisine. Tried the hot pot which was great, however some of the other dishes like the chicken wings, noodles and spring rolls were average. If you love Asian cuisine or trying out new restaurants, it’s worth a visit if in the area else you can skip.

Really enjoyed the fish and chips. The breading was just the right amount and the fries were crispy. We enjoyed the tartar sauce as well as the chili (it has a bit of heat but the spices were tasty). The papaya salad is not as sour as I’m used to, but just asking for an extra slice of lime fixed that for me. As tourists looking for fish and chips, I admit this wasn’t our first choice coming to Traverse City. However, I’m glad we took a chance. The service was top notch as well. Our server Michael was polite and attentive. All in all, this restaurant is certainly worth checking out.

This place had a great atmosphere, our server Kevin was fantastic! I have never had Vietnamese food before, and I really enjoyed it! I’m not sure how authentic it may be but it tastes great. The grilled Nappa Cabbage and the Scallion Pancake were very tasty. The drinks are also very good, I recommend the Pink Lotus! Tastes like a pink lemonade. I would gladly come back here again.

I had wanted to visit The Good Bowl for a long time and finally got the opportunity. We went on a Monday, which I found out was one of the days that they serve dim sum and small plates, the other being Sunday. We ordered a few items from the menu to share, and I ordered a drink that was described as an "Asian margarita". It was delicious! I loved the cozy atmosphere. Our server was attentive, friendly, and efficient. The food was fabulous!!! I am already planning my next visit, probably on a Sunday or Monday!

Had a great experience at the good bowl for lunch today. Really enjoyed my spicy pork bowl. Everything about it was a wonderfully balanced, nice spice and a very generous portion size. The service was fantastic. Never had to wait for a drink to be refilled and the food came out quick. Would definitely go back.

They serve up some darn tasty Vietnamese food here -- I'd particularly endorse the crispy cod, the crispy ribs, the gai lan, and either the spring or summer rolls -- but I'm sure there is much more here. The flavors are lively, balanced, and satisfying -- even after a 15 minute drive home in a sack full of takeout boxes. One of my better Traverse City meals this year.

Small restaurant in downtown traverse city. I was expecting better quality of foods but I wasn't impressed much. portion size was pretty small. But I understand that everything is expensive in tourist area. I usually don't drink broth of noodles but it's because food portion was small , I had to drink them to fill me up. Taste wasn't bad but nothing special about. Steamed shrimp dumpling looked like something you can buy at Asian store. At first glance ,the menu looked like some kind of symbols on paper with minimal explanation about dishes they serve. It was a bit confusing to me. I thought it was little unusual design of menu. Server was friendly but never came to refill our drinks. I've dined at many Asian restaurants so I just had a high expectation.

I ordered a Chicken Bamn Mi for pickup on my way back to my hotel room from the hospital It was ready at the time they said it would be and was very tasty. I want to go back for a sit-down meal, maybe some fresh spring rolls and Pho Tai

This is a great choice for Vietnamese food. The Pho portion is big, price is reasonable and food is delicious.

Great place for pho, etc. I regularly eat lunch here when I'm in Traverse City. Service and food are always excellent.

Food was just ok. Lacked seasoning. Pho was served with everything already in the bowl rather than fresh veggies on the side which is customary. Took most of it with us so I can fix something out if it at our place. I had several bad pieces of lettuce in my salad and asked for something else because I was sick of picking them out. I was made to feel like it was me who did not like the greens, rather than acknowledgement that there on my napkin was a pile of way past wilted discards I pulled out. Ditto the bib lettuce in the spring roll plate- rotted edges. Spring rolls were again, meh. Tofu had an odd taste. Maybe from the grill No point going back.

Vibes were great Serves great Mushrooms hitting Cocktails hitting But wats with the bike over the window? It was all we talked about on our walk home

The atmosphere is fantastic, solid service, and tasty food. If you enjoy Pho, or Vietnamese food in general, you can't miss this place!

Solid pho spot in downtown Traverse City. I got the chicken pho, summer rolls, and Chinese broccoli (which was my favorite of the three).

The best!! All the dishes we ordered were so flavorful and came out in great time! Always looking forward to going back!

Great food with a relaxed atmosphere. The food doesn't always look super flavorful, but it IS! Family friendly and nice service!

