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A server with three bowls of pho.
Service at Huong Viet in Eden Center.
R. Lopez/Eater DC

D.C.’s Essential Vietnamese Restaurants

Where to go for pho, banh mi, bun, and so much more

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Service at Huong Viet in Eden Center.
| R. Lopez/Eater DC

The D.C. area has a vibrant Vietnamese community that’s particularly concentrated in Falls Church, the Northern Virginia town that boasts its own Little Vietnam in the expansive Eden Center. But top-notch pho, banh mi, and vermicelli dishes are also available everywhere from Silver Spring to parts of D.C. proper. These are the destination Vietnamese restaurants around D.C.

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Mi La Cay

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Maryland suburbanites visit this Vietnamese restaurant for marinated quail, bun bo hue (beef noodle soup,) and egg noodle dishes such as crispy Maryland chicken egg-noodle soup, which comes with a whole chicken on its own plate. Delivery available through GrubHub.

This is the place to get vermicelli crab soup. One version is packed with squid and shrimp. Another features pork heart and pork blood. Sample an array of appetizers from the kitchen by ordering the banh hoi, a bed of fried vermicelli topped with spring rolls, grilled shrimp, and skewered balls of pork and shrimp. The restaurant is currently takeout-only; contact restaurant directly for orders.

A bowl of soup with seafood, greens, and a bright red broth.
Crab vermicelli soup with seafood at Bun DC.
Missy Frederick/Eater DC

Pho 14 (Multiple Locations)

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Pho 14 keeps D.C. residents fueled with pho, while also serving up Vietnamese crepes, bun bo hue (spicy noodle soup) and more. Takeout and delivery info here.

1914 by Kolben

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This newer addition to the scene is inspired by Hanoi’s buzzy “train street”, and literally has a model of a train in the upstairs of the restaurant. Banh mi, grilled pork noodles, pho ga, and a brief selection of small plates make up the menu. Online ordering here.

A train inside a restaurant with a vibrant printed carpet underneath.
1914’s interior, which includes a fake train.
1941 by Kolben

Doi Moi

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This trendy 14th street fixture has gone through a few iterations, but current chef Wade Hoo Fatt is really leaning into Vietnamese fare. That adds up to a bunch of street food (beef jerky, five spice frites), a riff on shaky beef, banh mi, banh bo buns, and more. Brunch brings a few more innovations like a pandan honeycomb cake and coconut beignets. Order online here; call the restaurant for hours, which have been somewhat limited during the most recent Covid surge.

Simply Banh Mi

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Not everyone can make it all the way out to Virginia for a banh mi sandwich. This Georgetown shop takes a build-an-entree approach to sandwiches, rice bowls, noodle bowls, and salad bowls. It also serves pho. The restaurant no longer offers dine-in; takeout and delivery through the website.

Pho 75 (Multiple locations)

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The area’s most well-regarded pho shop is no-frills: Don’t expect fawning service or even appetizers like spring rolls here. Just fill up on the expertly balanced soup, available with several different cuts of beef, and the strong Vietnamese coffee. Call the restaurant directly for takeout.

A bowl of pho with added meatball.
Pho from Pho 75
Missy Frederick/Eater DC

Moon Rabbit DC

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Kevin Tien’s exciting restaurant in the Wharf gives a contemporary spin to Vietnamese dishes, with some Cajun dishes. Don’t miss the boudin egg rolls, cumin lamb tartare, or crawfish and noodles. The fluffy turmeric-accented bread is another highlight. Dine-in only.

Quail with five spice glaze, Criolla onions, buttermilk drop biscuits, and fermented chile butter.
Fried quail from Moon Rabbit.
Rey Lopez/Eater

Nhu Lan Sandwich Shop

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An Eden Center destination for banh mi sandwiches stuffed with Vietnamese meatballs, sour pork, pate, and so much more.

A pork sandwich with a bunch of cilantro piled on top.
Shredded pork banh mi from Nhu Lan.
Nhu Lan

Nha Trang Restaurant

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Another Eden Center gem (hidden in the Saigon East section of the mall area), this restaurant’s specialities range from nem nuong cuon ninh hoa (barbecue pork rolls) to mi quang, a turmeric-spiked soup with pork and shrimp. Dishes like bun, rice paper rolls stuffed with fried scallion sticks, and congee shine at this homey restaurant, too.

