Quang's is such a good spot for Vietnamese food in Minneapolis! Our family is from Vietnam, so my…read moregrandma is definitely the biggest critic when it comes to Vietnamese food--and Quang's is one of her favorite spots! Everything we ordered was so flavorful and authentic, and you can tell they really know what they're doing. If you're looking for delicious Vietnamese food in Minneapolis, definitely add Quang's to your list!

Part of me really wants to like this place, and part of me knows it's not fair to judge by what you…read morecan get in 714 vs. 612. Inside is large and spacious enough, the menu covers all the basics, and there's just enough parking in the area. Friends enjoyed the banh mi and bun, the chicken wings were pretty solid, but let's be honest-- chicken wings are usually delicious! Nem nuong cuon and gui cuon (grilled pork patty and shrimp, respectively) summer rolls were both entirely forgettable, although the latter were better than the former. And the bun bo hue, while good enough, was definitely lacking somewhere in the umami that I'm used to when in Westminister or Garden Grove. Again I may be judging too harshly here, but I definitely left feeling slightly underwhelmed.

This place was super clean and cozy. The server was very quick and accommodating…read more The Vietnamese coffee was pretty good, I'd get it again. We ended up doing the Chef's special with Bun Bo Hue and half a banh mi. It wasnt my favorite BBH, as it had a bun rieu taste to it, but it wasnt bad. The sandwich was pretty good, but the peppers have a small kick, so be careful if you can't handle it. Portion size is great! Lots of soup, maybe some less noodles than a normal serving, but I didn't mind!

I had a great lunch here The pork eggrolls are always the…read moreperfect crunch and I like they cut theirs in half This time I tried the lotus wings- (6) these were actually really good, nice crisp sweet and slightly spicy - I would have preferred more spice and less sticky! The beef Banh mi was also excellent and very filling Can't go wrong with most of the menu here - I was so hungry that my phone did not eat first like usual!

We decided on Hai Hai for Independence Day dinner as it was one of the few restaurants on our…read moreto-try list that was open. While we made a reservation a couple of weeks in advance for an earlier 5PM dinner, it wasn't busy at all at that time. We easily could have gone without. Hai Hai is a really large restaurant, far larger than I anticipated, with plenty of spaces on the back patio, a large bar area, and a lot of seating indoors up in front. We were led to one of the indoor tables which we appreciated immensely given the heat outside. We found the service to be prompt and efficient. The food came out fast, within 10 minutes or so. They must be really efficient in the kitchen. Hat Yai Chicken ($23) - I've eaten this dish several times in the past, but always bone in. This one, on the other hand, includes two pieces of fried boneless thigh, mostly cleaned and stripped of skin. I say mostly because one thigh still had quite a large chunk of cartilage attached. Unfortunately removing the skin also removes a protective layer to help the chicken from being drying out. And overfried this is, making the meat somewhat tough and stringy, although there's just a bit of intermuscular chicken fat to moisten things up a tad. The hard fry does allow the breading to develop into a robust crunch, however, and with the fried garlic, fried curry leaves, and sliced Thai chili on top, makes a flavorful and texturally interesting bite. The chicken is served on top of a piece of roti. I assume it's homemade since it's on the denser side of things and is floury, without that glass shatteringly crisp skin of some other roti varieties I've had. There's a dip of red curry on the side, which is aromatic and flavorful, sweet with coconut milk to start, then the aroma of curry leaf and spices, and finally a small bit of heat to warm the mouth. It's strangely served lukewarm instead of hot. Finally, there's a small pile of home made pickles. Nice to eat, but the rest of the dish isn't fatty, oily, or heavy enough to really require them. Then again, it's nice to have as a palette refresher between bites of the flavorful chicken and curry. (4/5) Vietnamese Crepe, Pork & Shrimp ($23) - I've only eaten banh xeo once before and I found it to be a greasy, soggy mess. This one is anything but. The pancake stays completely crisp, almost shatteringly so, even on the bottom surface facing the plate. Of course it's still a messy dish to eat, due to having to cut it up to eat in lettuce wraps, mixed with herbs. Four large lettuce leaves are included, along with cilantro and some (holy?) basil. The banh xeo s not easy to cut with the provided butter knife, so I asked for the steak knife - still not easy to cut! Inside the crisp crepe are several pieces of shrimp, tender and not overcooked at all, a bunch of almost melt-in-the-mouth cubes of pork belly, then a bed of wilted onions, green onions, and bean sprouts. I love how the bean sprouts are cooked here instead of being raw like in so many Vietnamese dishes. This dish is served with two sauces. One a sweetened fish sauce Nước Chấm. For some reason I taste some fruity elements but I could be imagining things. The other is a barely spicy sriracha-ish sauce. (5/5) Visiting Hai Hai was definitely a good choice for dinner. I can see why the head chef has a James Beard award to her name! Bathrooms - Four all gender stalls, two wash stations right outside. It's great since most foods are messy finger foods that needs a convenient wash area. Food: [4.5/5] Service: [+] Other: [ ] Final Rating: 5/5

