Vinason Pho Kitchen - South Lake Union Seattle — Restaurant in Seattle

10/01/21 Review: We have been going to this location weekly since January since we live at McKenzie nextdoor but we hadn't been in a few weeks due to the hot weather. With the rain returning this week we picked up dinner tonight only to find out that the menu had changed. We didn't realize until we were back home that the vegan bahn mi is no longer made of beyond meatballs .. it's just tofu but the price is the same? Also, the vegan tofu pho no longer comes with broccoli and carrots .. it's an extra $3 just to get veggies. Not to mention that the tofu pho is the same price as the chicken, beef and brisket eventhough tofu is about $1.99 for a tofu of block which is faaar cheaper than a cut of meat. Pho broth is also very sweet. There have been instances of them running out of the things we ordered (vegan pho) and they gave us beef broth as a "substitute" without even telling us so we didn't find out until we were back home. We are vegan and we order vegan for a reason. You cannot substitute animal options because you ran out unbeknownst to your customers. This is a dietary concern. For these reasons, we don't see ourselves returning as vegan customers. They also need to work on their pick up window at this location. Multiple times we have been given an order number only to wait out in the rain or cold and nobody bother to call our order when it was ready .. after over 30+ minutes we knock on the window only to find out our order has been ready. What's the point of an order number if you're not going to call the order once its ready? Especially if I ordered inside and you know I'm outside waiting in the rain?

10/07/21 EDIT for Owner Response: Vegan food is NOT more expensive. Tofu is not more expensive than whole cuts of animal so there is no justification to price vegan options the same as chicken or beef option, other than greed. Considering tofu is far cheaper than meat cuts but tofu pho is priced the same then the least you can offer is not charge $3.00 for a handful of broccoli ($3.00 is the cost for 3 whole broccoli bunches by the way and that's not at wholesale cost). Lastly, I've attached a picture of the new menu to show that no, the beyond bahn mi is no longer an option and to show the costs of meat and non-meat menu items...

Serendipity has struck again and I count myself lucky because I've walked passed this place many times, thought it worth a visit, but promptly forgot about it when my cravings for Pho or Banh Mi have struck. But never again because last night I randomly picked Vinason Pho & Grill in GrubHub and found my nirvana without even realizing I had selected someplace that was lost on my mental checklist.

What caught my eye was the variety and options for constructing your ideal bowl of Pho. And in particular their choice of no noodles or a no-carb noodle that is now and forever my go-to. But I wasn't sold until the food arrived and everything came together. First, their packaging for keeping their ingredients fresh for delivery is genius. Second, their broth--the cornerstone of any good Pho--is outstanding with wonderful flavor and spice. And then those carb-free noodles, which I though might be horrible and too good to be true, were amazing.

When I finished I had to know more about what I'd just eaten. And that's when my quick search revealed "that place!" Damn. Why did I wait so long? I'm just glad they're open during COVID and apparently surviving with takeout and curbside pickup because even though they don't have a low carb Banh Mi, there is one in my future. The photos of how they're made shows too much care and quality to believe that my Pho experience was one off and won't be rewarded across their menu.

Thank you universe! You made my pandemic lockdown just a bit easier. And thank you Vinason Pho & Grill. It is now my mission to make sure you survive...

Two words: keto friendly noodles!! It's $4 extra but if you're gluten intolerant and watching your carbs, this is the pho place for you. The broth was very clean and hearty tasting. The keto friendly noodles were chewier than the regular noodles, but they were very tasty. They reminded me of the Vietnamese summer roll wrapping; they had that same consistency and chewiness to them. You may also also ask for keto friendly noodles with the vermicelli. I finished my bowl of delicious pho and was full, happy and satisfied. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. It's a small place so get there early or in between the lunch dinner rushes to get a seat. There's seating outside and on the steps next to Whole foods so that's not even a worry. It's right next to the bus line so it's easy to access. If you're looking for keto friendly eats in Seattle, this is worth checking out! It's my new...