Fantastic service paired with wonderful food. I will continue to come back for the pho and cant wait to try others on the menu.
(5)
Thad P.
A decent place that doesn't seem to get much action. Food is good, if not a little pricey. Service can be good or just ok. Their pho is a little thin on the broth but tasty though I do wish that they provided better cuts of meat. Overall a good place, but just not much to pull me back in for a third time.
(3)
Joshua C.
It's MONSOON SEASON!! I got the chance to check out this restaurant with a couple of friends a few weeks ago. Now, I'm not sure how big the Vietnamese population is in St. Louis, but it has some great venues for Vietnamese cuisine, and I was interested to see where Monsoon would fall compared with the Mai Lee's and the Pho Grand's of the Lou'. The atmosphere was nice, and I could tell they had done some remodeling. However, it might have affected the prices because Monsoon Bistro's menu items were a bit more expensive than I had expected. Now, onto the important stuff: the food! My friends and I started off with the fried kalimari, which was delish. After that, I whittled my choices down to their Pho or Pad Thai. I decided to go with the Pad Thai because I've been looking for a place in St. Louis that make it well, and boy am I glad I did! Aside from the price, I very much enjoyed my meal. It had just the right amount of peanut-y taste that I look for in the sauce. The only strange thing was that rather than use Pad Thai noodles, they used a thinner almost angel-hair type noodle, but it didn't really affect the taste much as It was a great meal overall! Would I go to Monsoon bistro again? There's no doubt! I want to go back and try their Pho Thai, which I'll be sure to do and update you guys with!
(4)
Kelly B.
Monsoon has nice contemporary decor, but the food is pricey ($5 for iced coffee, $9 for a lunch entree, $5 for two spring rolls=$20 + tip for lunch). The spring rolls were a healthy portion (almost too big to eat). They were listed as "salad rolls" so that Americans would get it, I guess. I asked if the curry entree was a yellow curry since it wasn't indicated on the menu and they said yes, so I ordered it. I usually love Vietnamese yellow curry with coconut milk, but in this case, the curry was red and it was SO rich, I could barely eat it. Very disappointing for $9. Monsoon gets an a-ok for atmosphere, but the food is disappointing and in my opinion, overpriced.
(3)
Mandar P.
We have been frequenting this place for more than 7 years now...Used to go there alot often in the beginning than in recent years but just happened to be there yesterday and questioned myself, WHY I am not here more often -;) I am not kidding - this place will give you great Vietnamese food that will hook you up to come over and again. I generally order what they used to call "monk" curry entree' (recently they changed their menu but the same great dishes) and its still one of my favorites. Its a delicacy made out of sweet potatoes, eggplants and super awesome coconut sauce that tastes just amazing. I think you can add your meat to it as well but it is great without one too. They have good appetizers (Vegetarian spring rolls - no not the deep fried ones, is my favorite pick) and the lady just told me that they started serving alcohol too - so if you want to treat your lady or just go there and have some nice food - I recommend Monsoon should be on your list!
(5)
Marc K.
The first thing I wasn't expecting on a Vietnamese restaurant was this modern decor and ambiance (see photos). That was my first surprise. It's a very modern looking place and I'll have to change my stereotypes from now on. About the food. It was my very first time with Vietnamese food, so we've tried the Pho dac biet (rice noodle soup) and another combo dish with some pork, fried egg, rice and some other elements. Both dishes were very good, a lot of different flavor combinations. Again, this was my very first time having a Vietnamese food, so it's not a comparative analysis. It was a little pricy for a lunch meal, but it was our own fault. We didn't order from the lunch portion of the menu (the Pho was not there). Definitely coming back and try some other dishes.
(4)
Bruce K.
One of my new go to places for Thai and Viet food... Yellow Curry is amazing
(5)
Ernie C.
I'm fron Reno, where we have a plethora of Vietnamese restaurants. Three of us were here for dinner last week, and it was so-so. I liked the decor - fun, vibrant colors on the walls, and the Ikea coffee table and couches in the front are cute (though the thin layer of dust on the coffee table was slightly disturbing). Food wise, the three of us ordered the vegetarian spring rolls, a mung curry, and the pho with everything. I feel that one of the great tests for Vietnamese restaurants is the quality of the spring rolls. Unfortunately, as these were vegetarian, I couldn't compare them to the ones I usually have with the think slice of beef and shrimp inside. They were definitely heavy on the cilantro though. I had the pho, while my brother and his girlfriend split the curry. The pho was only average, and definitely felt over-priced at $9. I didn't taste the curry, though the two of them said they liked it. So, overall, nice modern decor, but the food wasn't anything to write home about.
(3)
Snarf H.
This place is a hidden jewel!! Located in a small plaza with barely a sign to show the way, Monsoon is truly an AMAZING dining experience. Fantastic service, warm ambiance, and the "bring your own bottle of wine" policy all warranted the five star rating, but it is the food that really sets this place apart from the rest. We had the salad rolls to start, a beef pho soup and the sea bass with sweet potato and flash-fried spinach. Not only was everything deliciously seasoned and perfectly cooked, the chef/owner's presentation of the food was delightfully elegant. Definitely a place worth seeking out!!!
(5)
Drew P.
WOW... I brought 4 of us up there for the first time today for lunch...Great service & EXCELLENT FOOD!!! Great job to the staff, I'll definitely be back!!! As much as I hate to spread the word about how amazing this place is, I HIGHLY recommend you and all your friends go try this place out. It's definitely a hidden secret but they deserve to be packed and when word gets out, they will.... If you can't find at least one thing off the menu that you absolutely LOVE then I would be highly surprised... I destroyed all of my meal, tried two others that my friends ordered and we had split a couple appetizers... It was all amazing and I almost went back for dinner tonight but I had a ball game... Don't be surprised if you go tomorrow and see me there... PROPS to MONSOON STAFF.... See you all soon!!!
(5)
Raheel L.
A season prevailing wind and heavy rain, in the regions of Indian subcontinent and the South East and West Asia, is best described by a term that we all are familiar with is, Monsoon. This word has been widely used in the English language, but when applied to this amazing joint called, "Monsoon Vietnamese Bistro," it simply means that the food is highly prevailing: authenticity, flavorsome, freshness, and hot & spiciness that is mouthwatering - naturally causing your salivary glands to create a monsoon inside your mouth. Or simply, Scrummy! I've been a fan of Vietnamese food ever since I introduced it to my tastes buds, but don't remember when I did. With a causal and welcoming atmosphere, the place is very array in modern sophisticated plainness. But when sitting at the table and enjoying the food, it brings complexity of flavors to your taste buds. Starting the appetizers with "crispy calamari with citrus sauce and spinach" and "shrimp spring rolls with sweet peanut dipping sauce." From there, making a transition into the entree round, the selection should create an exclamation point or raise an eye brow, when glancing at so many delicious choices, which is eventually making the decision process hard. But some of my favorite entrees include: "scallops with curry, eggplant, coconut milk served with rice," "pan seared chilean sea bass with lemongrass and chili pepper served with sweet potato straws, rice and lime sauce," and last but not least, "Vietnamese curry with chicken, sweet potato, and coconut milk served with rice." Those are some of the entrees I had, and have been very satisfied deliciously. Without a doubt, I would visit the bistro again, not once but on a multiple occasions, whether its with family, friends, or simply just a take out.
(4)
Chris Z.
Don't judge this place by driving by... from the outside, it looks like another would be dive in a strip mall. However, this place is modern and refined once you enter (a la Nippon Tei down the street) and the staff is ready to greet you, sit you down, and help with the extensive menu. On a side note, is it required for Vietnamese restaurants to have a 10 page menu with a numbered ordering system?... Just curious. Anyway, I tried both the 11.04 (stir-fried shrimp and vegetables over crispy egg noodles) and the 3.03 (chicken curry with sweet potato). Both plates came out piping hot, and the presentation was perfect. The vegetable & egg noodles dish is a standard of mine at Pho Grand and Mai Lee. Monsoons did not disappoint... although I did have to ask for extra broth. It didn't come with enough to soften all the noodles. The chicken curry was good too. Big chunks of juicy chicken and the coconut cream curry is delicate and spicy at the same time. All in all, I will be back if I'm this far west, as I have a soft spot for Vietnamese cuisine. It serves as a good substitute for Pho Grand & Mai Lee although I'm not sure if it's up to their standards yet.
(3)
Emily M.
This place is way over priced for what it is. It's good food but nothing special. I ordered the spicy lemongrass chicken and the shrimp spring rolls. The spring rolls were the only thing that was worth the money.
(2)
Jennifer B.
Monsoon is one of my all-time favorite places to eat! If you've never been you really need to go. This is a classy little bistro with elegantly fabulous Vietnamese food. For starters I recommend the Shrimp Salad Rolls, as they are very fresh and leave a cool, clean taste in your mouth. If you've never tried Vietnamese coffee, you'll definitely want to give it a try. Not only is it fun to drink, but it tastes great too! My favorite dish is the Monsoon Shaking Beef, which comes with a have plate of the best jasmine rice and pieces of the softest, most buttery filet mignon you are ever going to eat. Under the filet pieces are sweet potato fries, which have a slight crisp and retain all of their sweetness. This dish is perfect. There is nothing possible that can improve it, and I promise that if you try it that you will love it. An added bonus is the fact that it is under $20, and there is a lot of food! The staff are warm, knowledgeable and extremely friendly and the setting is modern and intimate. My family and I are addicted to this place, going as often as we can. Our latest trip was on Friday at the dinner rush. While they were busy, they still had a few tables. I was worried that we wouldn't get good service since they were so busy, but they were just as great as ever. Once we finished, we were asked if everything was perfection, and we told them that it was.
(5)
Jacqueline C.
Two visits and after much contemplation I'm not very impressed with everything at Monsoon. If you are looking for authentic, it's not here. The best item we had, hands down blows Mai Lee out of the water -- the shrimp spring rolls!! I get it, this place is in West County, many American customers so the food to us was built for a palette like that. However, my Viet friend who was with me agreed the food was lacking. We won't be back unless it's for the spring rolls.
(2)
Douglas S.
Doesn't get any better: my Zen Tofu was perfectly stir-fired and perfectly seasoned. Good service, nice atmosphere, and if you are looking for adventure, try the Avacado Milkshake.
(5)
Paul K.
I have only had Vietnamese food from Mai Lee so this is somewhat new to me. MVB is only a mile from my house and I have been going by it for years and always wanted to stop in and try it. Am I glad I did. They have a rather extensive menu of wonderful dishes but I had the Pho Thai. It was served in a huge bowl with rare beef that soon cooked to done as it sat in the soup. It had a wonderful cilantro taste to the soup and the rice noodles were fantastic. For $9 that is a lot of soup. The service was good and because of weather the place was not crowded. We also had starters of vegetarian spring rolls and my son Paul K from Chicago was in town and he is gulp a vegetarian. It is hard to find a place that will serve all of our needs but MVB did the job. He had his vegetarian, my wife had combination fried rice so we all were happy. If I was an expert on Vietnamese food I would give you more of an informed opinion but alas I just know what I had and it was darn good and I am going back and hope to put this in my rotation of places I go too around my house.
(4)
Allan C.
Wow. I wasn't prepared for this place at all. We were running some errands in the area before we noticed this place and both of us have heard good things about it. This place is clean, comfortable, and has delicious food. The only gripe is that they charge quite a bit for pretty normal-sized portions. I had the pork chop, which wasn't anything special, but delicious nonetheless. The seared sea bass was impressive and their ubiquitous sweet and sour sauce made everything just that much more yummy. I wouldn't go out of my way to hunt this place down, but it will definitely be a place to keep in mind when in the area.
(3)
James G.
Love this place. Good food and no pretense. I usually get one of the soups. It comes with a little side dish of spicy things to throw in. I throw them all in and get a truly fantastic hot soup, in both senses of the word. And if you can finish the bowl your a better man (or woman) than me.
(4)
Liz S.
I'm not usually a big fan of Vietnamese food but this place was pretty tasty. I had one of the curry dishes, if memory serves. I really love the fact that you can bring your own booze in to have with your meal. Saves on cost. I hate over paying for cheap wine/beer.
