Viet-My Restaurant

Located in a beat-​up old building, the exterior of Viet-​My almost screams «sketchy!» The interior does little to dispel this notion. But hang in there. The food is worth your time. Or at least it will be for a few more days. Viet-​My is looking for a new location. Barring a minor miracle, they will be closing on March 1^st.
The message taped to the cash register says, «We will be closed business in Mar 01 2014, appreciate for supporting during our business time. If we can find the new location, we will notify on Facebook. Also we will keep the same restaurant’s name VIETMY. Thank you!»
I’ve tried only one thing here, and it’s a shame that I won’t get a chance to try much more.

I have recently chosen to more formally embrace a dietary change that has been slowly evolving in daily practice for a long time: I have switched to a (mostly) plant based diet.
So far I have been really happy with the choice. I have really enjoyed learning new ways to pack flavor in to dishes without using meat. However, eating out can be challenging. Especially when it comes to my love of Phở.
I used to order Phở Bac Diet, a beefy celebration of many parts of the animal swimming in rich herbaceous broth. I love it and yet I am now choosing not to eat it.
Yet I still love vietnamese restaurants and many offer great vegetarian dishes like grilled lemongrass tofu served over bowls of vermicelli or plates of broken rice. However, every time I have tried to cure my craving for Beef Phở by ordering the veggie version it has left me crying over a bowl of insipid broth with a few undercooked veggies floating in it.
That is until today. Today work brought me close to the ID and seeing a few Unilocal reviews for Viet-​My which boldly claimed Viet-​My to have the best veggie phở in Seattle, I headed over to the very nondescript restaurant located on the very edge of the International District and next to one of the sketchiest parts of Pioneer Square. The interior of the restaurant was not fancy but clean, brightly lit, and pleasant enough to dispel the unease of the neighborhood and the chill of the rainy day.
I settled in and ordered the Vegetarian Phở. After only a few minutes of watching the elderly mother and daughter team bustling out with delectable looking and smelling dishes for other patrons, a massive bowl of vegetables piled on top of noodles floating in a deeply hued broth. The bowl gave off rich scents of savory broth combined with the nutty tang of fried shallots and garlic and the bite of black pepper.
This dish was a vibrant sunrise to the bland twilight of all the other vegetarian Phos I have tried. The surface of the broth glistened slightly with onion flavored oil and provided a rich mouth feel without leaving the palate greasy. The vegetables were tenderly cooked but still vibrant and there was plenty of fresh tasting fried tofu.
There were also strands of a hearty dark vegetable that at first I suspected were fried onions reconstituted in the broth but then realized were some type of pickle. I asked the waitress who confirmed that the vegetable was marinated dried daikon. The marinade added a meaty depth to the broth and the toothsome dried radish gave a meaty textural contrast to the tender veggies of soft tofu.
I am now a huge fan of this place for this dish alone. Unfortunately, as I was finishing the intensely garlic-​peppery last few drops of broth, I overheard the owner telling a table of regulars that the building had been sold and this is their last month in business here as they haven’t been able to find a new location yet.
I am going to have to plan a few visits so I can try a few of the other vegetarian dishes on the menu before they close. I will also be keeping tabs on their website to find out when they open a new location!

Tofu spring rolls with peanut sauce, and pork satay were delicious and really hit the spot. I probably could have just eaten two deliciously refreshing spring rolls (they had a high noodle ratio in them), but was glad I didn’t miss out on the tasty pork sauté with a coconut soup base and just right al dente rice noodles. Lady Server was also nice enough to give me a box for the second half of the gigantic portion, which I look forward to eating tomorrow. They were also happy to split the check to each of my co-​workers so it was easy to pay with a card.

Delicious broth! I had veggi Phở without tofu, and she was kind enough to give me extra veggie! Broccoli (and not too much like other places, green beans, carrot, and caramelized onion) Delicious!

The best Chicken Sate I’ve ever had! So flavorful and just the right amount of spice. Great service by two of the sweetest ladies ever. I’m sad they will be moving by the end of the year!

