Green Leaf Vietnamese Restaurant
418 8th Ave S, Seattle, WA, 98104
Green Leaf Vietnamese Restaurant Menu
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Address :
418 8th Ave S
Seattle, WA, 98104 - Phone (206) 340-1388
- Website https://greenleaftaste.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Pai P.
Green Leaf is a fantastic restaurant. Some people compare it as the little sibling to Tamarind Tree. While they share similarities of nice dine ware and a comforting decor -- the dollar investment into the fine dining experience is far less than Tamarind Tree -- which is a good thing. Their investment is apparent in the food and speedy service. While I've had amazing dishes here, I've also had so-so dishes as well. You really have to know what's good here. So what's good? Here's my opinion. fresh spring roll - fried rolled wonton adds that crisp. near perfect sauce. lemongrass tofu - even meat eaters will agree it's good. lemongrass eggplant - get it. crepes - eat right away. and bring people to help you. fried duck noodle soup - very comforting. most vermicelli dishes - it's not any one thing that stands out, but the little things and attention to detail that work together.
(4)John H.
BEST viet food in Seattle area, hands down. I hate giving these such a great review, cuz it means theyll be so busy ill never get another table. =) The springs rolls are amazing, and the vermicelli was perfect. they do a crunchy fried rice noodle to add texture that is superb. Very busy but great service and just wonderful food. Will definitely go back next time in ID.
(5)Chet F.
If you love Pho, this is the place to go. All of the food I have tried here is delicious. We have started eating here so much that my wife is embarrassed bc of how frequent we are. I personally think its great to support a local place that is doing well. I would highly recommend this place is you love good vietnamese food. The fresh spring rolls are very good as well as the vietnamese pancake. Enjoy, another one of my faves!
(4)Varun B.
First time I cam here, I wasn't super impressed, but last night I had the fried duck noodles. Absolutely delicious. Very reasonably priced, excellent portion size and the service is quite good. The place seems very full but there is always one table open somehow. Magical.
(4)Linh V.
I love green leaf for their spring rolls and bun mang vit. The spring rolls aren't like any other...it has fresh coconut shreds and a crispy fried wrapper inside for layers of texture! Everything else Is pretty top notch as well, like the grilled short ribs over rice, and lemongrass chicken with vermicelli noodles.They put effort into their presentation which makes eating even more enjoyable. The fried shallots they sprinkle on top of most of their dishes pretty much stole my heart (belly)....
(4)Carey T.
One of my favs in the city! I was introduced by a friend to this great little place. I dont think I would have ever ventured there on my own. It has a really non descript and unassuming storefront. The inside isnt fancy either, but what is fabulous is the food! I always take guest here! The food is always great! I love the dishes they servce everything on. The pretty presentation makes it even better! The fresh rolls are the best Ive EVER had! Beautifully presented and taste as good as they look! I also like the sweet potato shrimp appetizer. And I usually get the shredded pork and rice noodle salad. I forget the same on the menu, but its so yummy! It gets busy and crowded here so you know its good!
(4)YW T.
I am so livid that I am writing this review while sitting in the restaurant! I just found a f*in RAW shrimp in the middle of my salad!!! Does this mean they touch raw shrimp and then touch salad at the same time? The worst part is I already ate most of the salad! * ok, they just half redeemed themselves by comping our meal. I just hope I don't get food poisoning tonight! ** yep, i did get a mild case of food poisoning after all...
(2)Gail N.
My friend was craving Pho for dinner, so after turning to ol' faithful yelp again, we decided to give one of the "Top 10 Restaurants in Seattle 2009" a try. --AMBIANCE-- When we first stepped into this place, I was in awe of the decor: so fancy! All the tables/chairs are made to look like rickshaws (they were each delicately crafted out of wood with wheels) and the color of the place was very vibrant -- various different shades of green on each wall. The place was packed and full of mostly non-asian folks and just TOO fancy looking, so I was a bit skeptical of just how authentic this place could be. --FOOD-- We ordered 3 items: 1) Combo Vermicelli (noodles with shrimp, pork, chicken, and fried egg rolls). $9.50 2) Vermicelli with Grilled Beef wrapped around slices of lemon grass: $8.50ish -- Both vermicelli plates were incredibly fresh and tossed with truly tender meats. My grilled beef was so juicy and flavorful, and blended well with all of the other additional veggies, seasonings, and textures they had going on in the dish. Very very filling. Large portions! 3) Pho with flank steak: $7.50ish --The pho was A.OK. I'm not a pho expert, so I can't say for sure if it was on point exactly, but it tasted pretty good to me! Plus, the broth isn't as fatty tasting as most authentic vietnamese places tend to make them -- the meat in it was super lean looking, and I can certainly say their dishes seem to be a lot more healthier in general overall than most other places can serve up. -- Note: Only one size of pho you can get here. 4) Fried banana stick rice drizzled in coconut sauce, $4. -- Comes with 4 danty slices of steaming hot cooked banana wrapped with fried sticky rice and drenched in a very sacharine coconut sauce and garnished with toasty nuts and coconut shreds. Flavor is very rich and coconut-y, but was really hard to eat without spilling the contents out all over the place. (The plate is so small!). I lost too much of the good sauce =(, and I wish they gave you more banana! Overall Food Presentation: Very very very elegant. Not in your typical plain white bowl as most authentic vietnamese bowls tend to serve their dishes in. All of their plates/bowls are really colorful and modern looking. --VALUE/PRICE-- The portions are great, but compared to most vietnamese restaurants, it's definitely a bit pricer. But, I can certainly say that you're paying extra for certainly fresher ingredients and the ambiance. NOTE: The Spring Rolls (with shrimp and pork) are $5.95. (Most places I've been to sell them for no more than $4). --SERVCE-- Could be smilier and friendlier. The waitresses all look clean and neat (in vietnamese attire), but aren't really charming. Seems like they're just there to get the job done. --AUTHENTICITY-- Well they're certainly not using chicken broth for their pho, and you get all the basic garnishes (basil, bean sprouts, lime, fried garlic) with your side siricha + hoisin sauce...so...pretty decent!
(4)N S.
My husband has eaten here before and wanted me to taste their lotus root salad. I have never tasted lotus root before and also never knew that lotus roots could be edible. So we decided to eat here with a good friend of ours. As soon as we were seated,we had nice warm tea which was welcoming.We started our order first with Lotus Salad with steamed shrimp which was so good.Then tried out lot of different appetizers like vegetable spring roll,chicken skewer,Vietnamese pan cake with tofu.Their service was good and I din have to wait for long.All the dishes served were very fresh and juicy. By the time we tasted 5 different appetizers all 3 of us were full and skipped the entree. Some of the best Vietnamese appetizers I have ever had. We finally ended our meal with two yummy and light desserts.One was banana cake with coconut milk and the other one was flan cake.Both were just out of the world.Less on sugar. Although had only appetizers and desserts split between 3 people, I totally had the satisfaction of having a wonderful meal. After eating all this I still felt light and was totally satisfied with the portion too.Will surely visit this place again to try out their noodle soups. They looked great. You must try Vietnamese pancakes, lotus root salad, flan cake and banana cake on coconut milk if you visit this place. There is only street parking available for this restaurant so make sure there is no sea hawks game or UW game on that day because that makes your free parking chances impossible. The interior is not posh but definitely lot better than other Vietnamese restaurants in town.
(5)Jonathan B.
Food is great and fresh. Try the crepe and the noodle bowl with the egg rolls and chicken. This is the best vietnamese food I've had. I did not try the pho, and I probably won't because when I go back I have to get the crepe, it's that good. I've the same dishes other places and for cheaper prices, but this is the best and is worth it.
(5)June N.
If my significant other didn't love this place, I probably wouldn't ever go to Green Leaf. But as that isn't the case, I find myself coming here a lot. It's not that I don't like Vietnamese food. I really enjoy it! It's just that as an Asian, I prefer other Asian foods over Vietnamese. With that said, I've had nothing but excellent meals here. From the Pho, to the Bun, and the rice dishes. Everything was as it should be. My wife seems to be addicted to the Pork Bun dish. I typically order the combo pho but am now trying to branch out to different things to see what's out there. Next time I'll have to try the pancake thing that everyone seems to be talking about. Spring or egg rolls are also delicious and very fresh. Everything is very affordable and like I said, always had a great meal here. It's within walking distance from home and we usually beat the dinner time rush. Try to get there before 6 so you won't have to wait.
(4)Tom B.
I love Tamarind Tree and I can't imagine not being able to go there or here. Probably my two favorite Vietnamese places in town. GL has the best Vietnamese pancakes and pork spring rolls in town. The Seven Courses of Beef really is a deeply entertaining and satisfying meal. The ambience is nice, the place is clean, efficient, friendly, well-priced, and beautifully run. I'll be back again and again.
(5)Zachary Sam Z.
A friend and I went here because of the high Yelp reviews, and it definitely didn't disappoint. So many tasty things on the menu, and everything was really yummy. I apparently managed to find the one menu item that white people don't typically order. How could I tell? Here's how ordering went down: E: "I'll have the #45." Waitress: "Ah, the vermicelli! Good choice." Me: "And I'll have the #40." Waitress: "... The... 40?" Me: "The Anchovery?" Waitress (after looking in the menu): Ah, right. Hm. And then when a different waiter brought our food, he took time to explain to me that while the soup is very good (and one of his favorites), it's very fishy tasting. It was my last warning. Turn back now, or eat the soup. But really, I knew what I was getting into, and it was really delicious. A fishy tasting broth is nothing that three scoops of the spicy stuff at the table can't overpower. (Note to self: Two scoops will suffice next time.) I actually wanted to see more protein (for example, there were only two prawns in the dish), but since there was such variety (fish, prawns, squid, etc.) I guess it was OK. The spring roll was also great as an appetizer. I was surprised by the different textures: Normally, I'm not used to a spring roll being crunchy, so it was a refreshing change. I liked it a lot! I'm slowly exploring more of the International District, but this place is an early favorite.
(5)Hai Yen N.
Mind-blowingly delicious. Orgasmically good. I was dying with pleasure. I think that pretty much sums it up. For those that want a few more details: I ordered bun rieu (rice noodles in a crab/shrimp broth). I was blown away by the flavors and the presentation, it came in a bowl as big as my head brimming with large, plump shrimp and swirls of red chili oil. I also ordered the beef salad to start and that was a delicious combination of tender beef, crispy cabbage, tangy dressing and crunchy pungent fried shallots. Minus one star for the cramped space and annoying loud thump every time the door is opened and then slammed shut by an odd vacuum that exists here. I was told the upstairs has a better atmosphere than downstairs but when I arrived around 6p on a Friday, it was already filled up. Fifteen minutes later, the downstairs was also filled up and there was a line. This place is damn popular and for good reason.
(4)Nina N.
Can this place be bad? freaking a dude no!!! So I came here on a whime to grab some pho, and banh canh to go... and freaking a I see my sister from california in here!! wtf I knew she was in town ( the next day ) but I didn't think she'd be in this restaurant hahahaha ohhh I am telling my mom!!!! hahahaha It was hilarious, and it shows that even in the o.c. nothing is better than our home restaurants we like so much. don't be affraid of the escargot, and the vietnamese crepe ( banh xeo ) IT'S DELICOUS!!!!
(5)Jenny D.
My mother came here with my dad and convinced me to try it out. Since I work nearby, I walked up the street and ordered her recommendation--the pork vermicelli. Mind you, I don't like vermicelli. I don't like noodles that aren't hand-shaven and thick or pho noodles. Yet this place impressed me. Food: Pork was excellent (what IS in that viet marinade? I must crack the secret)--succulent and juicy. The vermicelli noodles were nicely warmed and not too slippery. Good amount of veggies on the side and a light, slightly sour sauce to mix it all together. Service: This place is dark, crowded and not very fun to wait around for takeout. I stood in front of the bathroom the entire time and kept being bumped into by the waiters (who were bumping into themselves). Oh well. It also took FOREVER for my food to come out. Drink: I got my favorite Vietnamese iced coffee and my cup was 95% ice, 5% coffee. How disappointing for a drink costing $3.50. Will not purchase again. Bottom line: Come here for food (heard the spring rolls are excellent), not for drinks or service or ambiance.
(4)Kimberley D.
Delicious. The vegetarian pancake was neat and different from what I was expecting - a thick pancake filled with tofu and sprouts which you then fill with basil and lettuce and dip in a tasty sauce. Vegetarian vermicelli was also delicious and everything was fresh and well cooked. Service was quick and attentive even though it was a Friday night and they were very busy. We got a table immediately and food moments after sitting down. I tried an egg soda and my boyfriend had the tamarind soda. Both were a little intense for my tastes - I couldn't finish a whole one. But they were interesting. The egg soda apparently is an egg, seltzer water, and condensed sweetened milk. It sounds odd but it's sweet and tasty. We sat upstairs and I slammed my hand painfully between the thick wooden nautical chair and the wooden table. Be careful when you're scooting them in and don't have your hand too close to the intersection! My only gripe was the long black hair wadded up in my food. It wasn't enough to keep me from eating it but it detracted a bit from the awesomeness.
(4)Steph C.
Always good. My favorite springs rolls - ever. They spoil me for all other spring rolls. I love the tiny roll of fried rice paper wrapper inside that adds that special cruNCH when I bite into it. Non mushy, fresh, great flavor.. Just the perfect roll! And it comes out super fast, so I always get this to abate my hunger as I pore over their menu. Always. The sea bass was amazing! Tender, flaky fish with just a great flavor and served with veggies. I would pay the 11-13 bucks here any day - vs the $26+ a place like mcCormick's would charge for eh ok fish. SO SO good. Please get this. All their vermicelli dishes are great as well. OH! And order the fresh lemonade. I LOVE viet fresh lemonade - it's so unlike the sugar-saturated american lemonade. They make it with a bit of club soda or sprite.. and it's just heaven with their dishes. Free hot tea! And they have little space heaters so it's nice and cozy.
(5)Jay C.
its worth the trip off the hill!!
(5)Lori M.
um. What's with the wagon wheel furniture? It's really heavy, hard to move, and shuffle past in the crowded upstairs area. Came here with a group, and the only thing we kind of liked was the duck salad. The grilled meats were horribly disappointing (and normally it's like a trademark of Vietnamese cuisine). They just weren't flavorful or tender. The shrimp dish we got also was kinda icky and bland. Go to Tamarind Tree or Long Provincial instead.
(1)Denea Y.
Ridiculously tasty food and attentive (though impersonal, which I don't mind) service, making it one of my top 5 Seattle restaurants, hands down. You must order the fresh spring rolls, which have a crispy wonton strip inside for a nice crunch. Get the fried duck soup, too. Drooool.
(5)Betty D.
Green Leaf you are right up there with Tamarind Tree! Had a nice family dinner here. I've never been before and was excited to try it out since I've heard great things about it. Don't like the building that it was in fool you.... The waitresses were really friendly. I stared at the menu for awhile overwhelmed with the food. I was so hungry everything looked good! Their Com Suon was good. Portions were enough to get me full. Duck Soup was really tasty and I even ordered it to go for my dad. The banh xeo was shared and good thing too because it was huge. The spring rolls were really yummy and I think we had like 4 orders of them. I can now take my parents here and know that they would approve. They are a stickler for good, authentic Vietnamese food and I think they won't be disappointed.
(5)Helen K.
I don't think it's bad, but it wasn't great. I was expecting it to be wonderfuland I was like really? It was really full I don't know if that's suppose to indicate the quality of food. I think I have to go back for a few other dishes to see what everyone is talking about. I had the snails that was recommended and my friend got the curried chicken noodle dish. It was all just so-so.
(2)Martin D.
This is hands down the best Vietnamese restaurant I have ever been to and I'm eat Vietnamese at least 3 times a week. Also, I waited 4 months to finally post this review and my mouth is still watering just thinking about Green Leaf. My friend, actually used to be friend and I visited this place and WOW. We feasted. Go. Go again. And then... return! it is really that good. A bit higher priced than other Vietnamese restaurants but the menu is much more complete and the ingredients were on point.
(5)H T.
A friend of mine who's in the know of all the great Vietnamese restaurants in Seattle brought me here. She ordered in Vietnamese so I'm not sure exactly what we had. All I can say is that we had a huge assortment of tasty vegetarian dishes with some really yummy tofu. There's not to much frills here (keeps prices down), so be sure you're just coming for some good food and not expecting much more.
(4)Yumiko K.
I love LOVE their spicy beef noodle soup. Everything I've tried there has been fantastic. Everyone who works there is friendly and courteous.
(5)Henry K.
the finest....best Vietnamese restaurant in downtown Seattle. Just about everything I ordered here are always good..with the right taste, the happy servers, but the only small problem is that its pretty tiny place but I don't mind it. Try the Vietnames Crepe...the best!!!
(5)Perry H.
Don't be confused by the other Green Leaf in town - this is the one to be sure and not miss. It's certainly unassuming from the outside, but don't let that run you off. There are daily specials along with a massive menu from pho to noodle bowls and entrees. I agree with previous reviewers - the soups were fantastic. I had a Shrimp Sour Soup which was on the specials board. This place is also a great value and healthy!
(4)John P.
Seems like every things that needs to be said about Green Leaf has already been said, so I won't bored you by repeating... With that said, I've been going here since '06 and it is by far my favorite Vietnamese - after my mother in-law's cooking, that is. I also though it was really cool to see a celebrity chef on a semi-recent trip to Green Leaf. We sat next to Eric Ripert, a familiar figure for foodies. I was too chicken to interrupt him and say anything, but apparently he was in town for a few days and he choose to dine out there. Wow, what an endorsement to what we already know. Hmmm... getting hungry.
(5)Jerry M.
The service was crazy. We did have 13 at our table. The food came one dish at a time and was put in one spot at the table. We had to guess who's dish it was. The food was good. We were never asked if we wanted water and it took 30 minutes to get a beer. Overall the food at other tables looked better than ours so maybe it takes a few visits to find what's best on the menu.
(3)Jeremy M.
