Rose VL Deli

"The soups change daily at this cheery Vietnamese spot, but on Saturdays, the deli crafts a somewhat dry noodle dish that’s almost impossible to find in American restaurants. Thick noodles sit in a bath of aromatic, sweet broth — they should sit for another two minutes once they arrive at the table — before they’re tossed with peanuts, pork, crackers, and an assortment of herbs and greens; the side of core-warming stock is for you to sip separately. Its intricate, careful construction and depth has made it a Saturday tradition throughout Portland." - Ben Coleman, Eater Staff

"Tucked into a mini strip mall on Southeast Powell, Rose VL is the cheerful companion restaurant to 2024 James Beard semifinalist Ha VL, serving those famous traditional Vietnamese soups with unending depth. Two to three different soups or noodles are served daily, along with brace-yourself strong Vietnamese iced coffee. Portlanders often flock on Saturday for cao lầu, a regional Vietnamese noodle dish with herbs and a tangy, savory sauce. It is simply impossible to go wrong, regardless of the soups available any given day." - Eater Staff

"Nestled in a Jade District strip mall, Ha VL’s celebrated sister crafts outstanding, meticulously constructed Vietnamese soups six days a week. Peppery pork ball soup with vermicelli noodles and turmeric noodles in pork broth are highlights. Also of note, late chef-meets-owner-meets-matriarch Ha (Christina) Luu was a James Beard Award semifinalist. Soups tend to sell out by 1 p.m., so those interested should arrive for a noodle brunch." - Nick Woo, Krista Garcia, Janey Wong

"No list of Portland noodle soups would be complete without Luu-Vuong family’s brilliant stable of delicious Vietnamese soups. At Rose VL, sister restaurant Ha VL, and newborn sibling Annam VL, a rotating schedule of noodle soups thrill customers daily. On Fridays, the restaurant’s shrimp cake soup coats your mouth with umami-laden broth, while hunks of tomatoes, shrimp cake, Vietnamese ham, and a pile of herbs mingle in the bowl. However, any visit to Rose VL is going to involve some form of exceptional noodle soup — even if it isn’t on Friday." - Rebecca Roland, Nick Woo, Brooke Jackson-Glidden

"When pancakes or eggs just won’t do, go for a Vietnamese noodle soup at Rose VL. Save your phở cravings for later, because this family-run Foster-Powell restaurant in a tiny strip mall is all about the deep cuts that feel rare for this town. Instead, order the cao lȃ̀u noodles, a Saturday-only special that’s an explosion of textures and flavors due to thick, chewy noodles, slightly sweet Chinese bbq pork, and herbs, plus peanuts and fried shallots for crunch. Light pork broth is served on the side for sipping between bites. Rose VL serves different soups every day, so diehards know the day of the week to go for the shrimp cake noodle soup with sliced pork meatloaf (Friday) or the red chicken curry served with a crusty baguette (Thursday)." - krista garcia