Hai Hai

"From salt and pepper tofu served with a vibrant lime leaf sauce to Hanoi sticky rice topped with pork floss and pickles, James Beard-winning chef Christina Nguyen offers one of the Cities’ most compelling menus at Hai Hai, a staple for Southeast Asian cuisine. Don’t overlook the cocktail menu: The slushies (think passionfruit and yuzu) are a must at any time of the year. Grab a seat on the patio or in the restaurant’s breezy interior, dressed in tropical hues of emerald and turquoise. Grab a table on Resy or place an order online for pickup or delivery." - Stacy Brooks

"Restaurant with Chef Christina Nguyen named as a finalist for Best Chef, Midwest in the James Beard Awards." - Serena Maria Daniels

"Whatever the weather, Hai Hai offers a tropical respite. Happy hour is offered at the bar Sunday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., with select tap beers for $5 and a fruity vodka seltzer or Panda Punch for $8. Food specials include salt and pepper tofu, coconut shrimp toast, and wonton nachos." - Stacy Brooks, Alex Lodner, Eater Staff

"In 2017, James Beard–nominated chef Christina Nguyen and co-owner Birk Grudem expertly transformed a divey neighborhood strip club into a lush Southeast Asian restaurant. Hai Hai’s deep teal walls, ferns, and paper lanterns make the space hum with tropical charm, even in the dead of winter. The cocktails are excellent — think lychee slushies and espresso martinis with Vietnamese coffee and coconut — and the menu features dishes like delicate water fern cakes, beef larb lettuce wraps, and a tender Balinese chicken thigh with macerated kale and bean sprout salad. Nguyen won the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef, Midwest." - Eater Staff

"Christina Nguyen’s Vietnamese street food-inspired restaurant won for the Midwest." - ByLi Goldstein