DISCLAIMER: The food and service really deserves a 4 star, but due to the fact we were sat right next to the door and the heater we shifted towards was shifted away and we were FREEZING!!! You know that philosophy where you say a Chinese restaurant must be good when you see a lot of Chinese people in there, yeah in this Vietnamese restaurant a hole in a wall was nothing like that! It was filled with Caucasian people! The price of pho really almost took my breath away since I am acustomed to 5 or 6 bucks for a large bowl rather than 8! I mean yeah really it's only couple dollars, but still I mean would you pay 3 bucks for a dollar jumbo jack? The portion I can say was quite large, but at first taste of the broth without added ingredient tasted rather plain to me so without the doubt adding hoisin sauce and hot sauce really made it much better and their noodle were awesome! They tasted almost like a higher grade of rice noodle being that they were chewier and not over cooked and soggy like some places I've had it. The spring roll was nicely wrapped and presented on a small dish with a very distinct peanut sauce, none like I ever had. Overall I enjoyed my dinner here, but it is a little more pricey then some other places I frequent.
(3)Sheryl P.
We ended up eating at Green Leaf by default. Our favorite pho place (Pho Bac) was about to close and we were in a desperate need for a pho fix. So I yelped a pho restaurant and came to Green Leaf due to the reviews. Yes, the restaurant is small and yes, the tables and chairs are large for the small dining area. However, the pho was delicious. Thumbs up on that! My husband isn't a huge fan of the spring rolls but decided to give these a try. He really liked it and I think that is partly due to the crunchy addition in the middle of the rolls. We think they are fried lumpia wrappers or something like that and then rolled inside. Either way, they were good. The peanut sauce was not as thick as I am used to but nonetheless still good. Would definitely eat here again.
(5)Christine B.
FAAANNNNTASTIC duck noodle soup! Mmmmm...every time I come home to Seattle from LA I make it a point to stop by at some time for a meal here. Everything is fresh and flavorful - honestly I'd recommend everything on the menu! I especially like their bun thit nuong (grilled pork)...just thinking about it is making me hungry. 5 stars, well deserved!
(5)Katie A.
I honestly don't recall when I've had Vietnamese food this good. Seriously, the big a** bowl of Vermicelli with beef and lemongrass wrapped in pork... big BIG ups for that one. The flavor of the beef and pork with the lemongrass was not overpowering and it was perfectly flavored. The papaya sticks and pickled carrots in the dish were lovely as well. The prices- cheap. The service- fast. The waitstaff- nice. The atmosphere- good. The only problem I had is that I think they use msg. Msg and I don't get along and I don't feel well after I consume the stuff... Which is sad b/c I really LOVED my dish. Even the fortune cookies taste better here, I swear. So please, go... GO TO GREEN LEAF if you haven't yet and don't have issues with msg. It is every bit as wonderful as all the glowing reviews and the two Yelp Stickers on the window say it is (Yes, they've got two for some reason). You will not be disappointed. My only disappointment with last night was with myself. I need to have a talk with me. I really need to toughen up.
(4)Nanako E.
Got the combo rice vermicelli (bun). Best I've had in Seattle by far. Comes with shrimp, grilled pork, chicken, and egg rolls. Price was decent as well. The meat to veggies to noodles proportion was perfect. Can't really say anything bad about this dish. The meats were marinated and grilled to perfection. The shrimp and pork spring rolls were also splendid. Best part was the dipping peanut sauce. Yum! Service was ok. Not very attentive when it came to refilling my water. But food came super fast! Which made me happy because I was pretty hungry. Yay! Will come back soon.
(5)Pete S.
Big fan, ordered the combo vermicelli and the egg noodles with Tofu. Very fresh and well done with lots of veggies and flavor. Very packed at lunch but staff moves quickly and they are hospitable and friendly. Will be coming back, probably off hours to avoid the crowds. You have to stand outside when you wait as its fairly small inside.
(4)Emily T.
I'll tell everyone what the general public apparently already knows, but took me a lot longer to catch onto... This place is delicious! Vietnamese food is DELICIOUS! For some reason I always thought I didn't care for Vietnamese food much. I blame it all on pho. Because... sorry to say it again... I just don't like pho that much! Luckily, though, the tide has turned and now I realize that I love Vietnamese and I love Green Leaf and I love wagon-wheel chairs! Yes, wagon-wheel chairs, they have those on the top floor (where we dined) and they are hilarious and awesome and HUGE and I could fit like four of myself into one. They were also playing holiday Muzak, which was a huge plus as far as I'm concerned. (Seriously.) Anyway, my friend and I ordered two appetizers and an entree to share... whoa it was waaaayyyyy too much food, we took a ton home. The crazy shrimp pancakes were a meal in themselves (and they come with a huge platter of fresh greens, sprouts, dipping sauce.. amazing), but we also went for fresh tofu veggie rolls (HUGE and so good!) and some "combo" noodles... what is the combo? We didn't know, but we decided to go for it. Turns out it's like every kind of meat, plus fried eggrolls, in delicious noodles and fresh greens! You just can't go wrong with a potpourri of meat! Then the best part, the check came to like $27. That's out of control for the mountain of food we got. It would have been more if we'd ordered drinks (they have beer & wine! yes!) but even so. Thank you, Green Leaf, for teaching me that I love Vietnamese food and I shouldn't let random pho places on Broadway permanently taint my opinion of this fresh, creative cuisine!
(4)Kim E.
Green Leaf has become my staple "go-to" place whenever I find myself in the ID wondering where to go eat. My "usual" order here is spring rolls, ice coffee and the combo vermicelli noodles. Pretty standard and super tasty. Especially love the crunchiness to their spring rolls, such a great idea! The prices aren't too bad as well, although there are definitely other Vietnamese restaurants that are cheaper. The place can also be a little cramped especially when it's super packed, I found that the smaller tables (the ones that only seat 2) can pretty much barely fit all of the food on it and you'll be constantly having to monitor your dishes so they don't go overboard. This is a great little place to get a good variety of Vietnamese food (and not just pho) at a decent price. It also gets bonus points because it's close enough to my work where I can walk down and take it to go.
(5)Justin P.
This is totally one of the shining stars in the International District! Prices are on the low, the Pho is consistently incredible and they have an extensive lineup of wonderfully crafted Vietnamese dishes (Fried duck noodle soup is awesome!). The restaurant itself is "cozy" but is well appointed with tasteful decorations and oddly hip modern tableware. However, it's still a tight squeeze in their space and I wouldn't recommend bringing a group bigger than 4 people. The staff is really friendly, very knowledgeable about their dishes and provide better service than most Seattle restaurants (shocker). I'm getting hungry just thinking about this place.....
(5)Andrew C.
Great food and service. Fresh pork rolls and pho were very good.
(4)Justin K.
Being vegan isn't always easy, praise Buddha for the Vietnamese and their cooking marvels. I've been to nearly all the Vietnamese restaurants here and this one is at the top of the list. Quick service and cheap eats add to the trifecta of good-quick-cheap, to quote Arrested Development "universe you've done it again!". I've only been here twice, but both times it was awesome, the vegetarian fried rice is awesome (just make sure you say no egg). This place rocks, and the people are friend (bonus).
(5)k w.
I am a regular here. Great food, inexpensive. Not quite sure why the furniture is a chunky nautical theme, but still love the place.
(4)Joseph S.
This, as far as I can tell, is the best Vietnamese restaurant in Seattle proper. How do I know you ask? I know because my girlfriend is Vietnamese and from Seattle. She took me here. Plus, my iPhone told me so... The combo Vermicelli is hella good. Like hella good. And their Vietnamese Pancake is straight up legit, no question. I wish I could have it right now. The bean sprouts are crispy just like the egg... Plus, they're three bean dessert is so good it'll get you some. That's real. Every time I get it for my girl, she hooks it up!!! The tea here isn't the usual jasmine that everyone in Seattle serves. I think it's an oolong if memory serves. I could be wrong, but it's not jasmine. If it's green, it's earthy. It's very good for cold, wet days...of which there are many up there. Based on what I can see, there isn't anything to complain about here. I've never gotten there and had to wait but it's always busy. It's in Chinatown but parking is pretty easy unless there's a Seahawks game. Just give it a try and stick to what I recommended and you'll love it. Even my white friends are repeat customers...that's real!!!
(5)Merry D.
One of the best Vietnamese restaurant I ever visited. Food was fresh, authentic and burst with flavors..... Very cozy and excellent service. And yes, Maio Batali (the Iron Chef) loves this restaurant. I tried so many dishes here from the seafood to deserts..... yumm..... You will guarantee to crave for more as soon as you leave the restaurant. I will give this restaurant a 7 star rating, 5 is not enough.....
(5)Megan R.
Most amazing meal I have EVER had! This was the first time my two friends and I had ever tried Vietnamese food, and it was so so good. If you find yourself in Seattle you must make the trip to this restaurant, you will not regret it. The staff were great too, very attentive and quick service.
(5)T T.
Small place, always packed. Try Tsingtao with fresh cucumber! Foods are delicious!
(5)Aly M.
If this is the best Vietnamese food can be, then I don't want it. There was just not enough flavor. They had sauces that we tried, but it didn't do much. We got to sit upstairs, which was nice. They've upped the prices from the menu online, and there are lunch/dinner prices. In addition, they have specials posted on the walls. The food came out quickly (we ordered a vermicelli noodle combo, the spring rolls, and a combo rice dish). I think the dishes could have been good with just more flavor. In addition, the rice had a bad texture. Too dry and not very fluffy.
(2)Sabina N.
I went to Green Leaf Vietnamese Restaurant last week with 2 other friends. I was the first to arrive and the staff was very cool about letting me look around to see if my friends had arrived and seating me where I indicated I would prefer to sit while waiting for them. We were at the restaurant for 2.5 hours and we did not feel rushed at all. Now, the menu. Well, it is remarkable! Just returning from a trip to Vietnam, I was craving some authentic cuisine. I also knew that I did not want bun (the vermicelli dish) or pho (the traditional soup) as I had eaten plenty of it over the past 2 weeks. I ordered the Hû Tieu My Tho--also known as #37--clear rice noodles with squid, shrimp, fish ball, & BBQ pork. I was given the option of the soup in the noodle dish or on the side. I opted for on the side (partly because the waitress indicated that this was the Vietnamese way) and it arrived a clear flavorful broth with a single delicate wonton. It was quite refreshing! The main dish was large--enough for 2 meals--and delicious. It was fresh and healthy. If you are hungry and want a healthy affordable meal in a pleasant, no rush atmosphere, this is the place! Enjoy.
(5)Harmony O.
Green Leaf is officially the best pho I've had in Seattle yet. It's all about the broth for me!
(5)Jason D.
My family loves the banh xeo here...
(5)Bryan T.
Came back for the 2nd visit -- still OK, nothing special. True pho must be ordered at the hole in the wall establishments.
(3)Chris B.
This place is crowded, but with good reason. I don't know what I ate, but it was delicious.
(4)Atif M.
The pho was awesome. The beef broth wasn't too salty and the fixings all seemed fresh. Word of advice: you should get more raw beef in place of the well done beef. The soup is hot enough to cook the raw beef so the well done beef gets kind of tough since it becomes overcooked.
(4)Jennifer L.
My friend was raving about this place and their soup. It looks quaint, I liked the atmosphere, and the service is pretty good. We both ordered the vegetarian soup, and asked for egg noodle, but instead recieved rice noodles. When we asked for the change, all they did was swap out the noodles and returned it to us. End result? semi-luke warm soup, and hard chewy noodles. I can see it potentially being good, due to the number of people going in and out..but I wasn't too thrilled with my cold soup and uncooked chewy noodles.
(3)Camille L.
Green Leaf has a well-rounded menu (whether N, C, or S Vietnamese cuisine) and they are consistent with their quality. One of my favorite meals is the first dish of the rice plates list (I think it's called com dac biet). If you can't make it to Rainier for bun bo hue, Green Leaf is a fantastic option. I haven't had their pho but I've heard great things about it.
(5)Eliza B.
Green Leaf is my favorite restaurant in Seattle. I suggest the combo vermicelli with instead of grilled chicken to do more pork alongside the grilled shrimp. Their vermicelli is the best because the meat is so grilled and crispy and it has plenty of sliced daikon and grilled onion shallots. So much better than Tamarind Tree in my opinion. I love their rice dishes as well with grilled pork chop and it comes with a fried egg on rice and some sliced fresh tomatoes. Try it out and don't let the small dive-y exterior fool you because the food is beyond delicious
(5)Yoeun P.
Green Leaf is one of those restaurants where you make it a mission to try everything on the menu. It's that good! Unlike most Vietnamese places, I actually order their non-pho menu items. I heard about this place on Yelp. Thought it was just another Asian place that white people liked and didn't think much of it. Decided to take the plunge about a month ago and let me just say... I've eaten here about 10 times so far. Pretty much every Saturday AND Sunday. Wow. This place is awesome. The pho is rich and flavourful. The fresh spring rolls have a delightful crunch to them. (I love them!) The service is fast. The prices quite "International Districtish". The decor is all over the place, but who cares. It's clean, warm, cozy and inviting--which can't be said for most ID establishments. They give you individual saucers of sauce for your spring rolls.
(5)cindy g.
Great noodles, lots of flavor, ok service
(4)Eytan H.
Great food. They're known for their vermicelli, and there's good reason for that. Their pho is passable.
(5)Lei L.
This place is a hole in the wall with multiple free-standing heaters next to each table since seattle rarely sees such a colder winter. The place is easy to miss because the entrance is a bit hidden. I only tried the Combo Pho, but all the dishes looked quite appetizing that other people were eating. Highly recommend, and it's right next door to Sichuan Noodle Bowl, which my friend says is highly recommended. Mmm I'm getting hungry now.
(4)John D.
Great food! I love the decor upstairs. Green Leaf is a great addition to the international district's selection. When you finish your whole meal you don't feel all weighed down by greasy asian food. I'm a big fan of the combo and grilled pork vermicelli bowls.
(4)Mary M.
I love Green Leaf but its a hit or miss for me. I'm a creature of habit and order the same ol thing every time so I expect that one dish to taste if not the same, very very close to the same. The house special udon with crab meat, pork's blood and pigs feet is usually amazing. But 30% of the time I wasted $11 on something I could of made at home. I'd still come back for the 70% of the time where my noodle soup is cooked to perfection.
(3)Lindsey M.
Vietnamese food is one of my favorites and Green Leaf hits it out of the park. Their vermicelli salad has a wide variety of exotic flavors and is far superior to any other I've tasted in the International District. Everyone I've brought here has enjoyed their food. The place is always packed and the staff is very friendly. I think I'll stop by today...
(5)Jen M.
My first experience at Green Leaf was on a blustery, rainy, cold day in Seattle and we sat at the table closest to the door. The place was incredibly busy and I felt slightly overwhelmed by the close eating quarters and the constant reminder of the weather outside, each and every time someone came through that door. That was a couple of years ago. The food was so good, that after digging in, I forgot all about my discomfort and melted into a pile of warm, mushy, goop. Warm, mushy goop with a happy tummy! In all honesty, most of my Vietnamese dining experiences have revolved around pho, banh mi, and fresh spring rolls. When I do come across a restaurant such as Green Leaf, I like to venture into other dishes and try new things. After all, there are so many restaurants dedicated to pho, where you cannot help but order well, yes, pho. Therefore, I did not order (can you guess), pho on either of my visits. The first visit completely took my breath away. We ordered the combo vermicelli (chicken, pork, shrimp, egg roll) on a tray. Even though it was $3 more to get it on a tray, I wish that I had done it on my second visit. Having it on a tray was far more exciting in that we got to dip the rice wrappers in hot water and make any combination roll that we wanted. I highly suggest the combo and tray! The vermicelli dishes are accompanied with basil, bean sprouts, and other fresh herbs and other greens. It is so fresh and tastes wonderfully light, which complimented the heaviness and deep flavor of the meat. On both visits, we ordered the ordered the Vietnamese pancake, banh xeo, with shrimp and pork. I feel that my first experience was more memorable and that the ratio of shrimp and pork to everything else was perfect. On the second visit, I felt as if it could have used a little more shrimp and pork and was on the oilier side. The star of my second visit was the vermicelli with grilled beef and lemongrass, wrapped with thin slice pork, I loved the beef on it's own and was slightly overdone with adding the pork, but the flavor party in my mouth was awesome. I love lemongrass, the scent of it, taste of it, in food, as a tea, and so on. The pairing of lemongrass complimented the beef and was flavorful and slightly addicting. When in a pho restaurant, order pho. When in any other Vietnamese restaurant, order what else, various Vietnamese dishes! Try different items from the menu and find your favorites. Don't forget to try it on a tray!
(4)Tien T.
A True Vietnamese Restaurant!! This is a family owned business and it's always a good sign when grandma is in the back cooking! Must try dishes: Goi Coun - fresh springs rolls with shrimp & pork. Banh Xeo - a Vietnamese crepe filled with mung bean sprouts, shrimp & pork...if you're a fan of tofu ask to substitute it. Pho - Vietnamese beef noodle soup. Great flavor & no MSG! Vermicelli Bowls - rice vermicelli noddles topped with mint, basil, lettuce, mung bean sprouts and your choice of shrimp, egg roll, grilled chicken/beef. If you can't decide, order the Dac Biet and you can have it all!! They have a Bun Rieu - tomato shrimp patty rice noodle soup. It's good, but a little on the sweet side. I wouldn't recommend any of the rice dishes other than the Com Dac Biet which is the combo rice dish served with a grilled pork chop, shrimp, chicken & a fried egg. The other rice dishes tend to lack flavor. For the most part, good customer service, but when it's crowded the staff can sometimes seemed overwhelmed and not be attentive to your needs.
(5)J J.
I wouldn't have come here a few times if it were up to me. The place is narrow and dark, the pho is bland, the portion is small, the prices are a bit high. Uncomfortable and unimpressed.
(2)Chris O.
Do you hear what I hear? No no no, not the pitter patter on the roof, the pitter patter on its way with the 7 courses of fabulous beef! Which fill a table for 4 even when there's only 2 people sitting there. There's enough rice paper, noodles, vegetables and herbs to start a small farm or stuff at least fill the belly of a decent sized rabbit. Complete with a warm beef salad and a plate of beef in three styles (wrapped in leaves, meat ball and seared steak) the meal is quite possibly capable of feeding for. But for $25 for two, it's plenty. The quality is above average and presented nicely. Oh, and I almost forgot the beef congee. A great addition to the meal and quite delicately flavored. I'd definitely take people here for a good showing of Vietnamese flavor. Perhaps you should try?