I’m not a phở connoiseur, but I eat my fair share (three times this week so far, okay, maybe obsessed…), but I have to say Viet My’s phở is really really good. I got the seafood phở and the broth was delicious. It was so rich and flavorful, I really didn’t need any condiments, but I did add some sriracha and hoisin sauce. Just a tad. It came with shrimp and imitation crab and some other big chunk of something interesting looking. The phở comes in just one size and it was filling for me. I was stuffed, but I’m a tiny person and could see how someone of larger size would want more. Price was $ 8 + tax/​tip, but it was worth it.
The lady that took my order was sweet — all business, but sweet. It was pretty busy while I was there, yet I got my food really quickly. It is a small establishment and it got warm after eating a hot bowl of phở, but clean and comfortable. I will definitely be back to this spot.

I have been going to Viet My for years. While I like several things at their original location on Prefontaine. I always get my favorites. Rice paper rolss aka spring rolls, egg rolls, and chargoal grilled shrimp (I have no idea what it is on the new menu). It’s always delicious, cheap and filling. And the owner Chau and her sister always take an interest in me and whoever else comes in. Do check it out and ignore the five year old snarky reviews.

This place used to be fantastic, even after it moved from the food court at the Columbia Center to the oddly smelly location by the train station.
I ate here again today and it was disgusting. The interior smelled like a mixture of mold and bleach; there was food affixed to the wall next to my chair; the ice (which I didn’t use) smelled like bleach; the paint on the walls is peeling — overall, very run down and unappetizing. The food was even worse.
The salad rolls were filled with smelly/​fusty shrimp and sprouts and other veggies that were yellowish/​brown, all clearly past their prime. My friend and I each had one bite and sent them back.
I ordered the chicken sate (a coconut milk, peanut and chile based broth) with vermicelli noodles, sliced onions, chicken and tomatoes. The broth had much less coconut milk and much more oil than before; the onions and the chicken both had a sour taste to them and the tomatoes weren’t ripe. My friend’s shrimp sate had the same past-​their-​prime shrimp in her soup as were in the salad rolls.
Before I knew the quality of the food had skidded so far I ordered a grilled bbq pork with noodles and herbs to go for my dinner tonight. I just checked the food out and it too was so bad I threw it away.
Unfortunately, I think she’s caught in the spiral of not having as many customers and so she’s not ordering fresh food and hanging on to ingredients too long.
My friend and I are truly hopeful we don’t get sick from today’s lunch.
I won’t be back.

I love Viet My! It is on the edge of Pioneer Square and the International District on a busy street near the fire station and sometimes I wonder how this restaurant survives. The answer is… the food is DELICIOUS! And inexpensive! And healthy – tons of veggies in just about every dish. And FAST! My food usually comes less than 15 minutes after I’ve ordered it and that is when the restaurant is packed! You can eat here for under $ 10. The woman who owns and runs this place is wonderful – I’ve eaten at Viet My about 20 times and when I walk in the restaurant she always says the same thing in greeting: «How are you honey?!» She greets everybody warmly but matter of factly with a complimentary pot of hot jasmine tea. A lot of people who work at Harborview Hospital walk down the hill to eat here, especially when it’s sunny out and a nice day for a stroll.

For my 100^th review, this is my best comfort food and you cannot get this Beef Satay soup noodle anywhere! I’ve first met the owner when she had her little food shop in the Columbia Tower. I now call her ‘mom’. She is sweet and one tough lady.
One day, a former co-​worker brought into the office an aromatic soup for lunch. She had described it as a thick broth phở. It smelled wonderful! She also told me there was coconut milk in the soup. That’s where I draw the line in food — I hate coconut. After a few times of smelling the delicious aroma soup, I had to try it despite the coconut milk. When I tried it, I could not believe I could not taste the coconut milk (or maybe I’m denying that there is coconut milk) in the soup. Amazing!
In the Beef Satay soup (it’s not the skewer satay), are the rice noodles, stir fried beef, peanuts and bean sprouts, topped with cucumbers and tomatoes. The broth is her own original recipe and top secret. Seriously, you cannot find this warm and comforting soup anywhere. It’s aromatic, creamy and best of all it hides the coconut milk taste!
I had recently took my husband to try the Beef Satay, who also doesn’t like coconut. He is now hooked on this comfort food. Just say ‘HI MOM’ when you enter Viet-​My. You’ll see her beautiful welcoming smile.
A MUST GO! =)

