What to Order at Five Must-Try Buford Highway Vietnamese Restaurants
The Restaurant: Lee’s Bakery
The Order: Banh Mi (sandwich)
This traditional Vietnamese sandwich—pâté and/or various kinds of pork and deli meat comingle alongside pickled veggies (think jalapenos, daikon, carrots and cucumbers) and fresh herbs (usually coriander or cilantro) in between a crusty French baguette smothered in mayo—is not only made from scratch at this sandwich and soup shop, it’s also the steal of the century at just $2.99. Go for the Grilled BBQ Pork version.
The Restaurant: Nam Phuong
The Order: G?i cu?n (spring rolls)
Gather up a group and head to this unsuspecting Vietnamese mecca where you roll your own spring rolls, also sometimes called salad rolls or summer rolls. I’m partial to the BBQ pork, but the shrimp is also great—simply dip rice paper into warm water and pile it high with your choice of fresh herbs, rice vermicelli and julienned carrots and cucumbers. Dipped in a tangy fish sauce, these rolls are DIY delicious.
The Restaurant: Chateau Saigon
The Order: Bò Lúc L?c (Shaken Beef)
Like many Vietnamese dishes, this French-inspired beef creation is named for its cooking method: tender beef is tossed back and forth in a shaking motion over high heat. At Chateau Saigon, you’ll find it served authentically over greens with sautéed onions, scallions and tomatoes, alongside rice.
The Restaurant: Pho Dai Loi #2
The Order: Pho (Beef Noodle Soup)
This soup shop, tucked away in a corner of a strip mall, is the undisputed master of Vietnam’s iconic dish of ph?. Here, a deliciously rich broth chockfull of spices (think cinnamon, star anise, roasted ginger, roasted onion, cardamom, coriander, fennel and clove) teems with rice noodles and a variety of beef cuts, from eye round steak and well-done flank to marble brisket, soft tendon and bible tripe (mix-and-match the cuts to customize your soup). Each steaming bowl comes with a bounty of fresh herbs, bean sprouts, lime and jalapenos for toppings.
The Restaurant: C’om Grill
The Order: ?u ?? (papaya salad)
Though papaya salad is often thought of as a Thai dish, the Vietnamese version is equally bright and packed with flavor. At this casual eatery, you’ll find their signature salad brimming with green mango, papaya, Fuji apple, roasted peanuts and crispy scallions in a fish vinaigrette sauce. It’s the perfect balance of textures and flavors, and comes with the option to add pork, beef, chicken, lamb, shrimp or fish.
