CrackleMi - Vietnamese Grill — Restaurant in Seattle

Tried this place out the other day and am very happy to have done so!

Admittedly it is a wee bit confusing to have to figure out where the ordering "kiosks" are (they're against the far wall when you walk in the front door) but once you're there the system walks you through the process fairly easily (the only thing that could be made better about it is having the table markers a little more obvious - they were sitting along the long counter in between the two "kiosks" (which are pretty much touch screens you use to order) and when they are not turned the right way you have no idea that that is what you need to grab and bring to your table when done ordering.

Anyhow enough with the non-food information for now!

I got the "smokey" chicken banh mi, and again ordering was a breeze - i was able to easily customise it to my tastes. I also got the cafe sua da (Vietnamese iced coffee, which is made with sweetened condensed milk) for myself, and got one of the Savory Spicy Lemongrass Tofu Broken Rice Bowls for my wife - asked for the Sesame Soy sauce and got it the way it normally comes, with half rice and half salad; and an order of the tofu spring rolls for us to split.

Everything was super fresh tasting and had great flavours, and was a good amount for the price point. We had no issues with any of the food, and the staff members we interacted with were super friendly and helpful.

The place itself is very clean and bright and was a pleasant place to spend some time savouring our late lunch.

The only thing that they could improve on is their signage to get folks (dine-in customers, to-go customers, and delivery drivers) to the...

Update: 3-1-24 Ownership reached out directly after responding to my review n was exceedingly attentive to my issue. I returned today. The gentleman who helped me in the restaurant was patient n made sure I felt seen n assisted. Ordered takeout. It was like the first day I visited. My sincerest thanks to the ownership n the restaurant staff today.

Older Review The first time I ate here, right after it opened, it was amazing. Then the 2nd n 3rd time it was as if they were giving me food that sat under a heat lamp for hours. It was a few months before I returned, this past week. I did take out n literally I ordered my food n got it within ten minutes --- like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for hours. N it looked n tasted like that as well. Everything was congealed n slightly "old" tasting. I won't be back. It's sad; the first time was magical.

Update 2-28-24 Tried it again, cuz u know, wanted to see if there was improvement. Placed order in the restaurant, waited about five or seven mins n received my order. I live less than five mins from the restaurant n when I got home, everything was lukewarm; the egg roll tasted "old" n the shrimp skewer was literally cold. I don't understand how they feel okay providing such subpar service for the price. Unless u're eating in the restaurant, avoid takeout, pick up n food delivery. U're never gonna get...

This place rocks — sometimes it’s a little hard to get the staff to pay attention when you need to snag a pickup order, but you get it eventually.

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July 2025: I updated my original review from 5 starts down to 3 stars after getting an online order tonight that was missing food (spring rolls) and had different proteins on the bowl than what was ordered. I got the soy pork belly bowl and was given beef on it instead.

It feels a little reactive to knock them for this kind of thing based on one order, but it’s been several orders over the course of buying from them that have had this kind of thing happen. Plus, the service that I mentioned in the original order has stayed the same. They told the guy in front of me tonight in the pickup line that “someone else must have taken your food” even though they keep the food behind the counter (and have signs that tell you so) specifically to avoid that. Hearing that should’ve been my cue to check that what I had was correct, but, you live and you learn. Maybe that guy has my food, who knows?

It’s frustrating because the food here is genuinely excellent, but the service really leaves something to be desired. People are human and humans make mistakes (and that’s okay!), but when it becomes a pattern rather than an isolated incident, that makes it hard to keep coming back, no matter how good the...