Hale Vietnam

I haven't visited this "hale" on 12th Ave for many years. A couple we were meeting suggested it and pho sounded great. The ambiance was unchanged, although it did seem a bit more colorful. On a rainy Wednesday night, it was busy with people constantly at the door waiting for tables. That explains why the moment we sat down the waitress asked for our order and then two minutes later and then again two minutes later. We finally made our selections, Garden Delight Roll, Large Beef/Flank/Brisket/Tripe Pho, Lemongrass Chicken; our friends ordered Peanut Curry and Vegetarian Crispy Noodles.

We shared an appetizer, the Garden Delight. It was pretty tasty and it LOOKS like there's meat inside! It was filled with lettuce, basil and some sort of garlicky filling. Pretty tasty.













I got the pho and it was pretty good, although not the best. One of the best I've had is from Cuu Long 2 and Han likes Pho Baci (both in Chinatown).













According to Han, the Lemongrass Chicken was pretty good especially with the tasty bits of fried garlic. It had really subtle lemongrass flavor; he was hoping for a stronger lemongrass taste.













Our friend who ordered the Peanut Curry said it was "awesome" and really enjoyed it. It reminded him of a Thai penang curry.













Vegetarian Crispy Noodles, not a hit with our friend who ordered it. She liked that the noodles were fluffy but the sauce was also too subtle, not enough flavor.













Overall, I remember Hale Vietnam being better in the past, but it's still a Vietnamese restaurant that you can enjoy more than a bowl of pho. It's a neighborhood establishment with a lively ambiance, the perfect place to gather with friends.