My Go-To Neighborhood Noodle Bar (where they know my name)

Rating: 7.0 (Good)

I came in for a quick late-night bite with a girlfriend so I can’t speak much to a full dining experience here. The décor was very warm and cozy and nicer than expected since the food was very reasonably priced (most dinner entrées were between $8-$15). It’s also pretty dark in there and we had to squint under the candle to read the menu.

We tried the Spicy Beef & Pork Hue Style Noodles with brisket, rare beef, bean sprouts and rice vermicelli in a spicy lemongrass broth.  I have to say that I quite like it – the broth was flavorful and had a good kick to it but not overpowering and I love the freshness of the bean sprouts. The waitstaff and chef were mostly all Vietnamese so it felt authentic, although I probably couldn’t tell if it weren’t.

The waiter and bartender were very friendly and we ended up hanging out at the bar to Ohtouka (unpasteurized/namazake sake) after Bao closed shop so I suppose it wasn’t a typical dining experience for us.  I live a few blocks away from here so perhaps I’ll update this review when I’ve also tried lunch and their Bao 111 Special Entrees here.