Stumbled onto this place while walking on the street - even though it was 5:30 pm on a Saturday night and I had no reservation I was welcomed in to sit at the back bar. What a delightful surprise - great food at a great price, great atmosphere, and truly nice crew (I met a new waiter - his first day on the job - the house manager, and the chef, all of whom briefly chatted with me.) On waiter Brandon's recommendation, I ordered the Cahn Ga (chicken wings) appetizer and was instantly hooked - among the best I've ever had! Generously sized, three big wings with perfectly cooked, tender meat in a delicious crisp coating, subtly spiced with a bit of sauce and herbs. It was so good I ended up ordering a to-go order to bring home to my wife! At $8 per order this was an absolute deal. Also at his suggestion I had the main course soup, Bun Rieu - a generously portioned and lovely bowl (see photo) that featured a tangy (but not spicy) red broth with herbs and vegetable garnish, lots of vermicelli-like soft rice noodles, satisfying slices of baked tofu, and featuring unusual (and tasty) "meatballs" of mixed ground pork and crab paste, which filled me up quite happily. In talking to chef Galaxy (as he introduced himself) I learned that his goal was to bring reasonably priced Vietnamese "street food" to the public, being mindful of how difficult it is to present affordable and tasty food to the neighborhood in these times. I'd say he succeeded admirably! The decor was vibrant and fun - colorful paper lanterns, a lovely and inviting entrance full of Vietnamese signs and memorabilia, and a cheery if deliberately low-key vibe. And pleasant, not-too-loud background music, a big plus. As one of the customers leaving as I went it said, this place has great, authentic food. I'll be back. I'm no expert on Vietnamese street food, but I know what well-executed and delicious, good quality food at a good price can be. This place hits the mark.
