Pros: good food, good service, nice little neighborhood gem Cons: they close early, last seating is at 7:30 so be aware read more

The Monkey Bridge - 20. Lemongrass Pork, Egg Roll, and Shrimp Skewer Rice Noodle Tray- very flavorful very big portion, but too little rice paper - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We recently moved to Ballard and decided to try this restaurant because of its high ratings. Unfortunately, it was one of the most disappointing dining experiences we've had. On a Sunday evening, there was only one server handling the entire restaurant. She was clearly working hard, but she simply couldn't keep up. Our water was never refilled, our drinks never arrived, and service was painfully slow. We ordered a curry crepe, banh mi, rice noodles, and fried rice. The prices were not cheap, but the portions were surprisingly small. We waited about 45 minutes for our food, and after finishing, we had to wait another 20 minutes just to get the bill. The restaurant was also extremely hot and uncomfortable. From start to finish, the meal took nearly two hours. If you're planning to eat here, be prepared for a very long wait. The biggest issue is staffing. Having only one server manage the entire restaurant creates long waits for everything--being seated, ordering, getting drinks, receiving food, refilling water, and paying the bill. Most people don't want to spend two hours on a simple lunch or dinner. If this continues, I think many customers will choose to dine elsewhere. We understand restaurants can be short-staffed, but this experience was frustrating and not worth the price. We left extremely disappointed and will not be returning. read more

We love this place! There's so many delicious options. I love that their banh mis come with a little cup of soup. The vegan soup that comes with the tofu banh mi is so simple but so tasty. My most recent visit i tried the tofu clay pot. Omg! It was so good and so much food. Definitely shareable or good for leftovers. It came with so many veggies, and their tofu is addictive. Some of my favorite tofu I've ever had. Restaurant is nice and clean, staff has always been helpful and kind. read more

The Monkey Bridge - Tofu clay pot - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

It's impossible to find parking in Ballard on a Friday night, but Monkey Bridge has its own parking lot. I got there at 6:30 PM on Friday night, their last seating is at 7:30 PM, and the place sure filled up after I got there. I got an absolutely delightful tofu pho which came out quickly. When they wrapped up my leftovers to go, they thoughtfully separated the broth from the noodles so that the noodles wouldn't absorb all the broth overnight. Nice touch! read more

The Monkey Bridge - 32. Tofu Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Amazing pho! We went at noon on Sunday with no wait, but the restaurant was packed by 1. I will say the inside is small and was FREEZING, but I assume it got warmer as the day went on. The beef pho was incredibly flavorful and the tofu pho broth was delicious- sweet onion. The best umami and sweet broth's. The waiters were super nice and quick. I recommend for a warm, cozy, quality meal. read more

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Nice staff, easy to get a seat on a Saturday evening. Great bun bo hue with good meat - not rubbery or dry. read more

The Monkey Bridge - Bun Bo Hue - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Amazing service and great portion sizes!! My partner wanted to try something new and loved the catfish rice dish! I got the large beef pho and thoroughly enjoyed it. The staff packed up our leftovers and even offered fresh bean sprouts to go. read more

The Monkey Bridge - 30. Beef Pho 43. Clay Pot Basa Cat Fish or Shrimp - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The vegetarian pho was very very good. The broth was flavorful, which is not always the case with veggie pho. The crispy fried tofu was also excellent. The service was a bit slow for the number of people but we weren't in a hurry and the food came out really quick all together. The ambiance was soothing with a little fountain in the front and some nice windows and plants. Would def come back for the veggie pho and my friend liked her beef pho a lot. read more

The Monkey Bridge - 4. Fried Tofu - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Horrible customer service!! The female host was rude to me and my son indirectly insulting me about onions. She thought I didnt catch on but I did. The whole time she kept staring at me. Then Priscilla the flaming fugly queen decided to try and educate me on how they do their business and that they have been in business for 17yrs all because I mentioned I didnt get my extra onions. I got a single tiny white strand of white onion. I was not rude or anything I just mentioned it as the check was brought. RUDE RUDE RUDE. And I saw rat droppings as I was going to the bathroom.. I went there because my other Pho place was closed. I will not be returning. I may be 1 customer but that's enough to spread the word. God doesn't like ugly. And I found a bug in my beansprouts. I have no idea why Priscilla the queen was so nasty to me especially when I did nothing wrong. Sounds like prejudice to me. read more

Everything on the menu is great. The pho, the bun , the rice dishes. All so good and great relaxing vibe in there. Only thing is it's chilly in there so bring a coat. The limeade is like the best drink I've ever had read more

