Quang Restaurant

2719 Nicollet Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55408
612-870-4739
http://www.quangrestaurant.com/

Category: Vietnamese

Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 8
Service: 7
Ambience: 5

Recommendation: Very Good. This Eat Street favorite serves up great Pho soup and bubble tea…and a whole host of other tasty authentic dishes.

No other Vietnamese place in the Twin Cities gets talked about as much as Quang…and for good reason. This sparsely decorated restaurant is always bustling and if you go there during normal lunch or dinner hours, be prepared to wait. The good news is that the restaurant is quite large, the food comes out of the kitchen in a hurry, and the servers are always running to clear tables and keep patrons moving. The crowd is diverse and you see as many Asians as Americans, which is usually a good sign at any ethnic restaurant.

We have tried a wide variety of dishes from their diverse menu and never been disappointed. The Pho (noodle soup) is the specialty here and we have tried both the beef and the chicken Phos. The soup consists of a flavorful clear broth, served with rice noodles and meat (you have some options here). The servers bring a side of jalapeno peppers, sprouts, lime wedge, and Thai basil that you can add to your soup. We add all of these in plenty because it adds to the flavor and texture of the dish. The traditional way to eat this soup is with the chopsticks in one had and a soup spoon in the other – once you get the hang of it, you’ll have fun. The Spring Rolls are served with a hoisin sauce and have a very light and fresh flavor. The Egg Rolls are hot and crispy (try them both and compare). We also loved Quang’s Original Pork Chop platter – the meat had a nice char quality but wasn’t dry. If you’ve never had a Vietnamese Sandwich, you’re in for a wonderful surprise…think Parisian baguette packed with Asian ingredients and flavors. The Chicken Sandwich was served on a crispy French bread with pate, mayo, chicken and some veggies – it’s a staple in Vietnam. We love getting their bubble teas – they are a nice accompaniment to the meal – Hazelnut, Coffee, and Strawberry are our favorites…we especially love the chewy texture of the tapioca balls and sucking them through the large straw! Try the Lemongrass Chicken, which is nicely flavored for the American palate. The Grilled Meatballs Vermicelli Salad was recommended by our server and was excellent. The meatballs were served with vermicelli noodles, lettuce, bean sprouts, mint, cilantro, peanuts, and a sweet sauce on the side. The dish was bursting with flavors. The Iced Coffee, made traditionally with Chicory Coffee and sweetened condensed milk is nice and strong.

$. Entrees are under $10. Free Parking.