Just in time for Lunar New Year, our expert correspondent shares her inside views on food and the 7 best Vietnamese restaurants, from classic Pho spots to hip fine dining, that you need to try right now in New York City.
what are the best Vietnamese restaurants in NYC?
One of the great joys of living in New York City is that you don’t have to leave your hometown to taste some of the best versions of nearly every cuisine in the world.
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As we prepared our latest package of articles about Lunar New Year, one of our correspondents offered to share her personal list of favorite Vietnamese restaurants in NYC. We immediately accepted the offer, and now we’re sharing her expert take on where to go if you’re in the city and in search of the best in Vietnamese cuisine.
the 7 vietnamese restaurants best now in new york city
Here the seven cool restaurants serving Vietnamese cuisine in New York City that our correspondent swears by and personally loves, “ranging from hip to classic Pho spots.”
1. Saigon Social
Billed as “Vietnamese Comfort Food,” Saigon Social on the corner of Orchard and Stanton has developed a devoted following, in part because of its investment in the local community in a time of crisis.
Best Vietnamese restaurants in New York City right now: Saigon Social. Courtesy Photo.
5-star classically trained chef Helen Nguyen (who trained in the kitchen of Daniel Boulud) launched her new eatery in March 2020. Just as the mandatory shutdowns due to coronavirus were starting to take effect. Saigon Social immediately began partnering with local organizations to help feed frontline workers.
The Bahn Mi Burger from Saigon Social. Photo Credit: The Infatuation.
2. Hanoi House
Hanoi House is on St. Marks Place in the East Village. They’re open for outdoor dining, takeout and delivery until the COVID-19 restrictions are eased. We can’t wait to visit, based on the glowing review that the New York Times granted the restaurant. The reviewer described the pho bac, the noodle soup indigenous to northern Vietnam, as “a living thing, animal, drawn from a pot crowded with bones.” They meant this as extremely high praise.
Best Vietnamese restaurants in NYC right now: Hanoi House. Courtesy Photo.
The writer went on to say that you also cannot miss the “impossibly airy, blistered spring rolls or the rugged fold of rice-flour crepe called banh xeo, golden with turmeric and plumped by coconut milk . . . fresh and bright.”
The banh xeo at Hanoi House. Photo Credit: Ramsay de Give for the New York Times.
3. Di An Di
Restaurant Di An Di on Greenpoint Avenue in Brooklyn is among the swankier establishments on our list. The eatery even has its own online shop, so you can show your love on your baseball cap if that’s how you roll.
Best Vietnamese restaurants in NYC right now: Di An Di, Brooklyn. Courtesy Photo.
Best Vietnamese restaurants in NYC right now: Di An Di, Brooklyn. Photo Credit: Eater NY.
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4. Nha Trang One
Located on Baxter Street in Manhattan near the courthouses, Nha Trang One is described as “an enduring, no frills eatery.” And “a cozy mainstay for Vietnamese staples.”
Nha Trang One restaurant New York. Photo Credit: The Infatuation.
It’s rated as a favorite by many reviewers for pho – the chicken-based pho ga is among the best in New York. If you have jury duty, this is one of the places to check out on your lunch break.
5. Pho Grand
Pho Grand is . . . on Grand Street. So you definitely won’t forget where to find it. The restaurant bills itself as an expert in “modern interpretations of classic dishes.”
Pho Grand. Courtesy Photo.
You’ll find 24 different kinds of Pho on the menu, making it one of the best places for pho in New York. With the current COVID-19 restrictions, the only option to sample their menu is pick-up and takeout (no deliveries).
6. Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich (SVS) Deli
Broome Street is home to Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli, where you’ll find 8 varieties of classic hoagies, and another 4 that are vegan. There are also salads, rolls, freshly squeezed juices, sodas and Vietnamese coffee (hot and iced).
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7. Madam Vo
At Madam Vo on East 10th Street in New York’s East Village, at the moment you can order pick-up and delivery, or stop in for outdoor dining. This original Madame Vo location opened in January 2017 featuring contemporary southern Vietnamese cooking.
Madame Vo New York. Photo Credit: Eater NY.
The New York Times waxed rhapsodic about the pho nam, saying it tastes exactly “as it might be made in the Mekong Delta.” Their reviewer also raved about the secret “avocado sauce that accompanies cua lot rang muoi (fried soft-shell crab).”
The best Vietnamese restaurants NYC: Bo bia at Madame Vo. Photo Credit: Alan Winslow for the New York Times.
In 2019, sister restaurant Madame Vo BBQ was born. It was the first-ever Vietnamese barbecue restaurant in the city, and New York Times critic Pete Wells named it a Critic’s Pick. The BBQ offshoot is currently closed due to COVID-19 – but we hope it will reopen soon. In the meantime, grab some merchandise at their online shop.
the best Vietnamese restaurants in NYC
Even in the midst of the worst challenges restaurants have faced in New York in recent memory, there are still wonderful places for an exceptional meal. And these eateries need our support now more than ever. So treat yourself to a transporting meal at one of the 7 best Vietnamese restaurants in NYC. And bring your pod with you!
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