Great little spot! Decided to dine in tonight since it was freezing out and we were feeling some hot soup. We got the Monkey Noodle Soup, pork banh mi, and traditional cabbage salad. All were excellent and service was quick. The egg noodles in the soup were maybe the best I've had! You have a choice of egg noodle or rice noodle and our server recommended the egg. The pork in the banh mi was flavorful and a little saucy which was nice. Cabbage salad was very filling and the cabbage was finely shredded. Better than I expected! Also got a glass of wine which was a large pour. Both hubby and I were impressed (he's hard to please lol) and we devoured the food. Definitely recommend if you're looking for Vietnamese food in Ballard. read more

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Delicious: so much more than pho. Subtle layers of flavor. Good portions and nice ambience read more

The Monkey Bridge - Delicious; so much more than pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Food was great! Quite an experience, actually. Very unique, flavorful, super fresh, quickly delivered, a large amount of sides. The four stars because the whole place was freezing cold! We had to keep are coats on. That made the whole staying there and enjoying the meal less of a pleasure. Parking is ok. Position is quite central, so, you may have to walk a bit. Service was great. Did not get tons of attention, but we didn't miss anything while dining in. Great Thai option! read more

The Monkey Bridge - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Perfectly serviceable vegetarian pho but pretty middle-of-the-road with nothing to set it apart. I stopped in looking for a filling meal, as I saw they had some vegan options. They have a tofu pho ($14.75 for a small; $15.75 for a large, plus tax). I got the large, which came out in under 10 minutes. You get a massive bowl, with plenty of well-cooked thin rice noodles, lots of fried tofu, and veggies (broccoli, bok choy, green cabbage, onion). The broth is onion-based and pretty good -- not too salty or oily, with moderate depth/complexity. It is amped up nicely by their homemade chili oil. Nothing special, but perfectly fine. Filling, well-priced and good service. Probably a slight step above nearby Than Brothers in terms of the veggie pho. Decent spot for Vietnamese in Ballard. read more

The Monkey Bridge - Tofu pho (large; vegan) - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I have to say I am super disappointed after eating here! Just moved to the neighborhood and am on a mission to find the best pho spot. I had a few folks recommend this spot and am wondering if they have new management or something? Getting right to the point- the BROTH. Zero flavor. As a weekly pho eater, I was so sad eating this. Secondly- they don't offer tendon. That's an immediate no from me- I need a spot that has all of the fixings. Overall, this spot is way overpriced and not worth going to if you want flavorful and authentic pho options. I want to come back and try other offerings to see if they have a superpower elsewhere. I will say the service was great and the ladies were kind and attentive! read more

The Monkey Bridge - Pho Ga (Chicken Pho) - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

A young man was washing the glass door down when i attempted to enter with my mother in her wheelchair. You may know that the door opens out, it was a struggle and he stood there watching us, no move to help at all. Then, as we entered I asked if we could sit at the table closest to the door; he spoke to a young woman sitting at a table eating, presumably to ask if that was ok. It was not in English so I can't be sure what was said. Food was OK, not as fresh as I remembered from just 6 months ago, and I'll mention I've been eating here since they opened. The restaurant was nearly empty on a late Friday afternoon on a holiday weekend. The phone rang VERY loudly and the man answered it on speaker, could hear every word VERY loudly from across the room. Oh wait, as I'm writing this two more phone orders came in, ringing loudly and on speaker! Food 2 1/2 stars Service 2 stars Ambiance 2 stars Most likely won't be back, too many other great places. Sad bc they used to be my go to! read more

Excellent. Really great food...decent price....friendly atmosphere and parking round the back. What's not to like ...did I mention great food? Will be going back. Recommended. read more

The pork Banh mi was 10/10 very good. The meat is on the sweeter side if you enjoy that (I do) I would definitely come back for it. You should get that if you come here. It also comes with some tasty cháo (viet congee) The pho broth was quite bland (imo), I couldn't taste any beef, no aromatics, and it was too sweet. In fact, im impressed. I've never had pho be too sweet in my life and I have gained a new life experience today. still it had good meat and good portions though. BF was ok with it though, described it "light and sweet" The iced viet coffee was absolutely terrible tho, 10/10 do not recommend. It was very creamy which I enjoy but the coffee tasted not as strong as I would expect for viet coffee and it was so sweet neither me nor my bf could drink more than 2 sips. (Sry for the half eaten photo) read more

The Monkey Bridge - Beef Pho Pork Baguette chau - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

One of the best banh mis I've had in Seattle! Ordered a pork banh mi to go & I loved the meant, the sauce and the bread - it was delicious! The only complaint I have is that the pork wasn't charcoal grilled, but it's still so yummy. The staff was nice but since I only got takeouts, I can't comment on the dine in experience - although id say I like the set up of the restaurant. read more