(4)
Mike M.
On a business trip and found myself back at monsoon. Terrific Pho. The broth is delicious and not "watery and flat" like many others. This place has gone byob since I was there last. Really great, I'll be back!!
(4)
gabe u.
Monsoon is our favorite choice for vietnamese without going downtown, in fact we don't go downtown any more because of this restaurant. The staff is incredibly helpful and polite. Our favorites are the shrimp spring roll and calamari for appetizers. We generally get the chicken curry and tamarind prawns for the main course. When the kids come, the Jasmin sample platter is great for them. Of note, they don't serve alcohol anymore. However, you can bring wine and I don't believe they charge a corking fee. We also stop in a few times a month for takeout which is surprisingly wonderful.
(5)
Ramin R.
Delicious. Went there twice in just a few days while visiting relatives for Thanksgiving. Great menu with great pho. Nice to see this among all the ridiculously hideous strip malls straddling Manchester Ave.
(5)
Spencer P.
I love Vietnamese food and Monsoon is one of the best I've ever had! For starters, I always get either the Crepe or the Shrimp Salad Rolls. The rolls are fresh and crisp, with a delicious peanut sauce on the side. The crepes are just incredible; they're unexpectedly sweet and have a taste unique to themselves. For main courses I tend to stick with the Shaking Beef, Spicy Chicken or the rice noodle with shrimp, scallop, squid, and assorted vegetables. All three are delicious. However...nothing is as delicious as the Cassava Cake for dessert. I've eaten at numerous Asian restaurants across the country and never had that before. It's warm and creamy, served with ice cream and coconut cream. I can't begin to describe its taste, but it's certainly different than anything else I've had before.
(5)
T S.
Bottom line: I drive in from South City to eat here at least 2-3xs a month, more if I can come up with an excuse to drive past 4011 Asian restaurants to west county for Vietnamese food. Best spring rolls in town. Service is great. Monk Curry is the most awesome vegetarian curry in town. Total hole in the wall--which I love. Stop eating that *&^())%** they offer in the loop and road trip for this one at least once. After that you won't need me to encourage you to go, you too will be pleasantly addicted. :)
(5)
Doug W.
Our go to place for Vietnamese in West County.
(5)
Stefanie E.
I'm a sucker for good Vietnamese, and Monsoon never disappoints. It's a light and airy space and usually far from packed whenever I go. The shrimp salad rolls really are as fresh as Jennifer B. says. I think they have an extra kick of mint in the mix and the nuoc cham has a touch more body than others I've tried. My favorite dish is the shrimp and tamarind sauce. It's not too sweet and slightly tart. The rice is perfectly cooked and soaks up the sauce nicely.
(4)
Angela B.
For the county, I think this place is great! I love the curry and Mama Q's dumplings!
(4)
Kristi L.
Good service, good food. Everything tasted very fresh, and was well seasoned. I had the steamed chicken ravioli with beef skewers and pork spring rolls.
(4)
Raul B.
Excellent. I was very surprised when we entered. It was nicely done. The hostess was very friendly and promptly assisted us. Our waiter was friendly and patient. The food was excellent and I highly recommend.
(4)
Jimmy L.
Practically perfect in every way. If you haven't been here because you think it's something you're unfamiliar with - you're probably mistaken. Look over the menu and you'll see familiar elements of Asian cuisine. This place has style, service, and delightful food to savor.
(5)
John L.
Went for lunch with my wife. Really enjoyed the lightness of the food and felt the atmosphere comfortable. Wish they would have spaced us out more from the other guests. We are not very well versed in vietnamese cuisine but it seemed we could go full in or more americanized. I will go back and be more adventurous.
(4)
Kelly B.
I love this place'. The food is great, prices reasonable, service is good and they allow you to bring your own wine, etc since they don't serve any.
(5)
Natalia M.
I love curry. I really really love curry. Any style: Indian, Thai, Japanese, whatever. It's all good. So I ordered curry here, and my eyes almost rolled back into my head. I would totally give them 5 stars on the basis of the curry alone, but I'm taking off one star for slow service and so-so appetizers. A quick rundown of what my friend and I had: Vietnamese ice coffee served with condensed milk - The coffee seems to be brewed with the grounds directly in the hot water, and the little whatsit with a filter on the bottom is placed on top of a glass with condensed milk in the bottom. The two don't mix without help, so it looks cool with the two layers. Then the whole thing is poured over ice. It's tasty *and* entertaining. And it's even caffeinated! I'm so easily amused. Grilled shrimp supreme (appetizer) - meh. The sugarcane skewers are pretty but impractical. The grilled shrimp mousse is surprisingly chewy. I would pass on this one Mama q's dumplings (appetizer) - Good, but I couldn't tell any difference between these and the dumplings available at any other Asian/Pacific Rim restaurant. Monsoon shaking beef - The beef was cooked *perfectly*. I was really blown away. The meat was definitely cooked, but almost melted in my mouth. Also, I love cooked onions (they were just barely caramelized, so they were slightly sweet), and the sweet potato straws made a nice texture contrast. This dish doesn't come with sauce but the meat flavor is so delicate, it doesn't need it. Monk curry - I was craving tofu (shut up! I *like* tofu, and if you had it in this curry, you would like it too!) and this really hit the spot. The curry has some similarities to Thai curry, since it has creamy coconut milk, but the seasoning is definitely distinctive. We had to wait a longish time to get our appetizers, but the entrees came out in a timely manner, and the service was polite and attentive. It was definitely an enjoyable experience, and there are at least a half a dozen other things on the menu I want to go back and try.
(4)
Stac A.
Very good. Try the Chicken Curry with Coconut Milk. Yum! We get it for carry out too. Big portions. Clean nice atmosphere too.
(5)
Ed A.
My wife and I visited this restaurant for the first time tonight. We are both fans of Vietnamese cuisine. The funny thing is when I was in Saigon years ago, before it became Ho Chi Minh City I swore I would never eat Vietnamese food. There, in the heart of this huge city inspired then most recently by the French, I could have sampled all sorts of "delicacies." Of course some of these may have been critters that we would normally step on. Anyway, the food at Monsoon was excellent. We enjoyed crispy pork and shrimp egg rolls with a tangy lime sauce. For entrees we had chicken in a Vietnamese curry sauce which was spicy. We also had chicken with lemon grass and vegetables. Both entrees were excellent but we agreed that the curry was our favorite of the two. The prices are higher than what one might expect at a Vietnamese restaurant but I think the reason for this is that the chef wants to develop a reputation as an establishment serving fine cuisine rather than one catering to a largely "take-out" clientele. We will certainly be returning.
(4)
Meredith J.
YUM! I'm not sure I'm a fan of the BYO liquor thing, but whatever works...
(4)
Jacob B.
Food is terrific. Service great and prompt. Will definitely come back.
(5)
Brandon K.
$12 for a bowl of Pho, really? Forever seeking the perfect bowl of Pho like Japanese seeking the perfect cherry bloosom (all lies I'll confide, it's just an excuse to drink Asahi Super Dry outside) I decided to checked out Monsoon after driving by it on Manchester a few times. The interior is very light, very open, very echoy (is that a word?) so that the waitress walking to a table was heard in every nook and crany. The walls fielded a smorsborg of pottery barn colors gone bland, exploding in a wide spectrum of colors between orange and red. Why paint walls different shades of off-orange? The ceiling went for the unpolished, matt black industrial look. It really didn't fit as a vietnamese restaurant, in that it it didn't match the traditional fob viet or the warm thai style. Rather more like a little bit more upscale version of the all too common nowadays cheap birch vaneer use-to-be-Chinese-restaurant but now-Japanese-sushi-but still serves the same Chinese...places. Pho-overpriced, broth very good 4/5, condiments 3.5/5, meat 1.5/5, lots of stuff, low side on the noodles, $10-$12 Whaaaa? Curry-good, not overly rich or sweet, lacking veggies, small, pretentious sized portion, $12 Who would like: People who use Purell a lot or own a lime-colored polo shirt. People who wouldn't: If you ate a dirty water dog the last time you went to NYC or think the best part of going out in Asia is eating ramen from the street cart after hours.
(3)
Scar G.
been there once, liked the stuff i got. will go back. decent vietnamese joint.
(3)
Lily H.
What a great find! I spent about a month in this part of the suburbia around St. Louis this past summer, and I went to Monsoon over and over because the food was so consistently tasty, there was never a wait, the waitstaff was always helpful and welcoming, and there are many great choices no matter who you're with--vegetarian/vegan/picky/etc. I love the wide rice noodles, pan fried with just about anything.
(4)
Soutbay G.
Monsoon Vietnamese Bistro's food is beyond DELICIOUS! I always order the shaken beef. The service is super friendly and it is family-owned. I always stop by when I'm in town visiting.
(5)
Maggie W.
This place was pretty good, but the curry at Thai Kitchen is far superior. I ordered the chicken curry and my boyfriend got the pork chop. Our waitress said that his order came with a lot of food, but for an American man, his dreams were quickly and severely dashed. Even to me, one small pork chop, some shredded chop, and some rice was not a lot. As for me, my chicken curry was supposed to come with potatoes, but there were only about three or four in the dish. The atmosphere is pleasant and modern; it would be nice if they played some soft music, though. The place seems too quiet. Some of the options on the menu seemed a bit overpriced as well.
(3)
Nancy P.
love this restaurant! it's clean, nice decor, small so it's not overpowering and loud, and i love their food. my all-time fav is #6.02 - a char-grilled pork chop with crushed rice & scallions, and salad. it comes with a special lime sauce for the meat, which is a clear, sweet & spicy sauce. The vietnamese coffee is excellent and makes a lovely dessert. the service is great, and the quality of food is consistent. my husband & i have been eating there regularly over the past 2 years. the curried dishes are great, as are the vietnamese pancakes. btw - mama q's dumplings are to die for! (think over-the-top pot-stickers .) there is a wide price range - a meal costs from about $7.00 to about $20. The char-grilled chop & accompaniments described above is $7.00. how do you say 'bon apetite' in vietnamese??
(5)
Suchi R.
Its one of my fav restaurants in st.Louis. The Vietnamese Iced coffee is really amazing and my fav food here is crisp calamari, prawn curry with eggplant which tastes amazing with rice. They have amazing crepes as well. The staff is good here, but there is one vietnamese guy in particular, i dont know his name, everytime i go there i forget to check his name. He always has a smile on his face and is always very considerate.
(5)
Jessica L.
Try the monk's curry and the shaking tofu - both are terrific!
(5)
Foday M.
Great food , great waiters , CLEAN. Food was so good, I ordered twice! I strongly recommend.
(5)
Andrew S.
Some of the best Pho I've ever had. Period. Other dishes are equally excellent. Argyle Street in Chicago (notably Tank Noodle) quality dishes. Absolutely my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in St. Louis... and maybe anywhere else for that matter. Also, it's BYOB. As a Chicagoan I feel right at home... what a great place.
(4)
Richard F.
The beef spring rolls had grilled beef with just the right amount of char. The lime dipping sauce was the perfect complement. My chicken and sweet potato curry was subtly and perfectly seasoned. Don't believe the menu when it says it is a spicy item.
(5)
Colin F.
I guess I am basing this review on the fact that the Vietnamese in the city is so much better, and cheaper. For county Vietnamese its not bad... I base all my reviews of a place on pho tai. Its the standard. If they have great pho everything else falls in line. Monsoon's pho is OK. Its kind of flat, not having the bright flavors my favorite truc lam has. It is also pricey. 9 bucks for a bowl of pho, pretty ridiculous. Service is OK. The interior is really nice. Maybe I will return if I win the lottery.
(2)
Christy A.
Super pleasant! Super fast! Super delicious! Please be advised, the menu is huge and difficult to read but the staff is happy to decipher. There is a gorgeous bar, flat screen television and plenty of seating inside. I recommend starting and finishing with an order of Shrimp Spring Rolls. The Chicken Curry and Shrimp Pad Thai are also superb. I'm not sure where you can go wrong with such an extensive menu; I haven't been misled yet. Going back ASAP for some Pho!
