Van Hanh Restaurant - Vegan & Vegetarian Cuisine — Restaurant in Portland

Just want to provide a historical reality check for those who continue to give this place four- and five-star reviews. Since the place was bought by an outside investor, the place has fallen off a cliff in every sense. The monks and nuns are no longer the ones who serve you; prices have increased by 80% (yes literally $7.50 to $13.50); the portions are smaller; the spicy soup isn't spicy; the interior no longer has the quaint cozy living room vibe but is now every-other-vegan-restaurant green. Don't get me wrong, some of the changes were necessary, like a simplified menu and some remodeling to bring up the sanitation standards, but the investor has completely taken over the business and is very much running it to line his pocketbook. This place is no longer authentic Vietnamese food but the watered-down version for white Portlanders. But hey, if they keep spending their money, why not?

My wife and I moved back from Taiwan in 2016 and the first restaurant we visited was this one. We are both vegetarian and she is a non-practicing Buddhist. There is a large Vietnamese expat community in Taiwan and we loved eating at the local shops, so we know authentic Vietnamese food. We fell in love with this place immediately and visited nearly every week for three years. We ordered the same thing nearly every time - pho and buddha bowl - and paid $19 with huge tip. The buddha bowl often required us to box some because it was so much food. Our most recent visit we paid $25 for takeout without a tip... exact same order, less food, and they replaced egg rolls (now separate dish for $5.50) in buddha bowl for textured tofu. The nuns now only work in the kitchen, so we didn't even get to see their friendly familiar faces. We understand these are tough times to be in the restaurant business but our meals, which were still good but nothing special, left an aftertaste of disappointment.

We have debated whether or not we should continue to support this restaurant because of our appreciation for the ladies who used to run it. We decided that $13.50 for a lesser bowl of pho is just an insult to our memory of the place and won't be driving up from Milwaukie anymore. I really hope the business owner lets the generosity and genuineness of the nuns reinvigorate his...

New management/ownership? A once glorious institution has been ruined. It pains me to leave a poor review for a business that I've loved for at least a decade but it isn't the same business anymore. And while I want to see every restaurant survive the pandemic I feel that everyone needs to know that the old reviews are no longer true.

Van Hanh used to my my go-to place for Vietnamese food. The nuns were like my aunties and cousins and there were always folks from the temple coming and going throughout the day. Service was slow and sometimes not even friendly but for me that was part of the appeal - it was like family. And, just like with family, the food was amazing. Cooked with care and completely consistent with generous portions just like family would pile on your plate regardless of how hungry you might be.

Sadly everything has changed. The old guard doesn't seem to be around, the dining room has been remodeled and the menu as been reduced. One might this that this would lead to better food but it was the quirky stuff that was the best. And the quality has fallen. My last two experiences have been marred by overcooked and soggy vegetable and completely inconsistent flavoring. I've had sauce that was overwhelmingly strong and salty and I've had sauce that was nowhere to be found.

But that's not all, my cherished and cheap $2 steamed buns have been ruined. They where practically a meal to themselves and filled with delightfully seasoned vegetables. The last two times I ordered them the rice flour was a sticky mess that was inedible in places and the filling was bland and had the most foul texture.

I write this, heartbroken, for a place I once loved. Maybe in a few weeks I will try again to see if some of the recent bad reviews are taken to heart and the quality improves. If it does I will be overjoyed to edit this to reflect not only a return to quality but a responsiveness to the loyal clientele. I will wait with fingers cross but not with...

Fantastic! Worth the drive if you don’t live near the restaurant. I had such a great experience at a Vegan Vietnamese restaurant in Seattle I went on a hunt for our Portland version. Here it is. Our table ordered the #41, #36, and #57. Pictured. I was so impressed with the amount of work they put in. Something you can’t duplicate at home. They have it down. I thought it came out quicker than expected considering the above. It literally looked like duck breast and even had a sugar cane inside resembling a bone. Unreal. #36. The #41 is like crispy fried chicken. #57 had veggies and vegan meat that you could actually chew.

Here are some tips to remember. This restaurant supports the Buddhist temple. There are Vietnamese monks cooking your food. Authentic 100%! No religion pushed here. I am mentioning this because

1. They don’t speak English. They will greet you with warm smiles and are doing their best. Please be patient and understanding. If you have a lot of questions they probably can’t answer them although they wish to. They will try and find another monk or Vietnamese speaking patron to help you. The menu is based on a number system. It’s detailed in English so you know what you are getting. Stick to pointing out the numbers for clearer communication. Take a to go menu and when you call in just tell them numbers.

2. The website is wonky. I let them know. May be a language barrier to fixing it. You might have to go with Reviews if the website is down. Open 10am to 9pm everyday except Tuesday’s.

3. This is a place where you come for the food. Decor and inside is just as pictured. Very warm people!

4. This restaurant supports their temple which is supporting our community as a whole regardless of beliefs. It’s how this country was made. Please support...