(4)Brien H.
I thought it was OK. The pho was lower quality than places that specialize in the stuff, with wilty-looking sprouts and fatty, dark meat chicken. I like the spring rolls enough but they're slightly overrated. The beef short ribs were standard but tasty enough. The Young Coconut Juice was quite sexy, except for a single brown piece of coconut meat. Every litter has a runt, I guess. The server was friendly and offered up unsolicited information about the nearby bottle with a glass dragon impossibly blown inside it- apparently it's vodka that costs more than my body is worth to science (I couldn't get an even trade). Eh, what can you do.
(3)errol c.
It's a nice small comfy little place with great food. their pancakes are delicious, but a little greasy. Great place during the evening for a date. My brother ordered pho there which was yummy, but I havent been there in awhile and forgot what i ordered. OO their vermicelli bowl is amazing and their dish where you wrap up your own rolls is good as well. i forget the name of it sadly. Overall great place. I would go there with someone.
(4)M C.
I've frequent this restaurant last 6 months more then any two other restaurant combine! Practically knows me by name! Maybe just to make me feel better. Service = awesome!! Ambiance = just right! Food = If you try all the dishes, consistently great. Everything on the menu is awesome with the exception of Pho which i thought was mediocre. Pho is a tough market to compete though, so it's ok. I'm not there for the pho anyways Price = $ Crowd = great, Personal Favorite = Bun Mang Vit! Duck bamboo Noodles Worst = really tight, i need my personal space, the new 2nd floor is a good addition that opened up in late spring! Meal for two =30 Final Say = Top 10 for sure!
(5)Susy W.
After hearing so much about Green Leaf, I decided I needed to be converted. I went on a week day, during the lunch rush. It seems small and crowded at first, but I was led upstairs where there were plenty of seats available (no wait!)... this got filled quickly. I got #45 - vermicelli combo with chicken, pork, skewered shrimp and fried egg roll. I liked how you could just get everything instead of deciding on one protein. My basic Vietnamese staple is the vermicelli dish and from what I could taste, this was probably one of my favorites that I've had in Seattle. It's also one of those dishes that you probably won't want to save because it gets soggy, so I was forced to eat it all up. Oof. I can't wait to try out the crepe dish I keep reading about...
(5)Pma e.
this place is pretty swanky. if you're lookin for a place that is nice, sophisticated, classy and rich....this aint the place for you. this is a super casual place. the chairs are made of like huge pieces of wood. LOL! looked like they took pieces of furniture from the woods....it's actually kind of unique and cool. we waited awhile for our food but the wait was worth it. the food was delicious and yummy! it was my 1st time here and by far the most flavorful and delightful vietnamese food i've ever had. i have tried various vietnamese restaurants and this is bar far the best. living here for 20 years...i can't believe i never walked into this place.
(4)Joanne D.
This is my go-to place for vermicelli and noodle soups! They have a really large menu, and I was really happy to find a place that serves bo la lop and bun mang vit. Haven't tried anything else there yet because I can always find pho or a rice dish at any other Vietnamese restaurant.
(5)Nam N.
We always come here for dinner for these awesome dishes: Shrimp Spring Rolls, Duck Noodles Soup, and Combo Vermicelli. The food here is consistently good, and there's usually a line and some waiting during dinner time every day. The place is small, but at least there's an upstairs which has more room to move and sit--although the wagon-wheel seats are a bit uncomfortable and weird to sit on. I'd choose this place over Tamarind Tree any day for it's down-to-earth atmosphere, less expensive but still same quality food, and less crowds.
(5)Jen S.
Once I go back and try more things, I might update to 5 stars. Picture it: Friday night, Mommy's night out. We want Asian fare and we almost go to Bellevue, then Capitol Hill ... you know the place. I hit my friendly Yelp lists and discovered that, it having been years since I last attended that rainy-named Viet place, it may very well have deteriorated. Jeepers! Can't go there. So I scoured the Yelp evals, and up popped Green Leaf. How novel! The ID! So, parking blows. I parked 10 blocks away and walked past I don't know how many drug dealers, but I love the ID so, as long as I can stay well-lit, I'm good. We arrived at GL just as a couple of tables were clearing out - perfect. The serving staff is polite and smiley. We lingered because we had lots to discuss and we didn't feel rushed. It's warm in there, but in a pleasant way. The tables are just close enough where everyone fits, but you don't have to ask the person behind you to scoot so you can get out. It's the right kind of dark and the right kind of noisy. The food! I know! I followed suggestions and got spring rolls, a vermicelli with beef and pork, papaya salad, and la lop appetizer. Everything was delicious! Reasonably priced and delicious! Packed with flavor. I am soooooo going back again and again.
(4)Meagan L.
This place is AMAZING. The restaurant is located in a very unassuming location, we were surprised that the food was so good. Upon entering, it was full of people (but not over crowded). It quickly became clear that this was going to be a great experience. My mom and I ordered Vietnamese coffee while we perused the menu for what we would eat. It was a deliciously sweet yet strong coffee likely with condensed milk and chocolate. My mom ordered the duck and cabbage salad. It was a crispy fresh variety of cabbage topped with a generous portion of duck, caramelized shoestring onions, fresh cilantro, and a ginger dressing with chunks of ginger abundant. Extremely tasty. I ordered the vermicelli with grilled shrimp, bbq pork, chicken, and fried egg roll. This came with fish sauce with fresh carrots grated into it, lots of sprouts, cilantro, carrot, cucumber and the meat was wonderful. The bbq pork was thinly sliced with a great smoky bbq taste. My mom and I shared both of these dishes and they were delicious. The service was great and the price was right $28 including tip. We were going to stop for some dim sum across the street after our meal but we were too full.
(4)They Call Me L.
Strictly speaking pho, it was downright tasty. Nice bowl of noodles with beef brisket and yummy broth for a cool overcast Seattle day. The spring rolls were really good, too. All the wooden dining tables/chairs were kinda cool-looking, albeit a bit uncomfortable. Increases the turnover rate on diners, I imagine. Cha-ching!$$!!
(4)May N.
Exquisite and authentic Vietnamese food. Certainly one of the best in the International District. Their Goi Cuon is so flavorful and the Bun Thit Nuong is delicious! The renovation really opened up the place to accommodate more people and they accepted my reservation for dinner (6 people) as well. I highly recommend this place to those looking for good Vietnamese food at reasonable prices.
(4)Ryan S.
Great quality food, Great Service, Warm friendly people.
(4)Viola l.
The international district can be scary for some but green leaf is one of the places I would recommend going if you are in the area. The service is excellent compared to most asian resturants especially in the area! Worth Mentioning: Udon Seafood Noodle Soup- Amazing a must try for seafood lovers, be careful it comes out extremely hot and is hard to wait for it to cool down because it looks and smells so good. I have burned my tongue a time or two! Green Mango Salad- You get your choice meat or tofu I usually get the grilled shrimp. Best way to eat add some chilli paste to the sauce and pour over salad! It tastes super fresh amazing on a nice sunny day, Great appetizer to share! Fresh Rolls- You can't really go wrong with these but some places definitely can screw up the sauce and I must say this is one of the best dipping sauces for fresh rolls around town! Worth the trip to Chinatown, Overall a great authentic Vietnamese restaurant you don't wanna miss out on!
(4)Russell L.
My pho review: There combo pho is nice, tasty and it hit the spot. But for ~$8, it was rather pricey for the size of the bowl. The broth was on the lighter side but still flavorful. The pluses were that the meatball was actually pretty good (I tend to avoid those bouncy pho meatballs ;) ) and their beef soft tendon was the more tender tendon I've ever tasted. I'll try some other dishes next time.
(4)Shekinah S.
UPDATE: Went here about a week ago and the new upstairs dining room was open for business. But we still had to wait outside for about 20 mins. Happenin' spot!
(5)Alex D.
Just ate here for the first time. The food was excellent, the service and atmosphere was great, and the owner was incredibly friendly. I'll be headed back.
(5)Mira L.
Excellent friendly service and great food! I was so happy they served Vietnamese drinks/slushes. I found my craving for it on their dessert menu - it's called "3 bean on ice dessert". It was the perfect balance of beans and coconut milk. Highly recommend it along with your entree as a drink! We had the grilled pork vermicelli and combo pho. The latter had generous amounts of tripe, tendon and beef. But the vermicelli noddles were stuck together, so I'm not sure if it was fresh, the grilled pork was excellent. I would give Green Leaf 4.5 stars. Knocked off a half-star only because I've had better in other cities. But we highly recommend this place.
(4)H M.
It's what other Vietnamese restaurants wish they could be. I love "imposed dry vegetable in vinegar" salad and build your own spring rolls, and vietnamese crepes. The crunchy jicama soaked in what seems like sugar water and angel tears made me rethink my hatred of jicama. I now want it in everything. Strange service, as if they don't know what they have. I'm glad, otherwise it would be some a-level douche of a waiter. I'll be back with bells on.
(5)Eileen E.
Each dish has wonderful flavors and is reasonably priced at about $8-9 per dish. My family of course ate family style and everyone really enjoyed it. When you see this place from the outside, you don't expect very much, but on the inside the walls are painted a trendy apple green and it's quite cozy as it is very small. Service is prompt and there are many awards and accolades proudly hanging on their wall (which they truly deserve!) We ordered the mixed lotus root, mango, & papaya salad, the combo vermicelli, and the catfish claypot. For dessert, their grilled banana cake (grilled sweet rice and banana served with coconut milk & roast nuts). It was so moist and to die for!
(5)Tu D.
I really been disappointed with the multi hundred review and the recommendation by yelp. Maybe the composition of people that make yelp reviews...trying being politically correct here...what the hell...too many white people review don't know what good asian food are. But i guess its good to cater to the majority. Enough of my rant on to my review. The good: Tried 5 dish for the price of three and its ok... The bad: How did i get 5 dish for the price of 3? Naahh...I didn't get any hook up or know the owner..Because the Mi Viet Tiem broth is a pho broth plus addition of fried duck and mushroom. So i had 2 dishes there..it wasn't bad...but i could get for cheaper elsewhere. My brother had bun oc which the use the broth from bun rieu, everything would be except the escargot. I tasted wasn't that good e...it wasn't bad...it was the wrong broth for the wrong dish...again. Thats another 2 dishes there. Banh Bot Chien: They did a little differently...with the egg scrabble..its ok too. Ugly: Slow service..thats what i get for going between lunch and dinner..looks like everyone was having there break.....Face the trash can that line up outside..but quickly change that by changing chair with my brother... who wants to face the trash can when i am eating? Per another yelper review of their bathroom...i make sure i use the bathroom at home before i left...just to be on safe than sorry...i guess yelp is good for something.:) Probably not going to be back here until i run out restaurant in I.D....which would be never..
(3)Kalristo O.
Closed early on a snow day....
(5)Hannah A.
My friends raved about it. Their eyes widened, their mouths watered. I had to try it. Everyone was rushing around like crazy and the noise level was high. I was seated at the table opposite the entrance, which opened and closed 37 times as I ate my food. It was close to freezing outside. So far the atmosphere was a 1. I ordered a noodle soup with seafood. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing...it was slightly better than a typical Pho, but the pork slices had a chemical taste and I couldn't eat them. Nice broth, a bit more flavorful and unique than the usual. The seafood itself was fine, nothing special. Overall, nothing to write home about. I might try this place again with friends so I can taste a wider selection of dishes, but I wouldn't go back for soup.
(2)Jennifer Y.
Love this place! Good pho, vermicelli, rice plates and the duck congee is one of my favorite dishes here. Probably the best vietnamese food in and around Seattle.
(5)Amie S.
Here is a hidden gem in the heart of the ID! It's always hard to know which places to try out, and unfortunately since the whole neighborhood needs a face lift, you really can't judge a book by its cover. The Green Leaf is one of those places you hear about and then can't believe you never knew existed. Green Leaf serves authentic, tasty, spicy, Vietnamese food that will put a smile on your face even as it burns your lips. I'm not usually a fan of overly spicy food, preferring flavor to pain, but I tried the spicy lemongrass chicken and the blend of spices was perfect, so that I could actually still taste it through the burn and kept going till it was gone. I sampled the chicken vermicelli, too - also deliciously fresh and flavorful, and I was lucky to get a bite when I did because despite the giant portion, my counterpart inhaled the entire bowl in a few short minutes. My favorite thing of all? Definitely the fruit juices! They are fresh-squeezed and mixed with granulated sugar. Yummm, dessert before dinner! This is definitely somewhere you come for the food and not the atmosphere. Downstairs, the small space sports some bamboo on the walls to add the slightest bit of Asian flare. Upstairs (yes, there's an upstairs!) You get huge, heavy solid wood tables and wagon-wheel benches that are kind of awesome in their hideousness. Prices are very reasonable, and the staff is friendly, responsive, and quick. Kids are welcome here, but obviously there are no happy meals, so hopefully they have adventurous palates!
(4)Jesse P.
pho pho pho, i love pho. I stumbled into Green Leaf one day, and found their pho to be quite delightful! a couple pieces of the beef brisket were fatty and chewy, but only a couple pieces out of an ample amount. some people like that i guess, not me so much, i just discard it and keep slurping. the broth was some of the best i've ever tasted! and i've tasted many a broth. the vermicelli bowls are really fresh and tasty too. we had the lemongrass beef wrapped around pork and onion. yummy! all around good food, and good service.
(4)J T.
Vietnamese people know...this is the best Vietnamese restaurant in Seattle. The issues with most Vietnamese restaurants is that if you want authenticity, you won't get cleanliness and vice versa. And if you want to dine in any Vietnamese restaurant, usually the service is horrific. Well, if you want a clean, authentic Vietnamese restaurant that has passable service, come to Green Leaf. If you want decent food and wait around for 2 hours watching the waitstaff take your food and give it to other patrons, go to Tamarind Tree.
(4)Jay K.
Fresh, ingredients, intimate atmosphere, awesome service! Need I say more?
(5)Zachary K.
Green leaf hardly needs more praise - but regardless here it is. The best, freshest and most interesting Vietnamese cuisine I have ever had - rivaling even my trip to Vietnam. The staff is beyond friendly and helpful and the prices are extremely affordable. This place is not to be missed on a culinary exploration of Seattle. Personal favorites included the grilled eggplant appetizer, the bun (any of them!) and the papaya salad. Nuff Said.
(5)Janny W.
I love Green Leaf, I haven't had a bad meal here yet in the 2+ years I've been eating here. It's casual and unpretentious, just the way I like my Asian restaurants to be. When it gets hot out, I love to order the Bun, or Vermicelli noodle salad bowls. They are both refreshing and fulfilling on a warm day. When my friends and I feel like appetizers, we usually share the Fresh Spring Rolls and/or Banh Bot Chien, which are Fried Flour Cakes combined with eggs, that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The Seven Courses of Beef isn't bad when it's cold out and you are feeling super hungry, otherwise I feel it is a lot of food for 2 people. I have no preference, but my friends prefer to have it here than at Tamarind Tree.
(4)Misty L.
This place is incredible. I wish I lived in Seattle. :) I know when I go home now I'll eat there more often. My mom and I found Green Leaf through Yelp, so thank you yelpers! It was better than described. I'm white as can be, but I love Vietnamese food and this is by far one of the best informal Vietnamese restaurants I've ever eaten in. The Spring Rolls are amazing, they have a little crunch and a lot of lettuce, bonus points right there. The bun, which is my favorite dish, was incredible. The meat was chargrilled to just the right point, there were a lot of veggies, it was just amazing. I wish I could go back right now to write another review about another of their awesome dishses.
(5)Lilly A.
Green Leaf has won me over after a fantastic lunch today. The prices are reasonable and the menu extensive for quality, authentic Vietnamese food. If you are looking for crappy pho, they don't have it here. But they do have amazing pho. I ordered a vermicelli platter with grilled pork and grilled shrimp. They were cooked to perfection and seasoned well
(4)Sarah G.
Banh canh tom cua -- near perfection! The broth has the right amount of spice with a few added surprise flavors (in a good way!) and *generous* portions of crab meat, four hefty shrimps, and udon noodles. Our table also ordered bun oc, bun bo hue, and banh cuon cha lua -- all were thoroughly enjoyed. Hot tea on the table, refilled constantly and superb service. Four ate for about $30. I can't wait to sample the rest of the menu!
(5)Heather B.
Never disappointed in the service and food when I go here. The prices are low, but the quality of the food is not! Parking is not easy in the I.D., but I won't hold it against Green Leaf. I feel full walking out of the restaurant, but not food coma full. Whenever I bring friends with me who are new to the place, the food never disappoints them!
(5)David G.
I have liked Green Leaf for a year or so since my daughter first took me there - last night I took my fiancee there who has been in the US for only 5 days - her first time out of Cambodia/Thailand/Vietnam - she was just talking to her family back in Cambodia on Skype and raving about the Seafood Pho that we had - pretty good testament to the quality if you ask me - she is picky and usually says everything is not as tasty as back home but she was genuinely impressed - with no time to have had her standards lowered and taste buds spoiled by living here her thumbs-up carries great weight IMO.
(4)Sione P.
This place is one of the best things to ever happen to the International District! Seriously. It's just become an institution for great food at excellent prices! Everything I've had here has been great and the service has always been top-notch! The new addition of the upstairs has probably more than doubled the capacity and they needed it, always being busy (and with reason!). The food is delish and the prices allow you to go home with more than just the receipt in your pocket! My favorite thing is probably the appetizers! My fave is probably the Fried Flour Cake, fried up with green onions and egg. Seriously good! The spring rolls are always great, but I have a hard time deciding whether I prefer these or Tamarind Tree's Tamarind Tree Rolls. The Egg Rolls are good, though I'd rather something on the lighter side as an appetizer, typically, as so many of the choices are. The Vietnamese Pancakes are also pretty great! You can't really go wrong here! Seriously, it's just a fantastic place to go if you're in the neighborhood. If you're not, get into it.
(5)Bailey S.