(5)
Jason U.
Way too expensive in comparison to other places in town. Pho is OK and at least 2.00 more than anywhere else I've been. I didn't order off the menu I just told the waitress I wanted pho with beef and meatballs. It cost me $11. I was charged $2 for the meatballs. What are you guys thinking? $18 for pho and spring rolls. I will say that the spring rolls are really good. Very fresh and the sauces are killer. I would come here all the time if they adjusted their prices to fall in line with everybody else in town. Too bad.
(3)
Mel A.
I found myself checking this place out, thanks to a random conversation at ISC over a week ago! Anyway, the place is fairly easy to find as a part of a strip mall right across Nordstrom Rack on Manchester. When I came in, the place was not busy at all. The only personnel who was not in the kitchen greeted and seated me at a table and was so nice. He gave me some time to look over the menu which had some funky font. So I ended up ordering a hu tiu which was a rice/egg noodle soup with shrimp, squid, pork, and quail eggs. This bowl of soup was served with some fresh greens, beansprouts, a couple slices of jalapeno and a small lime wedge. Usually, when I have a pho I squeeze the lime onto the soup because it enhances the flavor but this time I did not. I wanted to try their soup without any flavor enhancements. The soup was very good. It had a very unique flavor compared to the other Vietnamese places I have been to. They gave me so much protein in the bowl of soup (several large shrimp, good-sized pork slices, 2 quail eggs, and quite a few pieces of sliced up squid -- well-worth the price). He even came by to check how I liked the soup. It was excellent! I also wanted to venture out of my comfort zone so I ordered a Vietnamese iced coffee. He brought me 2 glasses, one with a metallic device on top and was dripping coffee and the other just with some ice. I have never had it before so I googled it and according to the internet, the coffee is left to "bloom" in the metal filter and once it's done, you can stir in some condensed milk. He already had some condensed milk at the bottom so when he came back, I decided to shamelessly ask him. He was very helpful and told me to stir the milk and the coffee together once it stops dripping and then put some ice or pour it in the glass with ice. The iced coffee was quite delicious! It wasn't too sweet which was nice and it definitely helped me cool off after finishing my bowl of soup. Next time, I would love to try their spring rolls. The table next to mine ordered a few different kinds of appetizers and they all looked so good. I wish I could have tried them but I am definitely coming back!
(5)
Denzel J.
I've been meaning to write a review of this restaurant for months and I'm finally getting to it due largely to the kindness and generosity of Nick, the restaurant owner. I first visited this wonderful establishment in early April of 2015 soon after dinner opening hours on a Thursday night at 5pm. I typically order to go, so I walked straight to the bar and was greeted by Nick. My favorite dishes to order at Vietnamese restaurants are vermicelli noodles with chicken or a hot steamy bowl of pho. Ended up going with the vermicelli (which I now pick up at least once every two weeks). During the wait Nick and I chatted about traveling, living in st louis vs nyc, and our jobs. The vermicelli was prepared in roughly 8 min and I made my way back home to enjoy the most flavorful and bountiful vermicelli I've yet to have in stl county. I have since become a repeat customer, and even brought my mother and grandmother when they visited from nyc in June of 2015. Nick was extremely kind and open when we arrived. He offered suggestions ( the flash fried spinach is a must have) and treated us to a banana w/ ice cream desert. Since my first visit I have had the fortune to sample their pho, which is absolutely delicious. The broth is usually rich and earthy and you have the typical large abundance of veggies to throw in the bowl. Long story short this is hands down my favorite vietnamese restaurant in saint louis. You get the entire package here: delicious food, great service, an overall perfect dining experience. Thanks Nick!
(5)
Ryan S.
Monsoon Bistro - Family operated with grandma's old recipes. It's located nearly front and center near a prominent intersection off of Manchester and 141. Atmosphere is very contemporary and upscale. Prices reflect that, but remain reasonable. Food - In double-digit visits, I have yet to find a bad meal. Tastes range from predominantly Vietnamese-based choices, some with a bit of Thai twist. I'm particularly fond of the Pho here - very aromatic and savory. The Vietnamese curry is also a good (albeit different) choice. As far as appetizers, I recommend the fresh Spring Rolls. Service/experience - Very friendly and...English-speaking. I want to specifically mention by (shortened) name, Nick. He's got a great memory and can point you to what your heart desires. Overall - Love everything about this place. Have and will continue to be a regular.
(5)
Joe K.
I enjoy monsoon a lot and have been coming here for many years. Nick, the owner, is extremely courteous and tries to keep up with new and returning customers. The dining room is clean w simple, modern decor. Come here for the pho, (reg for sweet or spicy) chicken curry, fried pork chop, and their calamari which has flash fried spinach leaves. For dessert, get the rice cake a la mode (ice cream on top) or the fried banana. Their prices have gone up over the last 6 years which is unfortunate but I still make time and $ to go. For 97% of the time, the food is consistent.
(4)
Chris H.
While Filipino food will always remain my most favorite of Asian cooking, can I get a Hello & Amen for Vietnamese! Had it for the first time while on a 3 week training stint in St. Louis. The Cari Ga was simply the best curry dish I have ever eaten (sorry Thai Food). I found myself wanting to lick the plate to get every ounce of that delicious sauce unto my tongue & into my belly. I only wish I wasn't on a 45 minute lunch break & could have tried some spring rolls of some kind.
(4)
Tami P.
Great food with fresh ingredients for an everyday price. My favorite is the chicken/pork/shrimp crepes with fresh basil, mint, sprouts, side of thin sweet and sour sauce with iced Vietnamese coffee or sparkling lemonade - try it and you'll be a return customer too. I've tried a couple curry dishes, steak, noodles bowls/soup spring rolls, salad's...it's all a delight! My kids adore their fried rice and the soothing atmosphere. We are usually greeted and served by one of the owners. They know us, our favorite orders, and ask about my kids when one of them aren't present. We look forward to continue being long-term repeat customers!
(5)
Muja B.
Great food and service. Had the vegeterian spring rolls and vermicelli salad, both delicious. A little bit pricier than I like but overall a great place in west county for Vietnamese food.
(4)
KelLyn A.
I've been here several times over the past two years and I have never been disappointed. The food is absolutely delicious and the service is flawless. I've tried several things on their menu, but my favorite is probably the cari ga. Soooo good!
(5)
Brian M.
I have been coming to Monsoon for over 5 years and I have to admit that does not get much better than this. The service and food have been consistent, the only problem I have is that aside from being so close to my office it is still a long ways from home, so I cannot say that I have ever had dinner here but if the service is anything like it is at lunch you will not be disappointed. The service and staff are amazing, very friendly and they do their best to get the food out to you quickly all while cooking each dish fresh using some high quality ingredients. As far as the food goes it is top notch, I always opt for the Spicy Lemongrass with Chicken; it is served with an amazing spicy sauce that is just perfect however I usually ask for extra spicy which is not a problem. Overall if you are in the area, I highly recommend Monsoon for their great service, great atmosphere, and great food.
(5)
Shannon W.
You'd never tell from the outside of this place what you're walking into. The food is great here. Fresh, made to order. Wonderful people too! The chicken is so tender. Shrimp rolls with peanut sauce is very good, and different! Worth a try, they have a martini and wine menu too. Wide choices of protein per each menu item, meat selection, veg, or tofu. Nice variety. I'm trying the Chilean sea bass next time.
Ordered Cari Ga as takeout, was amazing. Really enjoyed it. Also the bartender was exceptionally friendly. Made me feel very welcome. Will definitely be back
(5)
Jessica S.
Had the crepe and the "fries" and they were not that great at all. The guy that i was with ordered the Pho and actually got the wrong pho. I wasn't impressed I have for sure had better food around the St. Louis area. The waiter was friendly but food was not enough to make me go back.
(2)
Ben S.
Went there for our first UYE and unfortunately we were horribly late. Life simply got in the way and Brian and Patt...we're sorry. That said, thanks for hanging out with us! It made the meal even more enjoyable. The food was really, good! I had a lot of difficulty with the font they used for the names of their menu items so I'm not really sure what it was called. I can report the description: "halong bay shrimp - wok seared shrimp with garlic and scallions in a special sauce served with rice." It was really flavorful without being spicy (it would have been fine with me if it had been spicy but alas, it wasn't). Good-sized shrimp in a sauce that had an orange hue to it and a lot of very pleasant lemongrass and scallion flavor. The wife went for a big bowl with a lot of stuff in it. I tried two bites and liked it but preferred what I ordered. I'm sure she will write about her's as well. I really wanted another flavor so I ordered up some grilled shrimp spring rolls. They were pretty amazing! The combination of shrimp and vermicelli along with some basil in these things was amazing. Add a spoonful of their peanut sauce and they were heavenly and the EXACT right flavor that I sought. It is worth noting that we are not big fans of Vietnamese cuisine. So much so that I don't know that I could name the year of our last meal at a Vietnamese restaurant. That said, this review started with 4 stars but ended with 5 after I mentally replayed the meal. I think we are likely to not only go back to this place but even try other Vietnamese restaurants in the coming months.
(5)
Charleen S.
Had a great dinner last night at the UYE! I can't speak to authenticity, but I know what I like and this was it... Had the waitress' favorite dish - a big bowl of vermicelli noodles, cucumbers, mixed greens, pickled radish, chicken, and many more things. Served with a little bowl of sauce. Had no idea what to do with it so I dumped the sauce on it and mixed it all up. The chicken was perfectly cooked and delicious. Worked out well - it was like a surprise in every bite. Also tried a pot sticker and a grilled shrimp spring roll and enjoyed both. Friendly fast service and tasty food! I will crave this dish and don't know anywhere else I can get anything like it so I'll be back.
(4)
Tony R.
Had the spicy tofu and was delighted to find real Chinese broccoli in the dish. The tofu was cooked nicely an the vegetables were fresh and not over cooked. The rice was ok. The sauce was pretty mild and too thick. Still, this place is pretty good.
(3)
Sarah W.
I'm so glad I discovered Monsoon on Yelp!!! The food at this place is delicious, and everything seems so fresh. Normally I wouldn't touch tofu with a 10-foot pole, but the tofu at Monsoon just melts in my mouth. I always order the vegetarian spring rolls...you get two of them, and they come with the best peanut sauce I've ever had. My favorite entree is the zen tofu...the black bean sauce is light but very flavorful, the vegetables are crisp and fresh, and like I said the tofu melts in my mouth. I have also discovered a new favorite beer here called Saigon. The atmosphere is nice...not overly crowded or loud...and the owner/staff are always friendly. I have already recommended this place to several of my friends...I hope they love it just as much as I do!
(5)
Chelsea P.
Craving pad Thai and not sure where to go in our new(ish) neighborhood, we found this place on yelp and decided to give it a try. We ordered to-go on a Friday night at about 5:30. The restaurant was incredibly clean and looked to be very well taken care of. We sat at the bar and my husband ordered a Korean beer called Hitt ( i think that's how it was spelled). He said it was really good. While we sat and looked over the menu we asked the young man working probably about 20 different questions, and he answered each of them honestly and with a smile. Told us his favorites and which direction we should go with our ordering. He actually did such a great job we ordered 3 entrees and an appetizer for two people. We ordered the chicken curry, chicken pad Thai, and lemongrass chicken, with two veggie spring rolls. Everything was delicious. I LOVED the curry and pad Thai. The lemongrass chicken was pretty good as well. Since we had an insane amount of food, we heated it up and ate the curry and pad Thai for dinner the next night as well, and they were just as good reheated. Everyone working seemed very friendly and the food was really good. I would definitely recommend checking it out if you're in the area. We'll for sure be back!
(4)
Cece A.
I eat at this place because it is the only Vietnamese restaurant near my apt. (the next closest one is about 25 min away) Until, one day I found a piece of HAIR (which was NOT mine) on my pork chop, which is a shame because their best dish is that grilled pork chop with shredded pork and egg. I had gotten it to go and eaten most of it, when I saw that one piece of hair resting on the bone. So since I had already finished most of the meal it seemed pointless to call them. Their pho is just okay. the pho soup is similar to Mai Lee's (too greasy and too much MSG). Price is more than your other viet restaurants here. My vietnamese friends won't even go here because they say the price is insane for viet food. (Apparently pho is like a buck in vietnam) If it wasn't for that damn hair, I would say to check this place out for their grilled pork chop.
