Maha Vegetariano — Restaurant in Đà Nẵng

This must be one if the most aesthetically pleasing restaurants I’ve ever dined in. It looks like the owners like to collect Asian Buddhist art because this looked more like a museum than a restaurant. I guess it goes with the vegetarian menu, though onion and garlic are present so it’s not a strict Buddhist menu by any stretch. Someone mentioned in another review that this restaurant is based on Chams or Champa architecture which is evident in the pointed archways, it’s quite lovely but nowhere on the menu or website is this stated. Our waitress did mention the design of the place was based on old Vietnamese buildings, so this may have been what she was referring to.

The service here was excellent and attentive. The owner/ manager was also very friendly and attentive. When I asked the waitress about a tea on the menu, she said it was from China, but the owner had overheard and came over to explain the tea was in fact from Vietnam. We had a pot of the tea and it was good. The only service flaw was that we had to ask for more hot water to refresh the leaves, but that’s no big deal, the tea was very nice.

The food was good, but there were some issues. An appetizer of dumplings stuffed with rice vermicelli and vegetables stuffed in phyllo dough then fried was very tasty, as was the sauce they were served with garlic and chilis. Honestly that sauce replicated a fish based sauce, so it was well done. The dumplings were quite oily, however, and should have been drained on paper first. Too hard to manage with chopsticks, our hands were greasy after eating them.

The Pad Thai was an excellent rendition of the recipe. I especially liked the presentation and pronounced use of tamarind. Our waitress described it as spicy, but though it did contain some dried chili flakes it wasn’t spicy. The addition of sliced fried tofu on the side was irrelevant to the dish.

The worst dish was a salad which contained an ingredient called spirolina pepper. I’m not sure what that is, it resembles a long green bean, it’s some type of seaweed, but it was tough and chewy and it was quite unpleasant to eat.

On the bill we were charged for a kitchen towel that was brought to us at the beginning of the meal. It’s basically a tissue tab used for camping as it is small and rehydrates with water. It was served with a special stone, and it’s quite unique and well presented, but you shouldn’t charge for a thing that was not ordered, it’s not the cost it’s the principle. We were also brought a small Chinese style diced cucumber, which was not included on the bill, so charging for a gimmicky serviette in such a beautiful restaurant makes no sense.

All in all this is a nice restaurant, a bit quirky, but worth...

Increblé. Incredible. My first interaction with the staff was via the chat on Zalo. The person responded quickly and assured that my dietary needs would be met. Stellar customer service before I even got to the restaurant. Impressive.

The moment I stepped on the sidewalk that staff were all smiles as they received and guided me to the front door. That was a very warm and welcoming feeling – earning stars before I even sat at the table.

This interior design is absolutely beautiful. The terracotta colors gave the space a natural earth calming feeling. A mix between the ancient Cham aesthetic with a modern touch. My eyes were dazzled at every at angle I turn to.

I was calmly guided to the upstairs seating area. The wait staff presented me with the menu and patiently waited until I reviewed the complete menu before she started to highlight the popular items.

She place my orders on her device, removed the extra settings and place the very creatively present hand towel in a stone.

Minutes later dishes were placed on the table. (Pause. I have been in food service for a long time and I had never had an experience with food of this quality being tabled that fast.) I was in shock of how fast the order was fulfilled. More stars earned.

Every dish was uniquely presented, equally matching the depth of flavor that every foodie lives for. I enjoyed every bite and even mixed dishes and sauces together to enhance this euphoric exploration.

The name of word "Maha" is apropos for what I experienced is indeed "Great"! Next time I will not come alone. This is an journey that must be shared with others. It's a beautiful space to photograph those special moments as well. I have to say this is a full on dining experience that everyone should have when visiting Da Nang.

Special thanks to the owner, staff, and chefs - you have exceeded my expectations. Palms together bow to you all.

I am a traveling plant-based chef specializing in food science and flavorology. Check out my other reviews on...

It’s taken me to find another good vegetarian restaurant worth visiting as a destination location. Last year in Langkawi, I was raving about the fat frog, which I still love. Now in Da Nang, Vietnam I can rave about another location. This place is outstanding with its food service and attention to detail. If you’re vegetarian, then this is a top quality restaurant offering excellent food and service for you. The atmosphere is formal and relaxed at the same time. Attention to detail on the food flavours is outstanding. And of course being Vietnam, it is relatively inexpensive, for the cost of a bottle of wine in restaurant UK you can have three courses here. They offer a free juice to post a review, which is totally unnecessary as anyone eating here would want them to do well and share...