I liked Green Leaf's decor and friendly staff, the food was tasty, and the price was right. Unfortunately, my beef was submerged and already browning by the time my pho was delivered to my table, and the hotter than usual broth cooked it quite tough long before I finished eating. Not only that, but a pre-prepared vietnamese iced coffee rather than a french press was delivered to my table. These two disappointments combined to knock a star off my otherwise excellent Green Leaf experience.
(4)Shyam H.
Nothing short of a burst of flavors in your mouth. For instance, take the lotus root salad from last night. It was fresh, and light. Full of crispy textures. And it had the tastes of sweet, hot (spicy), sour and mint, all at the same time. It was like there were fireworks of all shapes, colors and sizes were going off inside your mouth :-) And it's healthy. No wonder vietnamese people are in such good shape... Great service too!
(4)Kim P.
Best Vietnamese in the I.D. hands down. Daily Specials for 10 dolla lemongrass Sea Bass on a Tues night? I'm in! and it ain't no chintzy dried up piece either -- we're talkin at least 1/2 the fish and thick-cut & extra crispy skin. If I was blindfolded I would've guessed it was wrapped in bacon. banh xeo is always crispy, excellent crunchy Viet greens, banh mi cari is my staple, and of course the 3 bean che is the stuff that vietnamese dreams are made of. What part of DI DI MAU don't you understand?
(5)Mila L.
Bo 7 mon is goood! I love the food here, it's very authentic. Love every dish.
(4)Jarrod L.
We had the "7 Courses of Beef" and everything was delicious. Unlike other places I've had it, only one of the items was cook at the table (I'm used to 2 of the 4 grilled courses being cook at the table), but that was ok because this way made the service faster.
(4)Lisa K.
This place has sunk its hooks into me. I can't stop craving the vermicelli with chicken. Maybe it's because instead of some pallid dry chicken the bird is grilled, seasoned and flavorful. Maybe it's because it comes with basil, cilantro, lemongrass, green onions, and a dozen other tastebud-zinging flavors. Drool... Also the pho is excellent, according to dining companions and my own pilfering of their meals. I expect to branch out to the rest of the menu someday, if my torrid love affair with the vermicelli ever cools.
(4)A M.
This place was really good. My boyfriend had a taste for a noodle bowl, so I went ahead and did some research since we were from another state. Boy were you yelpers right! Just get there around 6 PM, otherwise there's this mad rush if any later. We started out with some Goi Cuons (Spring Rolls with shrimp and pork). It was really good and the presentation as well. Then I got the Bun Dac Biet which was the combo bowl with chicken, shrimp, pork, and egg roll. That was really good. My bf had the Bun Thit Nuong which is the pork with Vermicelli noodles. Just an excellent restaurant over all!
(5)Sean H.
When Tamarind Tree overflows come here. It is the same food at half the price. When Green Leaf overflows go upstairs or up to Tamarind Tree
(4)Robby C.
A friend of mine was in town for the weekend so we decided to meet up, apparently at her favorite place, for some Vietnamese cuisine in the International District. The location of the establishment is a bit obscure and, if one were not actively in search of it, one could easily miss the rather narrow restaurant frontage and signage. Once inside, the restaurant is narrow, but includes an area upstairs which is able to seat larger groups and they were even able to accommodate our group of ten rather nicely. Our solitary complaint probably comes from the bulky and gaudy decor which seemed as if the owners had stolen chairs and tables from an old Ivar's or Red Lobster. However, the atmosphere was quiet and it was easy to hold multiple conversations and the staff was quite attentive and friendly though, something about older Vietnamese women referring to everyone as "honey" with a heavy accent makes it hard for me not to chuckle inside. As for the food, after our visit to Vietnam House further up the street a few weeks ago, we have been in desperate need of a traditional Bun Bo Hue and our order here did not disappoint. The soup base was fantastic and had a level of spiciness that was enough to give the dish a certain fullness without overwhelming the palate with that intense burning of taste buds that has become all to familiar of comparable dishes served in the area. Though not a fan of congealed pig blood, luckily for me, it was a favorite of our visiting friend and she was more than ecstatic to have been able to take them off my hands. Even after having a full dinner an hour or two beforehand, the Bun Bo Hue was definitely worth engorging over and we recommend this restaurant to anyone in the area for some traditional Vietnamese spicy beef and pork noodle soup.
(5)Kathryn M.
Love it love it love it! Great Vietnamese food and good service. Always packed. My favorite meals are the Beef Congee and the 7 Courses of Beef. Someday I should try something else, but I always go back to those two.
(5)Christie P.
Tasty-McTaster-son! We ordered the fresh rolls, I got combo vermicelli, and the hubby ordered the anchovy udon. I didn't try the soup (anchovy = no bueno), but I got a little sample of whatever white fish was in it and it was buttery-good. The fresh rolls were good, but I wouldn't say the best ever. The vermicelli was super-duper! I don't have the be-all-end-all say on this dish, but the sauce was a good addition without overpowering anything, the chicken and the beef was juicy, and the egg roll was crispy and fresh. The one downer was the shrimp was a little dry/overcooked. Service was quick and polite. Food came really quick, but I never felt rushed to leave. I like the lunch prices more (I like cheap - sorry!) though it is still pretty reasonable for dinner. I plan to return for more.
(4)Adam S.
Best place to cure a hangover. Bo bo hue (spicy beef soup) is epic.
(4)John M.
I like it. The pork egg vegetable wraps are great! The main courses are good but far from exceptional. Still a good place to go. I will just go with the appetizers next time.
(4)Janet T.
I'm a foodie and I love to try every little restaurant known to man...When my friend first introduced me to Green Leaf three years ago...I was hooked!! This has got to be one of the best vietnamese restaurants in Seattle - I''m vietnamese, so I'd like to think that I have a good palette when it comes judging the food. In any case, the food here is superb! Don't forget to ask for the fried onions on everything you order! SOOOO GOOD!
(5)Marissa M.
A tiny place that would jump out to no one, but definitely worth checking out. I had the veggie soup bowl, which was enough food for dinner and lunch the next day. Their menu is full of different noodle bowls and pho. The spring rolls were very fresh (not fried) and had a very strong herb flavor to them. I thought they were very good, but just be prepared when you order them!
(4)Darcy H.
Back again for more 5 star goodness. So delicious. Every. Time. --------my only remark is that the language barrier makes it impossible to learn about the food or Vietnamese customs (I'm interested!), ask questions about the ingredients, converse with the servers. Whatteryagonnado.
(5)Brian B.
I had the grilled chicken with vermicelli. My fiancee had the curry chicken. Both were fantastic. We will eat here again next time we are in Seattle!
(5)Jeanne H.
Fresh, fast and fantastic! We had the vegetarian spring rolls and Pho, both of which had great flavor.
(4)chloe w.
The food here is good. My husband had the pho and he said it was one of the best he has had. The service is good and the staff friendly. I ordered fresh spring rolls and when it came and had peanuts in it, they were nice when I asked them to remake it. The restaurant is clean and next time we are in Seattle we will be back.
(5)Jude O.
This place is great for the money. The night we were there, Marco from Marco's Supper Club was just leaving. Plus, Mario Batali is on the wall next to the owner. Just add Tom Douglas and you'd have all the Seattle celebrity chef endorsements! The Beef La Lot was good. I like Tamarind Tree's version better, but it's probably way more expensive. (My wife loved it. And she has a better palate.) I thought it tasted too well done. I had the Duck Noodles Soup, which was generous in the duck department. She had the Combo Vermicelli (see pictures). It looked excellent. The ambiance is on the upper end of down scale. The service is relatively prompt and attentive. All in all, not bad for under $10 per person.
(4)Jake P.
Ate here this past summer with a group of 6. Had to walk a bit to get to the restaurant and even though we had a reservation we had to wait for about 30 minutes to be seated. Despite the rocky start, this place still gets 4 stars. Definitely a 5 star restaurant if we had not have had to wait. Food is incredible, although I don't remember what I had (don't take this as an indictment of the food, but rather an indication of my shoddy memory and bustling marketplace of a mind) but I do remember raving about it for the long walk back to the car. GF had lemongrass tofu as an app and stir-fry veggie noodles and proclaimed, "Best tofu ever." Vegetarian mom loved it and my conservative-when-it-comes-to-cuisine grandma thoroughly enjoyed whatever she got. All in all an excellent eatery, we ate upstairs and the bench seating was pretty cool. Highly recommend!
(4)Amanda M.
Tough call. I've been to Green Leaf about 4 other times before tonight. Each time I had the veggie noodle soup and each time I was impressed. Delicious, hearty veggies that were lightly cooked and full of flavor. Vietnamese perfection. But I feel like this last time put me over the edge, (almost the edge of the table) We walked in and sat down immediately started smelling something really putrid. We couldn't tell if it was something in the kitchen, another patron or the host. It was disgusting. It wasn't your typical fish sauce smell, it was like someone ate a pile of bad seafood, barfed it up and let it stew for days. We should have left right then, but history told us that the food would be delicious. The smell continued to waft in. Our food came and it was delicious. but near the end of my meal it became almost unbearable to sit in the restaurant. I had to walk outside. Throughout our meal women walked through the restaurant with cleaning buckets and other foul smelling things that led me to believe something gross was happening in the kitchen. Finally! The bill came and for three people, no beverages the total came to $58.67!!!! We signed because we did have an appetizer and our focus was leaving but then we realized, our total should have been $38.67. I took the bill up and pointed out the mistake. Not letting me finish the cashier started to tell me how I was wrong because we paid partially with cash. When I pointed out the 5 should have been a 3 she quickly took my receipt and redid the whole transaction. I don't feel totally confident we weren't being scammed out of $20, but I can't say for sure. She may have been flustered by the smell of rotting fish puke coming from the kitchen. If I choose to dine here again I will get my food to-go.
(2)Lanie C.
I love this place. First the owner, we affectionately call him "Mr Thank You" is gracious and always friendly. The Vegetarian Spring Rolls with the crisp crunch inside of fried rice noodles is delicious, as are the salads and vermicelli bowls are excellent too. I'm not as crazy about some of the entrees like the Chicken with Lemongrass BTW if you can, sit upstairs I love the ketchy wagon wheel tables and chairs. Also it's often packed so plan to wait for a table on the weekends.
(4)James E.
My friend has been talking up this restaurant for months but we had to wait for the renovations to finish. Then we had to remember that we wanted to eat here. Old age makes the mind... something. We arrived during the lunch rush and were seated at the last table on the main level. It wasn't until we were seated that we even saw people coming up and down the stairs. A whole second floor to this intimate restaurant is a good addition. My friend is Vietnamese of Canadian origin, she grew up in her mother's restaurant learning how to cook. Girlfriend is not afraid of anything that crosses her plate or cutting board. Except caterpillars, but I digress. She quickly found two different veg items on the menu for me whilst she scanned the soups. I opted for the noodle bowl with vege ham and grilled tofu, she chose a soup made with hamhock and blood tofu. I had never heard of blood tofu and was intrigued. She said it's not as heavy as liver but has a similar flavor, and it's black in color. I wanted to see her meal arrive more than mine. I suggested we start with vegetable rolls which came out in less than two minutes. If that. I was surprised food rolled out of the kitchen so quickly, but vegetable rolls aren't very difficult to prepare. We were both reminded of Tamarind Tree's rolls as we ate, I'm not sure if we decided who had the better version. Then our meals arrived. The presentation was lovely and the portions quite large. I was happy to see fried garlic and onion on my bowl, more often than not Vietnamese food lacks a lot of accoutrements when you order veg--I think the kitchen just gives up at that point. My dish was flavorful with a generous amount of tofu and vegetables. I looked across the table at my friend's soup bowl and saw a large hamhock rolling around in the broth. She showed me a piece of blood tofu, and sure enough it was almost black. It definitely looked a lot firmer than regular tofu. The soup was too much for my friend to tackle but she gave it a go just the same. After leaving Green Leaf we grabbed bubble teas before grabbing a bus back to the "financial district." "What's Vietnamese for 'gay'?" "Thai."
(4)steve c.
Green Leaf, your food left me and my tummy happy and not feeling green; thank you! p.s. spring rolls w/ the something crunchy in them are good!!
(4)Jan W.
I always order the combination noodles with shrimp, grilled pork, lots of vegies, egg roll, and fish sauce are the best I've ever had anywhere in Seattle. Definitely get the fresh spring rolls wrapped in rice paper. The first time I had this appetizer I was surprised with the crispy center, big plus! The fried flower cake is great with it's crispy outside soft inside and dipping sauce. I never leave with out getting the 3 bean desert. Coconut milk, ice, tapioca, red bean, mung bean and what not it's what hits the spot. For some reason, not many vietnamese restaurants serve this anymore so this is the only place that I know of that still serves it.
(5)Stephanie P.
I ordered the Lemongrass Sea Bass special once, and got escolar. I was unaware and ate one of my two large pieces. And for those those who don't know, if you consume more than 6 ounces, it can give you gastrointestinal upset. UNCONTROLLABLE ORANGE OIL ANAL LEAKAGE. I felt like I'd been punked, it sucked. AND it was right when I was going on a cross country road trip. Horrible horrible experience. I will never ever eat here again, which is unfortunate bc I really liked them otherwise. If you do choose to dine here, just stick with a noodle dish... stay aware of the sketchy fish specials.
(1)Kal A.
This place is always awesome and cheap. Service is great. Sometimes the lunch lineup can be a bit long, but worth it. I definitely prefer Green Leaf to Tamarind Tree. TT has a nice atmosphere, but the food was just okay.
(5)Won M.
Is it possible that two awesome restaurants can be next to each other? Yes, Green Leaf is located next to the Sichuan Noodle House. What are the possibilities?! Yes, I found out that it is very possible and I am extremely lucky. Green Leaf is the best Vietnamese restaurant I have been to in Seattle. I know... That's a big statement but you will have to live with it. Tamarind Tree was my best before I had been to Green Leaf but having been to both places more than once, the debate can finally end here. I have had the Fried Duck Noodle Soup, Grill Short Ribs, Salad Rolls, Flour Cakes and Shrimp and Crab Udon Noodles. I know...I am a pig. But it's so good... I should have had more... - Duck Noodles Soup was simple yet had a lot of depth. It was one of those therapeutic dishes. I felt rejuvenated and refreshed after finishing the soup. AND it had a half a duck in there. - Flour Cakes with fried egg and green onions. They sprinkled crack on this one. I could've eaten like three dishes of this. Little fried cubes of flour cakes cooked with fried eggs and green onions. Crispy and chewy goodness. - Shrimp and Crab Noodle Soup. fo' git about it... It had the consistency of hot sour soup. Delicate and flavorful seafood crab broth with Udon noodles. Even had real crab and shrimp in the soup! This is going to be one of those restaurants I crave every month. I have too many of these now. Thanks to Yelp. Yelp, WHY MUST YOU FIND ME SO MANY GOOD PLACES?!? MY WALLET IS EMPTY! :)
(5)reese h.
Higher-end Vietnamese lunch spot, compared to Little Saigon as a collective of epicurean delight. It's good in a pinch when the Tamarind Tree busts capacity, and your ass ain't getting in within 45min-1hr! I went back for a visit with a friend who had never been. On a Friday noontime, I was pleased to find there were a couple of two tops left and we were seated immediately. Don't go for the Pho. They are better at just about everything else (dry noodle, rice, pancake, rolls...) The Vietnamese Pancake while not quite is good as TT, it is damn tasty and less $$. It's like this: Green Leaf is the less hot cousin that you bring along to double date for YOUR date's friend...everyone will probably get laid.
(4)Ha T.
Seven courses of beef may sound like too much. If done right, you get beef dishes variety, contrasting flavors and textures, with plenty of fresh veggies, special sauces and broths. I guess not even the best cook can make good food out of poor-quality meat, so we got some mixed results. We got beef & cabbage salad, beef hot pot, beef congee, and a plate of grilled meat. We waited and waited for them to give us the next three courses. What they gave us was the check.
(2)Rowena D.
Green Leaf is my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Seattle. They have great food at good prices. The restaurant is very clean and the staff is friendly. I came here for lunch recently with my husband. We started off with my two favorite appetizers: Banh Xeo and Escargot and Pork meatballs. Both were excellent as usual. This time around I ordered the Fried Duck Noodle Soup while my husband had the Combination Rice dish with grilled chicken, pork and shrimp with an egg on top. My soup was great! It was hot and filling. My husband enjoyed his dish as well. I'm glad they finally expanded the restaurant to add a second floor. The tables downstairs are still a bit too close together but at least they can fit more customers in the restaurant. =)
(5)John S.
Spring rolls with fried wonton skins. Try the catfish stew in a clay pot. Choose anything on the menu and you probably can't go wrong. In the heart of International District, you get this recommendation from Vietnamese friends. Hey, there's a lot more to Vietnamese food than pho!
(4)Muriel M.
AUTHENTIC. DELICIOUS. My mouth waters just thinking about the vermicelli combo bowl. Can't wait to go again!
(5)Rego S.
This is why I love Yelp: I have 5 hours in a city I've never been to before, and instead of falling into some tourist trap, I get to tap into the collective via Yelp Mobile and head directly to the best joints Seattle has to offer. The fried duck noodle soup was delicious (I usually find duck too chewy), and the staff was very friendly. We also sampled the kumquat soda (good) and pickled plum soda (weird to my western palette). I was very surprised that they were able to seat us almost immediately at 8:30 on a Friday night, but after dinner I found out the international district turns into the junkie district at night. I do not recommend walking around the neighborhood after dinner.
(5)Bunneh L.
Yeah, yeah, I'm jumping on the "Green Leaf rocks my world" bandwagon. So?? It's true! I had the clear udon with crab and shrimp for only $6.95. The broth was amazingly rich and deeply flavorful, with generous portions of seafood floating about. The tofu spring rolls had deep fried wonton skins inside, which gave it a nice, unexpected crunch. The skewered Chinese mushrooms were bursting with flavor--for a measly $3.95, I'm definitely ordering these next time! If you get there right at 5pm, there probably won't be a wait. The one small gripe was that I was hungry--actually, STARVING--2.5 hours later. So yes, I had dinner #2 at 7:30. Not the world's most filling food, but damn tasty.
(5)Karma B.
