VIETNAMESE
1100 Stephens St., Gretna 366-7665
The West Bank has its reputation for excellent Asian cuisine in part because of this restaurant, which concentrates on Vietnamese food but throws in a little Chinese for good measure. The authentic Vietnamese dishes include a fondue where you cook beef, shrimp, and squid in a simmering broth at your table. The lobster and whole steamed fish are lightly flavored with scallions and ginger. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Thursday through Tuesday. Credit cards. $
DONG PHUONG ORIENTAL BAKERY AND RESTAURANT
14207 Chef Menteur Hwy. 254-0214, 254-0296
It¹s a tossup which half of this operation deserves more praise -- the
restaurant full of savory Vietnamese dishes or the bakery, where French bread
and croissants vie for attention with enigmatic Vietnamese sweets. At the restaurant,
try the duck soup with bok choy, shitake mushrooms and egg noodles, then hop
over to the bakery counter to try the coconut custard or banana-ginger candy.
No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner Wednesday through Monday. Credit
cards. $
DOSON¹S NOODLE HOUSE
8128 Oak St. 861-9724
Doson¹s offers two restaurants in one, combing the flavors of Vietnam
and China with everything from spring rolls to the specialty beef noodle pho.
Seafood and meat are ably represented by such dishes as black pepper shrimp
and mu shu pork, and vegetarians will love the Chinese eggplant in a hot garlic
sauce. Reservations accepted. Lunch Monday through Saturday, dinner daily. Credit
cards and checks. $$
FROSTY¹S CAFFE
2800 Manhattan Blvd.,
Harvey 361-9099
3400 Cleary Ave., Metairie 888-9600
The namesake beverage that is featured here is the bubble tea, a Vietnamese
concoction with floating pearls of tapioca and 80 flavors to choose from. For
more solid fare, the flank steak is marinated and cubed, grilled, served with
rice and garnished with lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes and vinaigrette. No reservations.
Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
KIM SON
349 Whitney Ave., Gretna 366-2489
Reasonably priced Vietnamese food, cooked in traditional clay pots or chargrilled,
is found at Kim Son¹s. The staff recommends starting with imperial or spring
rolls, then on to the hot-and-sour fish soup. For an entree, dive into one of
the claypot-cooked fish dishes or curry chicken with coconut. Reservations recommended.
Lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Credit cards. $$
PHO TAU BAY
113C Westbank Expwy., Gretna 368-9846
1565 Tulane Ave. 524-4669
3116 N. Arnoult Road, Metairie 780-1063
Staples at this Vietnamese mainstay include the bun thit nuong -- charcoal-broiled
sliced pork served over a bed of vermicelli with cucumber, spearmint, bean sprouts,
crispy lettuce and peanuts. No reservations. West Bank location serves breakfast,
lunch and dinner daily; Tulane Avenue location serves breakfast and lunch Monday
through Friday; Metairie location serves lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday.
Credit cards. $
PURPLE ROSES
1116 Tulane Ave. 566-0950
Busy medical-center workers and CBD business types keep this place hopping
at lunchtime for such Asian goodies as the vermicelli curry bowl, crawfish fried
rice, the General Tsao Chicken and the chicken-wing special: six pieces for
3 bucks. No reservations. Delivery available in the CBD only. Lunch Monday through
Friday. Cash only. $