(2)
Rick M.
I can't believe I hadn't reviewed Monsoon. We've been coming here for years. Oh well here goes. If you live in west county and don't want to travel to U City for Vietnamese food you should come here. The Pho is terrific as are almost every other dish they offer. Lunch is just as good as dinner. The wait staff is friendly, knowledgable and willing to adjust the level of heat according to your taste. If you've never eaten Vietnamese before but like Asian food give Monsoon a try. You'll be glad you did.
(4)
Jessica S.
Monsoon is a great way to put some ethnic variety into your West County dining experience. I've been a few times and always found it to be pretty good, though the atmosphere is a little more elevated than favorites like Banh Mi So and Lemongrass on South Grand. Their hipness is reflected in the elevated prices, too: it's not cheap. My bf orders the "shaking beef" every time, having decided it was their best dish. I've sampled several items and found them all to be quite tasty. I like coming here when I feel like "Asian," but Chinese just doesn't sound right and and a long drive into the city isn't appealing.
(4)
Jessica C.
A hidden West County gem. And I really mean hidden. It's at the end of a strip mall, tucked next to a Gamestop. Clearly I'm late to the game on this one, since this place was about 3/4 full. At 7:30PM. On a Wednesday night. Well, this City Girl found herself in the area visiting a friend. She and her husband are expecting a baby soon and left the City for the safety and, let's face it, boredom, of the suburbs. When I suggested we go to dinner near her, she said, "Oh why bother, there's nothing out here but chain restaurants!" Well well, I thought, the perfect time to whip out my cell phone to check the Yelp App. My attention was immediately drawn to Monsoon because of the high ratings. Since it was only a few miles away we headed over. The first thing we noticed was the gorgeous decor. This place is really, really well decorated. And not only is it well decorated, but the colorful walls and warm lighting make for a very nice ambiance. This was not at all what I would have expected from a restaurant in a strip mall. When our server came over (after we spent a good five minutes perusing the very thorough menu) we told him we wanted our entrees extra spicy because my friend is trying everything she can to go into labor soon (she's due in about five minutes, no joke). The server paused for a moment and asked us, "Would you like to know our tradition in Vietnam?" Intrigued, we said, "Sure!" He leaned in and said, "Eat the green papaya. It makes the baby come faster. We have it here on the menu." What the heck, we thought, and changed our appetizer order to the Green Papaya Salad. About two minutes later our server hurried back to our table. He had a look of serious concern on his face. Looking sideways at my friend's swollen belly, he informed us that he told the chef of my friend's "condition" and that the chef was refusing to cook us extra spicy food. "It's not good for the baby!", our server concluded. Bemused, I said, "Can we have it regular spicy then?" "Oh yes, yes yes, I will tell the chef that!" And off our server went. In a few minutes our green papaya salad arrived. What. A. Treat. I don't know if I've ever had a salad quite like that before, but I'd definitely order it again. I'm kind of at a loss to describe it (check out my photo) but I can say that it was crunchy, sweet, acidic, and hot. Just as we were finishing our appetizer, our entrees arrived. I had the Monsoon Vegetables and Tofu and my friend had the Chicken Curry. Both were delicious. I particularly enjoyed the wide variety of vegetables in my dish (lots of green crunchy things always makes me happy). My friend's curry was well spiced and sweet with coconut milk. Overall we were both very satisfied. I can say, however, that neither one of our dishes was very spicy. That the chef probably spared us a real level of spice out of a genuine concern for my friend's unborn child is, in my opinion, very sweet and thoughtful. I look forward to coming back here (without anyone obviously pregnant) to try this food again!
(5)
Jane D.
Grilled shrimp and grilled beef spring rolls were really delicious, generously sized with lots of fresh herbs. My only complaint was the peanut sauce was too sweet. The wait staff was excellent, very attentive and helpful. We also enjoyed the Chinese broccoli and sugar snap peas with tofu in black bean sauce, very tasty.
(5)
Beth B.
Not sure why it took me so long to come back to Monsoon, but all the good reviews have placed it firmly at the top of my list. I was here a couple years back, but don't really remember much about it, other than I recall liking it. Mr. Beth and I went here on a Friday evening, looking for a quiet, laid back dinner close to home. And we found it! For 8:15 on a Friday night, the place was empty, but that was exactly what we were looking for. The decor at Monsoon is a little odd - there is an Asian flair, but it's more modern than anything, with high ceilings and exposed duct work. I personally liked the modern look, although Mr. Beth thought it was somewhat confusing. Decor aside though, they have a really nice drink & menu selection. I started with the lychee martini, and it was delightful. They infuse vodka with lemongrass in house & it was lovely with the the sweetness of the lychee. Mr. Beth had a regular martini and it was well made. We ordered the shrimp spring rolls with sweet peanut dipping sauce (I can't really type the actual name of it!). They were a little surprising, because the lunch menu description is quite different for this same item - (shrimp salad rolls- fresh rolls filled with shrimp, lettuce, and mint served with peanut dipping sauce). Don't get me wrong, they were super refreshing & light, with a divine sauce, but it wasn't exactly what we were expecting. We were both in the mood for seafood, but I'm a little weird about eating seafood at places I've never been before. Upon interrogation, I was informed that their seafood shipment comes on Thursdays, so I felt like we'd be OK. I had the lemongrass sea bass (pan seared chilean sea bass with lemongrass and chili pepper served with sweet potato straws, rice and lime sauce). The fish was really fresh, perfectly cooked and had a nice kick to it, and it was served on a bed of fried spinach. While I didn't love the potato straws, they did mix well with the fish, spinach & rice. Mr. Beth ordered the wok seared seafood, broccoli, carrot, mushroom over crispy noodles. It was a really interesting presentation with all the seafood & veggies perched on top of a big 'nest' of noodles. Once the noodles were broken up & soaked into the sauce in the bottom, the combination was really delicious. It had calamari, scallops & shrimp and all the seafood was very fresh. At any rate, we both ate every bite - everything was just so good and LIGHT. We both felt great after dinner, instead of weighed down & sleepy. I love that most dishes offer variation in protein options (beef, pork, shrimp, tofu, eggplant, etc), so this would be an excellent option for vegetarians. Service was great, though we did have an odd dirty appetizer plate that remaining on the table from start to finish. Not sure why it was never removed, but it wasn't really a problem, per se. I'll be the first to admit that I'm certainly no Vietnamese food aficionado, so I can't really compare it to other places throughout St. Louis. However, for a west county restaurant, it was very impressive & seemed pretty authentic. Monsoon will be great for future date nights and/or takeout.
(4)
Tricia R.
Good Vietnamese restaurant in West County, which is good news so I don't need to trek back into Brentwood or Grand for some pho. Pricier, but maybe bc it doesn't have much competition out here. 1) Pho was good - more like Mai Lee's than Pho Grand (i.e. less star anise flavor), which is great bc I hate when the star anise is overpowering everything else. 2) The potstickers were pretty good, esp considering we ordered them as carryout and they were still decent after sitting in a styrofoam box for a while. P.S. These are not those super-thick doughy potstickers you get at those Americanized Chinese carryout places (thank god). 3) The fried rice was meh. I personally don't usually order fried rice at Viet restaurants, but the hubby always tries to stick with something "safe". Decent, but not great. Good location for us, so we'll def be back.
(4)
Jay F.
Best Pho in St. Louis by far. I am a huge fan of Mai Lee, and this is better. Everything is fresh and the owner is very accommodating. He cares about each customer. You must check this place out!!
(5)
Victoria V.
Thank God this place has made it! Close to home, not expensive (depending on what you order) and it consistently good. The iced coffee is delicious. Shaking beef is a family member's fave, mine is the shrimp with curry. (yellow) Clean, modern decor.
(4)
Duncan M.
Probably the best Vietnamese place I have ever been too. Forgot about this place for a while and recently went back, better then I remembered. The ingredients are really fresh, the staff is fantastic, and it moves quick, so if you are in a rush, you can easily get in and out in no time. Couple things to point out, if you like things spicy, don't be afraid to ask, and the banana rolls are killer!
(5)
Craig B.
Walking in... wow, this place smells amazing. Great first impression and it's decorated nicely for a strip mall. I had the Xa Ot (with shrimp) lunch entree. For $11, it didn't seem like very good value. Only 6 shrimp, albeit very good, and a scoop of rice. I feel like even a veggie or other side would make this meal a lot more interesting. It has a "spicy" warning next to the dish. I thought the level of spice was very reasonable. Enough to open the sinuses a bit without going over-board. I had a very positive first impression of this place, but for a random weekday lunch, there is probably better value elsewhere. I will be back to try some other items!
(4)
Gregory P.
I have been to this restaurant a number of times over the years and I am a fan, but my lunch on this occasion was mildly disappointing. I ordered the spicy lemongrass with shrimp. The sauce was wonderful and I sopped up every bit with the rice. The shrimp were a little rubbery and tough. There were only six shrimp on the plate so I didn't feel that reflected a good value $11 for lunch. Yet, I was full and sated when I left.
(4)
Tasha K.
YUMMY!!! LOVE IT. There is a lot of great Vietnamese food in St. Louis. (i.e.. check out South City. duh!) but this one's in your own backyard; no need to make the drive downtown. That's always nice. The prices are a bit more than the South City spots but for one, you live in West Fucking County. You can afford the $3-4 increase in food price. Two, this place takes Vietnamese way up a notch, to gourmet levels, minus the pretentious attitude and ambiance. I recommend the Sizzling Saigon Crepe (see my take-out pic), the calamari, and of course the spring rolls (beef is best) for apps. I often get the crepe (which is more like an omlet-crepe hybrid) for an entree b/c its full of yummy protiens and served w/ their delish lime sauce. For an entree GET THE CURRY for sure. Get it with whatever protein or veggies you want. You will not be sorry. There is something so special about Vietnamese curry. It's creamy, comforting, yet light tasting. You will fall in love. I love all ethnic curries but Vietnamese is my fav. I ask them to make mine spicy and it's divine. I've tried many other items and they were all good. You can't really go wrong here I don't live in St. Louis anymore but I come back often to visit family. Last time I was there it was BYOB which is nothing short of AWESOME. My girl friends and I often get together w/ a few bottles of wine and nosh out. Makes for a great local night. Would be a great date spot too.
(5)
Lauren S.
I have been here several times because it is so close to my house. However, the pho is consistently bland. We are never greeted when we walk in and the service seems poor overall. I recommend a drive to the city if you want better Vietnamese food.
(2)
Sheryl K.
I am SO stoked that this place is 15 minutes away from my house (and across the street from ULTA haha)! It definitely beats 30 minutes in traffic!! Off of 141, I was very skeptical of Monsoon just because of the "Bistro" tid bit in the title, but geez evidently I was too quick to judge. Their vibrant decor, linen table cloths, and super cute bar itself seduced me to come inside, especially on a very empty stomach. Briefly overlooking their menu you'll notice that they offer rice plates, pho noodle, Vietnamese crepes, vegetarian dishes, soups/salads...you get the picture right? My server was a very hospitable lady who frequented my table and my glass was never empty. Although I can't recommend the pho yet (didn't order it) I'm sure it would not disappoint considering that everything I tried on this particular day was perfect. Convenient location if you don't want to drive towards the city. I could definitely get used to this place :]
(4)
S L.
Have been coming here for years. The food is fresh & consistently delicious! Their spring rolls are a great way to start the meal.
(5)
Charles D.
We find this place the best in West County for Asian. The food choices, quality, and service are outstanding
(5)
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Address :14248 Manchester Rd
Manchester, MO, 63021
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Frank L.
Fantastic service paired with wonderful food. I will continue to come back for the pho and cant wait to try others on the menu.
(5)Thad P.
A decent place that doesn't seem to get much action. Food is good, if not a little pricey. Service can be good or just ok. Their pho is a little thin on the broth but tasty though I do wish that they provided better cuts of meat. Overall a good place, but just not much to pull me back in for a third time.