We had high hopes. It was a total let down. As the more recent reviews indicated, we wanted to love them but we couldn't even like them. The online menu was outdated with no beef at all and the summer rolls are vegetable or tofu (no shrimp). It's at the end of the main strip so there's no parking. We paid for a local inexpensive parking lot. We had a wait an hour to just get the food and it was soooo sub-par. First, understand that you need to wait in line and then order at the counter (there is not real table service). You can apparently order to go on the phone (if only we'd realized that). There was very little rice and noodles (the cheapest part of the meal, as another reviewer points out) - so sparse that we were all very hungry after eating. So once you get past the skimpy serving of starch, let's get to the "meat" of things. The summer rolls were gross with tofu (look at the photos - that yellow striped item is the tofu not grilled zucchini and it tastes about what it looks like). We wanted shrimp in the summer rolls (it's even listed on their website) but they told us the menu was outdated and our choices were vegetable or tofu. If you ran out of shrimp then just say that! The well-reviewed ribs and shrimp were so heavy and gross that I didn't eat the rest. There were 6-7 ribs and they were tender but not crispy. The ribs were covered in some goopy BBQ sauce that is unforgivable. At $17 for the salt and pepper shrimp (also kind of unhealthy whether deep fried of pan fried) for 5 "large" shrimp - ok, so that's 5 shrimp so that's $3.40 per shrimp with a less than a cup of cooked rice. Given this poor quality of food, wait time and difficulty to pick up, I can't believe the restaurant will stay in business long. They're riding their old good reviews. If you want really good Vietnamese food for a great price but do not expect ambience, go to TC Vietnamese which is an 8 minute drive away.

It's one of those places where you order at the counter, get a number to put at your table, then they bring your food out when it's ready. We ordered the pho and tofu bun. The pho broth had good flavor but there wasn't much meat or noodles. The bun was only okay because it didn't have enough flavor.

We actually planned to eat at a different restaurant on Front Street. But it was Sunday evening and a few restaurants were closed. We found this place towards the end of the strip. So glad we decided to keep walking! Upon entry, you order at the counter first then find a table. A server brings out your food to you. We ordered the papaya salad, brisket pho, and chicken wings. The salad was so refreshing! The wings were super crispy. The pho broth was very flavorful and it had lots of meat. Cool vibe and decor - bicycle hanging from the ceiling, bar that seats about 8, several table tops, chalk board hanging on brick walls... They donate a part of their proceeds to charity!

The place was already packed when we came in, and for that brief moment they were a bit understaffed. The waitress who takes orders was stuck making some of their fancy beverages, and the line was being held up. They are an order at the counter and sit down with a number place, so this was not good. However, she made it back before things really started piling up. But by then, most of the seats in the place had been taken. So when it was our turn, we were lucky enough to get just about the last three seats. If not, it looked like she was going to turn down taking eat-in orders for a few minutes, until someone departed. Kind of a tough model to run by, but I guess it works if the food is good and people will wait for it. Not a ton of seating so I can see this problem happening frequently. Maybe that's why there were so many people coming in for take-out lunch orders too. We got our order in promptly. They have a pretty straightforward simple menu with not too many choices, which makes everything easy. Mostly Pho, some other vietnamese classics, and banh mi, and a selection of appetizers. I ordered summer rolls with shrimp and a kaffir lime chicken banh mi sandwich. Two rolls came on the summer rolls plate. They were huge, with a quarter slice of a cucumber, shrimp, lettuce, cilantro and basil. Cucumber was a little awkward to bite through, maybe a finer cut on that would have been easier to eat. Very generous portion, but they were definitely lacking in the herb department (cilantro and thai basil) which is what I really want to enjoy when I eat a summer roll. The peanut sauce was good but I've had better; looked just squeezed out of a bottle maybe, only flavor of really smooth peanut butter. I like mine with some coconut milk, some heat, and maybe some curry/lime juice/sweet in the background. Definitely one-dimensional and too "lab-flavored" as like to say, it just didn't feel that home made, half a point off for that. The banh mi sandwich was great. Deliciously grilled chicken with powerful kaffir lime flavor, great aioli, julienned carrot and daikon, on a soft roll. I was hoping for maybe a more baguette-experience, but the roll was it. The Pho bowls were huge and filled with steaming broth, meat, whatever you want. Overall, a good dining experience and I would go back.

