Tân Định

"Tân Định is not New Orleans’s only great Vietnamese restaurant located in a strip mall, but it is perhaps the one most universally loved by East Bank and West Bank residents. Everything here is revitalizing, but regulars swear by specialties like the goat curry and lemongrass chicken wings. Few New Orleanians either haven’t tried it or have a bad word to say about this Gretna gem." - Clair Lorell

"The mother ship of West Bank Vietnamese restaurants, Tân Định offers a voluminous menu that includes tons of GF options. Rice paper-wrapped fresh spring rolls, char-broiled pork or chicken skewers flavored with lemon grass, bowls of steaming pho swimming with rice noodles and beef, rice vermicelli bowls, and plates of jasmine rice topped with salmon or shrimp are just a few of the myriad of choices." - Beth D'Addono, Eater Staff

"New Orleans has a strong Vietnamese food scene, and with most of the best such joints being in out-of-the-way spots, it’s mostly locals that benefit. For visitors to the city, Tan Dinh entails a drive to the decidedly untouristy neighborhood of the West Bank, which peers at downtown New Orleans across the mighty Mississippi River. Their pho is the most in-demand and celebrated dish, and it’s customizable with meat choices such as flank steak, beef balls, brisket, and even tripe for the die-hard purists. Appetizers make up an esoteric list that ranges from flash-fried frog legs to marinated quail to clay pot-baked catfish, plus classics such as spring rolls. Many locals have come to make it part of the irregular eating habit, and in regular times, it’s even a place to watch the football on a Sunday afternoon. There are thankfully a few Vietnamese restaurants that have solidified their place in the New Orleans culinary firmament, and Tan Dinh is one of them." - Paul Oswell

"There are a number of excellent Vietnamese restaurants around town, especially in the Westbank. Tân Định is one of the best options, and a big reason why is the Creole and Vietnamese combinations you’ll find on the menu. Look no further than the fried frog legs that come with a side of lime juice, salt, and pepper that perfectly cuts through that rich and super tender meat. There are other winners on the menu besides amphibians, including some extremely beefed-up spring rolls and a heaping plate of rolled vermicelli noodles that go great with some lemongrass pork skewers. The dining room is a pretty casual space—there are lots of huge round tables and early Kali Uchis is playing over the speakers, and it all makes for the perfect lunch or standout weeknight dinner. " - Chelsea Brasted, Zella Palmer, Carlo Mantuano

"There are a number of excellent Vietnamese restaurants around town, especially in the Westbank. Tân Định is one of the best options, and a big reason why is the Creole and Vietnamese combinations you’ll find on the menu. Look no further than the fried frog legs that come with a side of lime juice, salt, and pepper that perfectly cuts through that rich and super tender meat. There are other winners on the menu besides amphibians, including some extremely beefed-up spring rolls and a heaping plate of rolled vermicelli noodles that go great with some lemongrass pork skewers. The dining room is a pretty casual space—there are lots of huge round tables and early Kali Uchis is playing over the speakers, and it all makes for the perfect lunch or standout weeknight dinner." - Carlo Mantuano