Two of us went to Hai Hai the other night and had a great experience! We started off with the Bun…read moreCha Lettuce Wraps and the Adobo Pork Ribs. The ribs were PHENOMENAL!!! Highly recommend!! For the vegetable we got the Fried Brussels Sprouts were amazing as well. The flavor that was in this dish was amazing. Our main course was the Balinese Chicken Thigh. It is very coconut forward, which was not my favorite thing. It is my fault for not reading the description, but I felt like the coconut cream sauce on the rice really overpowered the dish. We ended with the Vietnamese Coffee Tiramisu cake. So so yummy!!! Our server was great and the vibe of this place was so fun. The plants and colors really bring a nice pop to the area!!

Even today, I can't imagine chè đậu trắng Without my mom,…read morehaving half this heaven Of dessert, milked in coconut cream With a distant trail of its husk. One day And then for many other days, Tracy gave me this last course Whenever I tried to order it-- It's for you, it's for you. You can't order something that is for you.

So I went to Eat Street to get lunch and Chinese groceries, and discovered that my go-tp Vietnamese…read moredive, Pho Tau Bay, is closed until fall due to construction. Well thinking I would go to Pho Hua instead, I pulled intonthe Shuang Hur Grocer's parking lot thinking I'd grab a few things before heading north on Eat Street. Then I saw signs on the Shuang Hur building for a (new to me) Vietnamese joint in the same building. Boy was I pleasantly surprised! My Huong is an 8-top hole in the wall across the parking lot from the rear of El Nuevo Mariachi Restaurant. The place is homely, small, but brightly lit and plenty of day light through the picture windows overlooking Eat Street. It's a big contrast to Pho 79 type places that are dim and short on ambience. The clientele shows. Instead of just a bunch of Asians throwing down Pho, it's a mix like you'd see at Quang or Eat Street Crossing. I was seated right away, was greeted by a cheery Vietnamese lady, and ordered Hu Tieu Bo Khu (Beef Stew Noodle Soup.) It was a dish I haven't seen before even though I have been to so many Vietnamese places (see my other reviews and lists.) The dish came very quickly, and I was shocked that they didn't bring it with a veggie plate. Oh well. Well the best way I could describe Hu Tieu Bo Khu, its basically a pot roast over noodles. So the beefy broth like a less spicey version of Bun Bo Hue, with flavors of lemongrass and star anise, nicely garnished already with what would have been on a veggie plate. The broth was delicious, slightly sweet with the carrots, and the beef was fall apart amazingly stewed with deep flavor. There were other menu items like Curry Chicken pho and a Stewed chicken rice dish I'd have to return and try!

After craving Pho for a long time, and not wanting to make the drive to Pho400, we decided to check…read moreout Pho 79. It's exactly what I'd expect out of a family-run neighborhood joint. No-frills, wood panels for days, and the "casual" service your get at the best asian restaurants. My wife got the pho she'd been craving and it was decent. There aren't any "great" pho places in MN so can't be too picky. The hot and sour soup was huge. The picture doesn't do it justice,. That's a serving spoon in the picture! It didn't have much tamarind, was a bit sweet, and an interesting choice of okra; some of which were a bit slimy (as okra can get). The tofu was perfectly fried and had a nice bouncy texture. I much prefer Thanh Luong's version but for the price it's definitely worth it. Overall it's a great value and I will always prefer mom-and-pop operations over the sterile, corporate "industrial chic", neon-sign spots that are all the rage.

The sweet and sour soup was too sweet with not much tamarind flavor, the fish didn't have much…read moreflavor from the soup and needed some fish sauce for dipping. I was able to get what I needed to eat my food such as a bowl and the fish sauce. It's been awhile since we've been here and it's a lot quieter than before with only one section of the restaurant is being used. It was nice to be able to order my comfort food and service was good.