As much as I like to support small Vietnamese business. I an decidedly not a fan.
Charming that they burn incense in the back, but it smells, and I don’t enjoy incense wafting over my food. Of course I wouldn’t have minded if the incense was wafting over tasty food, but that’s a bit of a separate issue. My mom got the bun mang vit (noodles with duck and bamboo shoots), I got the com thit nuong (grilled pork and rice).
So I am expectant of the good Viet grilled pork I am used to, when out comes a decidedly red, too-​akin to cheap Chinese BBQ pork on a plate with some rice and pickled vegetables. You can’t slather a thin, thin slice of pork in that and marinate it to total permeation and still call it Viet food. If it tasted fine, I wouldn’t have minded, but it was definitely too sweet and overmarinated for my tastes. The veggies were also strangely arranged on the plate, but at least the fresh cucumber and tart pickled carrot and daikon were a welcome palate relief for the sweet pork.
The broth that came out with the duck was also very sweet, as was the goi salad that came out with the duck. Not to mention the actual bowl of soup was only a bit of noodle in a lot of broth.
A bit too sugary of a take on Viet food, the incense was a bit of a turn off. There are much better places than here to go. But the food is edible if you don’t mind.

Very pleasant experience. Veggie phở has attention put into it. The lady who makes it has told me that she personally likes it, and that it is always a vegetarian broth.
My first bowl came with a giant pile of toppings. Thin sliced celery, fried onions, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, bit of cabbage and some cilantro. Those parts made me feel good. But the tofu is fried with a lot a lot of oil, in huge hunks. I would almost recommend leaving it out, except I’m a sucker for deep fried food.
After a few days, I found myself craving it. Second time there was seitan (!), red and green bell peppers, zuchinni, celery, chinese cabbage, fried garlic and onions. I like that there is variety here, and I can count on a ton of vegetables. And putting chunks of seitan in there was a stroke of genius, why has nobody else done this?
I’m going to say it: Best veggie phở in Seattle.

Despite the outward appearance, this place is a real gem. It’s a family-​run establishment, and the food is authentic and very tasty. My 3 favorite dishes are the veggie phở — which has a rich stock and TONS of veggies — the lemongrass tofu — dump in the sauce for an even richer experience! — and the satays, which are soups. It sometimes gets a little hectic; there’s only one waitress, but she’s usually efficient. They serve a free pot of tea (with refills) to each table. All the dishes are under $ 10 and are filling portions (not usually enough for left overs, with the exception of the phos).
One of my coworkers says they also have an excellent fried rice, which I would never have thought to order from a Vietnamese place.

Best Phở Chay (Vegetarian Noodle Soup) in town, hands down! I’ve tried most in Seattle and nothing compares to the delightful bowl of veggie heaven this place offers Generally, a typical bowl includes broccoli, carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, daikon, bell peppers (green and/​or red) and other seasonal options (lately snow peas and green beans). The veggies are always crisp and not overcooked to the point they lose their flavor. Add the bean sprouts, basil, and jalapenos they provide on the side and you will have a mouth watering palate of flavors. In addition, if you enjoy fresh salad rolls, I recommend you try theirs, especially their home-​made peanut sauce! I also recommend heading there early before noon, to avoid the lunch crowd this place generally brings in.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle’s ID. It’s VERY fast, the food is excellent and the staff is very friendly.
My favorite dish is the Lemon Grass Tofu over noodles. Delicious!
(The décor is nothing too fancy… at all… but I’m usually in and out so quickly it doesn’t matter. I work two blocks away and including commute time it takes twenty minutes from leaving my desk to returning to my desk if I leave around 11:30.)