This place is low on ambiance but high on food. It took us bunch of out of towners awhile to get there, but that was more because of Seattle's weird layout with I-5 running through the middle of it. Once you find it you won't be disappointed. All of us got something different and all of it was good. Definitely get the spring rolls. They are not like any that you have ever had. But it's not fancy or big So if you want that, it's not for you.
(5)Jasmine R.
if only i wasn't really sick when i ate here, but to even things out since my tastebuds were gone but my vermicelli bowl still managed to kick in. my friend who i was with loved her pho, stating possibly the best pho yet... the directions to this place are a bit off looking at just the map, but worth it in the end once we found it, i'm definitely going back for more!
(4)Frank T.
Three words: Forget Tamarind Tree. If you want great Vietnamese food, this is the place to go. I have converted many friends who thought TT had the best V-food in town. I challenge anyone to try both places and compare the food/service/price. Grean Leaf wins hands down.
(5)M L.
This is my favorite restaurant to go to with my boyfriend. The Pho here is amazing. We've gone to several others around the city, and they just can't measure up. The broth is just heavenly. It's not the most romantic place and they are usually pretty busy. But we've always had great service and food for a great price.
(5)Lars H.
Wow, what an incredible menu! The menu was so extensive, it just blew my mind. I really believe it took me longer to "browse" the menu than it took for the waiter to take my order and have the food cooked. From the outside, this place appears to be a P.O.S. strip mall joint, but when you enter, WOW! The Vermicelli noodle combo was awesome, noodles actually cooked to perfection, something that seems very difficult in the greater Seattle area. I was so impressed with this place after a long afternoon shopping that I will definitely make the long drive again to try some of the other menu items. Thankyou Green Leaf!
(4)Darrell D.
I guess it's my turn to heap more well deserved praise on the Green Leaf for my first Yelp! review. The Green Leaf's unpretentiousness, excellent food and friendly attentive service at reasonable prices, rates the Green Leaf high on my fulfillment curve. Certainly one of the best Vietnamese meals I've had. For our first time visit we chose the fresh rolls (with deep fried egg roll wrapper for extra crunch) and the savory minced beef rolled in lop leaf. We followed with the assemble your own wraps tray order of the grilled pork with vermicelli noodles. Outstanding.
(5)Jacquie L.
Get the Beloved Celebrity Treatment Even waiting 20 minutes to be seated outside the restaurant was pleasant, with an outdoor heater set-up and a complimentary appetizer brought around by the head server. I thought WOW! how great. With Smiles and a million "thank you's" we were seated in the tiny little restaurant. The food was magnificent, the fresh spring rolls were great, the selection of beer wide and the entrees delicious, I recommend the Beef short ribs on the chef Special menu, yum. We ordered the full meal deal Beers, appetizers, 2 entrees, coffee, tea, and dessert. The bill was well under $25 each. The service was so NICE, very nice. I really felt like a beloved celebrity. They had a motto I spied in the back "Love yourself, Love everyone", It rang true thru and thru in every detail at Green Leaf. Just a note: If you have social anxiety or clausterphobia this place may not be for you. The place is small and tables are very close to other diners
(5)Sheila Y.
After a long day of non-productive studying my friend Jeremy proposed we go to Green Leaf. Always ready for something new I joined him in a culinary adventure. We decided to go all out and order the 7 course beef, with a shrimp salad and beer. All I can say is its a lot of food and my favorite part was the meatball-esque portion with the rice wrappers plus additional fillings. We decided to pack lettuce into the wrappers was disaster so take my advice and use the lettuce as an additional outer layer. Also, make sure to save room for dessert and order the banana concoction. This was definitely a more memorable cheap eats meal in Seattle and I'll be sure to hit it up again.
(4)Jen A.
Best chicken soup your Jewish grandmother didn't make for you. Tasty broth, well cooked and not dry chicken, egg noodles (but you can choose other types of noodles), and chock full of vegetables. Yes, I like it very much.
(4)Vi N.
Yumm.Did you know that Chef Batali went there?
(5)Brent S.
I've been to Green Leaf a number of times now, and each has been a great dinning experience.
(5)E Z.
Not quite the traditional Vietnamese food I am use to growing up but seems like the flavors eases you into the food, avoiding a shock factor. Bo la lot has no flavor from the leaf itself and does not emphasize on key ingredients that would make it memorable. Spring rolls are okay for me, a little biased since I believe it is more of a dish that you would custom make yourself but I can see how that could get messy. The dipping sauce is bland for me. But nice presentation. Bun mang vit is not as hearty as I would like and flavors that should come from that bamboo shoots are lacking in the broth. Probably won't be stalking parking spots for this restaurant in future.
(2)Ann C.
ESCARGO & CREPES! So freaking good I had to come back on my one day visit to Seattle :) Ordered my favorite, ban xeo aka crepes! Crispy, delicate, crepe with deliciousness inside...wrap it with lettuce and dip in fish sauce yum! Tried the escargo which had me squirming at first because I thought it would come in the snail shell but surprise! it didnt. It was grounded up with pork and served on a lemongrass stick like a lollypop. Tasted good too! Thanks for the lovely dinner!
(5)Dagny T.
Good food, not so nice service. We weren't served water until like 15 mins into being seated. The server arrived and couldn't be bothered to look at us or listen to what we were asking. Finally managed to order dinner. My husband's order arrived in 15 mins or so. And then we both stared at it until mine arrived, about 15 mins later. (Ok I nibbled on his food). But still, it would be nice if we were able to get ours at the same time. Never got a water refill. Service was pretty much non existent.
(3)Felicia H.
This review is actually for Green Leaf's catering. If you didn't know, they do weddings! (And I'm sure other events if asked.) They cook all their food on site so everything comes out piping hot, thus they require a bit more time to get ready than other caterers. When I was in the nascent stages of planning my wedding, my best friend was in another wedding and called me to say: if you're going to serve Vietnamese food at your wedding, you HAVE TO USE GREEN LEAF. So I did! We served our guests an 8 course meal consisting of cold cuts during cocktail hour, then chicken skewers, papaya and mango salad, chicken cabbage salad, honey walnut prawns, lemon grass prawns, salted fish fried rice and stir-fried lobster. Finished with fresh fruit and a dessert bar (see my review for Gelatiamo). I think dinner took up 1.5 hours of the reception but it was time well spent. All of my guests raved about the food and no one left hungry (I also did a late night snack of Dick's burgers just in case). Green Leaf caters many of the Vietnamese weddings in the Seattle area and there's an obvious reason why. The owner, Peter, is near impossible to reach by email, so calling him is best. Even then, sometimes it's difficult to get him to return a call in a timely manner. Needless to say, this made me a very anxious bride. However, he's extremely nice, accommodating and professional. He's easy to work with once you get in some face time. All in all, I would definitely recommend Green Leaf for your wedding or other celebratory event. Message me if you want more details.
(5)jackie m.
Best Vietnamese food I have ever had in my entire leaf. Get the combination vermicelli - chicken, pork, shrimp and egg rolls on a bed of amazingness. And for $11.95? Yes, please. Check this place out!!
(5)Bryan K.
Just great Vietnamese food. The building and interior is pretty run down (the carpet gave me the creeps and needs to go). However the large wooden tables and chairs shaped like wagons or chariots are an old school charm that I appreciate, even if it makes things a bit cramped. I had the pork vermicelli bowl and chicken wings. The wings were good, but a bit oily. I wish they didn't put the wings on lettuce and tomatoes because it took away from the crispiness of the chicken. The vermicelli bowl was awesome. Good portion size, with grilled pork and crispy egg roll. I prefer when the pork is skewered, but it was good none the less. One thing I noticed was the clientele was almost 50/50 Asian/Caucasian. Must be due to all the great yelp reviews. Authentic, reasonably priced, quick and friendly service!
(4)Jes A.
What is the deal? How could this place have so many great reviews? We got our usual, that we get at every Vietnamese place we go to--- Boon Teen Noon (that's not how you spell, but it's close to how you say it). It's rice vermicelli with lettuce, bean sprouts, cucumber and meat. Well I had already decided on this place when I was sitting at the table and reading a review that it had gotten shut down on health code violations the week before. Great. So I make sure to order the beef. It comes out and the beef looks boiled. Ew, boiled meat is so gross. My husband and I could barely finish our meal. Everything came out fast, but everything was luke warm. The egg rolls were not burning hot like they should be. The meat in our dish was room temp, clearly not just cooked up. I was pretty grossed out by this place and would not recommend coming here. Service was good though.
(2)Andrew P.
Coming into this restaurant for the first time I thought the experience was really good. The place was pretty nice, its a small restaurant so seating can be limited. Sitting down our server was really nice, he asked me if I've been here before i told him i have not, and he began to tell me popular dishes that people usually get and what he recommended which I thought was very helpful. I ordered a banh xeo for an appetizer and it was really good, for my main entree I had this soup which i forgot the name of it unfortunately but it came with a bunch of meat and pork blood in it which was very delicious. The price of the food is a little more than most Vietnamese restaurants but i think for the quality of the food i got it was well worth it. The only downside I would say of the place is that they don't have there own parking, its all street parking so that could be a hassle. Overall service and food was on point and i would definitely recommend checking out this place if you are ever in the Chinatown area.
(5)Teaira L.
I'm a late lunch-eater. When it's almost two o'clock in the afternoon, there are customers, and the restaurant location is away from the bustle of the ID, it's a good sign. The 800+ reviews with an average of 4 stars should be indicative enough. This place serves up some delicious eats. +2 For the interior - The accolades and articles hung up on wall show how popular and fantastic the eats are here. The lighting is intimate. Fully decorated in good taste. Their great at keeping the place cool despite how warm and beautiful it's been the past few days, with an air conditioner. +1 For the food - My bun was a fantastic flavor bomb of goodness. +1/-1 For my beverage - Not overly sweet, but a three-quarters full of ice? Appetizer: None (shocker, I always get an app) Main Entree: Combo Bun (Vermicelli noodles with grilled pork, fried spring roll, and grilled shrimp) Beverage: Vietnamese Iced Coffee I could not for the life of me remember what all the other Yelpers said was their favorite. I'm weird about my phone in an eating environment. I'll only use it to check in, other than that, no phone. I figured I could start out with something basic, the Combo Bun. But it was far from basic. They took an otherwise super simple dish and cranked up the flavors and the freshness is noticeable. When you see the staff hauling in ingredients through the restaurant, take that as a good sign. Take it to mean that their food is so popular that they have to restock their inventory to meet demand. As for my beverage, best iced coffee I've had. Not overly sweet, creamy, and not too bitter. Green Leaf is the Vietnamese standard, I can never go back.
(5)Neha M.
We had a mango salad there which was so mind-blowingly good, that I want to come back again for sure. I also had prawns cooked with lemongrass and other spices which was average at best (hence the 4 stars and not five). But the other 2 folks with me ordered food which was delicious. All in all, I would need to go back again!
(4)Samantha G.
Came here on a rainy Saturday afternoon and ordered the fried duck noodle soup. I really enjoyed this dish since the broth was not overly salty. The noodles were perfect (al dente) but the duck was a bit on the dry side. Service here is on point and the place is well kept. I'm looking forward to check out their duck salad the next time I visit here.
(4)Matt L.
Our family comes here often for solid Vietnamese food. It is not fancy or outstanding food but satisfies the craving. We usually get one of the Bun (cold vermicelli noodle) salads and pho soups. The service is quick and attentive, even if not super friendly.
(4)James C.
Best vermicelli I've ever had. Small, but enough room to get the job done. Friendly staff. Never had anything here that wasn't great.
(5)Judy K.
Make sure you get the fresh spring rolls with the peanut sauce!!! So light and yummy, it's amazing how such simple dishes give so much joy. We ordered the duck noodle soup and vermacelli bowl. Both were exceptional and possibly the best Vietnamese food I have ever eaten. Both dishes were satisfying and light. I love feeling full but not heavy. Mmm. Don't be discouraged when you walk into the restaurant. It looks uber small, but there is also an upstairs!
(4)TJ B.
I've eaten here many times over the last 5 years and it's by far my favorite Vietnamese Restaurant in town. The service is always friendly and speedy. The food is fresh and delicious. My favorite is the Bahn Xeo, it is so fresh and yummy. As I walk through the restaurant I always see other dishes I want to try and I have tried many of them. It never dissapoints and you can't beat the prices very afforadable.
(5)Erika E.
I've been to both this one in the International District, and the one in Belltown, and they both have amazingly tasty food. The one in the ID is cramped, but low-key, with a lot of random folk in casual attire -- sweatshirts and well-behaved children wouldn't feel out of place. The one in Belltown is much roomier and not a little swanky, and since it's in the basement of the Labor Temple, it feels hidden away like a secret - it would be an excellent date spot. I love that they have both options available, because again, their food is AMAZING. If you're not sure, get the combo vermicilli.
(5)Jamie E.
I really wanted to love this place but I was disappointed, I was by myself so I didn't get to try a lot of stuff. It could be that my dish (some sort of broiled fish) just was a miss.
(3)Rebecca L.
Genius Whoever thought of putting crispy wonton in fresh spring roll is a genius. Five star for their fresh spring roll (and their peanut sauce) two star for the rest of the food. I don't know what y'all are thinking, but i thought that the food was...bland. The duck soup tasted like "ham water"---insert arrested development reference-- and the noodles are always too mushy and it always has waaaaaaaaaaay tooo many noodles. Also their pancake tastes like a sprout explosion. If i want that much sprouts, i would have rather had that instead of the noodles. Green leaf, I am sorry, but three stars for you. you are quick and fast, but so are hookers... that does not win points from me.
(3)Beth E.
I think the best thing about Green Leaf is for its low price range - $9 for my dinner en tree - the food is great and the atmosphere is sophisticated. I particularly like their serving dishes and tea cups. I can't give it higher than 3 stars because my "stir-fried" rice noodles were stuck together in one huge lump. It seemed like the dish was more like stir-fried vegetables and tofu on top of boiled rice noodles without any oil or vinegar added to them. The veggies and tofu on top of the dish were excellent, though. It's rare that I go to a Seattle restaurant with tofu chosen and prepared that well. I liked our appetizer, shrimp on sugar cane, but thought the sugar cane was difficult to bite into. The en tree serving size was perfect. You don't really need an appetizer with it. I was also pleasantly surprised to discover they serve Tsingtao beer :) Another plus is that this place is good for people who want to share dishes or get their own, and those who like chopsticks or spoon/fork. Other downsides are that the service was kind of slow/understaffed and the restaurant is quite crowded in terms of waiting area and distance of tables from one another. It's also too loud to talk on the phone in, which is something I generally don't mind but I know some people do.
(3)Adron H.
Best pho in Seattle so far! The atmosphere is pretty chill, yet a little busy during the middle of the day during lunch. So far I've had the Pho, the Vermicelli Bowls, and numerous other items and they are absolutely top bar in Seattle (and other places for that matter). If you want Vietnamese, go here.
(4)Allen L.
Solid food! Not like some places that skimp on the goods. GF & I shared the Vietnamese pancake (w/ shrimp & pork), I had a pho dac biet while she had the bun bo hue. Pancake was very yummy wrapped in the greens and dipped in the sauce. Pho broth had nice murkiness which to me means that there's some animal parts that went into the making of the broth, a good sign. Tasted just right w/o any overwhelming spices. BBH was also very tasty. Both noodles had plenty of toppings. Only bad thing about this place is that it is kind of slow compared to the pho places I'm used to in SF. We arrived slightly before the lunch rush. Maybe it was the prep time needed for the pancake? Maybe cuz the place is too small for them to operate efficiently? No matter cuz I would go back here anytime I'm in Seattle.
(4)Sara G.
Delicious fresh Vietnamese food. There is a complexity to the flavors in most dishes that is incomparable to most Vietnamese food I have eaten in the Seattle area. There is often a wait at dinner time, in the Winter this can be awkward because there is no where to wait inside. Fortunately, tables open up quickly, this isn't a linger and enjoy the entire evening kind of place. Can be hot inside in the Summer, but usually the light salads and wonderful flavors override the warmth for me. The food and service are straight forward and fast. The food is wonderful, but I think their Pho is just average. Tasty, but the other food is really what impresses and what is worth the trip. My favorites are the grilled lemongrass eggplant, the pancake with pork and shrimp, beef salad, vermicelli and noodle dishes and the spring rolls. But honestly, everything else I have tasted here has been great. Curious that they they didn't have a crispy spring roll, Sarah M. They have one as part of the Combo Vermicelli bowl. Not sure why it wouldn't be on the menu on its own...
(5)Nio S.
I never thought this place would be so packed and took me by surprise they had and upstairs dining area as well. The moment my wife and I walked in we thought we were gonna have to wait but we ended up upstairs. The ambience of the restaurant has a romantic tone to the place because of the low lighting and decor around the area. Now back to the main purpose of this review...the food. My wife and I both had Pho, she had Rare- beef and Brisket and I had meatballs. We both enjoyed our Pho and was very pleased with the broth which was light and not so greasy and heavy. We will be definitely be coming back here again!
(4)An R.
At first I thought Vietnamese food cant be good! Cause I had a Vietnamese roommate before .. But this restaurant is amazing !!!!! Good atmosphere. Two floor. The stair might be a little dangerous. But the food is amazing! The size is great! And the chicken, beef is one of the best I ever have! I will definitely want to try it again
(4)Hugo S.
Great food, great staff. We had a group of 6 that went for dinner - we all really enjoyed the food, the prompt service, and reasonable prices. As others suggest, the spring rolls are indeed good.
(4)Matthew D.
Went to Green Leaf for my sister-in-laws birthday and this place didn't disappoint. First impress of the place made it out to be a dive, but it was great. The vermicelli noodle bowl is spectacular as was the deep fried yams and shrimp appetizer. Pass on the curry if you eat here and be aware the portions are BIG. You'll be taking leftovers home when you're done.
(4)Philip T.
First time here. Arrived on a Friday night around 9:30pm. Ordered the duck noodle, which has a side salad -- asked the waitress whether she would recommend the house noodle over this and she said she would go for the duck noodle. Man, o, man, the best noodle I have in the States! The noodle -- its texture, its Q-ness -- reminded me of the great noodle I had/can find in Taiwan -- reminded me of my fond childhood memories, almost like the instant when the food critic had the first few bites in the movie "Ratatouille." For this alone, I would give it a 5. In addition, the value and selection is great.
