Beautifully cut julienned vegetables wrapped in thin rice paper; salads that boast the freshness of spring; broths-cum-soup chock full of chicken, cilantro and basil: These are the delicacies of Vietnam. Share your votes for the best Vietnamese food in Atlanta on Access Atlanta’s Best of the Big A all weekend (www.accessatlanta.com).
Chateau de Saigon
4300 Buford Highway N.E., Suite 218, Atlanta, 404-929-0034, www.chateaudesaigon.com
The thing that makes this restaurant stand out from other Vietnamese spots in the area are its specialty, rice paper wraps, or banh trang cuon. Order the grilled sampler for a party on a platter: rice papers, a shallow bowl of water and an assortment of grilled marinated pork, minced shrimp grilled around a baton of sugar cane (called chao tom) and la lot — minced beef flavored brightly with lemon grass then wrapped in pungent betel leaves. Add fresh lettuce leaves, green apple, slices of carambola, vermicelli noodles, long-leaved Vietnamese cilantro and mint, and the fun begins.
Nam
931 Monroe Drive, Suite A-101, Atlanta. 404-541-9997. www.namrestaurant.com
Alex and Chris Kinjo of MF Buckhead and MF Sushibar extend their flair from their native Japan to Vietnam, with Nam’s hip, elegant menu of nouvelle Vietnamese cuisine. Flavors here are fresh, clean and thoughtful — allowing for Vietnamese traditions while embracing an unmistakable modernity. Rice flour tamales (banh nam) are a favorite, filled with minced pork and shrimp, then wrapped and steamed in a banana leaf and sprinkled with chile sauce. The shaking beef, with pepper and lime for dipping, is a thing of beauty. Bask in flowing, organza-like sheer panels between tables and a muted, modern atmosphere while the lovely waitresses treat you like royalty. Save room to sip the sweetness of Vietnamese coffee for dessert.
So Ba, not rated
560 Gresham Avenue, 404-627-9911, www.soba-eav.com
Owner Nhan Le is no stranger to opening hip, hole-in-the-wall spots in Atlanta’s emerging neighborhoods: He also owns Wasabi Sushi, Wine and Saki Lounge in Castleberry Hill, and owned now-closed White Elephant Thai Restaurant in East Point. Local foodie bloggers have had a heyday ranting about So Ba’s authenticity, but if it’s pho you’re after, you won’t leave this restaurant scratching your head. The Vietnamese rice noodle soup comes in a load of different varieties, from tripe to soft tendon and shrimp to steak.
Lee's Bakery, not rated
4005 Buford Highway, Atlanta. 404-728-1008.
Beautiful loaves of bread at this popular Vietnamese sandwich shop look French, but they’re made with rice flour as well as wheat, giving them a light texture and making a mystifyingly thin, crisp crust. This lunch time favorite offers Vietnam’s answer to the sub: banh mi, colorful, jam-packed hoagies with a spread of liver pate, headcheese and ham, then crowned with spicy Vietnamese mayo and fresh cilantro. Take one to go, or buy some bread and the ingredients and get creative.
Co’m Vietnamese Grill
4005-E Buford Highway, Atlanta. 404-320-0405. www.comgrill.com
A hip little eatery that embraces the intricacies of what Vietnamese cuisine possesses when conveyed at its best. The digs are neat and trendy, the price is right, and favorites such as la lot stuffed with a spicy lamb, or goi - a salad of julienned mango and apple with minced pork.
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