Minh's
2500 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22201
703-525-2828
Neighborhood: Arlington, Clarendon/Courthouse, Arlington
Cuisines: Vietnamese
Opening Hours:
Open Tuesday through Thursday 11 to 10, Friday and Saturday 11 to 11, Sunday 11 to 10.
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Nearby Metro Stops: Court House, Clarendon
Price Range: Inexpensive
Dress: Informal
Noise Level: Intimate
Reservations: Not Needed
Website: http://minhrestaurant.com/
Best Dishes:
Pork vermicelli, both northern (saltier) and southern (sweeter); banh xeo; fried shrimp-and-yam patties; dill-laced catfish, to be broken into hunks and folded into giant leaves of lettuce; a clay pot of sweet/peppery caramel sauce and bits of catfish; ch
Special Features: Wheelchair Accessible, Kid Friendly
Cuisine: To judge by the inclusive menu at this East Coast outpost of the Nguyen family’s popular San Jose restaurant empire, this is one of the area’s preeminent destinations for Vietnamese cooking. Both northern and southern dishes are given their due—as are budget-minded diners: No entrée is more than $17.
Mood: The expansive dining room tempers its office-building locale with white tablecloths and soothing red walls. Although large groups are often the norm, the space retains its calm, Zen-like energy.
Best for: A good introduction to Vietnamese food, and the menu is broad enough to include something for just about every taste and sensibility.
Best dishes: Luscious pork vermicelli, both northern (saltier) and southern (sweeter); banh xeo, an oversize, web-like crepe with bean sprouts, shrimp, and pork; fried shrimp-and-yam patties; a fragrant, dill-laced catfish, to be broken into hunks and folded into giant leaves of lettuce; a clay pot bubbling with a sweet/peppery caramel sauce and bits of catfish; chicken, tart with lemongrass and covered in red-pepper flakes.
Insider tips: Bring a large group—most dishes are served family style and can feed several.
Service: •••
Open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner. Inexpensive.