A bowl of soup with meats, scallions, shrimp, and peanuts.
Mi Quang from Nha Trang
Missy Frederick/Eater DC

Rice Paper

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Rice Paper’s prodigious menu has pages and pages of Vietnamese dishes. Make sure to save room for crispy lemongrass tofu or any of the broken rice dishes. Hot pot is a favorite of the crowds here. Online ordering here.

Huong Viet Restaurant

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Huong Viet has been a standout restaurant in Falls Church’s Eden Center for decades. Here, dishes like crab fried rice, ban xeo (crepes) and grilled rice vermicelli are treated with care. The lemongrass pork chops are a highlight here. For something lighter, go with the sweet and sour pineapple and tamarind soup.

A big pile of fried rice accented with grab meat and whole shrimp.
Crab fried rice from Huong Viet
Missy Frederick/Eater DC

Thanh Son Tofu

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It’s easy to walk by the long lines inside this Eden Center cafe and wonder what all the fuss is about. Customers are waiting in line for homemade tofu, including deep fried versions in flavors such as lemongrass. Desserts, bubble tea, and even tofu pudding are all served carryout buffet-style. Online ordering here.

The storefront, with red lettering and a red awning.
The outside storefront of Thanh Son Tofu.
Eden Center

Hai Duong Restaurant Eden Center

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A family-friendly Eden Center standout, Hai Duong excels at clay pot rice, shaking beef, and more. Don’t skip the ban xeo crepes with shrimp. Contact the restaurant for takeout.

Four plates of Vietnamese dishes, including a dip with shrimp chips, summer rolls, and spring rolls.
Food from Hai Duong
Hai Duong [official site]

Four Sisters Restaurant

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Currently located inside Merrifield’s Mosaic District development, Four Sisters was an early pioneer in the city’s Vietnamese restaurant scene. The crispy spring rolls are iconic. Rice and noodle dishes are plentiful, though the menu has been somewhat streamlined during the pandemic. Online ordering here.

A plate of grilled pork on top of rice.
Four Sisters
Four Sisters

Banh Mi DC Sandwich

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This takeout counter in a Falls Church strip mall sets the standard for banh mi sandwiches in the area, particularly on account of their homemade bread and comprehensive list of fillings. Online ordering here.

The green awning storefront outside Banh Mi DC Sandwich.
Banh Mi DC Sandwich
Missy Frederick/Eater DC

Mi La Cay

Maryland suburbanites visit this Vietnamese restaurant for marinated quail, bun bo hue (beef noodle soup,) and egg noodle dishes such as crispy Maryland chicken egg-noodle soup, which comes with a whole chicken on its own plate. Delivery available through GrubHub.

Bun DC

This is the place to get vermicelli crab soup. One version is packed with squid and shrimp. Another features pork heart and pork blood. Sample an array of appetizers from the kitchen by ordering the banh hoi, a bed of fried vermicelli topped with spring rolls, grilled shrimp, and skewered balls of pork and shrimp. The restaurant is currently takeout-only; contact restaurant directly for orders.

A bowl of soup with seafood, greens, and a bright red broth.
Crab vermicelli soup with seafood at Bun DC.
Missy Frederick/Eater DC

Pho 14 (Multiple Locations)

Pho 14 keeps D.C. residents fueled with pho, while also serving up Vietnamese crepes, bun bo hue (spicy noodle soup) and more. Takeout and delivery info here.

1914 by Kolben

This newer addition to the scene is inspired by Hanoi’s buzzy “train street”, and literally has a model of a train in the upstairs of the restaurant. Banh mi, grilled pork noodles, pho ga, and a brief selection of small plates make up the menu. Online ordering here.

A train inside a restaurant with a vibrant printed carpet underneath.
1914’s interior, which includes a fake train.
1941 by Kolben

Doi Moi

This trendy 14th street fixture has gone through a few iterations, but current chef Wade Hoo Fatt is really leaning into Vietnamese fare. That adds up to a bunch of street food (beef jerky, five spice frites), a riff on shaky beef, banh mi, banh bo buns, and more. Brunch brings a few more innovations like a pandan honeycomb cake and coconut beignets. Order online here; call the restaurant for hours, which have been somewhat limited during the most recent Covid surge.