The Monkey Bridge - Pork Baguette - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My girlfriend and I were just walking along the strip on Market Street and this quaint restaurant caught our attention with it's imaginative name. We decided we had to give it a try! I fully admit that one of the aspects catching my attention was simply .. real menus. Going to a restaurant is more than just the food, it's about the collective experience. I loved having the feel of actual quality menus in my hand instead of the paper or bar code menus provided during these covid times. This coupled with an absolutely adorable ambiance really added to the experience. I feel like they could have added just a touch more by piping in some asian themed music (there was no music playing at all) but that's just my $.02 worth. The sauce for the spring roll *really* popped, so good! We both also appreciated the ease of finding delicious vegan choices. This restaurant was a total *win* and we'd happily go back again when in the area. read more

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Came here specifically to try the pork bánh mì sandwich and wow, it was amazing! It was a huge sandwich filled with pork, and of course the pickled veggies. But the pork had a thick sauce that did not disappoint. The sandwich also came with a cream chicken small serving of soup that I've never had before and it was totally different, a little lemon tasting, creamy and highly recommend and I would definitely go back just for that soup. We also enjoyed two bowls of pho! We had our lunch on Sunday afternoon. Found parking on the street very easily. Customer service was on point. Location was cute, bright, and easy to find. Check this place out! read more

The Monkey Bridge - Beef Pho Soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Great spot, has great pho, vermicelli bowls and curry! Perfect for a cold day! Really fast on to go orders as well

Meh. Looked like it had good reviews but the pho was really really bland - no flavor to the broth at all. Once my soup was served I didn't see my server again til it was time to go and my water glass was empty. read more

I agree with Matt B's comment on the veggie pho. It's flavourful with the sweet-onion broth but lacks that punch that would truly set it apart. Strictly average, IMHO. Large is truly large with generous amount of veggies and tofu. Service is attentive as they seated me within seconds and the food was out in under 10 mins. Ambiance on a Sunday night was quiet as there weren't many folks looking for dinner service. Although I did see a few people pop by for to-do orders. read more

I guess this is a step up from Pho Than Brothers but I still haven't found the greatest pho in Seattle. I like the variety of the noodle soup. I had Hue City Beef Noodle (Rice noodle in a lemongrass and mild chili flavor beef broth with slice flank served with a side of bean sprouts, basil, and lime). I got rice noodle substituted with pho because that's what I preferred. It was nice that it came out hot and fresh but I wished the noodles were a little firmer. Also the broth was on the sweet side - this is just a personal preference but I like my broth salty and not sweet. I see that they also have plenty other options like Banh mi, so excited to try that next time. read more

Great food. Take out today. I was treated very nicely, offered water and a seat. The Bahn Mi was delicious and good size! Which matters! I would recommend the noodle dishes for take out. Lemongrass chicken didn't take out as well with delayed sauce mix, but it was still very good. Will be back! read more

This enormous "medium" bowl of soup was hot and tasty on a cold day in January. Good way to get rid of the Seattle winter blues read more

The Monkey Bridge - #37 Vietnamese Dumpling Soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Encouraged by an exiting patron who proclaimed that their vegan pho was the best, we walked in for lunch and were seated right away. If our experience were based solely on their pho it would be an abysmal 1 star. IT WAS NOT EVEN HOT!!! Like, extremely tepid. Like, the vegetables were all still raw. Like, how did the noodles even cook?!?! I took most of mine home with me but couldn't even bring myself to eat it. My friend didn't even bother taking hers to go. It was so incredibly disappointing. The veggie egg rolls were great. Not at all greasy. Perfectly crisp outside and delicious inside. My husband's tofu banh mi was excellent. The baguette was pillow soft. I still prefer the banh mi at Le's on Aurora which is half the price, but I guess that Monkey Bridge's banh mi did come with a cup of tepid soup, so there's that. read more

I'm a broth girly, and their broth is one of my favorites. When I'm feeling under the weather or the weather is gross out, it's always a one of my favorite to-go orders. If I could change one thing, it would be to have the option for dark meat in the pho ga! I like that a few pho spots around seattle give you that option. They're always SLAMMED on a chilly day, so don't go in with an entitled attitude, trust me, they're working their butts off to get you in and out the door with your to-go orders. You have to respect the grind. I've honestly never sat inside to eat there but the place itself is cozy. read more

My favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Seattle! I'm obsessed with the hue city beef noodle (bun bo hue) and also love their banh mi's- the bread is perfect! read more