Weird hole in the wall location that anyone would assume it would be abandon.
My Aunt took me here and I was plesently suprise that there’s people in there and their food is decent to good. My Aunt recommenced the oi cuon thit nuong (salad roll with grilled pork) It was angel hair noodles and grilled pork with a sweet and sour sauce.
Dump the whole bowl of sauce in. Trust me it get to the best when the sauce saturates everything as it compliments with the pieces of peanuts with the sweet taste of grilled pork and the noodles.
I did not have the phở but it seems the other patrons were enjoying it.
I would recommenced it for a try and is a cheap eat. A Ap and two pork bowls $ 18.

This place looks pretty crappy from the street. Most businesses on this street look tore up from the floor up, so that isn’t such a hindrance.
Viet-​My is Ah Okay in my book. The veggie chow main is actually really good and was recommended by my (veggie) co-​worker Sonal. It came through with the goods.
It’s not a super duper place, but it’s in our standard rotation.

I had wanted to try this place since I passed by it while I was on jury duty. From the outside it looks sketchy but from the inside their website makes it look like the Shangri la so I was curious. A group of us went for lunch the other day to check it out, some were scared because it is after all right next to the infamous Dome Tavern and all but we all Unilocaled up and went.
We all place our orders some getting appetizers others just sticking with their lunch order. The appetizers arrive, they look good and people seem to be enjoying them, I’m thinking this should be good. Our food, food starts to arrive, mmm it looks good. More food comes, still looks good but unfortunately my food has yet to arrive and everyone else’s has. The lady working our table asks me what I ordered, the spicy chicken soup, apparently my order was lost.
I decided on the spicy chicken soup thinking it might actually be spicy. I was wrong it wasn’t spicy it just had red oil spill looking things floating on top, apparently if you dump chili oil in soup it makes it spicy, go figure. It was OK I should have just gone with the regular Phở Ga or a vermicelli rice noodle bowl, I’m sure it would have been better but who knows. You win some you lose some, but at least I can now say I’ve tried Viet My and if I’m ever in the Dome Tavern drinking piss beer I know where I can go to get something to eat.

3.5 stars.
This place is pretty nice. Two little ladies seem to be the only employees. Interesting décor, nothing over the top and it shows effort. The place is cared for.
I had — (for us crackers)…#39 Pork and eggroll something or other.
This is going to be a short review, because my knowledge of this style of cuisine could fit on the head of a pin.
Throughout the lunch as all other types of places were discussed, every time I was asked if I had been there, my response was, «If a Unilocaler hasn’t dragged me there, then I ain’t been there».
As a wise Bunneh said once about «authentic» Mexican food, I don’t care if this was authentic food at Viet My or not… it tasted good in my mouth and that’s what I pay for.
The flavors in my dish were good, it was good looking, and I only fumbled w/​my chopsticks like a true whitey a couple of times… ok, only a couple of times that were obvious.
I’d definitely be up for another lunch here.

Everytime I go to Viet My, I am amazed. Despite its outside appearance, which looks like any nondescript ethnic place in the ID, when you open the door, the room is immaculate, welcoming and generally full of happy diners with big bowls heaping with noodles. You are always welcomed by the woman who runs the front of the place, who will often refer to you as «honey,» which instantly makes you feel like family. The menu is vast, the food is fast, fresh and delicious. I typically order the phở (love the shrimp and BBQ pork version), one of their Sates when I can justify splurging the calories on coconut-​milk based sauces or one of their noodle dishes, served in a bowl, with rice noodles, roasted peanuts, picked veggies, sprouts, a variety of meats and seasoned fish sauce. You must wash the whole thing down with their homemade lemonade.
The amazing part: everything is run by only two women.
Although I usually will sit down for lunch as it is such a pleasant experience, I am often too pressed for time and eat takeout at my desk. Miraculously, it’s always ready, just as fresh and delicious as always, in 5 minutes or less. Amazing.