(5)Curtis C.
I am going to give this place an upgrade. This is the defacto Vietnamese restaurant that i go to in the greater Seattle area. The spring rolls are off the hook and the bbq pork rice and vemicelli dishes are to die for. The wait staff is attentive and super nice. The have an expanded upstairs area now that is perfect for large groups and helps take off some off the crazy crowds that come here. The only thing that i would go against is getting pho here. Good pho but over priced compared to some of the other places around here. Again, this place is solid.
(5)monica c.
Delish! I went here with my sister on a relatively chilly early summer night. Their veggie soup was perfection. Delicious broth (especially when loaded up with their spicy sauce!), and a bunch of yum yum veggies. I loved the veggie ham, too. Service was quick, the food was piping hot, and the prices were great. Decor inside is pretty cute and festive. Downstairs, there's only one unisex bathroom, so head upstairs if there's a line.
(5)Maria Cristina B.
You must try the 7 course beef. It's only $27 and so much food! I have never had a bad meal here and the service is very good. I
(4)Tri H.
I'm Vietnamese so i have a pretty strong understanding of what is authentic. Next to Tamarind Tree these two restaurants (albeit Green Leaf is cheaper) are amazing and will give you a little taste of Vietnam. I even took my parents here and they loved it (which is hard to impress my mom).
(5)Marisa G.
Each year I come to Seattle and the only place on my "must go to" list is Green Leaf! The pho and vermicelli bowls are awesome, beat a lot of the places I've been to in the SF Bay Area!
(5)Arun K.
This is my place for pho in Seattle. Great food, great service, decent prices!
(4)Bacon M.
Meh. This is basically a cramped, slightly grittier version of Tamarind Tree. The pho and spring rolls were not amazing. This was a disappointment all around, because it had no impressive areas: better pho is at pho bac, better ambiance is at tamarind tree, and better prices are at thanh brothers (and pho bac, actually). Here, you get mediocre on all levels, with fairly high prices for pho. Also, (again) very crowded and cramped. Will not be returning.
(2)Eugenia P.
Vietnamese Crepe = Oh so good. My favorite place to get it! They are really nice here and their other foods are great too including their 5-course beef meal and lotus root salad. One of my favorite restaurants (Vietnamese is my favorite cuisine)!
(5)Michelle Y.
This place is always full. I have mostly been during lunch and dinner and every single time it is always rocking. The banana desert is one of my favorite dishes. Usually I order the rice combo dish (the one with the fried egg). I highly recommend it...it is definitely at the very top of my list for restaurants in the International District.
(5)Brian G.
Favorite Asian Restaurant in Seattle. Wonderful for Lunch. Great prices, location, decor, and food. This is not a vegetarian restaurant, but it has an extremely good selection of vegetarian options, which means that it is appropriate for any dietary mix of people. The food is all fantastic (particularly love the pancakes). Some of the best seating is upstairs.
(5)Alan N.
It probably doesn't help that I'm picky with Vietnamese food since I am, well, Vietnamese! Honestly, I think they try a little too hard with presentation and atmosphere and forgot to really try with food. Don't get me wrong, it's better than most other Vietnamese places I've been to in Seattle but I think hearing how good it was from multiple sources got my expectations a little higher than it needed to be. I came here with family and ate a number of dishes but the one that stuck out to me was their "special" duck soup. It really lacked any flair and definitely left me the most unimpressed. Nothing was special and in fact I think the duck was overcooked because it was really dry considering it was in a soup. Otherwise I really liked the location, the mood and the decor of the place. On the other hand, it tries to make a sad and half-assed attempt of an interpretation of Vietnamese culture; everything from the way the waitresses are dressed (they're dressed in Chinese garments, not Vietnamese) down to the furniture (looks like it belongs in a Sergio Leone Spaghetti Western). The rest of the dishes were on par with Saigon Palms but at least there they are better equipped to handle large parties, they a better bar with a better, funnier and more conversational bartender and the prices were a little more expensive. An overall "tÃnh t" experience.
(3)Bea N.
When we first walked into this location I thought it was small until we were asked if we would like to sit upstairs or downstairs. We sat upstairs and enjoyed the benched style seating. I ordered: 1) Bun thit nuong: It was good with their green onions and fried shallots sprinkled on top but I felt like it was missing something.....they had lettuce, pickled carrots and bean sprouts but no vietnamese herbs (rau). If you don't care for the herbs, you'll love this dish. 2) Goi coun: This tasted like lettuce rice paper with a hint of shrimp and pork. They were super skimpy on the shrimp and pork so it tasted like lettuce wrapped in rice paper. Also, this had no Viet herbs. 3) Pho Bo (beef): It was ok. Nothing really stood out except the portion was small. I would come here again if I was hungry and in the area.
(3)Mary S.
Food was very fresh and tasty. Everything was well cooked. The food was very classy for Vietnamese. I'm used to a more laid back feel. The food is presented in a very modern manner. I like to feel more at home when I go for some Vietnamese... just my opinion. I hear the pho is good, didn't try it. Got the vermicelli, gonna try something else next time. It wasn't the best I've ever had. However the papaya salad was quite yum. I'd recommend giving this place a shot for sure. Great for a date!
(3)Jess S.
I live in Chinatown & have been to every pho place around. Green Leaf wins hand down for best veggie pho & spring rolls. The springs rolls have a crunchy wonton-like thing in them that makes them amazing!
(5)Ngoc-Diep P.
Forgive the bad poem folks, but I felt this restaurant deserves a poem!! Oh dear Green Leaf How do I love thee? Let me count the ways... I love that you are cheap ($8) Not in a bad way of course Because your soup bowls (bun bo hue, bun oc, banh canh dat biet, banh canh tom cua, pho, hu tieu, mi vit tiem, etc) Are always so good and large that one can feed a horse. Although your decoration is one of the worst I love your appetizers, salads, and dessert Papaya,mango salad, che ba mau So yummy that every time I say "WOW!" I love all your rice and nooddle plates Filled with grilled shrimp, meat, vegetables, and eggs Your nuoc mam (fish sauce) is so good That it was edible even for my non-Asian date. I love that last weekend, you managed to impress my parents Who are usually critical and arrogant When it comes to authentic Vietnamese restaurants Or any restaurants owned by anyone who's Asian. No matter how many other Vietnamese restaurants I go to my dear I will always remember you in my heart So never fear For you, I will always eat here! Love always, The Food Addict
(5)Theresa D.
I'd really give this place 3.5 stars, but as we all know... not really possible. I liked Green Leaf, but it definitely wasn't a 4 or 5 star for me. I thought it was TINY, it felt very cramped inside, and the lack of lighting made it feel even smaller. I had the Banh Xeo (something I was excited to find in a restaurant, and didn't have to bug my mom to make), but was disappointed with the lack of pork and shrimp, as well as the overpowering flavor of the crepe itself. Call me prejudice, but I guess after mom's great cooking, I have high standards.
(3)Andrew M.
Green Leaf is one of my coworkers' favorite lunch spots, and for good reason. There are lots of options, and all come up how and tasty. I've had the vegetarian bun (cold rice noodle bowl) with vegetables and tofu and fake ham, and also some vegetarian soup. Good vegetarian options and everything is high quality. It's a little dark inside. See if you can sit upstairs near the window for the cheeriest place. Good for groups, too!
(4)Ian B.
I brought a friend here, and she said that it was the best Pho that she's had in a long time. This is the perfect place to go for winter nourishment when a person is recuperating from a cold or the flu. I also like the huge ceramic bowls, the bamboo, and a lot of things about this place. So many cool touches, and overall I just like the vibe. I know more about Mexican food than I do about Vietnamese or Pho, but, I definitely dig this place. Take a good friend on a Sunday afternoon for some quality food and conversation and you'll leave feeling fulfilled.
(4)Trevor B.
The deluxe tendon/tripe soup is wonderful. So is the dry noodle.
(4)Nhung D.
Was excited to try this place out. But it just really isn't that great. I have been here twice, maybe three times and each timeI was semi disappointed. Their lemongrass beef was extra chunky and chewy = ewww. There wasn't much beef in it either. I have tried 3 of their soups (the one with duck, one with crab meat and their pho). All of which were just okay, not "awesome" but not bad either. Probably will not come here again. Will stick with Tamarind Tree instead.
(3)Richard L.
A solid 4 star restaurant in the ID, if you find what you like on the menu. I stick to a few favorites: the grilled chicken with rice, vegetarian spring rolls, and occasionally a vermicelli noodle bowl. I experimented with their curry once and didn't find it particularly enjoyable. If I didn't have my favorites I'd probably drop this to a 3. The dishes I stick with always taste fresh and are large enough to provide a filling lunch. Service is super quick and seems willing to accept modifications to accommodate diet or taste. While not able to accommodate very large groups they do have an upstairs with more table space and strange wagon wheel styled chairs.
(4)Ling B.
I used to really like this place but was disappointed on a recent visit. Over the past year, it seems like the quality of their food has been going down. I ordered pho. The broth was pretty bland and the beef was not very fresh. In the past, the quality seemed much higher. My girlfriend reported a similar experience with her dish. I wonder if Green Leaf is just trying to ride their reputation out and getting lazy. Pics of our meal: ling.swingvine.com/view?…
(2)Tom C.
I love this place - the food is delicious and healthy, and reasonably priced. It is in a great neighborhood with lots of fun things to do and see. The servers and owners are friendly, funny and helpful. And the upstairs space has amazing wagon-wheel furniture. I would almost relocate to be closer!
(5)Simeng W.
This place is awesome. It's a small restaurant with amazing food. I always get the combination pho which is great. They have these pancakes for appetizers that are amazing with fish sauce. Overall it's a great place and you can't beat the price.
(4)Lindsay S.
Definitely the best pho I've had in Seattle. Both times I've been here I got the vegetarian pho and was pleasantly surprised with the amount of vegetables and tofu that came in it. The vegetarian fresh rolls with peanut sauce were also really good. Highly suggest this place for great Vietnamese food, and I'm super excited to try out the new Belltown location.
(4)Allison R.
Went there for dinner and it was good. Friendly staff and nice dining room. We ordered several dishes and find they are dependable. Overall good experience.
(3)Paige H.
My favorite things to eat at Green Leaf are the fresh rolls and the combination vermicelli (bun) dishes. As a matter of fact, all of the bun dishes are pretty amazing. They are so delicious, I dream about them. I will say, however, the pho here is not as good as some of the other places I have been to. (I prefer Cafe Cyclo's pho.) Thus, 4 stars instead of 5. The atmosphere is cozy and warm - perfect for a cold winter day! The staff is attentive and friendly and it never takes too long to get a seat - even if it does get a little crowded at times!
(4)Connie C.
My bf and I came here for our first dinner in Seattle. We had walked from Pioneer Square to China town and was looking for something to eat. I had their vermicelli noodles and I really enjoyed it. The sauce wasn't too tangy and everything was really fresh. My bf opted for their spicy curry noodle soup. He didn't seem to enjoy it at all. I tried it and didn't think it was bad. But I definitely enjoyed my dish more. We also had their lemongrass filled beef. The texture was bit tough but it was still delicious. The service was great and the place got packed quickly. Definitely worth trying out if you're in the area.
(4)Motch V.
Really good. Prices a bit high for typical Vietnamese lunch fare (pho and etc) but quality is good and the portions are large so you don't feel ripped off. I ordered the garlic basil clams and there was a substantial number of clams there. Definitely worth trying.
(4)Evan M.
Wow, really? Not liking Green Leaf feels like hating babies b/c it seems that everyone loves it sooooo much. Maybe I went on the worst night they've ever had? For whatever reason, I was really unimpressed and really unhappy by the end of the evening. Let me count the ways: 1) TERRIBLE seating and atmosphere - The chairs are giant wagon-wheel/boat-steering-wheel monstrosities that dwarf anyone who sits in them. I'm 6'4" and I found them to be freakishly big, bulky, and uncomfortable. Also, they make it impossible to sit at the table and hear anyone. I usually scoff at people who give fewer stars for this kinda stuff, but this was really bad. 2) Bland food - I liked 1 out of the 7 dishes we tried. Things were too sweet, too watery, too under seasoned. I'll admit that maybe I ordered all the wrong things, but you'd think that goo stuff more than 1 / 7 times would be expected. 3) Expensive - For these prices I'll take my business to Tamarind Tree or Long and get some inventive, delicious Vietnamese food in a shwanky place w/ good cocktails. 4) Clueless wait staff - We had a lot of trouble with the waiters. The only thing I care about was they didn't want to serve anything family style unless it came off of this one part of the menu. All kinds of hassle. Whatever, we made it work, but they seems so put off. So, to wrap up: I hate babies, puppies, love, happiness and Green Leaf restaurant.
(2)Katsura K.
Greenleaf is one of my favorite restaurants!! I LOVE GREENLEAF! Service is always fast and friendly and so inexpensive for amount of food and the quality. There is often a wait but it is definitely worth the wait! I highly recommend the green mango salad with the grilled shrimp, the combo bun, uh and can I get some beef short ribs or some grilled pork chops with that please.....yummm.....!!!!!! Try it you will not be disappointed! It is definitely a hidden gem in Seattle
(5)Sheridan T.
Maybe the best vietnamese place I've been to. Great food, nice inside and good service.
(5)Emily O.
I love this place! Went here with a couple friends for dinner on a Wednesday evening and the place was packed! Although it was very busy, the staff was very friendly, helpful, and professional - SO RARE when a restaurant is busy! I had their brisket pho... and my oh my! It was so delicious and I admit I can be a pho snob... and this definitely tops my list of best pho :) Recommended for everyone who loves pho, vietnamese food, and awesome service!
(5)Quani C.
Props to you, Michelle B. for sending us this way last night after out Seattle Center venture, props to you! I'm so happy that this place is nearby my house, I'll be able to walk to inexpensive, delicious, Vietnamese food almost any time I have a hankering! It's a tiny place and was pretty busy, but we got a table after waiting for only about five minutes. The waitrons are more than pleasant and very willing to accomodate you. I ordered a combination (pork, shrimp, and chicken) bun and my date had a chicken bun with lemongrass. Both were very, very tasty...even without the fish sauce. I'm not a huge fan of pork, but it was delicious!!! The veggies were prepared perfectly and the egg roll that came with it topped it off perfectly. All of this fabulous food came out to a mere $20 (which includes a hearty tip!) I'll be back...often.
(5)Natalie W.
Yummy, yum, yum! Fast, informative, kind service developed flavors and spices good vibrant space duck soup, Vietnamese pancake, & house combo soup lower price point than most of Seattle + awesome first visit experience = 5 stars! Fyi's~ * If you don't know how to eat something just ask or look bewildered and they would probably offer to tell you * Large portions= $8- with lots to take home * 1 Vietnamese pancake is more than enough app. for 2 people * It would be hard to fit a group in here- basically 2 and 4 tops available
(5)Chase W.
Nearly my favorite restaurant in Seattle. Even though every time I have ever been here, the place is jammed--I have never waited too long out the door. This is a testament to their typically lightning fast kitchen service and unobtrusive servers. I have been here probably 30 times, and never once disappointed. The warm tea is always good, the food always stellar, hot, expertly prepared, beautiful, filling, and hello! The price is right! One more thing: Always, ALWAYS save room and get that little fried banana coconut dessert!
(5)Ryan C.
This tiny place churns out some of the best Vietnamese food anywhere. Everything was accompanied by mounds of fresh vegetables and herbs, and all the plates were distinctive and beautiful. Service was warm and friendly, and the restaurant is so darn cute. It was really hard to find parking but it's worth the walk to eat here. Yum yum.
(5)Chip C.
Hi everybody. Usually I don't write a review after visiting a place just once. I must say, the bún riêu here is the best I had in my life...so far. If I ever come back to Seattle, I going to eat here again.
(5)Susanne K.
Yeah, two stars for definitely having better. I've been tasting pho all over Seattle for the last year and a half ordering the same kind every time, pho with rare beef steak. At Green Leaf, it is about 2-3 more dollars than the average Pho around town. I'm thinking this better be some good Pho! However, my whole experience was tainted right from the start by various reasons: #1. dirty unisex bathroom experience before eating (it was horribly disgusting, the upstairs smelled and looked like someone seriously missed the toilet going number 1; trying to do a balancing act to not touch anything in a restaurant toilet is not right. But I admit I do have a slight fear of public bathrooms); #2. The steak was dry, not flavorful; #3. too much meat and not enough noodle ratio. Soup flavor is alright. The spring rolls were good, similar to tamarind tree, with the crunchy bits. As far as the price, it is overpriced for what you get. Plus, the look of the place is culturally nice, but staff there must avoid or forget the bathroom duties in such a high volume place. One shouldn't have to feel dirty leaving a place after eating there. That just ain't right.
(2)Marilyn V.
I've been here for lunch a few times and I have not been disappointed. Though they're often busy, the service is great and the staff is very attentive. My favorite dish here is the Buon Xeo, probably one of the best places that I've had this dish. (The crepe is just so damn crispy!) I've also had their pho here, which was just okay. All in all, this place has amazing food and I will definitely keep coming back.
(4)Anthony L.
Excellent food and nice entree presentation despite the meager decor and perplexing carry-over furniture (upstairs) probably from the previous business. Been going to Green Leaf since it opened many years ago and have yet to be disappointed in over 20+ visits. The spring (salad) rolls are super fresh and extra large and the pho and bun dishes are always packing a flavor punch and good sized portions. Extra little touches like fried onion bits and firm (not soggy) noodles add just that additional depth to each meal. Service can sometimes lad when they're really busy and like I mentioned the decor is pretty low-brow. But food-wise, it's hard to beat.
(5)Finer T.
