Pasadena’s Low-Key but Not Basic Vietnamese

26 Viet Cafe in Pasadena is pretty but affordable — not the usual retro pho shop vibe from Vietnamese hubs, but Vietnamese new-wave fusion! Besides classics like pho, spring rolls, lemongrass pork chop rice, they have creative dishes from the chef’s imagination: 🧄 Garlic frog legs — fried frog legs surprisingly delicious. 🦀 Vietnamese soft-shell crab — their fried items are top-notch. 🍱 Signature snack platter — a must-order, on every table. Served in a three-tier bamboo basket with spring rolls, pork chops, chicken wings — elegant, like wearing an áo dài and having afternoon tea in Saigon… 🥩 Signature Wagyu pho — the highlight! Wagyu in pho — low-key + luxurious. Their drinks are praise-worthy too — sea salt cream coffee will make you fall for Vietnamese coffee at first sip. Only wish I had 45 stomachs to try all the chef’s creations. Though Vietnamese, it feels like a cha chaan teng — convenient, friendly, colorful, photogenic. Every visit brings new surprises. 📍 3562 E Foothill Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107 #DailyAesthetics #Inspiration #LAExploration #LAEats #LADining #PasadenaFood #LANewSpot 🍲