Simply Banh Mi

Not everyone can make it all the way out to Virginia for a banh mi sandwich. This Georgetown shop takes a build-an-entree approach to sandwiches, rice bowls, noodle bowls, and salad bowls. It also serves pho. The restaurant no longer offers dine-in; takeout and delivery through the website.

Pho 75 (Multiple locations)

The area’s most well-regarded pho shop is no-frills: Don’t expect fawning service or even appetizers like spring rolls here. Just fill up on the expertly balanced soup, available with several different cuts of beef, and the strong Vietnamese coffee. Call the restaurant directly for takeout.

A bowl of pho with added meatball.
Pho from Pho 75
Missy Frederick/Eater DC

Moon Rabbit DC

Kevin Tien’s exciting restaurant in the Wharf gives a contemporary spin to Vietnamese dishes, with some Cajun dishes. Don’t miss the boudin egg rolls, cumin lamb tartare, or crawfish and noodles. The fluffy turmeric-accented bread is another highlight. Dine-in only.

Quail with five spice glaze, Criolla onions, buttermilk drop biscuits, and fermented chile butter.
Fried quail from Moon Rabbit.
Rey Lopez/Eater

Nhu Lan Sandwich Shop

An Eden Center destination for banh mi sandwiches stuffed with Vietnamese meatballs, sour pork, pate, and so much more.

A pork sandwich with a bunch of cilantro piled on top.
Shredded pork banh mi from Nhu Lan.
Nhu Lan

Nha Trang Restaurant

Another Eden Center gem (hidden in the Saigon East section of the mall area), this restaurant’s specialities range from nem nuong cuon ninh hoa (barbecue pork rolls) to mi quang, a turmeric-spiked soup with pork and shrimp. Dishes like bun, rice paper rolls stuffed with fried scallion sticks, and congee shine at this homey restaurant, too.

A bowl of soup with meats, scallions, shrimp, and peanuts.
Mi Quang from Nha Trang
Missy Frederick/Eater DC

Rice Paper

Rice Paper’s prodigious menu has pages and pages of Vietnamese dishes. Make sure to save room for crispy lemongrass tofu or any of the broken rice dishes. Hot pot is a favorite of the crowds here. Online ordering here.

Huong Viet Restaurant

Huong Viet has been a standout restaurant in Falls Church’s Eden Center for decades. Here, dishes like crab fried rice, ban xeo (crepes) and grilled rice vermicelli are treated with care. The lemongrass pork chops are a highlight here. For something lighter, go with the sweet and sour pineapple and tamarind soup.

A big pile of fried rice accented with grab meat and whole shrimp.
Crab fried rice from Huong Viet
Missy Frederick/Eater DC

Thanh Son Tofu

It’s easy to walk by the long lines inside this Eden Center cafe and wonder what all the fuss is about. Customers are waiting in line for homemade tofu, including deep fried versions in flavors such as lemongrass. Desserts, bubble tea, and even tofu pudding are all served carryout buffet-style. Online ordering here.

The storefront, with red lettering and a red awning.
The outside storefront of Thanh Son Tofu.
Eden Center

Hai Duong Restaurant Eden Center

A family-friendly Eden Center standout, Hai Duong excels at clay pot rice, shaking beef, and more. Don’t skip the ban xeo crepes with shrimp. Contact the restaurant for takeout.

Four plates of Vietnamese dishes, including a dip with shrimp chips, summer rolls, and spring rolls.
Food from Hai Duong
Hai Duong [official site]

Four Sisters Restaurant

Currently located inside Merrifield’s Mosaic District development, Four Sisters was an early pioneer in the city’s Vietnamese restaurant scene. The crispy spring rolls are iconic. Rice and noodle dishes are plentiful, though the menu has been somewhat streamlined during the pandemic. Online ordering here.

A plate of grilled pork on top of rice.
Four Sisters
Four Sisters

Related Maps

Banh Mi DC Sandwich

This takeout counter in a Falls Church strip mall sets the standard for banh mi sandwiches in the area, particularly on account of their homemade bread and comprehensive list of fillings. Online ordering here.

The green awning storefront outside Banh Mi DC Sandwich.
Banh Mi DC Sandwich
Missy Frederick/Eater DC

Related Maps