Previous reviews have included places like Dick's, Paseo, Pam's on The Ave. And I know what you guys are thinking-"How can this fool afford to go to all these places!? Damn, this dude is a straight balla!" Even so, I think it's about time to step my game up. That's why I headed to the I.D. where the streets are lined with mad cash, yo. First, let me get one thing out of the way, I noticed some haters on here complaining about the service not being friendly. Let me tell you something. You need to build a bridge and........Get Over It. Don't you know that's how they roll in the I.D? Ok, on to the review. About the cook -homey got mad skillz! Started off with the spring rolls. You get four, but they're pretty huge and crisp. Then had the pancakes with shrimp and pork. It's pretty bland alone, but with the dipping sauces it's very good. Lastly, I had the rice with pork chop, shredded pork and egg pie(#64). Very flavorful and the perfect portion. Had a 33 Export Lager to wash it down. Looking around at all the other tables, all the dishes looked good. Take into consideration the cost and you've got a solid outing. Unlike other reviewers I found the service very accommodating and friendly. So don't hate, appreciate!
(4)Matt Y.
My friend (and fellow Yelper) Chet finally got me out to the International District to try some Seattle Pho. Having been confined solely to the Eastside so far, I was totally excited to see what they had to offer. In short: AMAZING. I always thought the broth at my two usual Pho joints was good; not too much a difference between them and perfectly taste. Woah. Green Leaf has the real deal. Just...much deeper, more complex, rich flavors coming out of this bowl. The tripe was actually delicious; I typically skip putting it in my takeout bowls because it offered me no taste. The tendon? Gone is the gelatinous blob and here is the flavor and chewiness. Together with a Vietnamese pancake, this was one tasty meal. The inside is totally cramped and reminds me of a place where Seattlites would stop into for a quick meal. The staff is fast and efficient and friendly. Table tops are small, but right in line with the cramped feeling. This isn't a place where you want to sit and chat for hours. Just eat the amazing Pho and enjoy.
(4)Lili T.
I never knew about the dining room on the second floor but it does exist. Seats are less comfortable because you're ultimately sitting on a wooden bench but it is a little roomier. I came here with a few coworkers during lunch hour and we had the following dishes: -"Bun mam", a vermicelli noodle soup with shrimp paste in it. -"Mi vit tiem" duck noodle soup -"Bun mang vit" a vermicelli noodle soup with bamboo and a duck salad on the side For the most part, the dishes were okay. I was expecting the dishes to be a bit more Americanized since there were very few Vietnamese here but actually, it was quite authentic. My complaint however was that the broth in the "bun mam" was too salty and the noodle (in all of the dishes) were undercooked.
(3)richard w.
Prompt, friendly, courteous service. Delicious food (I had the beef salad) with clean, complex flavors. Reasonably priced. Wht more could a person ask for?
(4)Thomas L.
I don't get what the fuss about this place. So I went back a 2nd time and tried the bun bo hue. It was actually decent. So why the 1 star? well the 1 star is because of the 3rd visit. First time in 2.5 years I've had to put nuoc mam (fish sauce) in my pho because it was bland. That's probably the first time in about 100+ bowl of pho. The fried wings were bland as well. The batter had no flavor and they were simply counting on the spicy sweet and sour sauce to give the wings flavor. I think this is the third strike and I will never go back. At least tamarind tree's food isn't nearly as bad as this place... just a little pricey.
(1)E. J. S.
Maybe the food is slipping a little here. Or maybe this is one of those Seattle place that gets over hyped and ends up living off of reputation. I went a few years ago and remembering having really great food. But upon my return this weekend, the wife and I were really disappointed. The food was oily and lacked flavor. I will say the service was nice and friendly, especially for the ID. With so many good alternatives in the ID, I don't know why I would wait in cramped quarters to eat here.
(2)Quynh-An P.
SIGH. I really want to like this place. Really I do. They offer a lot of different types of Viet food that I can't find anywhere else...but every time I come here I just walk away disappointed and wishing that I had gone elsewhere. I was so excited that they had Bo 7 Mon. (7 courses of beef) and dragged the boyfriend and some male friends out to eat it with me. I mean, 7 courses of beef, the guys will like that right? Yeah, it was a paltry 7 courses. I mean, it's suppose to be a boatload of beef here, not puny tiny little samplings. Seriously! The guys were not that impressed and I had to swear to the boyfriend I'd take him to get some REAL Bo 7 Mon when we're in SoCal next. The second time I was here we came with a large group and I was thrilled to see that they had Banh Cuon (basically like a rolled rice crepe filled with beef and mushrooms). This is one of my favorite dishes ever. The boyfriend ordered Bun Thit Nuong (vermicilli noodles with grilled pork)...his favorite. I'm not a big eater to begin with, but this did not even begin to fill me up. It was not enough food and I was still hungry afterward...same with the boyfriend. I'm sorry, that's unacceptable to me. I like to be full when I order food, thank you very much. Today we came for lunch. I ordered the Bun Bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup) and the boyfriend had Bun Rieu (tomato shrimp noodle soup). The bun bo hue's broth was a bit off...there was something missing and not right about it. Additionally, it was a bit too spicy. I felt like they made it overly spicy to mask the fact that this wasn't really bun bo hue. I usually scarf down my bun bo hue, even bun bo hues that I don't care too much about...but I barely even ate half of this. This was the first time EVER that the boyfriend has ever finished his noodle soup before I do. His bun rieu was pretty good though...although a bit salty. When he added some lime juice to it though, it was perfect. So I'll give them credit for that, I suppose. The noodle bowls are huge, so you'll easily get full on that (if you like it and finish your soup). I'm conflicted on whether I'll return to this place again. I really want to like it and really want the food to be good...and I come back trying a new dish in hopes that it'll be good...but so far, I'm just not pleased and just disappointed...and I hate to be disappointed.
(3)Mike T.
Quickly becoming one of our standard go to places for a quick casual bite out. Whether it be the bun, ban xeo, or pho, Green Leaf has yet to disappoint us. If you are a Vietnamese food veteran familiar with the likes of bun, pho, and spring rolls, trust me, you will love the Ban Xeo and duck soup. Ban Xeo is a pork, shrimp, and bean sprout crepe that you wrap in lettuce and cilantro and dip in fish sauce. It's a process to put together, done on your own at your table, but the mix of crunchy (crepe, lettuce, and bean sprout), salty/sweet (pork, shrimp, and fish sauce), and herbage from the cliantro make for an electrifying explosion of flavor. The duck soup is the perfect balance of fatty meat with a semi sweet broth, egg noddles, Chinese broccoli, and shitake mushrooms compliment the saltiyness of the Ban Xeo. Wash it down with a bottle 33 Vietnamese beer and you're in food bliss.
(5)Usama K.
I've been to this place a few times and its good food but there have been few scenarios where my meat was cold but otherwise it good for a dine out once in a while..!!
(3)Zaher H.
Very nice and cozy restaurant. Fast service, affordable prices, and great food. Last time there, I had the Pho Tai Sach ( Rare beef with Tripe) The broth was rich and very well balanced. The tripe was very crisp, fresh, and delicious. Next time I am going to ask them to forget about the beef and just give me more Tripe... I am so happy winter is almost here, so I can have more Pho
(4)Char B.
I love the Banh Xeo here. The best ever! My son typically gets pho here and their soup is pretty good too. I just hate to drive and find parking in the international district.
(5)Tyler C.
I had a fried rice bowl with shrimp, pork, and something else. It was more or less the kind of thing you would get at something like panda express; bland, dry, and just disappointing, especially for ten bucks.
(2)Belle B.
I absolutely adore Green Leaf! Not only is the family who own this restaurant accommodating and delightful, their food is AMAZING! I have been around the block a time or two when it comes to Vietnamese food in the area and Green Leaf sure does not disappoint! I came here for a work get together and the service was fantastic (definitely Top 3), the food was to die for (my recommendation is the pancake with pork or the vermicelli with pork and prawn. We had a couple of children with us too and they all seemed to really enjoy it too, so its great for all ages!!! This little gem is worth taking the time to visit, you wont be disappointed.
(5)Silvia A.
After all the great reviews I read, I was pretty disappointed by Green Leaf. I had a chicken dish which was bland, oily and... bristly. It was pretty odd and rather off-putting. My boyfriend's dish was beef-something, and his comment was along the lines of, "Wow, I didn't know you could actually remove all of the flavor from a piece of beef." The other two people in our party had a veggie dish and a pork dish (I think) and enjoyed their food just fine. So I guess the moral is, know what to order at this restaurant.
(2)YeeSin C.
They have the best Bun Bo hue noodle there! I love Hue spicy noodle and have been eating this in a lot of Vietnamese restaurant. I can say that this is one of the best I have had! Their spring roll is very yummy too... combination of crunchiness and soft noodle in every bite!
(4)Ed C.
I've been here several times for lunch. The food is pretty much on par with most Vietnamese restaurants in the area. Although some of their items can be overpriced, considering portion size and quality of food. For instance, their pho, which I have had a couple of times, ranges between $7.50 and $9. Servings are small and the quality of beef is not that great compared to several other nearby restaurants, where I can get the same thing for $2-3 less. Pho So #1 is an example of a where you can get better pho for less. Overall, a fairly laid back atmosphere, where the service is hit or miss. I have had both good and bad service experiences- servers tend to be either really attentive to your needs or forgetful and sloppy. It also tends to get busy, so there can be a wait for your food. Beware of the seating on their second level...all of the seats are over-sized and cannot be pulled in closer to the table, so it's a bit harsh on your lower back.
(2)Maureen E.
Weird location but I like the food - Pho, Combo noodle dish, spring rolls, papaya salad - all good. Service is a tad slow but if you call ahead for pick up, it's easy to bypass the slow service. The location is in the basement of a dingy building, but it's nice once you get inside - don't let the outside deter you!
(4)Dawn C.
Voted one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in Seattle, it was not a disappointment. I had combination bun with the famous egg roll and lots of grilled chicken, pork and shrimp all with loads of fresh veggies. It was so good. I should have asked for more of the clear broth-y, sauce stuff. I also had a fresh squeezed slightly salty lemonade. The place is super tiny and very popular so come early or expect to wait. I am already craving it!
(5)tanya b.
Was walking towards Home with my bf, and just didn't feel like another salad. Just happen to walk in to this place a little reluctantly, but thankfully, they had coconut juice. We were really excited about that...and giggled like little girls when the juice came in an actual coconut (with an umbrella). I wasn't even hungry, but I wanted to try the gluten and wheat free pancakes. I'm not exaggerating here, they were the best tasting pancakes either one of us had. He got the pumpkin with wild rice dish (after some bickering about it, he gave in). Awesome. I want to go back and try everything...and I'm not even vegan. Or veggie.
(5)Paul S.
My first impression while approaching this place was the pungent smell of rotten or spoiled fish, urine and beer - not a good combination and certainly not inviting, especially for an establishment that serves seafood. Granted the smell was on the outside but seriously folks, if the entrance to someone's house smelled that badly, you wouldn't eat anything served to you unless it were shrink wrapped and prepackaged. One can only guess what's inside that kitchen. Unless you are on a shoe string budget, in college or want that gritty, slummed down urban experience (no thanks), go to a restaurant in a nicer neighborhood...oh, and I forgot to mention the crack heads loitering steps away.
(1)Mimi L.
I don't come here very often but they have decent food. I had take-out here for lunch today. Maybe because I'm Vietnamese that I am more critical of this place. To be honest, they are probably one of the top Vietnamese restaurant in this town...which is kinda sad for Seattle because we have such a big Vietnamese population. Every dish here is decent...some are better than other. My one gripe is that they use too much MSG. So the food tastes good but you're extremely thirsty for about 3 hours after consumption...and you're lucky if you don't get a headache. Having said all that, if you do go here, get the shrimp papaya or mango salad and the "banh xeo" or Vietnamese fried crepe. The "bun" vermicelli noodles with pork/shrimps etc. are also decent. I usually also get the "hu tieu" seafood noodles with the broth on the side. The service here is good for a small and cramped Vietnamese restaurant. I do appreciate a hello and a smile when I walk in the door. Can't say the same for Tamarind Tree though...but that's another review for another day.
(4)Ryan D.
Probably the best vietnamese place in the ID...if not seattle. I highly recommend whatever is on special. They always have delicious options that are fantastic. From the main menu I recommend the spring rolls and any of the noodle dishes. And if you want to really fill your belly...get the shrimp and sweet potato...yummy! On weekends you will have to wait, but its worth it. If you are starving the spring rolls are a good stand by and come out quick. They will make them special if anyone in your party has allergies to tofu, shellfish etc. My other half loves the anchovy noodles...and they look delicious but thats just not my cup of tea. Speaking of tea, theirs is remarkably tasty. The restaurant is family owned and provides great service.
(5)Cameron B.
Green Leaf seriously rocks. I've been here three or four times now with my lunch crew from work. Before, I had no clue this place existed, but found it by searching for 'pho' in the international district on my Yelp iPhone application one day when we were deciding on where to eat. I hit the jackpot. For appetizers, we've tried both the deep friend spring rolls and the fresh rolls. Both are excellent. The first time we went I tried the my tho noodles (rice noodles, squid, shrimp, fish ball, and bbq pork). It was very seafoody tasting, which i expected. They did not skimp on any of the meat either. Ever since my first trip I've ordered the vermicelli noodles, which in my book are the equilvalent of crack for me. So, So addicting.My favorite one is the grilled beef in lemongrass with thinly sliced pork wrapped inside. Green Leaf should be on anyone's list for new places to try in the International District!
(5)Sydnie K.
I feel i have to stand out and justify for their vermicelli noodle w lemongrass beef that many reviews say "tough and chewy". The beef is AS TENDER AS it gets. Its very well marinated, thin sliced, w onion n thin sliced pork wrapped inside. Not tough nor chewy at all.Lemongrass taste is my fav, the vegi is fresh n flavorful. the whole dish has a complex and rich taste. its by far the best vietnamese food ive ever had! My bf got the bbq rib w shredded pork n egg pie. it is again very rich in spice and flavor, but much meatier. n i think i prefer the texture of vermicelli noodle. wanna go back and try pho next time!
(5)Miako R.
Great food and service but too much MSG~! I had an allergic reaction~!
(3)Danny N.
I had the bun bo hue and it was good. John gave great service and was a very friendly waiter. Will definitely come back to try the other dishes on the menu.
(5)Paul B.
Excellent experience. Vegetarian phone was fantastic. Vegetables egg rolls were very delicious.
(4)Fannie S.
Beef salad, yes! Pho, yes! Appetizer of shrimp and yam... zomg Service = efficient. Prices = reasonable. Seating = small. Larger tables are upstairs. We almost came back a second time, but we decided to try other places in the neighborhood.......
(4)Daren D.
Met up with the uncle for lunch and just beat the Lunch Masses. He gets the Combo Vermicelli and I get the Fried Tofu Congee. Good, good stuff, yo!! The Positives: The great food and blue serving bowls, tea, warm lighting and unique decor (big ups to that somewhat abstract glass nude lady at the entrance! ^^), and the more homey and relaxed vibe upstairs. The Negatives: Fucking waste bins out front on the sidewalk! Can they not just move them up the street 20-30 feet?! All 10 BINS are full... Zzzz.... the table bussing seems too hasty; they did this one table right by some customers and I'd imagine the slapstick towel motions flung table scrap shrapnel towards them.
(4)Samantha W.
One of the best noodle bowls I've ever had. Hidden little gem in Seattle. So good we came twice in 3 days over our 5 day visit!
(5)Scott T.
It's a dive, the exterior and interior don't inspire confidence in a great meal. Parking pretty much doesn't exist and the mostly empty restaurant across the street with a parking lot yelled at us and made us move our car when we pulled into their empty lot. Won't be eating there, but no problem, no one else is either. Don't be fooled. These people are serving up incredible food priced affordably. We drove through this area of town that's packed with a lo of Asian restaurants. Most of them were empty or closed. Green Leaf was packed on a Sunday night after 8:00 p.m. and people were still coming in the door as we left. Maybe the best fried chicken wings we've ever had, served on a bed of grilled green peppers, onions and peanuts. Tonight we had the combo bun and a rare beef pho, both which were simply outstanding. Portion sizes: huge. Way more food than we should have attempted to consume, but did. Sides that come with these dishes include a marvelous fish sauce with carrots and a bowl full of limes and jalapeno peppers. That's fine. Final tally with green tea: $30. Doesn't get much better than this. Proof you shouldn't have to spend a lot of money to get a fabulous dinner.
(5)Shauna M.
Excellent food!!! Great location and interior, friendly and excellent service, reasonable prices for the area!
(4)Carla H.
It looks more than a little sketchy from the outside. Those who are brave enough to enter, are greeted with a lovely, well decorated and very clean restaurant. The food was amazing and our waiter was charming. The noodle bowl had tender beef and well flavored chicken and pork. I was completely impressed and recommend it to everyone. This is my new, favorite place.
(5)Jax R.
I am so sad and disappointed. My co-workers and I have been coming here for the last 4 years. It has been a while since we've been here and decided to treat ourselves today. I guess they changed ownership but the spring rolls are nothing the way I remember nor is the rest of their food. We both ordered our normal orders and were so surprised. The shrimp was not fresh, the chicken tasted like it was boiled and then pan seared for a minute. Everything was very bland. Not the Green Leaf I remember. Also, the prices have gone up a few dollars. We will not be coming back.
(1)Vivian L.
A lot of my friends and co-workers recommended this place as one of the best Vietnamese restaurant in Seattle downtown area. I went there for couple times. I think the pho noodle soup is very soso there but the other dishes are great. Compare to a lot of vietnamese resturants in Seattle area, this place has more choices on the menu. I like the Vermicelli Combo or rice combo. The place is always crowded as well.
(4)Jen Y.
One of my favorite restaurants in all of Seattle. I never knew I loved Vietnamese food as much as I did until I came here. Everything is so fresh and authentic! The proprietors are also very friendly and personable individuals. I always start out with an order of their pork and shrimp spring rolls and the papaya salad with steamed shrimp. The spring rolls are soo fresh and fun! There is a crunchy roll inside each roll that makes an otherwise healthy roll taste crunchy and gives it a whole different texture. The papaya salad is one of the best I've ever had. The sauce is savory and tart, and the portions are huge! The steamed shrimp complements the fish sauce in the salad dressing as well. I usually order the combo vermicelli bowl for my entree. First off, the portions are huge! There are so many fresh veggies and a good heaping of rice noodles and meat. The sauce is plentiful and complements the grilled pork, chicken, shrimp and egg rolls very well. Yum! The carrots and jicama are also always fresh and crunchy, and are a great way to balance off the grilled flavors of the meat, and the savory flavors of the sauce.
