Lan Cafe

Lan Cafe - 342 E. 6th Street (1st and 2nd Avenue) (Vietnamese/Vegan) (Note: does not take credit cards)
Nestled on the culinary strip known as 6th street, Lan Cafe stands as the lone vietnamese restaurant - surrounded by a myriad of Indian establishments and diverse ethnic cuisines from Ethiopean to Cajun and Peruvian. Small and modest, Lan has found a niche, specializing in vegan versions of vietnamese standards (its menu filled with Banh Mi, shredded salads and Pho soups, all free from meat and the ubiquitous shrimp pastes and fish sauce.) Though they won't rock your world, the results are pleasantly tasty - especially the veggie ham salad - which was light with a complex mixture of sweet/sour tastes. A mixture of caramel stewed eggplant and tofu was also good, though not as spectacular as the Kho dishes found at New Pasteur. Yes, other outlets of vegan vietnamese do exist - most notably Saigon Banh Mi, which will prepare veggie hoagies and even Banh Uot upon request - but no other restaurant offers a full vegan menu. Worry free vietnamese, with a pleasantly light price tag? In my opinion, might be worth a visit (though honestly too bland for my taste!)

Boi

Boi - 246 E. 44th (off 2nd Avenue) (Vietnamese)
Located in mid-town east, Boi is an upscale restaurant, known for its high price range - and *occasionally* mentioned in best-of discussions when the topic turns to Vietnamese. Reviews for the restaurant are generally mixed, with some singing its praises...and others not so laudatory. Given the location, I had my doubts as to authenticity. But I work in midtown - and sometimes you gotta go with what's nearby. Besides, Goi Du Du was on the menu....and cravings must be satisfied.

Maybe I'm picky - and I'm definitely a snob when it comes to holes in the wall. I prefer low key, with an emphasis on grub over glamour. And nothing about Boi was wrong. The atmsophere was refined, the service fast, and the staff relatively pleasant (though a bit pretentious, and lacking in, er, Vietnamese aura.) As for the salad - well - it definitely had some capascin action going, with an acceptable degree of mouth burn. Laced with a hint of vinegar, the salad seemed - lacking - and sadly bland. This is Vietnamese guys - I want my fish sauce!

Ultimately, I left with my taste buds disappointed - and I doubt it was the fault of the dish. As I walked back to work, I found myself craving Som Tam - a chance to get the flavor punch that I had thought Goi Du Du would provide. But lesson learned - next time, I stick to places with less corporate credo - and more Nuoc Mam.

Kingsbridge Comparison

For those of us on the northern edge of NYC , Canal Street can be a bit of a trek - costing over an hour by subway (and that's if you're close to a main artery.) A substantial distance - especially for exotic food fans, seeking only to score one or two basic ingredients (such as dried thai pepper, canned jackfruit, or African fufu.) Fortunately, closer venues exist - including the following stops unearthed during a recent visit to the Kingsbridge area:

African Market - 2649 Jerome Avenue (African)
A small store, the African Market sells only a few basic items...a handful of DVDs, and some African staples. There's not much to see, but at least the essentials are available...such as homemade kenkey, and peppery Shintor sauce.

Battambang Market II - 229 E. Kingsbridge/194th Street
Another "essentials" store, Battambang offers a good selection of veggies, grains and rice paper wrappers. Located next to historical Poe cottage, it's a decent stop for your shopping needs...at least for Bronx-based Asian cuisine afficiandos.

Phnom Penh-Nha Trang - 2639 Jerome Avenue (193rd Street) (Cambodian/Pan-Asian)
Although owned by Cambodians, the focus of the store is pan-asian - with a decent selection of veggies, asian canned food and even basic thai desserts, available for impulse-buy near the counter. Nice people...and certainly worth a visit.

World of Taste - 2614 Jerome Avenue (Jerome Avenue/193rd) (Vietnamese)
A notable restaurant...if only because I've seen no other Vietnamese offerings anywhere near my neighborhood. Haven't been here myself, but according to the menu, alot of basic Viet staples are available - from Pho, to Banh Mi. So give it a try, and let me know!

Banh Mi in the Bronx

Finally, another good source of munchies in the Bronx!

Long ago, I had resigned myself to the culinary drought that is known as the Bronx (a.k.a. my neighborhood.) Okay, so there are great options - if you're into Puerto Rican, Dominican or other Spanish influenced meals. And--thank goodness--there is also the Philipino Food Centre on Gunhill, which can satisfy the odd, itchy craving for Sapin Sapin (assuming it hits sometime before 7 pm. No midnight Philippino snacks for you!) If you live around White Plains road, there's also a cornucopia of West Indian joints. But Asian food? Not so much. And on busy days, Chinatown seems a looooong train ride away.

But thanks to a lead from Chowhound, there's now another option - a mix of Asian groceries, Thai desserts and even good old Vietnamese Banh Mi . All available near the Kingsbridge exit - a quick two subway stops off the end of the D train!

Despite the obligatory Micky Dees, the area around Kingsbridge/Grand Concourse has alot of culinary potential. Near the train entrance--near the historical Poe Cottage--there's the Cambodian grocery store known as Battambang. Located at 2654 Valentine Avenue, it's stocked with the basics - including plenty of sauces, a few prepackaged desserts and even fresh durian, pre-chopped for convenience.

As you head down East Kingbridge, several West Indian restaurants become evident - advertising cornmeal, oxtail and other ethnic munchies. On Jerome itself (2649 Jerome Avenue) there's even an African market. It's pretty sparse, but packed with a few solid staples (including Banku and Fufu powder, and Shito pepper sauce.) Phnom Penh-Nha Trang Market is right next door, at 2639 Jerome Avenue. Like Battambang, Phnom Penh has prepackaged goodies...and a decent supply of sauces, canned groceries, and other Asian stuff for the kitchen cupboard.