First thing we noticed when we walked in - they are way understaffed. The bartender was making drinks, waiting on bar customers, and playing hostess all at once. There were only like two other waiters also scrambling about, and one of the kitchen staff was busting butt serving tables. Still, it felt weird to stand there at the hostess stand for an awkwardly long time completely ignored by everyone walking by. Was maybe a 15 minute wait despite it being a busy night, so turnover time was alright I guess. Our orders were placed and came out decently fast as well. Okay, now the food. Oh boy. These were probably the most bland Viet dishes I've ever had. I've had a lot of Vietnamese over the years, so I know what a good take on the classics tastes like, and this wasn't it. The peanut sauce accompanying the summer roll tasted like it was basically just a spoonful of Skippy peanut butter - this place clearly doesn't know that adding hoisin is a staple in making actual Vietnamese peanut sauce. The worst offender was the pho, though - $20+ for a really sad bowl of mushy noodles and maybe half the warranted amount of meat protein. I could cry. But most of all, that BROTH??? I took a couple sips and almost couldn't believe it. Pho broth is absolutely the most integral part of the dish, and this broth was watered down garbage. Pho broth is supposed to warm your insides and make you feel all good. Instead, a couple sips of this broth made me want to throw something at the wall. I've seriously never felt so offended during a meal. The Good Bowl's tagline is "enlightened Vietnamese cuisine". Well, I left feeling neither enlightened nor that I had just consumed Vietnamese cuisine. Will not be coming back.

Stopped in on a friend's recommendation, and I'm never going to trust the friend again. He raved about it, and I found it all to be very mediocre. From the lackluster broth to the mushy noodles, to the lack of sufficient meat in the pho Saigon, it was all around disappointing. less "enlightened" Vietnamese restaurant you would expect to get a side of Sriracha, hoisin sauce, and a plate of jalapeños, mung, bean, sprouts, and cilantro, and add them yourself rather than have it all dumped into your bowl at once. The crunchy spring rolls were OK. The bahn mi was another major disappointment. The classic Vietnamese bread is made with a high percentage of rice flour, which gives it its signature crunchiness and light texture. The roll that I was served was nothing other than a standard sandwich roll. Also, where is the pate? And the iced Vietnamese coffee was both weak and not sweet enough. Maybe they should drive less enlightened and more complete. And for God's sake work on the broth.

This is more of a cafe style restaurant where you place your order at the front then take a seat and your food will be brought out. Shared the Brussels sprouts appetizer which were wonderful. I ordered the pho with brisket, which came with meatballs and a different cut of beef in it too. The soup comes with basil and bean sprouts already added to the soup with jalapeños being optional. My first spoonful of broth was incredible: super fragment of herbs and authentic flavor. The beef strips were tough to eat, however, and the long slices made it even harder to chew. The noodles were not cooked enough and made the soup less enjoyable. The stir fry noodles that I only had a bite of were decent. Strong on oyster sauce with a slight sour vinegar taste. Not to my liking, but my guest thoroughly enjoyed it. I did not order any drinks but they had the funnest names like "Hit by a Rickshaw". Overall: enjoyed the Viet food representation in Traverse City.

We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch. Dim Sum menu was very easy to pick out choices. Everything we ate was tasty and filling. Great staff and location.

This was a wonderful lunch stop. The service was pleasant and food was good and to top it off $1 is donated for each new customer. I had the pho Saigon and it was very good. I was able to sit at a bar along the windows and people watch while I ate. It was probably a little uncomfortable for the people eating right outside but oh well. If I was in town for more than a day I would stop again.

I'm a pho-natic, having grown up with the stuff, so I'm always on the hunt for That Superior Bowl. We had a lovely dinner, with great service and a pleasant atmosphere. I think this outweighed the fact that the food ranged from mediocre (dumplings) to good, but The brussels sprouts, which seem to be on every menu in the entire county, were great. They come with a sort of nước chấm dipping sauce at the bottom of the bowl, meaning that you can enjoy as much or as little as you want if that's not your jam. But the pho saigon was just sort of whatever. While some spots will place too much emphasis on the noodles (like the entire bottom half of the bowl is noodles), I tend to think that this is better than not having enough noodles. Volume of ingredients was overall good, and their setup also provides all of the ingredients already in the bowl (as opposed to brought out separately). I'd go back and try maybe the wings and the cauliflower on the starters menu, or possibly the banh mi. The Vietnamese ribs look amazing but they seem like an involved affair. Again, it's hard for me to give less than four stars for a dining experience that was, overall, an entirely pleasant evening-- even if the food wasn't all stellar.