(3)Joshua C.
It's MONSOON SEASON!! I got the chance to check out this restaurant with a couple of friends a few weeks ago. Now, I'm not sure how big the Vietnamese population is in St. Louis, but it has some great venues for Vietnamese cuisine, and I was interested to see where Monsoon would fall compared with the Mai Lee's and the Pho Grand's of the Lou'. The atmosphere was nice, and I could tell they had done some remodeling. However, it might have affected the prices because Monsoon Bistro's menu items were a bit more expensive than I had expected. Now, onto the important stuff: the food! My friends and I started off with the fried kalimari, which was delish. After that, I whittled my choices down to their Pho or Pad Thai. I decided to go with the Pad Thai because I've been looking for a place in St. Louis that make it well, and boy am I glad I did! Aside from the price, I very much enjoyed my meal. It had just the right amount of peanut-y taste that I look for in the sauce. The only strange thing was that rather than use Pad Thai noodles, they used a thinner almost angel-hair type noodle, but it didn't really affect the taste much as It was a great meal overall! Would I go to Monsoon bistro again? There's no doubt! I want to go back and try their Pho Thai, which I'll be sure to do and update you guys with!
(4)Kelly B.
Monsoon has nice contemporary decor, but the food is pricey ($5 for iced coffee, $9 for a lunch entree, $5 for two spring rolls=$20 + tip for lunch). The spring rolls were a healthy portion (almost too big to eat). They were listed as "salad rolls" so that Americans would get it, I guess. I asked if the curry entree was a yellow curry since it wasn't indicated on the menu and they said yes, so I ordered it. I usually love Vietnamese yellow curry with coconut milk, but in this case, the curry was red and it was SO rich, I could barely eat it. Very disappointing for $9. Monsoon gets an a-ok for atmosphere, but the food is disappointing and in my opinion, overpriced.
(3)Mandar P.
We have been frequenting this place for more than 7 years now...Used to go there alot often in the beginning than in recent years but just happened to be there yesterday and questioned myself, WHY I am not here more often -;) I am not kidding - this place will give you great Vietnamese food that will hook you up to come over and again. I generally order what they used to call "monk" curry entree' (recently they changed their menu but the same great dishes) and its still one of my favorites. Its a delicacy made out of sweet potatoes, eggplants and super awesome coconut sauce that tastes just amazing. I think you can add your meat to it as well but it is great without one too. They have good appetizers (Vegetarian spring rolls - no not the deep fried ones, is my favorite pick) and the lady just told me that they started serving alcohol too - so if you want to treat your lady or just go there and have some nice food - I recommend Monsoon should be on your list!
(5)Marc K.
The first thing I wasn't expecting on a Vietnamese restaurant was this modern decor and ambiance (see photos). That was my first surprise. It's a very modern looking place and I'll have to change my stereotypes from now on. About the food. It was my very first time with Vietnamese food, so we've tried the Pho dac biet (rice noodle soup) and another combo dish with some pork, fried egg, rice and some other elements. Both dishes were very good, a lot of different flavor combinations. Again, this was my very first time having a Vietnamese food, so it's not a comparative analysis. It was a little pricy for a lunch meal, but it was our own fault. We didn't order from the lunch portion of the menu (the Pho was not there). Definitely coming back and try some other dishes.
(4)Bruce K.
One of my new go to places for Thai and Viet food... Yellow Curry is amazing
(5)Ernie C.
I'm fron Reno, where we have a plethora of Vietnamese restaurants. Three of us were here for dinner last week, and it was so-so. I liked the decor - fun, vibrant colors on the walls, and the Ikea coffee table and couches in the front are cute (though the thin layer of dust on the coffee table was slightly disturbing). Food wise, the three of us ordered the vegetarian spring rolls, a mung curry, and the pho with everything. I feel that one of the great tests for Vietnamese restaurants is the quality of the spring rolls. Unfortunately, as these were vegetarian, I couldn't compare them to the ones I usually have with the think slice of beef and shrimp inside. They were definitely heavy on the cilantro though. I had the pho, while my brother and his girlfriend split the curry. The pho was only average, and definitely felt over-priced at $9. I didn't taste the curry, though the two of them said they liked it. So, overall, nice modern decor, but the food wasn't anything to write home about.
(3)Snarf H.
This place is a hidden jewel!! Located in a small plaza with barely a sign to show the way, Monsoon is truly an AMAZING dining experience. Fantastic service, warm ambiance, and the "bring your own bottle of wine" policy all warranted the five star rating, but it is the food that really sets this place apart from the rest. We had the salad rolls to start, a beef pho soup and the sea bass with sweet potato and flash-fried spinach. Not only was everything deliciously seasoned and perfectly cooked, the chef/owner's presentation of the food was delightfully elegant. Definitely a place worth seeking out!!!
(5)Drew P.
WOW... I brought 4 of us up there for the first time today for lunch...Great service & EXCELLENT FOOD!!! Great job to the staff, I'll definitely be back!!! As much as I hate to spread the word about how amazing this place is, I HIGHLY recommend you and all your friends go try this place out. It's definitely a hidden secret but they deserve to be packed and when word gets out, they will.... If you can't find at least one thing off the menu that you absolutely LOVE then I would be highly surprised... I destroyed all of my meal, tried two others that my friends ordered and we had split a couple appetizers... It was all amazing and I almost went back for dinner tonight but I had a ball game... Don't be surprised if you go tomorrow and see me there... PROPS to MONSOON STAFF.... See you all soon!!!
(5)Raheel L.
A season prevailing wind and heavy rain, in the regions of Indian subcontinent and the South East and West Asia, is best described by a term that we all are familiar with is, Monsoon. This word has been widely used in the English language, but when applied to this amazing joint called, "Monsoon Vietnamese Bistro," it simply means that the food is highly prevailing: authenticity, flavorsome, freshness, and hot & spiciness that is mouthwatering - naturally causing your salivary glands to create a monsoon inside your mouth. Or simply, Scrummy! I've been a fan of Vietnamese food ever since I introduced it to my tastes buds, but don't remember when I did. With a causal and welcoming atmosphere, the place is very array in modern sophisticated plainness. But when sitting at the table and enjoying the food, it brings complexity of flavors to your taste buds. Starting the appetizers with "crispy calamari with citrus sauce and spinach" and "shrimp spring rolls with sweet peanut dipping sauce." From there, making a transition into the entree round, the selection should create an exclamation point or raise an eye brow, when glancing at so many delicious choices, which is eventually making the decision process hard. But some of my favorite entrees include: "scallops with curry, eggplant, coconut milk served with rice," "pan seared chilean sea bass with lemongrass and chili pepper served with sweet potato straws, rice and lime sauce," and last but not least, "Vietnamese curry with chicken, sweet potato, and coconut milk served with rice." Those are some of the entrees I had, and have been very satisfied deliciously. Without a doubt, I would visit the bistro again, not once but on a multiple occasions, whether its with family, friends, or simply just a take out.
(4)Chris Z.
Don't judge this place by driving by... from the outside, it looks like another would be dive in a strip mall. However, this place is modern and refined once you enter (a la Nippon Tei down the street) and the staff is ready to greet you, sit you down, and help with the extensive menu. On a side note, is it required for Vietnamese restaurants to have a 10 page menu with a numbered ordering system?... Just curious. Anyway, I tried both the 11.04 (stir-fried shrimp and vegetables over crispy egg noodles) and the 3.03 (chicken curry with sweet potato). Both plates came out piping hot, and the presentation was perfect. The vegetable & egg noodles dish is a standard of mine at Pho Grand and Mai Lee. Monsoons did not disappoint... although I did have to ask for extra broth. It didn't come with enough to soften all the noodles. The chicken curry was good too. Big chunks of juicy chicken and the coconut cream curry is delicate and spicy at the same time. All in all, I will be back if I'm this far west, as I have a soft spot for Vietnamese cuisine. It serves as a good substitute for Pho Grand & Mai Lee although I'm not sure if it's up to their standards yet.
(3)Emily M.
This place is way over priced for what it is. It's good food but nothing special. I ordered the spicy lemongrass chicken and the shrimp spring rolls. The spring rolls were the only thing that was worth the money.
(2)Jennifer B.
Monsoon is one of my all-time favorite places to eat! If you've never been you really need to go. This is a classy little bistro with elegantly fabulous Vietnamese food. For starters I recommend the Shrimp Salad Rolls, as they are very fresh and leave a cool, clean taste in your mouth. If you've never tried Vietnamese coffee, you'll definitely want to give it a try. Not only is it fun to drink, but it tastes great too! My favorite dish is the Monsoon Shaking Beef, which comes with a have plate of the best jasmine rice and pieces of the softest, most buttery filet mignon you are ever going to eat. Under the filet pieces are sweet potato fries, which have a slight crisp and retain all of their sweetness. This dish is perfect. There is nothing possible that can improve it, and I promise that if you try it that you will love it. An added bonus is the fact that it is under $20, and there is a lot of food! The staff are warm, knowledgeable and extremely friendly and the setting is modern and intimate. My family and I are addicted to this place, going as often as we can. Our latest trip was on Friday at the dinner rush. While they were busy, they still had a few tables. I was worried that we wouldn't get good service since they were so busy, but they were just as great as ever. Once we finished, we were asked if everything was perfection, and we told them that it was.
(5)Jacqueline C.
Two visits and after much contemplation I'm not very impressed with everything at Monsoon. If you are looking for authentic, it's not here. The best item we had, hands down blows Mai Lee out of the water -- the shrimp spring rolls!! I get it, this place is in West County, many American customers so the food to us was built for a palette like that. However, my Viet friend who was with me agreed the food was lacking. We won't be back unless it's for the spring rolls.
(2)Douglas S.
Doesn't get any better: my Zen Tofu was perfectly stir-fired and perfectly seasoned. Good service, nice atmosphere, and if you are looking for adventure, try the Avacado Milkshake.
(5)Paul K.
I have only had Vietnamese food from Mai Lee so this is somewhat new to me. MVB is only a mile from my house and I have been going by it for years and always wanted to stop in and try it. Am I glad I did. They have a rather extensive menu of wonderful dishes but I had the Pho Thai. It was served in a huge bowl with rare beef that soon cooked to done as it sat in the soup. It had a wonderful cilantro taste to the soup and the rice noodles were fantastic. For $9 that is a lot of soup. The service was good and because of weather the place was not crowded. We also had starters of vegetarian spring rolls and my son Paul K from Chicago was in town and he is gulp a vegetarian. It is hard to find a place that will serve all of our needs but MVB did the job. He had his vegetarian, my wife had combination fried rice so we all were happy. If I was an expert on Vietnamese food I would give you more of an informed opinion but alas I just know what I had and it was darn good and I am going back and hope to put this in my rotation of places I go too around my house.
(4)Allan C.
Wow. I wasn't prepared for this place at all. We were running some errands in the area before we noticed this place and both of us have heard good things about it. This place is clean, comfortable, and has delicious food. The only gripe is that they charge quite a bit for pretty normal-sized portions. I had the pork chop, which wasn't anything special, but delicious nonetheless. The seared sea bass was impressive and their ubiquitous sweet and sour sauce made everything just that much more yummy. I wouldn't go out of my way to hunt this place down, but it will definitely be a place to keep in mind when in the area.
(3)James G.
Love this place. Good food and no pretense. I usually get one of the soups. It comes with a little side dish of spicy things to throw in. I throw them all in and get a truly fantastic hot soup, in both senses of the word. And if you can finish the bowl your a better man (or woman) than me.
(4)Liz S.
I'm not usually a big fan of Vietnamese food but this place was pretty tasty. I had one of the curry dishes, if memory serves. I really love the fact that you can bring your own booze in to have with your meal. Saves on cost. I hate over paying for cheap wine/beer.
(4)Mike M.
On a business trip and found myself back at monsoon. Terrific Pho. The broth is delicious and not "watery and flat" like many others. This place has gone byob since I was there last. Really great, I'll be back!!
(4)gabe u.
