Add DaLat Restaurant on Fitzhugh and Manett to your list of East Dallas gems. After a couple so-so experiences at my usual Vietnamese spots around the neighborhood and some pleasantly surprising rainy weather in early July, the conditions were perfect for branching out and trying this Vietnamese spot, which just opened earlier this year.
Xoi Lap Xuong- sticky rice and Chinese sausage- a starter hearty enough to be a meal.
What stands out immediately are the two patios and the decor. This is not authentic Vietnamese, but more of an American-ized “hip” Asian fusion restaurant. The bar side of the restaurant, which opened to one of the patios, looked like it would be particularly sexy at night (the restaurant stays open until 2 a.m. daily). It’s amazing what a little TLC can do for some of the deteriorating buildings in East Dallas, which which were originally built with that mid-century modern aesthetic that is now back in vogue.
Fancy up that pho
Some mellow electronica accompanied my lunch, which was preceded by a starter of Chinese pork sausage on sticky rice. I added a fried egg, and what resulted was more of a breakfast dish than an appetizer. I would try it again, but as a main dish, and without the soy sauce, since sausage is plenty salty enough on it’s own.
chicken pho
The chicken pho did not come out in two seconds, indicating that it was made to order. A sort of pho-salad-bar had offerings of basil leaves, pickled onions, bean sprouts, and lime to dress up the noodle soup. The broth was flavorful and had an abundance of noodles and green onions to fill up an empty stomach.
In addition to offering an outstanding bowl of pho with good portions of meat for just under $10, the menu also has some unique spins on comfort food, adding Doritos to Vietnamese dishes, and Tang to the cocktails. The novelty of the concept makes it great for out-of-towners, but I’ll be returning for the pho and the ambiance.
