The buzz: The guys at Les Amis take another stab at a Vietnamese classic broken rice dish after their successful reinterpretation of the popular noodle dish, pho.
The vibe: Akin to many other mall offerings, it’s a bright and colorful space with a self-order sheet and cashier. It’s not unlike sister outlet NamNam Noodle Bar with a minimalist and contemporary design (think pale wooden tables, stools, booth seats and bright yellow lights).
The food: Various interpretations of broken rice dishes in soups and dry rice bowls that deviate from original Vietnamese recipes to add more variety to the menu. Chef Nam Quoc Nguyen shakes it up with bowls of sautéed lemongrass pork ($9.90) and crispy soft shell crab and squid ($13.90). Each of these come with a choice of broken rice or kimchi fried rice, as well as pickles and fungus. Soupy rice dishes in an unassuming clear broth have options like seafood balls with bean sprouts ($9.90) and Grey Featherback fish balls with a soft-boiled egg ($7.90). Pair these with refreshing sides like the grilled chicken salad with roasted peanuts ($5.90) that has a little bit of spice and lots of fresh herbs and citrus.
The drinks: A slew of traditional Vietnamese drinks including Vietnamese black and condensed milk coffees ($2.50) that come both hot and iced. They’ve also got playful sodas using traditional ingredients like tamarind with peanut and sesame seeds ($3.50).
Why you’ll be back: It’s definitely something different from pho, which is what our palates are accustomed to when it comes to Vietnamese cuisine. An alternative to noodle dishes, their reinterpretations of broken rice, although not authentic, are tasty.