Monsoon is our favorite choice for vietnamese without going downtown, in fact we don't go downtown any more because of this restaurant. The staff is incredibly helpful and polite. Our favorites are the shrimp spring roll and calamari for appetizers. We generally get the chicken curry and tamarind prawns for the main course. When the kids come, the Jasmin sample platter is great for them. Of note, they don't serve alcohol anymore. However, you can bring wine and I don't believe they charge a corking fee. We also stop in a few times a month for takeout which is surprisingly wonderful.
(5)Ramin R.
Delicious. Went there twice in just a few days while visiting relatives for Thanksgiving. Great menu with great pho. Nice to see this among all the ridiculously hideous strip malls straddling Manchester Ave.
(5)Spencer P.
I love Vietnamese food and Monsoon is one of the best I've ever had! For starters, I always get either the Crepe or the Shrimp Salad Rolls. The rolls are fresh and crisp, with a delicious peanut sauce on the side. The crepes are just incredible; they're unexpectedly sweet and have a taste unique to themselves. For main courses I tend to stick with the Shaking Beef, Spicy Chicken or the rice noodle with shrimp, scallop, squid, and assorted vegetables. All three are delicious. However...nothing is as delicious as the Cassava Cake for dessert. I've eaten at numerous Asian restaurants across the country and never had that before. It's warm and creamy, served with ice cream and coconut cream. I can't begin to describe its taste, but it's certainly different than anything else I've had before.
(5)T S.
Bottom line: I drive in from South City to eat here at least 2-3xs a month, more if I can come up with an excuse to drive past 4011 Asian restaurants to west county for Vietnamese food. Best spring rolls in town. Service is great. Monk Curry is the most awesome vegetarian curry in town. Total hole in the wall--which I love. Stop eating that *&^())%** they offer in the loop and road trip for this one at least once. After that you won't need me to encourage you to go, you too will be pleasantly addicted. :)
(5)Doug W.
Our go to place for Vietnamese in West County.
(5)Stefanie E.
I'm a sucker for good Vietnamese, and Monsoon never disappoints. It's a light and airy space and usually far from packed whenever I go. The shrimp salad rolls really are as fresh as Jennifer B. says. I think they have an extra kick of mint in the mix and the nuoc cham has a touch more body than others I've tried. My favorite dish is the shrimp and tamarind sauce. It's not too sweet and slightly tart. The rice is perfectly cooked and soaks up the sauce nicely.
(4)Angela B.
For the county, I think this place is great! I love the curry and Mama Q's dumplings!
(4)Kristi L.
Good service, good food. Everything tasted very fresh, and was well seasoned. I had the steamed chicken ravioli with beef skewers and pork spring rolls.
(4)Raul B.
Excellent. I was very surprised when we entered. It was nicely done. The hostess was very friendly and promptly assisted us. Our waiter was friendly and patient. The food was excellent and I highly recommend.
(4)Jimmy L.
Practically perfect in every way. If you haven't been here because you think it's something you're unfamiliar with - you're probably mistaken. Look over the menu and you'll see familiar elements of Asian cuisine. This place has style, service, and delightful food to savor.
(5)John L.
Went for lunch with my wife. Really enjoyed the lightness of the food and felt the atmosphere comfortable. Wish they would have spaced us out more from the other guests. We are not very well versed in vietnamese cuisine but it seemed we could go full in or more americanized. I will go back and be more adventurous.
(4)Kelly B.
I love this place'. The food is great, prices reasonable, service is good and they allow you to bring your own wine, etc since they don't serve any.
(5)Natalia M.
I love curry. I really really love curry. Any style: Indian, Thai, Japanese, whatever. It's all good. So I ordered curry here, and my eyes almost rolled back into my head. I would totally give them 5 stars on the basis of the curry alone, but I'm taking off one star for slow service and so-so appetizers. A quick rundown of what my friend and I had: Vietnamese ice coffee served with condensed milk - The coffee seems to be brewed with the grounds directly in the hot water, and the little whatsit with a filter on the bottom is placed on top of a glass with condensed milk in the bottom. The two don't mix without help, so it looks cool with the two layers. Then the whole thing is poured over ice. It's tasty *and* entertaining. And it's even caffeinated! I'm so easily amused. Grilled shrimp supreme (appetizer) - meh. The sugarcane skewers are pretty but impractical. The grilled shrimp mousse is surprisingly chewy. I would pass on this one Mama q's dumplings (appetizer) - Good, but I couldn't tell any difference between these and the dumplings available at any other Asian/Pacific Rim restaurant. Monsoon shaking beef - The beef was cooked *perfectly*. I was really blown away. The meat was definitely cooked, but almost melted in my mouth. Also, I love cooked onions (they were just barely caramelized, so they were slightly sweet), and the sweet potato straws made a nice texture contrast. This dish doesn't come with sauce but the meat flavor is so delicate, it doesn't need it. Monk curry - I was craving tofu (shut up! I *like* tofu, and if you had it in this curry, you would like it too!) and this really hit the spot. The curry has some similarities to Thai curry, since it has creamy coconut milk, but the seasoning is definitely distinctive. We had to wait a longish time to get our appetizers, but the entrees came out in a timely manner, and the service was polite and attentive. It was definitely an enjoyable experience, and there are at least a half a dozen other things on the menu I want to go back and try.
(4)Stac A.
Very good. Try the Chicken Curry with Coconut Milk. Yum! We get it for carry out too. Big portions. Clean nice atmosphere too.
(5)Ed A.
My wife and I visited this restaurant for the first time tonight. We are both fans of Vietnamese cuisine. The funny thing is when I was in Saigon years ago, before it became Ho Chi Minh City I swore I would never eat Vietnamese food. There, in the heart of this huge city inspired then most recently by the French, I could have sampled all sorts of "delicacies." Of course some of these may have been critters that we would normally step on. Anyway, the food at Monsoon was excellent. We enjoyed crispy pork and shrimp egg rolls with a tangy lime sauce. For entrees we had chicken in a Vietnamese curry sauce which was spicy. We also had chicken with lemon grass and vegetables. Both entrees were excellent but we agreed that the curry was our favorite of the two. The prices are higher than what one might expect at a Vietnamese restaurant but I think the reason for this is that the chef wants to develop a reputation as an establishment serving fine cuisine rather than one catering to a largely "take-out" clientele. We will certainly be returning.
(4)Meredith J.
YUM! I'm not sure I'm a fan of the BYO liquor thing, but whatever works...
(4)Jacob B.
Food is terrific. Service great and prompt. Will definitely come back.
(5)Brandon K.
$12 for a bowl of Pho, really? Forever seeking the perfect bowl of Pho like Japanese seeking the perfect cherry bloosom (all lies I'll confide, it's just an excuse to drink Asahi Super Dry outside) I decided to checked out Monsoon after driving by it on Manchester a few times. The interior is very light, very open, very echoy (is that a word?) so that the waitress walking to a table was heard in every nook and crany. The walls fielded a smorsborg of pottery barn colors gone bland, exploding in a wide spectrum of colors between orange and red. Why paint walls different shades of off-orange? The ceiling went for the unpolished, matt black industrial look. It really didn't fit as a vietnamese restaurant, in that it it didn't match the traditional fob viet or the warm thai style. Rather more like a little bit more upscale version of the all too common nowadays cheap birch vaneer use-to-be-Chinese-restaurant but now-Japanese-sushi-but still serves the same Chinese...places. Pho-overpriced, broth very good 4/5, condiments 3.5/5, meat 1.5/5, lots of stuff, low side on the noodles, $10-$12 Whaaaa? Curry-good, not overly rich or sweet, lacking veggies, small, pretentious sized portion, $12 Who would like: People who use Purell a lot or own a lime-colored polo shirt. People who wouldn't: If you ate a dirty water dog the last time you went to NYC or think the best part of going out in Asia is eating ramen from the street cart after hours.
(3)Scar G.
been there once, liked the stuff i got. will go back. decent vietnamese joint.
(3)Lily H.
What a great find! I spent about a month in this part of the suburbia around St. Louis this past summer, and I went to Monsoon over and over because the food was so consistently tasty, there was never a wait, the waitstaff was always helpful and welcoming, and there are many great choices no matter who you're with--vegetarian/vegan/picky/etc. I love the wide rice noodles, pan fried with just about anything.
(4)Soutbay G.
Monsoon Vietnamese Bistro's food is beyond DELICIOUS! I always order the shaken beef. The service is super friendly and it is family-owned. I always stop by when I'm in town visiting.
(5)Maggie W.
This place was pretty good, but the curry at Thai Kitchen is far superior. I ordered the chicken curry and my boyfriend got the pork chop. Our waitress said that his order came with a lot of food, but for an American man, his dreams were quickly and severely dashed. Even to me, one small pork chop, some shredded chop, and some rice was not a lot. As for me, my chicken curry was supposed to come with potatoes, but there were only about three or four in the dish. The atmosphere is pleasant and modern; it would be nice if they played some soft music, though. The place seems too quiet. Some of the options on the menu seemed a bit overpriced as well.
(3)Nancy P.
love this restaurant! it's clean, nice decor, small so it's not overpowering and loud, and i love their food. my all-time fav is #6.02 - a char-grilled pork chop with crushed rice & scallions, and salad. it comes with a special lime sauce for the meat, which is a clear, sweet & spicy sauce. The vietnamese coffee is excellent and makes a lovely dessert. the service is great, and the quality of food is consistent. my husband & i have been eating there regularly over the past 2 years. the curried dishes are great, as are the vietnamese pancakes. btw - mama q's dumplings are to die for! (think over-the-top pot-stickers .) there is a wide price range - a meal costs from about $7.00 to about $20. The char-grilled chop & accompaniments described above is $7.00. how do you say 'bon apetite' in vietnamese??
(5)Suchi R.
Its one of my fav restaurants in st.Louis. The Vietnamese Iced coffee is really amazing and my fav food here is crisp calamari, prawn curry with eggplant which tastes amazing with rice. They have amazing crepes as well. The staff is good here, but there is one vietnamese guy in particular, i dont know his name, everytime i go there i forget to check his name. He always has a smile on his face and is always very considerate.
(5)Jessica L.
Try the monk's curry and the shaking tofu - both are terrific!
(5)Foday M.
Great food , great waiters , CLEAN. Food was so good, I ordered twice! I strongly recommend.
(5)Andrew S.
Some of the best Pho I've ever had. Period. Other dishes are equally excellent. Argyle Street in Chicago (notably Tank Noodle) quality dishes. Absolutely my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in St. Louis... and maybe anywhere else for that matter. Also, it's BYOB. As a Chicagoan I feel right at home... what a great place.
(4)Richard F.
The beef spring rolls had grilled beef with just the right amount of char. The lime dipping sauce was the perfect complement. My chicken and sweet potato curry was subtly and perfectly seasoned. Don't believe the menu when it says it is a spicy item.
(5)Colin F.
I guess I am basing this review on the fact that the Vietnamese in the city is so much better, and cheaper. For county Vietnamese its not bad... I base all my reviews of a place on pho tai. Its the standard. If they have great pho everything else falls in line. Monsoon's pho is OK. Its kind of flat, not having the bright flavors my favorite truc lam has. It is also pricey. 9 bucks for a bowl of pho, pretty ridiculous. Service is OK. The interior is really nice. Maybe I will return if I win the lottery.
(2)Christy A.
Super pleasant! Super fast! Super delicious! Please be advised, the menu is huge and difficult to read but the staff is happy to decipher. There is a gorgeous bar, flat screen television and plenty of seating inside. I recommend starting and finishing with an order of Shrimp Spring Rolls. The Chicken Curry and Shrimp Pad Thai are also superb. I'm not sure where you can go wrong with such an extensive menu; I haven't been misled yet. Going back ASAP for some Pho!
(5)Jason U.
Way too expensive in comparison to other places in town. Pho is OK and at least 2.00 more than anywhere else I've been. I didn't order off the menu I just told the waitress I wanted pho with beef and meatballs. It cost me $11. I was charged $2 for the meatballs. What are you guys thinking? $18 for pho and spring rolls. I will say that the spring rolls are really good. Very fresh and the sauces are killer. I would come here all the time if they adjusted their prices to fall in line with everybody else in town. Too bad.
