Huynh Restaurant

"Huynh is a beloved neighborhood Vietnamese restaurant in EaDo, close to the convention center and downtown. It’s a reliable place to eat charred shaken beef or spicy, aromatic bún bò huế, even when it’s busy. But what's more memorable is the owners waiting tables, greeting guests, and treating every diner like a regular. (You’ll know who they are from all of the family photos hanging in the waiting area.)" - gianni greene, chelsea thomas, julie takahashi

"Huynh is a beloved neighborhood Vietnamese restaurant in EaDo close to the convention center and downtown where every diner is treated like a regular. It’s a reliable place, even when it’s busy. Service is attentive, and the food is solid, ranging from charred shaken beef to a spicy, aromatic bún bò huế. The owners are always there, waiting tables and greeting guests—you’ll know who they are from all of the family photos hanging in the waiting area. Huynh is also BYOB, so you can bring a few bottles for a date or large get-together. And make sure to grab a Dum-Dum on your way out. What to order: bún bò huế, bánh ướt trường" - chelsea thomas

"Huynh is the most reliable restaurant near Downtown. The service and food at this beloved Vietnamese restaurant are always solid. It’s where locals and folks who stumbled over from the convention hotels gel into one. And even though the atmosphere is casual thanks to solo diners with large bowls of spicy bún bò and office co-workers splitting large plates of cơm bò lúc lằc, service feels warm. Mostly thanks to the owners (or at least the same folks from the family photos in the front) checking in on every diner and regulars sharing BYOB wine. photo credit: Liz Silva Food Rundown photo credit: Liz Silva Bánh Ướt Thit Nướng The soft rice crepes surrounding the grilled pork on this dish have an almost tapioca pudding-like texture. And while this is great enough, each piece tastes even better once dunked into the savory meat sauce on the side. Don’t share this one. photo credit: Liz Silva Gỏi Vịt This salad is small, almost too small, but the sharp hit of acid in each bite makes up for the size. We love the roast duck coated in fish sauce tang and the thin-sliced cabbage and fresh herbs. This dish works great before a savory meal or alongside any dish as a palate cleanser. photo credit: Liz Silva Bún Bò Huế This is the best bowl of bún bò huế inside the loop. It has a deep, earthy flavor with layers of chili spice and lemongrass. Order it “Vietnamese-style” if you want extra blood cake. photo credit: Liz Silva Ðậu Hủ Xào Lăn This dish is for tofu lovers. Fried tofu, to be specific. It’s smothered in mild, creamy coconut curry and crushed peanuts. And while you can add vegetables, we say don’t mess with Huynh’s process. Cơm Bò Lúc Lằc Every order of cơm bò lúc lằc we’ve eaten here (over 50 at this point) arrives hot, with caramelized onions, just-softened green peppers, and wok-sauteed beef with a thin crust that opens to tender meat. Drown everything in pepper-lime sauce, and this dish will become a new favorite. Bít Tết Vietnamese steak and eggs take the crown as the king of stomach-lining brunch plates. You may actually never be hungry again after you eat this. The ultra-rich and ultra-savory plate of griddled steak, a fried egg, and long sausage slices arrive sizzling in butter and soy sauce. You will need every square inch of bread on the sop up every bite." - Chelsea Thomas

"Corkage fee: one-time charge of $2.50 per person No matter the day of the week or whether you’re here for lunch or dinner service, someone is BYOBing at Huynh. The family-run Vietnamese spot in EaDo has a respectable one-time fee of $2.50 per person. Huynh’s regulars capitalize on this by making a friendly competition of who can bring the best bottle to pair with plates of bò lúc lắc or steaming bowls of spicy bún bò huế. Other people just pop into the corner store nearby and grab whatever’s on hand once they hear about the policy." - chelsea thomas

"When you want a midday bowl of phở and swift service, head to Huynh. This Vietnamese restaurant in EaDo gets busy with office workers, anyone visiting the nearby convention center, or folks on the East Side right when it opens at 11am. The owners regularly zip back and forth across the restaurant waiting tables, running out steaming bowls of spicy, aromatic bún bò huế and fish sauce-drenched bowls of vermicelli and lemongrass beef between corralling folks waiting for a table." - chelsea thomas, gianni greene