The Best Vietnamese Restaurants In Seattle

Saying there's great Vietnamese food in Seattle is kind of like exclaiming that "the mountain is out"—it's obvious and locals get it. Chances are, you have a go-to spot for phở or bánh mì that has become such a part of your daily routine you could confidently count on them to send out a search party if you didn't show up one Sunday. But don’t be afraid to venture outside your bubble. Explore all the best walk-up windows, strip mall spots with excellent noodle soup, chicken in a little pink boat, fun dinners , and more in this guide.

Looking for just bánh mì? We have a guide for that, too.

THE SPOTS

The Boat

You might know this little pink boat-shaped building as the original Phở Bắc location. But the Seattle classic now specializes in two non- soup dishes we’ve replayed in our minds like the New Girl theme song. Even if The Boat only served their crackly cornish hen blasted with garlic alongside chrysanthemum salad and phở broth, we’d be content. But then there are the fluffy pandan and pink pineapple waffles that we could eat daily. We can’t think of a better early weekend solo lunch or dinner destination to bring out-of-towners who appreciate great food.

Voi Cà Phê

This cafe in Georgetown serves just four types of bánh mì, but they’re all damn tasty. If you eat meat, seek out the pork one—it comes on crackly bread filled with a juicy lemongrass-studded patty and tangy pickled vegetables. Voi Cà Phê functions as mostly a takeout spot, with just enough room inside for you to stand while placing an order. But if it's nice out, stick around to eat at a table on the street with a cinnamon-kicked, phin-dripped latte on the rocks.

Billiard Hoang

There are not many restaurants where you can eat bánh mì and play a round of pool at the same time. That alone makes this bare-bones billiard hall in Columbia City worth visiting. Add delicious food and a plethora of seating, and you have a terrific group dinner setting in South Seattle. The fried tofu is wonderful, whether it’s stuffed inside long gỏi cuốn or stacked on a large, $6 bánh mì. But we especially enjoy the crispy fish sauce-slicked wings and the bún thịt nướng, it’s refreshing and satisfying—definitely worth sinking the eight-ball on purpose to give it your undivided attention.

Miss Pho

Miss Pho is a seemingly ordinary strip mall Vietnamese restaurant in Greenwood—but there's nothing ordinary about the food. Phở hà nội overflows with broth, topped with a raw yolk that works just as well dissolved into the soup as it does strategically dolloped onto each bite of rice noodle and beef shank. Grilled chicken tastes like lemongrass-rubbed brilliance. Salt and pepper tofu has the outer crunch and inner moistness of a McNugget. The care goes beyond the menu, too—staff will stretch out a hand to receive your crumpled straw wrapper and forbid you from packing your own leftovers.

Phở Bắc Sup Shop

This CID restaurant has a lively bar and pink neon glow from signs that say things like “Phởcific Northwest.” But you don’t need a big bright sign—you’re here for the phở. While we like the brisket and meatball versions, our favorites are the massive short rib bowl and the off-menu, only-available-sometimes phở with an entire half-chicken that’s been slow-poached in broth. That chicken phở is the kind we’d find a way to shrink ourselves just to dive into the bowl and hang out on a drumstick. There are also delicious small plates, like pork and shrimp egg rolls and double-fried wings with a tamarind coating.

Reckless Noodle House

It’s hard to find any misfires at this Central District restaurant. The starters—like crispy duck rolls—are satisfying without being too heavy (they also go really well with the homemade ginger beer cocktails). And the fried rice with turmeric and salty pops of pastrami is one of those things you never knew you needed in your life until it showed up. The small, dark-ish dining room has lots of glowing lanterns and hanging plants and works great for an intimate group dinner. Or you can plan a post-work hangout at the attached bar with TVs playing sports and order food there.

Yeh Yeh's Sandwiches

We’d jump over a series of fences Hot Fuzz-style for Yeh Yeh’s grilled pork sandwich that has perfectly charred bits, or the tender braised pork version with pate. But at this small Lynwood counter spot you shouldn’t miss the flash-fried tofu bánh mì, otherwise known as the best vegetarian bánh mì in the city. It's topped with a sweet and creamy dressing, crisp lettuce, and cracked black pepper. Really, you’re in good shape with any rubber-banded-baguette they place in your hands here—and while you’re at it, grab a stiff Vietnamese iced coffee or a side of vegetable spring rolls, too.

Ba Bar

If you wanted somewhere to hang out with a steaming bowl of brisket phở and a gin and rhubarb syrup-spiked cava while listening to jazzy music in moody darkness, that’s a very specific request, but it can be a reality at Ba Bar. This Central District spot is both relaxed yet energetic enough that on a Saturday night, one round of that gin cocktail quickly turns to two. Order crunchy pork-stuffed imperial rolls and chicken wings tossed in a tangy-sweet nước chấm-spiked caramel sauce for the table, but keep the phở tái nạm with comforting cinnamon-forward broth all for yourself.

Saigon Deli

Just like gasoline and the McDonald's dollar menu, sandwiches fall victim to inflation, too. That’s why we gravitate toward this International District deli that sells a fantastic bánh mì for $5.75. The grilled pork sandwich is served on fresh crusty bread with a generous spread of bơ and a heavy sprinkling of coarse black pepper, and it’s consistently delicious no matter the economic turbulence .

