One of Chinatown’s best restaurants, the Vietnamese joint Binh Minh
Quan, doesn’t look very impressive from the outside, but inside you’ll
see that the owners have done a nice job decorating, from the water
buffalo figurines at the entrance to the earth-toned walls. They have
your standard Vietnamese fare: claypots, pho, and cold
vermicelli soups (try the bun rieu). Or, on a special occasion,
order the roasted catfish; the dish takes a while to cook so expect to
nosh on some appetizers first, or call ahead to put in an order. The
roasted catfish is not for the squeamish: A whole catfish, head and
all, comes out on a tray along with greens, herbs, and rice paper. The
dish warrants a demonstration for first-timers: You dip the rice paper
in warm water and gather pieces of fish, herbs, cucumber, lettuce, and
marinated vegetables and wrap them all up into a spring roll. Dip in
your favorite sauce, and you’ve got a meal to call home about.
TRENDING:
.Best Vietnamese Restaurant
Binh Minh Quan