(3)Mel A.
I found myself checking this place out, thanks to a random conversation at ISC over a week ago! Anyway, the place is fairly easy to find as a part of a strip mall right across Nordstrom Rack on Manchester. When I came in, the place was not busy at all. The only personnel who was not in the kitchen greeted and seated me at a table and was so nice. He gave me some time to look over the menu which had some funky font. So I ended up ordering a hu tiu which was a rice/egg noodle soup with shrimp, squid, pork, and quail eggs. This bowl of soup was served with some fresh greens, beansprouts, a couple slices of jalapeno and a small lime wedge. Usually, when I have a pho I squeeze the lime onto the soup because it enhances the flavor but this time I did not. I wanted to try their soup without any flavor enhancements. The soup was very good. It had a very unique flavor compared to the other Vietnamese places I have been to. They gave me so much protein in the bowl of soup (several large shrimp, good-sized pork slices, 2 quail eggs, and quite a few pieces of sliced up squid -- well-worth the price). He even came by to check how I liked the soup. It was excellent! I also wanted to venture out of my comfort zone so I ordered a Vietnamese iced coffee. He brought me 2 glasses, one with a metallic device on top and was dripping coffee and the other just with some ice. I have never had it before so I googled it and according to the internet, the coffee is left to "bloom" in the metal filter and once it's done, you can stir in some condensed milk. He already had some condensed milk at the bottom so when he came back, I decided to shamelessly ask him. He was very helpful and told me to stir the milk and the coffee together once it stops dripping and then put some ice or pour it in the glass with ice. The iced coffee was quite delicious! It wasn't too sweet which was nice and it definitely helped me cool off after finishing my bowl of soup. Next time, I would love to try their spring rolls. The table next to mine ordered a few different kinds of appetizers and they all looked so good. I wish I could have tried them but I am definitely coming back!
(5)Denzel J.
I've been meaning to write a review of this restaurant for months and I'm finally getting to it due largely to the kindness and generosity of Nick, the restaurant owner. I first visited this wonderful establishment in early April of 2015 soon after dinner opening hours on a Thursday night at 5pm. I typically order to go, so I walked straight to the bar and was greeted by Nick. My favorite dishes to order at Vietnamese restaurants are vermicelli noodles with chicken or a hot steamy bowl of pho. Ended up going with the vermicelli (which I now pick up at least once every two weeks). During the wait Nick and I chatted about traveling, living in st louis vs nyc, and our jobs. The vermicelli was prepared in roughly 8 min and I made my way back home to enjoy the most flavorful and bountiful vermicelli I've yet to have in stl county. I have since become a repeat customer, and even brought my mother and grandmother when they visited from nyc in June of 2015. Nick was extremely kind and open when we arrived. He offered suggestions ( the flash fried spinach is a must have) and treated us to a banana w/ ice cream desert. Since my first visit I have had the fortune to sample their pho, which is absolutely delicious. The broth is usually rich and earthy and you have the typical large abundance of veggies to throw in the bowl. Long story short this is hands down my favorite vietnamese restaurant in saint louis. You get the entire package here: delicious food, great service, an overall perfect dining experience. Thanks Nick!
(5)Ryan S.
Monsoon Bistro - Family operated with grandma's old recipes. It's located nearly front and center near a prominent intersection off of Manchester and 141. Atmosphere is very contemporary and upscale. Prices reflect that, but remain reasonable. Food - In double-digit visits, I have yet to find a bad meal. Tastes range from predominantly Vietnamese-based choices, some with a bit of Thai twist. I'm particularly fond of the Pho here - very aromatic and savory. The Vietnamese curry is also a good (albeit different) choice. As far as appetizers, I recommend the fresh Spring Rolls. Service/experience - Very friendly and...English-speaking. I want to specifically mention by (shortened) name, Nick. He's got a great memory and can point you to what your heart desires. Overall - Love everything about this place. Have and will continue to be a regular.
(5)Joe K.
I enjoy monsoon a lot and have been coming here for many years. Nick, the owner, is extremely courteous and tries to keep up with new and returning customers. The dining room is clean w simple, modern decor. Come here for the pho, (reg for sweet or spicy) chicken curry, fried pork chop, and their calamari which has flash fried spinach leaves. For dessert, get the rice cake a la mode (ice cream on top) or the fried banana. Their prices have gone up over the last 6 years which is unfortunate but I still make time and $ to go. For 97% of the time, the food is consistent.
(4)Chris H.
While Filipino food will always remain my most favorite of Asian cooking, can I get a Hello & Amen for Vietnamese! Had it for the first time while on a 3 week training stint in St. Louis. The Cari Ga was simply the best curry dish I have ever eaten (sorry Thai Food). I found myself wanting to lick the plate to get every ounce of that delicious sauce unto my tongue & into my belly. I only wish I wasn't on a 45 minute lunch break & could have tried some spring rolls of some kind.
(4)Tami P.
Great food with fresh ingredients for an everyday price. My favorite is the chicken/pork/shrimp crepes with fresh basil, mint, sprouts, side of thin sweet and sour sauce with iced Vietnamese coffee or sparkling lemonade - try it and you'll be a return customer too. I've tried a couple curry dishes, steak, noodles bowls/soup spring rolls, salad's...it's all a delight! My kids adore their fried rice and the soothing atmosphere. We are usually greeted and served by one of the owners. They know us, our favorite orders, and ask about my kids when one of them aren't present. We look forward to continue being long-term repeat customers!
(5)Muja B.
Great food and service. Had the vegeterian spring rolls and vermicelli salad, both delicious. A little bit pricier than I like but overall a great place in west county for Vietnamese food.
(4)KelLyn A.
I've been here several times over the past two years and I have never been disappointed. The food is absolutely delicious and the service is flawless. I've tried several things on their menu, but my favorite is probably the cari ga. Soooo good!
(5)Brian M.
I have been coming to Monsoon for over 5 years and I have to admit that does not get much better than this. The service and food have been consistent, the only problem I have is that aside from being so close to my office it is still a long ways from home, so I cannot say that I have ever had dinner here but if the service is anything like it is at lunch you will not be disappointed. The service and staff are amazing, very friendly and they do their best to get the food out to you quickly all while cooking each dish fresh using some high quality ingredients. As far as the food goes it is top notch, I always opt for the Spicy Lemongrass with Chicken; it is served with an amazing spicy sauce that is just perfect however I usually ask for extra spicy which is not a problem. Overall if you are in the area, I highly recommend Monsoon for their great service, great atmosphere, and great food.
(5)Shannon W.
You'd never tell from the outside of this place what you're walking into. The food is great here. Fresh, made to order. Wonderful people too! The chicken is so tender. Shrimp rolls with peanut sauce is very good, and different! Worth a try, they have a martini and wine menu too. Wide choices of protein per each menu item, meat selection, veg, or tofu. Nice variety. I'm trying the Chilean sea bass next time.
(5)Patt C.
What a delightful destination for a UYE! Thanks, Brian, for setting this up and selecting such a lovely restaurant!! I got shrimp spring rolls with peanut sauce for appetizer ($7). I've never had them before and didn't know how large they would be. There were two, and they were each six inches long. (Yes, I measured.) Each was full of lettuce, rice and three shrimp. The peanut sauce didn't taste too strongly of peanut. Reminded me of soy sauce. Very tasty. For entrée, I got the pork with Asian broccoli, snow peas, carrot and mushroom, and served with rice ($12). It was in a huge vessel, and the rice was a beautifully molded mound. Absolutely delicious with a wonderful sauce, well-blended flavors and very fresh vegetables. Service was very friendly and attentive. The décor is very clean and minimalistic, and the wall colors are stunning. My two to-go vessels included one spring roll with dipping sauce in a separate container, and more than half of my entrée.
(4)Andy K.
Ordered Cari Ga as takeout, was amazing. Really enjoyed it. Also the bartender was exceptionally friendly. Made me feel very welcome. Will definitely be back
(5)Jessica S.
Had the crepe and the "fries" and they were not that great at all. The guy that i was with ordered the Pho and actually got the wrong pho. I wasn't impressed I have for sure had better food around the St. Louis area. The waiter was friendly but food was not enough to make me go back.
(2)Ben S.
Went there for our first UYE and unfortunately we were horribly late. Life simply got in the way and Brian and Patt...we're sorry. That said, thanks for hanging out with us! It made the meal even more enjoyable. The food was really, good! I had a lot of difficulty with the font they used for the names of their menu items so I'm not really sure what it was called. I can report the description: "halong bay shrimp - wok seared shrimp with garlic and scallions in a special sauce served with rice." It was really flavorful without being spicy (it would have been fine with me if it had been spicy but alas, it wasn't). Good-sized shrimp in a sauce that had an orange hue to it and a lot of very pleasant lemongrass and scallion flavor. The wife went for a big bowl with a lot of stuff in it. I tried two bites and liked it but preferred what I ordered. I'm sure she will write about her's as well. I really wanted another flavor so I ordered up some grilled shrimp spring rolls. They were pretty amazing! The combination of shrimp and vermicelli along with some basil in these things was amazing. Add a spoonful of their peanut sauce and they were heavenly and the EXACT right flavor that I sought. It is worth noting that we are not big fans of Vietnamese cuisine. So much so that I don't know that I could name the year of our last meal at a Vietnamese restaurant. That said, this review started with 4 stars but ended with 5 after I mentally replayed the meal. I think we are likely to not only go back to this place but even try other Vietnamese restaurants in the coming months.
(5)Charleen S.
Had a great dinner last night at the UYE! I can't speak to authenticity, but I know what I like and this was it... Had the waitress' favorite dish - a big bowl of vermicelli noodles, cucumbers, mixed greens, pickled radish, chicken, and many more things. Served with a little bowl of sauce. Had no idea what to do with it so I dumped the sauce on it and mixed it all up. The chicken was perfectly cooked and delicious. Worked out well - it was like a surprise in every bite. Also tried a pot sticker and a grilled shrimp spring roll and enjoyed both. Friendly fast service and tasty food! I will crave this dish and don't know anywhere else I can get anything like it so I'll be back.
(4)Tony R.
Had the spicy tofu and was delighted to find real Chinese broccoli in the dish. The tofu was cooked nicely an the vegetables were fresh and not over cooked. The rice was ok. The sauce was pretty mild and too thick. Still, this place is pretty good.
(3)Sarah W.
I'm so glad I discovered Monsoon on Yelp!!! The food at this place is delicious, and everything seems so fresh. Normally I wouldn't touch tofu with a 10-foot pole, but the tofu at Monsoon just melts in my mouth. I always order the vegetarian spring rolls...you get two of them, and they come with the best peanut sauce I've ever had. My favorite entree is the zen tofu...the black bean sauce is light but very flavorful, the vegetables are crisp and fresh, and like I said the tofu melts in my mouth. I have also discovered a new favorite beer here called Saigon. The atmosphere is nice...not overly crowded or loud...and the owner/staff are always friendly. I have already recommended this place to several of my friends...I hope they love it just as much as I do!
(5)Chelsea P.
Craving pad Thai and not sure where to go in our new(ish) neighborhood, we found this place on yelp and decided to give it a try. We ordered to-go on a Friday night at about 5:30. The restaurant was incredibly clean and looked to be very well taken care of. We sat at the bar and my husband ordered a Korean beer called Hitt ( i think that's how it was spelled). He said it was really good. While we sat and looked over the menu we asked the young man working probably about 20 different questions, and he answered each of them honestly and with a smile. Told us his favorites and which direction we should go with our ordering. He actually did such a great job we ordered 3 entrees and an appetizer for two people. We ordered the chicken curry, chicken pad Thai, and lemongrass chicken, with two veggie spring rolls. Everything was delicious. I LOVED the curry and pad Thai. The lemongrass chicken was pretty good as well. Since we had an insane amount of food, we heated it up and ate the curry and pad Thai for dinner the next night as well, and they were just as good reheated. Everyone working seemed very friendly and the food was really good. I would definitely recommend checking it out if you're in the area. We'll for sure be back!
(4)Cece A.