Qué Việt became one of my staples almost immediately after moving into Minneapolis, and at this…read morepoint I can't separate the restaurant from my memories of living here. I've eaten here during transitional times, settled-in-and-part-of-the-community times, with my kids, and now during those increasingly nostalgic trips back to Minnesota. Somehow Qué Việt works for all of them. I love it. My kids love it. And I genuinely have a hard time imagining going wrong here. My formula is pretty simple: get the spicy chicken, add a rice or noodle dish, and drive the whole thing home with an egg roll. Especially the egg roll. Qué Việt has built a reputation around those things for a reason. The food is comforting, generous, consistently delicious and completely without pretense. It's the kind of neighborhood restaurant that eventually stops feeling like somewhere you decided to eat and simply becomes your place. That's what Qué Việt became for me. There's also something strange about returning to restaurants you depended on when you lived somewhere. You walk through the door years later on vacation, order familiar food, and for an hour you're not really visiting anymore. You're just back. I wish this place nothing but good things. Thanks for a lot of meals, a lot of memories, and for still being there whenever Minnesota brings us back. If I could DoorDash Qué Việt to New York, I'd probably have a problem. Until somebody figures that out, it'll remain a mandatory stop every time I'm back in Minneapolis

This restaurant is very close to my son's school so we have had dinner here a few times. He likes…read morethe meatballs pho a lot and recently requested that we go for dinner there. The service is usually pretty good and we usually get our food fairly quickly.

So I went here on "accident" thinking it was a standard Viet joint. To my surprise, it was a vegan…read moreVietnamese restaurant. I decided to try it out anyways. I was so impressed by the menu at first site. They had some dishes you only find in home cooking or in Vietnam. I tried the Canh Chua and Hot Pot "Fish". I was blown away by the flavors! The textures were very close. It was a little hard to tell if I should order up at the front counter or wait for service. I did get good service when they came and waited on me. The atmosphere is quiet and inviting. I was impressed by the whole setting! By the way, excellent portions! I was given a huge bowl of rice to supplement both of my entree dishes. I can't wait to come back and bring family/friends with next time.

Thanh Luong Chay was the perfect comfort meal after a long day at the office! I ordered takeout and…read moregot the spring rolls and spicy beef soup, and everything was delicious. I especially loved the crunchy wheat shred addition in the spring rolls - such a great texture and a unique touch. The variety of vegan meats is really impressive, and I enjoyed trying the different flavors and textures throughout the meal. Everything was so flavorful and satisfying. The staff was very friendly when I picked up my order, which made the experience even better. I'm excited to come back and try more dishes!

Diane's Place is set in a gigantic building; it's essentially an entire building complex, with a…read morelarge patio for dining, multiple, I think four, interior dining room areas, a large event space, and a take out cafe. I think they own the entire block! They certainly must be doing pretty well financially to support all these endeavors! We made a reservation to visit about 2 weeks in advance for brunch. We ended up arriving around 30 minutes early after driving up from Rochester, but luckily they we were accommodate the early arrival and seated us immediately. Service is on the more upscale end. I found it interesting that chopsticks aren't given by default even for the noodle soups - the server only brings them out if requested. Thai Tea French Toast ($25) - This French Toast is a tower of carb-filled, dessert deliciousness, in a much larger portion size than I expected upon my initial order. It includes two resplendently towering slices of croissant loaf, easily reaching 4 inches in height in total, not to mention the extra bit of whip dolloped atop. The toast is, of course, soaked in a dairy rich Thai tea solution, then griddled until toasty. The bottoms are dark black in color, but there's no acridity to be had. Instead, they are sweet and slightly vanilla scented, boosted by the stabilized vanilla bean cream on top. I can't say there's much Thai Tea flavor in the mix though - it's only hinted at in certain bites towards the center. I must say that croissant dough is a great base for French toast. The natural airy chewiness really makes a tender and moist crumb when soaked. (5/5) Asian Chicken Noodle Soup ($24) - We were not expecting much out of this soup given the generic name, but we loved it in the end. The soup base has a thick and luscious mouthfeel, like it's been simmering for hours upon hours. It's similar in texture to a cornstarch thickened broth, although there's no gloopiness at all. It's rich with flavor, fragrant with chicken essence and peppery umami. The noodles here are thick as typical udon noodles and are cut into bite sized pieces. They have a great bouncy quality that somehow stays the same texture throughout the entire meal - even after 20 minutes or so, the noodles were just as bouncy as when they first arrived. Apparently these are made with a heavier tapioca starch blend - I assume the excess starch is what thickens the soup as well. In terms of toppings, there's first a substantial amount of boneless chicken. It's sliced up, but left skin-on and with the fat not completely trimmed off. This helps the chicken remain moist and succulent, and flavorful from lemongrass and other herbs and spices. There are then a bunch of herbs, fresh bamboo shoots, a tender soft boiled egg, and fried scallion bits. The soup comes with a small cup of house made chili crisp on the side. Be careful - this one is potent. A little goes a long way given how it's far spicier than typical chili crisp. (5/5) We were inside the restaurant for just over an hour and it was an enjoyable experience from beginning to end. While we were stuffed, we decided to jaunt over to the cafe side to take a look at some of the pastries (which can also be ordered at the table if desired!) Green Scallion Danish ($6) - Just the right amount of salty scallion punch in this croissant. It's like the classic Chinese scallion bread, but in a westernized format, with scallion yousu/roux mixed into the bake. While laminated, the flakiness and open honeycomb pattern aren't quite there. It's perhaps more brioche-like in resemblance in terms of texture. At any rate, it's sweet, salty, and super scallion fragrant. Delicious. (5/5) Diane's Place is excellent. Perhaps Americanized in some ways vs. the more traditional Hmong cooking in Hmong Village, but is delicious in its own way. I'm so glad to have ended my trip to Minnesota on such a high note! Bathrooms - Single unisex in the dining area, two more in the cafe area, another two larger ones in the event hall area. Food: [5/5] Service: [+] Other: [ ] Final Rating: 5/5