Highly recommend The Good Bowl. We were deciding between here and another local Vietnamese restaurant. Tried here bc it has kids options. Our 6 year old loved the noodle bowl. He is typically very picky. I also had the Bun bowl and the ribs we shared. Oh my! The ribs were incredible. Some of the best I've ever had! Ever. My husband had the special which was spicy. A good spicy. My oldest had a rice bowl. He enjoyed the egg on top! Staff was very friendly and the restaurant donated towards a charity of our choice. To date they've contributed $144,351! We are just traveling through but would come back here in a heart beat! Thanks Good Bowl. Keep doing what you are doing!

I'm a vegan and it's sometimes hard to find good food places but oh man! This place have my heart now....amazing food and ambience. The service was to die for, super quick and friendly staff. Definitely visit this place for sone good vegan options

Very friendly folks, nice atmosphere. Food was interesting and very tasty. Found dinners very salt forward. Best drinks we had in TC (ordered the Feisty Margarita, spouse got their spin on a mojito) - handmade cocktails (as all should be) by someone who knows how. Asset to area. Recommend reservations for peak hours, small space.

The restaurant gives some of their profit to charities. I always appreciate when businesses do that. The staff was great. We commented on how the dividers between tables adds a more private feel otherwise it would feel like a diner style. They might have been put up for covid but I think they should stay. Thai tea with boba was refreshing. Summer rolls had a lot of cilantro and greens. But shrimp was excellent. We didn't like the dumplings , the meat and the flavoring was off to us, but I'm not sure if that is our palettes or something about them that needs to be tweaked in the recipe. My friend got the salt and pepper shrimp I would go back just for that, it looked amazing.

This is a wonderful restaurant in Traverse City. We were there on a Monday, enjoying the dim sum and small plates menu. Since I do not eat red meat, I found the Ha Cao Dumplings, the mushroom Bao Buns, and the Glass Noodle Salad tasty and satisfying. My wife really liked the grilled chicken Bao Buns and the Edamame Dumplings. Our daughter devoured the Garlic Fried Rice. The staff, especially our server, were informative, attentive, and personable. It was very busy for a Monday (they had to close early because they ran out of food!), but the noise level allowed for private conversation. It was very helpful to make reservations. We look forward to returning and partaking in the regular menu next time we are in Traverse City.

Wish I could give 4.5 stars! It was honestly one of the coolest restaurant experiences because the donate money to different causes and allow you to choose which one their money goes to with your order - more restaurants should be like this! Also, just loved the vibe everyone was so kind. The pho was very tasty, with a really good portion of meat and huge portion of soup overall. I wish I would've gotten jalapeños on the side because they were surprisingly spicy. The bubble tea was also really good! Overall, definitely recommend stopping in here if you're in the area.

My partner and I came in last night, after a long day climbing the dunes. The dumplings and spring rolls were amazing. The Pho lacked flavor and it was odd that the sprouts and veggie fixing were in the soup instead of on the side. Also where was the hoisin and sriracha sauce??? The staff was very friendly and the food came out in a timely manner. The restaurant it self was nicely decorated and had a cozy, modern vibe.

Last month I reviewed the Little Fleet in Traverse City, MI. At that visit I opted for Vietnamese street food from the aptly-named "Good on Wheels " food truck. In speaking with the friendly person who took my order, I learned that the owner of the truck also owned a restaurant about a block down the street called The Good Bowl. Now, on my next visit back, I had to try it, and my daughter and I went for a late lunch/early dinner. The place seems very popular, as it was almost full at about 2:30-3:00 on a Wednesday afternoon. We started out by sharing the Crispy Brussels Sprouts ($11.00). They were nicely fried with shallots and tossed in nước chấm (a Vietnamese dipping sauce made from a base of fish sauce with garlic and chile - not fishy, think instead of semi-sweet with a little kick), then topped with scallions. The serving was plenty to share. A very tasty dish! My daughter opted for the Bun Xao with beef, which is a stir-fry of shredded beef ribeye over a bed of fresh rice noodles, lettuce, cilantro, seasonal greens, ginger, daikon (winter radish), scallions, nước chấm, and peanuts ($16.00). I tasted it and the beef was very tender and flavorful and the ingredients blended well. I had the Vietnamese Crispy Fried Pork Ribs, which were 7 ribs served with jasmine rice, peanuts, thai chilis, fried shallots, fresh Vietnamese herbs and side of nước chấm ($18.00). The ribs were meaty and tender, but not fatty, and the flavor was excellent. As far as drinks, they do serve cocktails, as well as wine, asian and local craft beer, and cider. I opted, however, for the thai black iced tea blended with asian coconut milk, boba & sweetened condensed milk and my daughter had one of their locally-sourced sodas. The service there was prompt and friendly. I should also note that they dedicate $1.00 from every entree to charity (you choose the charity off of a list they have). Overall, it was a great experience and I can't wait to get back there to try one of the other good-looking entrées!