Tony's Bakery

This small Hillman City grocery store and bakery specializes in bánh mì and custom cakes, but you’re not here for a Disney princess-topped dessert. Tony’s lemongrass fish bánh mì is an outstanding baguette filled with flaky, fragrant, dry-fried fish that only softens slightly on contact with the custardy egg-forward mayo. The cold cut option is also great, with sliced ham and charred pork stacked to the perfect thickness with crunchy pickled vegetables and shaved red onion for a little kick.

Lotus Pond Vietnamese Cuisine

The menu at this Haller Lake diner-like spot is longer than a James Patterson novel, and it’s stacked with hit after hit. The spam bánh mì is a nuanced sandwich with its crepe-like egg and a good dose of salt, the lemongrass grilled chicken over jasmine rice can reverse a garbage day, and shrimp-stuffed wontons float in some of Seattle’s best soup . And much like a diner, you could also just pile in a big booth for a basket of fries with gravy alongside a round of Cokes. Only here, the gravy is phở-spiced. Just the thought of a Lotus Pond meal dominates our casual weeknight cravings.

Hoang Lan

The awning of this Othello lunch counter has the words “Bún Bò Huế” written so large one could almost mistake it for the name of the restaurant—and it might as well be. The casual spot makes the best spicy noodle soup in the city (and for under $13). It’s smoky and umami-filled broth is filled with bouncy housemade pork sausage, and any spice lovers out there should take full advantage of the chili oil stationed at every table. A warning that the space is small, and on weekends, there's a good chance you will be in a cramped line with other people trying not to make direct eye contact with someone slurping noodles. But the wait is worth it.

Wicked Chopstix

It’s easy to grab a table at this casual Rainier Valley restaurant, but deciding what to order among all the options can be tricky. If you’re stumped, direct your attention to the Obama noodle—yes, named after our esteemed 44th president. You’ll get a spread of thinly sliced grilled pieces of pork marinating in a little bowl of tangy sweet fish sauce that soaks into the meat. And if you’re wondering about what to supplement it with, the smell and sound of sizzling bò né passing by with crispy chips of garlic and a chunk of buttery paté will clue you in.

Tamarind Tree

It’s hard to find this restaurant tucked-away in a CID strip mall, but it’s often crowded inside with people looking for an excellent lunch during the work week. If it’s cold out and you’re tempted to get the phở, take a beat. You’d be missing out on more exciting options, like the coconutty bánh khọt or the lemongrass tofu (our favorite). The tofu is rubbed with an herby spice mixture, has a terrific char from the grill, and somehow tastes meatier than the beef or pork.

Dalat Quán

This strip mall restaurant in White Center makes a tasty grilled pork banh mi with enough nutty black pepper cracked on it that it could cosplay as cacio e pepe—and it's great. But if you want something that will warm you from the inside out, try their specialty Mì Quảng Đà Lạt—a hearty noodle soup with spare ribs, pork belly, and egg that makes you forget all about phở. On Saturdays, Dalat Quán has live music from 7-9pm, and there may be no better way to spend a night than eating egg rolls to the sound of a funk band.

Rainier BBQ & Restaurant

Ranier BBQ's underground dining room feels like entering a secret society where everyone sits at large round tables huddling over an entire six-pound fried catfish. But this neighborhood staple is far from a secret. On the long menu, we gravitate towards the airy salt and pepper chicken wings, glistening short ribs, and that aforementioned catfish. These suckers start at five pounds and can go all the way up to 10, so come prepared to eat with a group. The blistered skin has a trove of fleshy white meat underneath that can be used to construct fresh rolls with snappy herbs and a pineapple dipping sauce. Before you do anything, though, get a selfie with the fish first.

Ba Sa

This Bainbridge Island restaurant on Winslow is our favorite place to sneak away for a day-off lunch. While the menu is stacked with great bún, phở, and bánh mì, we would come here solely for their puffy salt and pepper tempura prawns with chili oil-slicked egg noodles, or a couple orders of truffled pork wontons and crackly taro-stuffed egg rolls. Enjoy it all in their dining room complete with mellow golden wood and a giant painting of a catfish, or out on their covered patio.

Mekong Village

There's a good chance that when the friendly staff at Mekong Village checks on you, you’ll be so enamored by a bowl of their bún bò huế that all you’ll be able to manage is a noodle-filled smile. And they have seen it all before. This bamboo-filled, low-key Aurora spot is full of customers slurping phở and the aforementioned bún bò huế—which is a triple “S” experience of deep flavors (smoky, spicy, and a little sweet). And make sure to start your meal with an order of their fresh rolls, which come with a crunch little egg roll wrapper surprise inside.

Crawfish House

This bustling White Center Viet-Cajun restaurant, decorated with fishing nets and murals of crawfish depicted as WWE wrestlers, is perfect for a bib-clad group meal. It’s always a good idea to start with a round of Lucky Buddhas and a basket of snacks like fried pickles or cajun wings. But once the smell of butter and garlic has tempted you enough, get into the crustaceans—the classic crawfish boil with potatoes, corn, and andouille sausage makes for a satisfying mess.