I had the luxury of meeting Diane herself, and as expected, she was very pleasant and kind. She…read morerecommended that I bring my family here for the dinner menu. So, Diane, if you're reading this, it's a promise! This is my second time visiting, thanks to the introduction of my coworker, and each time never fails to meet my satisfaction. To start, I feel like it's a crime to not order the Hmong sausage so I added that order along with the chicken noodle soup, a dish that sounds good for my aching, allergic body. The Hmong sausage was cooked nicely, consisting of its famous snapping of the skin, covering its juicy meaty fillings. The sticky rice always pairs nicely with it, and the sauce packs a punch--be careful to over drizzle your dish with it. The noodle appears to be handmade, resulting in a nice chewy texture. The toppings and the chicken were deliciously paired together. However, the main star is the broth--very rich, savory, and hearty. Highly recommend you get this dish, especially on a colder and/or sick day. The interior is beautifully decorated, clean and cozy atmosphere. I noticed a cafe right off to the side where you may be able to drop in quickly and go; will need to try that next time.

We went to Gai Noi for dinner last Saturday, August 8, and had a wonderful time. We got to the…read morerestaurant around 7PM. The line outside looked intimidating but we told them any table would do. We were told that the wait is 20 min. but was seated after only 10 min. wait. We ordered the egg & basil fried rice, crispy tofu, Laab Seen (beef) , Fried Walleye, and Curry. Everything we ordered was delicious. I appreciate the added 18% reflected in the price so no surprise and the waitstaff earned their 18% tip. The dining room is cozy and clean. We loved our experience at Gai Noi.

Outstanding option for happy hour and dinner in Minneapolis. I've gone with friends, clients, and…read morecoworkers and highly recommend. Highlights on the menu include the cocktails, the tofu (an absolute favorite), and the green beans. Almost everything I've had has been delicious and flavorful. Service is generally friendly and attentive. It's a huge space with many different dining areas with different vibes. Definitely enjoy the rooftop if you can. Also great options for private events! One favorite thing: they are great about labeling for dietary needs which I really appreciate

This place is tucked away with it's onlwn parking lot. I found that super nice because I was…read moreworried about finding street parking with all the construction. Walking in, it felt like I was in an Asian restaurant with plenty of space and familiar tunes playing. The staff was very attentive and quick as well. The food was awesome as well. I was very happy to find the durian smoothie on the menu, plus it's likely the best I've had in Minnesota. The phổ đặc biệt was very flavorful. I made sure to treat the broth before adding in all the extra sauces. I would recommend dropping in if you want that true feeling of Viet food.

I have been here over the years and stopped back in this weekend…read more Still one of the best places in the metro for Pho. Check them out next time you want some amazing Pho or other asian food.