Was pleasantly surprised to find Vietnamese food place in Traverse City. Came here with family and got the pho, summer roll, rice bowl, and bubble teas. Pleasant service and satisfying food! The bubble tea comes as Assam Black vs Jasmine Green, to which you can add various flavors (somewhat reminiscent of Quickly or Tpumps) and toppings. Portion size is reasonable for code and taste will sate the palate for Vietnamese-food cravings.

We stopped by here during our weekend getaway in TC this past April. Our small town at home doesn't have Pho, and I was instantly intrigued when I walked by. I had a Pho with beef, and the flavors were so interesting and delicious, and deceptively large portions! I couldn't finish my broth, but I ate all the good stuff in the bowl. Nice way to fill up your tummy with something warm before hitting the wineries on a chilly, windy spring day. I found out later after perusing the travelers guide in our B&B that this place is the talk of the town! It has won several awards for dining and experience, and we will certainly be back on our next trip.

I am a local and I go to the good bowl often because the food is amazing and consistent and they give to Charity. I recommend the pork ribs, ,the dumplings..... spring rolls Everything else on the menu is hot fresh and tasty. I also bought some of their cool supplies like I have a few Ramen bowls and chopsticks and other things I've purchased.

I love the food and always want to drive the 2 hours to get there. The best food? The wings! They are savory yet sweet! I even had a dream about them! Another good choice if you go there is the pho. It's delicious!

Amazing place for very interesting Vietnamese food. Sundays are dim sum, so you can go crazy ordering multiple dishes. Pretty much on the menu is very appetizing and the people are very friendly. I hope to come back soon!

You know when you have the good stuff, because the broth is fragrant, herbal, and a little sweet. This is it. The space is cute, welcoming, and the service was excellent. I also appreciated that they pick a few local non-profits to support each quarter, and let customers choose who their $1 goes to. A really clever way to help people get to know the organizations impacting their community.

Visited the other night. We saw that people were standing in line, we figured it was for carry out, so we sat down at the bar. At least 3 employees walked by us with out so much as a boo. After 25 minutes, a lady asked if we were waited on, we said no. She explained that all of the ordering is done at the end of the counter where we thought it was for carry out. If someone had told us this when we walked in, or if there was a sign or menu or something on the bar that mentioned this, we might have stayed. Instead, we left and had an excellent meal at a different Asian restaurant a block away. The restaurant is tiny, btw. I don't think they can fit more than 40 patrons at one time. The barstools were comfortable, but I would have preferred a nice meal to having to walk in the rain to another location.

Gave locals 20% for the week. I support this community bond and recognizing the locals. It gives the locals a chance to admire what we have throughout the year especially with many restaurants and stores downtown selling out to the tourism.

(Visiting from South Florida) Original went in 2022 my girlfriend and I loved it and were blown away on the friendly staff and delicious food. I had to come back in 2023 with my family and everyone was blown away with the friendly mess of staff and delicious foods. We went towards closing but still managed to have a fantastic meal a wonderful bar tender and overall a wonderful time. Anyone visiting Traverse City I highly recommend trying this place! Great vibes very cozy feeling overall just great vibes all around, and wonderful smells coming from the kitchen

I debated the ranking on this one.. was it the best pho I've ever had? No. Was it good and a fun experience? Yes. The wife and I stopped in on a Saturday night for dine in and sat at the counter cause it was busy. Good amount of carryout going out the door. The set up when you walk in is a little confusing as you don't know whether to see a host or get in line to order for dine in. Once we got to the counter the lady explained how it worked and we placed our order and left the tab open incase we wanted anything else. (Someone previously said they didn't like tipping up front and this is one way around that - of note we left a full tip when we cashed out as the drinks, food and service interactions were all good) We got 2 drinks, 2 phos and an appetizer and it was like 70 plus tip. The drinks were good and had creative names( not offensive). The pho was good and came with a good amount of meat. The server asked if we wanted any sauce sides and we did chili oil and sriracha to spice it up. They do put the bean sprouts, jalapeños and such in vs on the side as an fyi. We will be back. Also they let you pick the charity for 1 dollar per pho gets donated to. Pretty cool to show the charities and let the guest pick. We will be back.