The Monkey Bridge - Hue city beef noodle - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I had the pork baguette here and it was amazing. It came with a side of soup and was equally as good. The sandwich was so big I took half home and shared with my spouse. The lady who greeted me was very friendly and got me in and out quickly. Will definitely come back. read more

Walked by here after an appointment at Swedish Hospital Ballard. Saw the lovely plants inside and nice decorations. I came in for lunch and was welcomed. I got a menu and was press to see that they offer a chicken noodle or vegan soup with most entrees. I started with the shrimp salad rolls. The two rolls came with bean sprouts and basil and a favorable plum sauce, that was slightly sweet. A good starter, light and a combination of sweet and crunchy. I then ordered the turmeric seared basa. I had never had basa before, it is a white fish. It had a sweet taste to it, reminded me of catfish. Of course, I am pleased with the side offering of soup I got the chicken noodle and enjoyed the taste of the broth. The basa came with a side of rice. The turmeric and garlic sauce was present, but not enough sauce in ratio to rice. The fish was also overcooked, so it was chewy to eat. I was not checked up on, until my bill was dropped off at the table. Ambiance was good, restaurant was nicely decorated. Service was disappointing, wanted to order dessert, but no follow up from server. Salad rolls were good as was the soup. Fish was overcooked and could not get help in letting them know it was unacceptable. read more

This place has SUCH GOOD PHO!!! It's rare to find really good vegetarian pho in my opinion (not vegetarian / vegan, just prefer veggie broth), but this one was so flavorful. The pork egg rolls were also really delicious with a limey-fish sauce dipping sauce. I'm such a fan and will definitely be back read more

The Monkey Bridge - Tofu Pho Soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We were craving Vietnamese and happened upon this place. Visiting from the Eastcoast; NYC and Connecticut. We have plenty of traditional Vietnamese restaurants to compare with. Ordering the most basic fare; phở bò (everything beef) the broth tasted more like chicken broth from a box. The beef was not thinly sliced enough, hence very chewy and lacked flavor. I also expected tripe, but didn't notice any in my order. I ate just enough to satisfy my hunger and couldn't get myself to finish the rest! My date ordered the vegetarian version, with similar results. The fresh Vietnamese spring roll was okay. The vegetable garnish was crisp. The rice noodles were a little over cooked/sticky for my taste, but overall a decent appetizer. This was our first time visiting this place, but not sure if it would warrant a return visit. read more

The Monkey Bridge - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Meh. Ordered take out once and wasn't very impressed with it. I don't remember the dishes I ordered, other than not being satisfied. I do remember the beef pho broth being way too sweet. Came in for dine in a few months later since a friend wanted it. Had some shrimp spring rolls (bland, light on the shrimp, no other greens except lettuce, and heavy on noodles). Didn't enjoy the sauce that came with it. Also ordered a combination vermicelli bowl that wasn't very good either. The fish sauce was too sweet and lacked spice, the pork was full of mostly fat pieces, shrimp was cooked fine but lacked any flavor, and the egg roll was bland as well. Not a terrible place. Just not good either. Expensive for what you get. read more

Delicious food and friendly people that run it. I always get tofu salad rolls as a lunch and my husband is a fan of their banh mi. The rolls are always perfect. Both the chicken and pork are delicious. The chicken cup of soup that comes with the sandwiches is the perfect side! read more

This is our go to pho place. It's really good no matter the weather. Everything we've tried here has been amazing and the staff is super friendly and accommodating. read more

There are definitely better pho places elsewhere, but it's okay here. There weren't that many choices and variety. One thing you can tell instantly how authentic pho is is the way the menu is written, there's no Vietnamese written in the menu. Monkey Bridge seems to be geared towards a different audience, a more bougie population. read more

The Monkey Bridge - Beef Pho Soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Tl;dr good rice noodles Came here for a casual dinner and got the lemongrass pork rice noodles. There was a good amount of veggies and noodles which made the meal very filling. The fish sauce was good and the pork was nice and tender and flavorful. Not the best I've had but solid! Would come again. read more

You know they say if you walk into an Asian restaurant and you see no Asians, that's a bad sign. That was me when I walked into this place. I wanted to order something I saw on the menu online but it was no longer available when I went, must've been removed from the menu. So I ordered bun bo hue, it's a different name on the menu, Hue city noodles or something like that. And I was very disappointed. The broth wasn't good, the meat was the worst. The quality was so bad and it was almost impossible to chew. It also doesn't come with pork blood or pork hock and meatballs like other places. It's too Americanized. The price is also pricier than the one I go to read more

The Monkey Bridge - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington