Vietnam Kitchen — Restaurant in Louisville

I arrived at 2 pm, just in time for the lunch menu, which is served from 11 am to 2:30 pm daily. Based on the glowing Yelp reviews, I had high expectations and was prepared to be impressed. To provide some context, I've eaten at numerous Vietnamese restaurants, and it remains one of my favorite cuisines for several reasons: 1) The vegetables are always fresh and carefully prepared--you'll never find anything overripe, mushy, or spoiled. 2) There's always something on the menu for everyone, with options ranging from mild to spicy and flavors from subtle to bold. 3) The owners are often present, not only focused on providing healthy, flavorful meals but also dedicated to serving their local community. After just a few visits, it's easy to feel like part of the family. The food here certainly lived up to my expectations. Everything tasted exceptionally fresh and clean, from the crisp tofu skin to the complimentary mung bean sprouts, basil, and lime. I had the VJ1 noodle soup, which was so delicious I could have savored it for days but ended up greedily finishing every drop. The VK10 tofu pad Thai was also enjoyable, though it was milder than the Thai version, lacking the extra egg, cilantro, and peanuts. The mango salad was a flavorful twist on the green papaya salad, though it wasn't as spicy and, unlike its Thai counterpart, didn't include peanuts. Unfortunately, the reason for my low rating has nothing to do with the food but with the staff, who ranged from rude and dismissive to, quite frankly, deceptive. I arrived at 2 pm, well before the lunch menu cutoff at 2:30. No one greeted me when I walked in, but after a couple of minutes, an older woman cleaning tables glanced over, grunted, and pointed toward a seat in the back. When I asked her which seat had access to an outlet so I could charge my phone, she rolled her eyes, shrugged, and walked away without answering. She spoke English, and I overheard her loudly joking with other staff members in clear English. When I asked her specifically about the lunch specials, she gave me a menu that I later found out was not the lunch special menu. I pressed further, asking her to show me the lunch specials on the menu she handed me, and instead of providing the actual lunch menu, she pointed me to the "specials" section, which was actually from the dinner menu--at significantly higher prices, nearly double. I ordered two entrees, thinking I'd take one home for dinner. Nearly 30 minutes later, a younger woman, probably in her 20s, brought my food. I asked if the banana pudding was part of the lunch special, and she informed me that I hadn't ordered from the lunch special menu. She then produced the actual lunch special menu, which was completely different from what I had received. When I inquired whether the pad Thai or the soup I had ordered was on the lunch special, she said no, claiming the lunch crew had already left the kitchen. I checked my phone, and it was 2:31 pm--just one minute past the lunch special cutoff. I pointed this out, reminding them that I had been seated over 30 minutes earlier. Despite this, they refused to adjust the entree prices and charged me full price for the dessert, leaving me with a $40 bill instead of the $24 I had expected. Had I received the lunch special, I would have paid $24 for both entrees, which would have also included an additional appetizer and a dessert. The whole situation felt like a clear bait-and-switch tactic. Given how the situation was handled, I am very disappointed. The older woman who initially served me knew exactly what she was doing, and there's simply no excuse for not adjusting the bill. While the food was excellent, the service was unacceptable, and I will not likely...

we were north of Nashville, TN and decided to use our GPS to see if we could find a decent restaurant in Louisville, KY (halfway between Nashville and our destination). we called to see how late they would be open (11pm most nights). we did a quick google search on my wife's phone and found that people were really buzzing about this restaurant. that was all it took for us to go. we are vegetarian, and we try to go to ethnic restaurants because they normally have a decent selection of entrees for us. wow...they had 2 1/2 pages of vegetarian stuff (not to mention the 5 to 6 for the carnivores). we had vegetable dumplings and the sizzling rice soup as appetizers (i HIGHLY recommend both). we both had noodle dishes as the buzz on the web seemed to be around their noodle selections. My wife had VJ7 and i had VK8 (mine was very spicy, but i kicked it up with some crushed red pepper paste they had on the table). i highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for something out of the ordinary. they focus on fresh ingredients and not overcooking to maintain each ingredients individual flavor. the value was great, and the decor was low...

A Hidden Gem in Louisville – Absolutely Delicious!

This was our first time at Vietnam Kitchen, and it exceeded every expectation! We were a group of 4 adults and 2 kids, and everyone left full, happy, and talking about coming back.

The food was incredible — fresh, flavorful, and authentic. We started with the fresh spring rolls and dumplings, both of which were perfect starters. For mains, we shared a variety including the Pho Ga (chicken pho) which had the most comforting, aromatic broth, the spicy curry, and stir-fried chicken with green beans — every dish was perfectly seasoned and beautifully cooked. Even the kids devoured their meals, and the portions were generous.

The service was warm, fast, and attentive without being overbearing. They were kind and accommodating to our kids, which made the experience even more enjoyable.

Vietnam Kitchen is a true gem. It’s cozy, authentic, and every dish feels made with love. Highly recommend for families, foodies, or anyone who appreciates amazing Vietnamese cuisine. We’ll...