Then there's Phung Hung Cafe - the Vietnamese restaurant located right across the street (2614 Jerome Avenue, off 193rd.) And yes - they gots the Banh Mi. While not the best rendition in the city, the Phung Hung version has all the good, downhome basics you'd expect in a Vietnamese hoagie - they're cheap, spicy and tasty, and available in three separate varieties (meatball, grilled pork or ground ham.) (Bless them, they even made a custom veggie version for my good ole' vegan self.)

If sandwiches aren't your style, be assured that the menu offers plenty of other Vietnamese basics. There are grab n' go munchies at the counter - ranging from Goi Cuon (fresh shrimp spring rolls) to the rainbow colored glutinous rice dessert known as Banh Da Long. Other options include rice dishes (com), noodle dishes (bun) and lots of Pho. There are beverages too - from Da Chanh Lemonade to strong Vietnamese coffee/condensed milk - and a particularly refreshing drink known as Si Muoi, made from ice water flavored with salty preserved plum. Decent food, at decent prices. But what's truly refreshing is the simple existance of a Vietnamese restaurant, located in the heart of the Bronx. Okay, so it's not directly in my neighborhood. But it's close enough for a quick jaunt. And that's all that a Gaijin Girl could ask for!

Thai So'n

Thai So'n - 89 Baxter Street (Vietnamese)

Not bad. Too touristy (read, clean, bright and commercial) for my tastes. But so far it's the only place that I've found Banh Xeo (Vietnamese Crepe), and that--at least--was terrific. They're a bit on the pricey side, $5-9 for a dish. Phil ordered a chicken with lemongrass, which honestly tasted like your basic American Chinese takeout. But I have to say, the service was nice.

Sau Voi Corp

Sau Voi Corp - 101-105 Lafayette Street, Store 3 - (Vietnamese)
This place on the outskirts of Chinatown (conveniently a few steps off the #6 train) has alot of small dish samplers of Vietnamese food at the counter. They're going to keep me busy for quite some time, I'm sure. Candy items, and several great and cheap Bahn Mi sandwiches - one of the great things about Sau Voi (in comparison to Tin Tan and Na Sach Khan is that alot of their stuff is labeled...so you'll be able to identify what you like - and what you want to have again!) Plus - how can you not love a place with dishes to go of Bahn Bot Loc and Banh Beo!?! Highly recommended!

Saigon Banh Mi

Saigon Banh Mi - 138 Mott Street (Vietnamese)
This little shoppe can be easy to miss - nestled in the back of a jewelry store near the southern corner of Grand. The menu is small, offering quality over quantity - including Banh Uot (a rarity in Chinatown), Nem Sausage, and a refrigerated section with salads, canned drinks and sweet Vietnamese beverages such as Rainbow Che. Then there's the Banh Mi - tasty renditions of that Vietnamese hero sandwich, available with pork, chicken...and veggie versions as well! The staff is warm, pleasant and happy to offer suggestions - an altogether fun experience. And $3.25 for a delicious sandwich - let's just say you can't go wrong!

Pho Viet Huong

Pho Viet Huong - 73 Mulberry Street (Vietnamese)
I didn't like this place. The day I went, the service was slow. I ordered a frog dish, and ended up chewing around vertebrae throughout the meal (and I don't mind that in general - I'm quite used to it with canned Salmon). But in this case, I actually was afraid of choking. But - that's just one experience, so don't let this review stop you if you're interested in trying Pho out.

Pho Pasteur

Pho Pasteur - 85 Baxter Street (Bayard and Walker) (Vietnamese)
Walk along Baxter Street, and you'll pass by a string of restaurants...offering Pho, Goi Cuon, and many more staples of Vietnamese cuisine. Nestled in the middle is a small, modest joint - just one of many, marked only by a plain white sign, hanging over an undistinguished storefront. Small and plainly decorated, Pho (New) Pasteur isn't much to look at. The tables are clean, and the prices are modest...and the Kho is fantastic....a deep, carmelized soup of veggies, spices, tofu, meats and/or seafood....poured over white rice, with a salty-sweet, complex flavor. Positive reviews on menupages overflow...calling Pho Pasteur "Best on the Block" and "The One and Only". Based on the Kho, I'd have to agree, and have vowed to return, and sample the myriad other Vietnamese staples that they offer, from Canh (soups) to the many Che desserts. Wow. I've got Sau Voi, Saigon Banh Mi, and now Pho Pasteur. My Vietnamese trilogy is complete!

Nha Sach Khan Tri

Nha Sach Khan Tri – 145 Canal Street (off Bowery) (Vietnamese)

A small, unassuming storefront located on the corner of Canal and Bowery - nestled between the Chinatown Busline and the Brooklyn Bridge. Decorated with a plain yellow sign, Nha Sach cannot be found in Citysearch or Menupages. But inside lies a treasure trove of Vietnamese snacks and sweets, found nowhere else in Chinatown (at least by me). With a menu to rival neighboring Tin Tan, the store offers a wide range of munchies, from fried foods to sweet Banh Chay, bathed in warm syrup. It's just a matter of time before the foodies find this one – so dive into the Che...while its still hot and fresh!

Banh Mi So

Banh Mi So - 369 Broome Street
A great little Vietnamese deli, with Banh Mi's, candies, and an absolutely amazing Banh Day, for only $1.00. Go there, ye penitant!