Any Good Vietnamese in Flushing?
Are there any good Vietnamese restaurants in Flushing? Pho and banh mi are fine, but I'm specifically looking for good bun and crispy, fried things to wrap in lettuce and mint. Restaurants outside Flushing are worthy of mention as well, but I'd prefer sticking to Queens. (I'm aware of the places in Brooklyn on Avenue U and 8th Avenue, but they're too far from me for a quick lunch or dinner.) TIA.
By Greg
on Apr 13, 2009 06:00 PM
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Nothing? Not even in Queens generally?
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I think the reason there aren't too many responses is that it's hard to eat Vietnamese when one is seduced by all of the Korean and Chinese offerings there (well, at least for me).
The only Vietnamese restaurants I'm aware of in Flushing are Pho on Prince Street and Pho Bang (though it may actually be called something else now) on Kissena, near the intersection of Main Street. The pho at Pho is good, though I haven't had any of the other offerings. And I thought Pho Bang (years ago -- and I think the ownership may have changed) was just OK for pho, bun, spring rolls and Vietnamese sandwiches (actually, it was not OK for the Vietnamese sandwiches). There's also Pho 32 on Roosevelt Ave, which is a Korean-run pho joint. I don't like it at all for pho, but haven't had the other offerings.
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Miss Needle, while I'm sympathetic to the allure of Chinese and Korean in Flushing, I crave good Vietnamese as well. Thanks for your rundown of the options in Queens.
I wasn't expecting to find an Alexandria, VA-style pocket of Vietnamese restaurants to be revealed in the heart of Flushing, but I was hoping that someone might know of some lone storefront that I might have overlooked in my searches. Even better, one where the emphasis isn't solely on pho. I guess there's none to be found.
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There are 2 vietnamese restaurants in Elmhurst, at the little NY Market mall on Broadway. (Elmhurst subway stop on the R) One is another Pho Bang, and I forget the name of the other one, which is where I go. Not as good as the Vietnamese restaurants in Chinatown, but still good. There is also a Thai Son on Roosevelt Ave(?) in Jackson Heights, but I have only been to the Manhattan branch, so I can't vouch for it.
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I tried one of these Elmhurst places a couple of years ago -- can't remember which one though -- and I thought it was really good. I ordered something marked "spicy" on the menu (I think it was a chicken dish), and they actually made it fairly spicy (but also flavorful).
In my experience, most Vietnamese places, even good ones, wimp out totally on spicy stuff, and you have to add lots of Sriracha yourself. Maybe the locals in Elmhurst expect more spice in their "spicy" dishes?
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there is not much viet in flushing, you're better off looking in brooklyn (i believe there is supposed to be a good place in the bronx as well)
the state of viet food in NYC is very bad unfortunately as I love viet food, my family's home in CA is not that far from little saigon which has awesome viet food (not a big enough viet population in NYC)
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I hear that. On my last trip to LA my first stop was at pho so 1. I was just looking for something a little closer to home. Guess I'll have to split my time between Manhattan's Chinatown and Sunset Park. Thanks to all.
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THAISON - 40-10 74TH JACKSON HEIGHTS
On their take-out menu items 36-41 are what you might like (i think the # are slightly different on the house menu.
I get item 39 (Grilled beef,sesame seasoned with lettuce,cucumber,mint,cilantro -$9.95) quite regularly and I think it's really excellent and alot of food.
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The calamari is usually well seasoned and vegetable spring rolls are crunchy and delicious. I enjoy the crispy whole fish, which is succulent and moist, but the last two times I had it, the lemongrass was a little overwhelming. Still recommended though!
The noodle dishes would be perfect with a touch more spice...
Overall, I really like this place.
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