Service and location were good. The pho was very salty. Soy Sauce? Should look more this this: https://iamafoodblog.com/authentic-instant-pot-pho-recipe/

Walk in to order or get a table. Small dine in area, but they do text the wait list. We stopped in 5:30pm on a Wednesday. Waited 15 minutes for a table and rather long for our food. Order at the counter, water self serve, food brought to table. Dumplings tasted good but not warm? Salt and pepper shrimp were delicious, rice was sweet, side of veg was very spicy. Beef stir fry was good but covered in cilantro (not expecting or didn't read well) and my niece has that issue where it tastes like soap. Sam portions for the price. Great location. Friendly service.

So my star rating is a little conflicted. This is not your typical Pho and Bun place. it's upscale Vietnamese food, at upscale pricing. I am a bit picky with my Pho, having tried it all over the country, with some very memorable places. The pho is a 3 star, even given the venue and what they're trying to do. It's not that it wasn't delicious, but I expected more noodles and soup. I wasn't satisfied, even if the portions were combined (we split ours). Noodles and soup are the cheapest part of the dish, just add another $0.25 of it so it's filling. Pho should be a dish that leaves you full, especially at this price. But the pork ribs are a 5 star+! There are some dishes I try that are memorable enough to either try to find something similar near me, or figure out how to make it myself (or at least try to). This was the latter. I've never had ribs be this crispy, almost like it was battered and fried. It has a caramelized coating that evokes almost fried chicken or salmon skin. The fried shallots and marinade, nuoc cham and all are cohesively amazing. I do wish it came with more rice to match the six meaty ribs it came with (very filling).

Did take out and had tofu pho. It was amazing. Packaged to go very well. Nice people when I picked up.

Was okay. They garnish your pho for you which I really didn't like. I'm very particular with my sprouts, so I didn't like the surprise. Plus, isn't that part of the fun; rooting through the usual complements and making it your own, right? Customers sort of expect it with pho. Bone or vegie broth and one type of noodle. Those are your choices. I thought the veggie pho was weak. Was mostly noodles and sprouts with only shavings of green pepper, scallions, jalapeno (just look at my pictures), and the rest of whatever other meek garnishments you couldn't taste there were; with none of the usual veggies I tend to get everywhere else. No pea pods, bok choy, little baby corns, red or green pepper (no, those shavings don't count), or broccoli, or carrots, or whatever all else. And I thought the broth, the bone broth, was lacking in depth of flavor. Was very clean tasting. Other strange house rules include counter service with pre tip; which is really sort of an odd thing to me given all they really do is bring out your food. You get yourself water refills and hop back in line if you choose to order something else later. I hate being put on the spot like that too; with the tip. I did like the space. Was fun and fresh. And those fried Imperial Rolls leveraged them up from a two. Those were Awesome. I also liked they donated a dollar of my check to any one of three charities I chose. I went with The Children's Defense Fund; so I won't complain about them also being the most expensive pho I've had in awhile. Was about $10 more for my usual order.

Amazing!! Dim sum sunday is a MUST for trying everything. My partner and I went for our very first time for a little date and we left there stuffed and very impressed. Highly recommend the bao buns. Can't get good bao buns anywhere up north but this place can do them just as good as anywhere in a big city. Also recommend getting their sriracha with any of their pho! Packs a good spicy punch with a fresh tomatoey front.

This place is a great take on Vietnamese food! I love the modern twist and what their business stands for. If you're looking for a great restraint that's not burgers this is the place to go! I would say that it is on the more expensive side, but its worth it. I love everything except for the pho. It's not as good as homemade, but being one of the only places in town to sell it I'll take what I can get. Great casual date night spot! Every time I go there I get the imperial rolls. They're crispy and have the perfect amount of filling!

If you are looking for Vietnamese food in Traverse City, this is the place to go! I've now been here a few times now (including twice this week), so I think I can finally form an opinion. The food quality is good along with their service. IMHO their dishes could be tweaked some (more options/different items in dishes, I'm used to egg rolls in bun, which they don't do), and their prices are a bit high for what you get. It's also in TC, so it's all relative I guess in reference to the cost! Wasn't happy that there are mushrooms in their dumplings which they don't list (took a bite before I discovered that too). I've had their pho, com and recently their delicious sambal fried rice (on special/newer item), which was really flavorful and had a little kick to it! I admit I'm spoiled as I'm from the Metro Detroit area and we have an abundance of AMAZING Vietnamese restaurants with in 10miles of where I live! This place is considered a fast casual restaurant and a great thing they do is to donate $1 per bowl to a charity, so that's pretty awesome!