I eat at this place because it is the only Vietnamese restaurant near my apt. (the next closest one is about 25 min away) Until, one day I found a piece of HAIR (which was NOT mine) on my pork chop, which is a shame because their best dish is that grilled pork chop with shredded pork and egg. I had gotten it to go and eaten most of it, when I saw that one piece of hair resting on the bone. So since I had already finished most of the meal it seemed pointless to call them. Their pho is just okay. the pho soup is similar to Mai Lee's (too greasy and too much MSG). Price is more than your other viet restaurants here. My vietnamese friends won't even go here because they say the price is insane for viet food. (Apparently pho is like a buck in vietnam) If it wasn't for that damn hair, I would say to check this place out for their grilled pork chop.
(2)Rick M.
I can't believe I hadn't reviewed Monsoon. We've been coming here for years. Oh well here goes. If you live in west county and don't want to travel to U City for Vietnamese food you should come here. The Pho is terrific as are almost every other dish they offer. Lunch is just as good as dinner. The wait staff is friendly, knowledgable and willing to adjust the level of heat according to your taste. If you've never eaten Vietnamese before but like Asian food give Monsoon a try. You'll be glad you did.
(4)Jessica S.
Monsoon is a great way to put some ethnic variety into your West County dining experience. I've been a few times and always found it to be pretty good, though the atmosphere is a little more elevated than favorites like Banh Mi So and Lemongrass on South Grand. Their hipness is reflected in the elevated prices, too: it's not cheap. My bf orders the "shaking beef" every time, having decided it was their best dish. I've sampled several items and found them all to be quite tasty. I like coming here when I feel like "Asian," but Chinese just doesn't sound right and and a long drive into the city isn't appealing.
(4)Jessica C.
A hidden West County gem. And I really mean hidden. It's at the end of a strip mall, tucked next to a Gamestop. Clearly I'm late to the game on this one, since this place was about 3/4 full. At 7:30PM. On a Wednesday night. Well, this City Girl found herself in the area visiting a friend. She and her husband are expecting a baby soon and left the City for the safety and, let's face it, boredom, of the suburbs. When I suggested we go to dinner near her, she said, "Oh why bother, there's nothing out here but chain restaurants!" Well well, I thought, the perfect time to whip out my cell phone to check the Yelp App. My attention was immediately drawn to Monsoon because of the high ratings. Since it was only a few miles away we headed over. The first thing we noticed was the gorgeous decor. This place is really, really well decorated. And not only is it well decorated, but the colorful walls and warm lighting make for a very nice ambiance. This was not at all what I would have expected from a restaurant in a strip mall. When our server came over (after we spent a good five minutes perusing the very thorough menu) we told him we wanted our entrees extra spicy because my friend is trying everything she can to go into labor soon (she's due in about five minutes, no joke). The server paused for a moment and asked us, "Would you like to know our tradition in Vietnam?" Intrigued, we said, "Sure!" He leaned in and said, "Eat the green papaya. It makes the baby come faster. We have it here on the menu." What the heck, we thought, and changed our appetizer order to the Green Papaya Salad. About two minutes later our server hurried back to our table. He had a look of serious concern on his face. Looking sideways at my friend's swollen belly, he informed us that he told the chef of my friend's "condition" and that the chef was refusing to cook us extra spicy food. "It's not good for the baby!", our server concluded. Bemused, I said, "Can we have it regular spicy then?" "Oh yes, yes yes, I will tell the chef that!" And off our server went. In a few minutes our green papaya salad arrived. What. A. Treat. I don't know if I've ever had a salad quite like that before, but I'd definitely order it again. I'm kind of at a loss to describe it (check out my photo) but I can say that it was crunchy, sweet, acidic, and hot. Just as we were finishing our appetizer, our entrees arrived. I had the Monsoon Vegetables and Tofu and my friend had the Chicken Curry. Both were delicious. I particularly enjoyed the wide variety of vegetables in my dish (lots of green crunchy things always makes me happy). My friend's curry was well spiced and sweet with coconut milk. Overall we were both very satisfied. I can say, however, that neither one of our dishes was very spicy. That the chef probably spared us a real level of spice out of a genuine concern for my friend's unborn child is, in my opinion, very sweet and thoughtful. I look forward to coming back here (without anyone obviously pregnant) to try this food again!
(5)Jane D.
Grilled shrimp and grilled beef spring rolls were really delicious, generously sized with lots of fresh herbs. My only complaint was the peanut sauce was too sweet. The wait staff was excellent, very attentive and helpful. We also enjoyed the Chinese broccoli and sugar snap peas with tofu in black bean sauce, very tasty.
(5)Beth B.
Not sure why it took me so long to come back to Monsoon, but all the good reviews have placed it firmly at the top of my list. I was here a couple years back, but don't really remember much about it, other than I recall liking it. Mr. Beth and I went here on a Friday evening, looking for a quiet, laid back dinner close to home. And we found it! For 8:15 on a Friday night, the place was empty, but that was exactly what we were looking for. The decor at Monsoon is a little odd - there is an Asian flair, but it's more modern than anything, with high ceilings and exposed duct work. I personally liked the modern look, although Mr. Beth thought it was somewhat confusing. Decor aside though, they have a really nice drink & menu selection. I started with the lychee martini, and it was delightful. They infuse vodka with lemongrass in house & it was lovely with the the sweetness of the lychee. Mr. Beth had a regular martini and it was well made. We ordered the shrimp spring rolls with sweet peanut dipping sauce (I can't really type the actual name of it!). They were a little surprising, because the lunch menu description is quite different for this same item - (shrimp salad rolls- fresh rolls filled with shrimp, lettuce, and mint served with peanut dipping sauce). Don't get me wrong, they were super refreshing & light, with a divine sauce, but it wasn't exactly what we were expecting. We were both in the mood for seafood, but I'm a little weird about eating seafood at places I've never been before. Upon interrogation, I was informed that their seafood shipment comes on Thursdays, so I felt like we'd be OK. I had the lemongrass sea bass (pan seared chilean sea bass with lemongrass and chili pepper served with sweet potato straws, rice and lime sauce). The fish was really fresh, perfectly cooked and had a nice kick to it, and it was served on a bed of fried spinach. While I didn't love the potato straws, they did mix well with the fish, spinach & rice. Mr. Beth ordered the wok seared seafood, broccoli, carrot, mushroom over crispy noodles. It was a really interesting presentation with all the seafood & veggies perched on top of a big 'nest' of noodles. Once the noodles were broken up & soaked into the sauce in the bottom, the combination was really delicious. It had calamari, scallops & shrimp and all the seafood was very fresh. At any rate, we both ate every bite - everything was just so good and LIGHT. We both felt great after dinner, instead of weighed down & sleepy. I love that most dishes offer variation in protein options (beef, pork, shrimp, tofu, eggplant, etc), so this would be an excellent option for vegetarians. Service was great, though we did have an odd dirty appetizer plate that remaining on the table from start to finish. Not sure why it was never removed, but it wasn't really a problem, per se. I'll be the first to admit that I'm certainly no Vietnamese food aficionado, so I can't really compare it to other places throughout St. Louis. However, for a west county restaurant, it was very impressive & seemed pretty authentic. Monsoon will be great for future date nights and/or takeout.
(4)Tricia R.
Good Vietnamese restaurant in West County, which is good news so I don't need to trek back into Brentwood or Grand for some pho. Pricier, but maybe bc it doesn't have much competition out here. 1) Pho was good - more like Mai Lee's than Pho Grand (i.e. less star anise flavor), which is great bc I hate when the star anise is overpowering everything else. 2) The potstickers were pretty good, esp considering we ordered them as carryout and they were still decent after sitting in a styrofoam box for a while. P.S. These are not those super-thick doughy potstickers you get at those Americanized Chinese carryout places (thank god). 3) The fried rice was meh. I personally don't usually order fried rice at Viet restaurants, but the hubby always tries to stick with something "safe". Decent, but not great. Good location for us, so we'll def be back.
(4)Jay F.
Best Pho in St. Louis by far. I am a huge fan of Mai Lee, and this is better. Everything is fresh and the owner is very accommodating. He cares about each customer. You must check this place out!!
(5)Victoria V.
Thank God this place has made it! Close to home, not expensive (depending on what you order) and it consistently good. The iced coffee is delicious. Shaking beef is a family member's fave, mine is the shrimp with curry. (yellow) Clean, modern decor.
(4)Duncan M.
Probably the best Vietnamese place I have ever been too. Forgot about this place for a while and recently went back, better then I remembered. The ingredients are really fresh, the staff is fantastic, and it moves quick, so if you are in a rush, you can easily get in and out in no time. Couple things to point out, if you like things spicy, don't be afraid to ask, and the banana rolls are killer!
(5)Craig B.
Walking in... wow, this place smells amazing. Great first impression and it's decorated nicely for a strip mall. I had the Xa Ot (with shrimp) lunch entree. For $11, it didn't seem like very good value. Only 6 shrimp, albeit very good, and a scoop of rice. I feel like even a veggie or other side would make this meal a lot more interesting. It has a "spicy" warning next to the dish. I thought the level of spice was very reasonable. Enough to open the sinuses a bit without going over-board. I had a very positive first impression of this place, but for a random weekday lunch, there is probably better value elsewhere. I will be back to try some other items!
(4)Gregory P.
I have been to this restaurant a number of times over the years and I am a fan, but my lunch on this occasion was mildly disappointing. I ordered the spicy lemongrass with shrimp. The sauce was wonderful and I sopped up every bit with the rice. The shrimp were a little rubbery and tough. There were only six shrimp on the plate so I didn't feel that reflected a good value $11 for lunch. Yet, I was full and sated when I left.
(4)Tasha K.
YUMMY!!! LOVE IT. There is a lot of great Vietnamese food in St. Louis. (i.e.. check out South City. duh!) but this one's in your own backyard; no need to make the drive downtown. That's always nice. The prices are a bit more than the South City spots but for one, you live in West Fucking County. You can afford the $3-4 increase in food price. Two, this place takes Vietnamese way up a notch, to gourmet levels, minus the pretentious attitude and ambiance. I recommend the Sizzling Saigon Crepe (see my take-out pic), the calamari, and of course the spring rolls (beef is best) for apps. I often get the crepe (which is more like an omlet-crepe hybrid) for an entree b/c its full of yummy protiens and served w/ their delish lime sauce. For an entree GET THE CURRY for sure. Get it with whatever protein or veggies you want. You will not be sorry. There is something so special about Vietnamese curry. It's creamy, comforting, yet light tasting. You will fall in love. I love all ethnic curries but Vietnamese is my fav. I ask them to make mine spicy and it's divine. I've tried many other items and they were all good. You can't really go wrong here I don't live in St. Louis anymore but I come back often to visit family. Last time I was there it was BYOB which is nothing short of AWESOME. My girl friends and I often get together w/ a few bottles of wine and nosh out. Makes for a great local night. Would be a great date spot too.
(5)Lauren S.
I have been here several times because it is so close to my house. However, the pho is consistently bland. We are never greeted when we walk in and the service seems poor overall. I recommend a drive to the city if you want better Vietnamese food.
(2)Sheryl K.
I am SO stoked that this place is 15 minutes away from my house (and across the street from ULTA haha)! It definitely beats 30 minutes in traffic!! Off of 141, I was very skeptical of Monsoon just because of the "Bistro" tid bit in the title, but geez evidently I was too quick to judge. Their vibrant decor, linen table cloths, and super cute bar itself seduced me to come inside, especially on a very empty stomach. Briefly overlooking their menu you'll notice that they offer rice plates, pho noodle, Vietnamese crepes, vegetarian dishes, soups/salads...you get the picture right? My server was a very hospitable lady who frequented my table and my glass was never empty. Although I can't recommend the pho yet (didn't order it) I'm sure it would not disappoint considering that everything I tried on this particular day was perfect. Convenient location if you don't want to drive towards the city. I could definitely get used to this place :]
(4)S L.
Have been coming here for years. The food is fresh & consistently delicious! Their spring rolls are a great way to start the meal.
(5)Charles D.
We find this place the best in West County for Asian. The food choices, quality, and service are outstanding
(5)