(5)Peace-team L.
Probably it is on our top 5 best Vietnamese in Seattle; their Pho is fantastic! Menu is great to investigate and try news things every time we visit. My favorite is the Papaya salad, ...and their coffee is from out of this world! loooove this place. Great service with very happy cordial team, thumbs up
(4)Stephaun B.
I went here for the first time with a colleague for lunch (she had been before a few times and highly recommended it). The atmosphere was calm and the food was great. I played it safe and sesame chicken to see how they would do, and it turned out great! I plan to go back and have the vietnamese pancake soon, it looked great (a guy at the table next to ours had it).
(4)Danielle C.
Eh. I am not that impressed with the pho here for some reason, despite the glorious reviews here. I got a bowl with rare beef and brisket. Usually when I eat pho I pay attention to the broth the most. I did not feel like the broth was particularly flavorful by itself. But even after adding lime juice and basil leaves, the bowl still did not scream DELICIOUS to me. Also, my boyfriend got a bug in his pho bowl! Luckily they replaced it without charge, but it is always a drag when you find things that should not be there in your food. Also, the seating arrangement is kind of strange downstairs. It feels somewhat cramped so I would not bring more than four people here, at least in the downstairs area. I have not been upstairs so I am not sure how roomy it is over there. The service here is pretty decent though, I will say that.
(3)Mary K.
Really good pho! The place had a horrible smell when I walked in, but I got used to it.
(4)Y F.
This is my Vietnamese restaurant of choice in the International District. The exterior appearance may seem like a hole in the wall; however, the interior is charming with 2 levels of seating area. The fresh spring rolls are a must for appetizers. The noodle dish that I get EVERY TIME is #44 - clear noodles with minced pork and shrimp. You can have it noodle soup style or dry noodle with a side of soup. OMG - it's so good! I have yet to find another Vietnamese restaurant with this specialty dish. Service is always prompt. To complete the meal, 3 bean drinks for dessert - perfection!
(4)Linda C.
OK... So, have been wanting to try out their veggie pho for a while. I mean, look at the reviews of this place! For those of you not in the know, you can get the veggie pho with either beef broth, or veggie broth. Veggies in veggie, please! Was a happy camper at the beginning of the meal. Really tasty broth, good amount of non-noodle items. Was really enjoying it, until I ran across a couple of small pieces of tripe in the soup. Tripe does not a vegetarian soup make...
(3)Sandra O.
I love this place. They have two locations- one in Belltown and one in the International District. I am partial to the one in the ID only because of the ambiance. The food is great at both. It's inexpensive, fresh, always delicious and the staff are amazing. They zip around and take care of you. In the mood for hot soup? Try the fried duck soup with egg noodles. I love their vermicelli noodles with grilled pork when I am in the mood for something on the cool side. The tangy dressing always gets my salivary glands worked up. Must add: Try the their fresh rolls. If you're not a vegetarian, get the one with the pork and shrimp. It has a nice combination of fresh ingredients with a little crunch and meat flavor to make it extra special.
(5)Chelsey M.
This is one of my favorite Seattle spots to eat. The pho is pretty decent but if I am eating here I usually ask one of the servers what their favorite dish is and it has yet to disappoint. There is such a unique variety of dishes to try! If you are in the ID do yourself a favor and go check this place out. Also the decor upstairs appears to have a nautical theme? Which doesn't really make sense but adds to this quirky gem.
(5)Jeff C.
Wow! ultra fresh ingredients! A truly authentic Vietnamese restaurant in international district! I got the special bun (rice vermicelli bowl). The bun is packed w fresh veggie, perfectly grilled meat/shrimp and rice vermicelli. I also added a fried egg for $1. This place might seem a little pricy, $10 bucks for the special vermicelli bowl, but it's totally worth it because the portion is huge. I came here for lunch and didn't have to eat for the rest of the day. My friend and I also ordered the spring roll... the only complain that I have is not enough lettuce to wrap the spring rolls.... the lettuce was chopped up in small pieces and it was hard to wrap the spring rolls w them. Overall a very good experience. I would come back to try their rice plates and other dishes. ---------- Update 2014.... not coming back again after seeing a mouse running wild!
(1)Rachel F.
Recently, I was invited to a dinner where the host ordered in food from Greanleaf. Every tender morsel of food was delicious! I definitely plan to go to the restaurant and eat in.
(4)Melissa L.
Heard good things about the pho but I ended up having the vermicelli salad with shrimp and eggrolls. It was pretty good though not the best I had. A lot of people coming in and out, good service, and decent prices.
(4)A.J. S.
I am new to this BUN phenomenon. It's probably old as the hills and the entire country of Vietnam is rolling their eyes at me, but still. Noodles, grilled pork, shrimp or chicken (or fried eggrolls), on top of cucumber, lime, carrots, jicama and romaine lettuce, finished with a light sweet sour dressing. So filling, but refreshing and not too heavy at the same time. I've read great reviews of the congee and other dishes here, but I'm happy as a clam for diggin into some great bun. Green Leaf has some of the best bun in the city, with a cute little location in the ID and good prices as well. Definitely a great spot to take the out-of-towners or want some eats before a Sounders/Hawks game.
(4)L. V.
Authentic Vietnamese food. I had the vermicelli combo and it was tasty. The grilled pork and beef were well marinated. You can tell it was prepared fresh when ordered. We had their egg rolls and they were delicious. However, the dish didn't come with vegetables, which would be used to wrap the egg rolls and dipped into the fish sauce. When in town, I would come back to eat. As being not from the area and walking from the waterfront to I.D., the surrounding neighborhood felt kind of sketchy. Sorry, no offense. For out of towers, I would recommend taking a cab to the restaurant.
(4)Christina K.
Highly recommended and my go-to vietnamese restaurant. The food here is exceptional and depending on what you order, you're more than satisfied at the end. Their portions are great and they have wonderful recommendations if you don't know what to order. Dishes ordered: Bun dac biet, fresh spring rolls
(4)Steph C.
One Thursday evening in late May, Michael K. and I walked into Green Leaf and ordered up a feast. It was a tiny restaurant, with dim lighting and a little bit of that Authentic Asian Food Stop atmosphere. The dining room was halfway full, and we were helped by one friendly, helpful, young waiter. When we told him what we were eating, he looked at us and said, "I'm gonna move you to a bigger table. You'll need it." He was right, of course, since we ordered the special seven courses of beef, with duck noodle soup on top. It was an entirely unreasonable meal for two people, but we did a remarkably good job cleaning it out. We washed it all down with Manny's Pale Ale, and it stayed there, pushing against our bellies, until we rolled over and went to bed. Soon, our tabletop filled up with sheets of rice paper, a giant plate of vegetables and vermicelli noodles, sauce bowls, and plate after plate of Vietnamese cooking. First came a dish of rare beef slices topped with sliced white onion and scallion, to cook in a hot pot of aromatic broth steeped with vinegar and vegetables. This was nice, a Vietnamese version of shabu shabu, with thin ribbons of beef. Before we could even make a dent in this first course, though, two salads arrived, one of which just came with the noodle soup. Both featured green and purple cabbage, carrot, jicama, chopped basil and mint, fried onions, and crumbled peanut. Both had a lovely bright dressing, and both were very delicious and somehow not at all redundant. The beef and duck were tender and flavorful, and they made sense served cold with the medley of vegetables. The dusting of peanut was a great touch. The boneless duck and bamboo vermicelli noodle soup was next to join the table. It was fantastic, rich and aromatic, with slurpable noodles and plenty of scallions and bamboo and fried onion to jazz up every bite. All of the above would've been plenty for dinner, but the meat of the meal came in the form of a heaping pile of grilled beef, with four different varieties covered in peanut, scallion, and fried onion, with shrimp crackers wedged into a few sides. There were grilled hunks of marinated beef, meatballs, patties, and my favorite, ground beef wrapped in something like grape leaves. Lot of flavor in that one. We ate all of the beef, including a lot of the shabu slices, in spring roll form with the rice paper, vegetables, vermicelli noodles, and sauce. I am terrible at making these rolls, and at managing the sticky rice paper once it hits warm water. Still, it's a fun way to take a meal. We wound down with course seven, the beef congee. This was my least favorite part of dinner, as I found the rice congee a little bland. That may be between me and congee, though - I've never really gotten into that genre. I didn't get a sense that any of the meat was top quality, and some of it left me wanting more flavor. That said, it was an excellent meal overall, and I'd gladly go back and do it again. Green Leaf was delicious and reasonably priced, and I'll keep it in mind next time I'm in Seattle.
(4)Mishy S.
I really love everything I have eaten here. A friend of mine introduced me and now it is one of my favorite spots in the ID. It's incredibly fresh and the flavors are amazing and complex. I love the soups- I recently tried the crab udon which was fantastic. Both the vermicelli bowls and the green papaya salad are great!! It can be a challenge on the weekends to find a spot, but it is worth it even if you have to wait. I even like the cramped and dark interior - something about it is cozy and delightful.
(5)Yen D.
Friends ask me what are the best vietnamese restaurants in Seattle, and this would be one of them. It's also my mom's favorite. Few weeks ago I took my close friend over there and ordered 1) ground beef in betel leaves as an appetizer (bo la lot) it was good with the balance of sweet and salty and the fish sauce with mam ruoc in there was awesome. Even my white friend agreed, but then she does love fish sauce :-) 2) egg rolls--nice presentation with the lettuce leaves and pickled veggies. House fish sauce on the side also very good too. 3) special noodle dish (bun dac biet) well she ordered the vermicelli with the beef, veggies, egg rolls and shrimp, she liked it lots. 4) I had to fall to the pork chop with egg cake because they didn't have the shrimp roll with the special rice combo. Still good, a bit saltier than I had liked it, but still good. All I have to say is, don't be discouraged by the amount of non-asians that are there.. because I used to use that as a gauge before.. the more non-asians the less authentic. This place is authentic, but managed to combine it with better ambience and care about presentation of the food more which is why it has a broader clientel. Plus, it's been mentioned in the Seattle Met, so even more people know about it.
(4)Shawnna S.
I had a panic moment. A huge vermicelli garden was placed in front of us.. Did we order this? Noodles, pickled vegetables, lettuce, mint... What do we do with all of this.. A few minutes later when the hot water arrived it all made since... We rolled out our own spring rolls. This was fun and very messy for a first timer. The meal was excellent!
(5)Linda Z.
One of the best Vietnamese restaurants in the area - great, fresh food, fast service and large variety of traditional Vietnamese and Southeast Asian options. I went on Saturday around 12:30pm and we were seated right away. I shared the fresh spring rolls, which were bursting with lettuce and noodles. The ingredients tasted really fresh and the peanut sauce accompanied the rolls well. I was initially wary of the shredded coconut (I hate coconut) that's supposedly inside the roll, but I didn't tasted it at all. I had the combination vermicelli bowl that came with grilled chicken, pork, shrimp and egg rolls - huge portion and good ratio of all the ingredients. The pork was especially good but I found the chicken and shrimp to be slightly overcooked. The vegetables tasted fresh and it was still overall a great dish. I had a taste of the pho and the broth was delicious - can't wait to try this next time!
(4)G J.
I'm not an expert on vietnamese food, far from it - but the food was fantastic, and they have really decent quantities. We couldn't even finish up and ended up getting our meals boxed! We had the Vermicelli w/ grilled beef wrapped in wild betel leaves, and the sweet taste of the betel leaves really lent themselves to the beef. Even my date, who is usually a really picky eater, loved it. All in all, a great place. I do take off one star though, for the complimentary tea they serve. It didn't really taste much like tea - more like hot water.
(4)Morgan R.
In the past, we were big Greenleaf fans - it was a small divey restaurant with fabulous Vietnamese food. We hadn't been in a couple of years, and I must say, we were in for a shock. The food quality had plummeted. We got one noodle soup dish, and one "dry-cooked" (non-soup) dish, as well as some spring rolls (not deep fried), all of which we've liked in the past. The spring rolls tasted blah - as if they'd been made days before. The shrimp in the soup was TERRIBLE, so bad I didn't keep eating it - all mealy as though it had been cooked then frozen then boiled again. It's really quite sad - this used to be a great place, and now it wasn't even OK. It's not often that I give a one-star rating, and it saddens me to do so, but the quality just isn't there. Avoid this place.
(1)Angela H.
This place is soooooo bomb. It looks like a dinky, run-down little place from the outside, but inside is totally different. Their pho is of solid portion size and extremely aromatic. They also have a good assortment of spice/vegetable toppings they put on top. I've come here with my family a couple of times, as well as with friends-- as long as you like Vietnamese food, you'll love this place!
(5)Eric H.
OK, but massively overrated. Average vietnamese food. Go to Tamarin Tree if you are looking for something exceptional.
(2)Betsey S.
Sooo patient with our three-ring circus of a lunch time group which included more children than adults. Green papaya salad, lemongrass tofu vermicelli bowl, broth and noodles for the littles, and that giant pancake. Tasty and excellent leftovers, which is good due to the size of the dishes. Seriously weird giant wagon or ship's wheel seats upstairs that are the size of loveseats and unsurprisingly difficult to move.
(4)Angela S.
It's a small place, but the food is good. They can do tofu in place of meat in most dishes--you just may have to ask if it's not on the menu. Their green mango salad is very yum, but unfortunately a bit light on the tofu (four small triangles... lame). I would get an appetizer to go along with it. I also tried the lemongrass tofu, which was pretty tasty, but not the best I've ever had. Otherwise, no complaints. It's a solid lunch option in walking distance from my office in Pioneer Square.
(3)Agnes A.
I finally found BO KHO here! It's usually not in any other regular vietnamese restaurant. This is a very rich and perfectly balance vietnamese beef stew burried in a simmering delightful aroma of spices and noodles combined with the earthy scent of lemon grass, ginger, star anise, cinnamon cloves & fresh basil with bean sprout for a touch of crunch! There is nothing more comforting than this dish to go with your gloomy weekend in Seattle. You also have to get the fresh baked french baguettes ( have them make it really cruncy for you) and dip it in the stew, it is so mouthwatering and so delicious. You will not find any other stew that is sweet, salty, tangy & herby so balance and soooo good! You can also get this with rice. The atmosphere is gloomy and cozy but a bit cold because it's in the basement of the apartment so hot bo kho was just perfect. If you get cold easily, bring your jacket. There is also a nice little cozy bar inside which is great.
(5)Jon L.
Green Leaf is one of my favorite Vietnamese spots around town. From the outside, this seemingly appears to be a hole in the wall. But the interior is an amazing contrast. Lounge music plays while you dine in this small intimate space. The menu here is great. Many of the standard dishes that you will find elsewhere, but with enough of a flair to separate itself. Green Leaf shows how a little extra effort on presentation can go a long way. Admittedly, I do tend to stay within my comfort zone of dishes here. The vermicelli is very nice. Not too warm or cool. The addition of what tasted like mint was refreshing. It has the right consistency, though I wished there was more of a noodle serving. The rice dishes are great here too as the grilled meats are prepared well. The space is a bit smallish, so be prepared for a wait if the place is full. Though it seems like they have a second floor of seating. At least it seems like it. Wonder where that staircase goes to? If you are looking for solid Vietnamese fare with a little flair, Green Leaf is your spot.
(4)Suie C.
I was craving vietnamese food and decided to try somewhere different so the bf and I stopped by here for dinner. We ordered fresh spring rolls, beef lemongrass vermicelli bowl and the duck noodle soup. The spring rolls were'nt the best that I've had, but they were fresh. The beef lemongrass was very good. Lots of flavor and you def could taste the lemongrass (which I love). The bf's duck noodle soup was tasty as well. Well seasoned and the meat was fairly tender (i think it was braised?). Overall, it was good, but I still think I prefer tamarind...maybe it's the slightly claustrophobic seating in Green leaf and service was SO FAST that it kind of felt like we were being rushed. We literally sat down, ordered, ate, and left within 30 min.
(4)Sarah B.
I FINALLY tried this place...and clearly by the number of reviews I am one of the last people in the Seattle area to do so! Delicious!! I love Vietnamese food, especially vermicelli noodle bowls. This place has the best that I have had in Seattle yet. I got the bowl with pork and an egg roll which is my usual go to when I order this dish. Green Leaf's pork was so good and lean, none of grisly bits I usually get from other restaurants. The egg roll was delicious too, not greasy and had great flavor. I like that the location isn't too big and feels kind of cozy. The complimentary tea is a great touch too. There is a location in Belltown too which I will have to try.
(4)Sam H.
This is a pretty fancy vietnamese restaurant Came and had some spring rolls and... papaya salad!!! It is highly recommended b/c it cruches in your mouth with just right amount of tartness. :)
(4)Bobby D.
Vacationing in Seattle and had a craving for some Vietnamese. Maybe my expectations were too high or might be a case of getting spoiled from the Vietnamese food in Houston. Ordered the bun xeo after reading good reviews of the dish, came out small and completely loaded with bean sprouts, was just a soggy mess. My girlfriend ordered the hu tieu and the bbq pork in the soup tasted very old. Service was adequate, food was just lacking.
(2)Hana A.
Pho tai, pho ga, spring rolls were all very good. Came here for lunch and the restaurant is located in Chinatown. Have complimentary hot tea, which was great as it was a cold windy day. Gave a lot of meat in the pho and service was great too.
(4)Johnny W.
I don't know what it was about Green Leaf, but I was never quite as infatuated with the pho here (proclaimed by many to be the best in Seattle) as my friends were. The food, pho or otherwise, IS pretty solid though, and I'd come every so often to satisfy my Vietnamese food cravings. Well, until I found out about Pho Ba anyway, which soon became my go-to pho spot towards my latter days in Seattle. But, again, the food here is solid, and reasonably priced. Servings are adequate, service is pretty good, and there's plenty of space to hold people (there's even an upstairs), which is nice given how popular Green Leaf can be.
(3)Diane L.
Solid. Came here for dinner with four friends on a Sunday night and the place was pretty busy. We ordered some spring rolls and egg rolls to start. They came out super fast which was great since we were starving! The spring rolls were super fresh and filled with great ingredients. The sauces that came with our appetizers were delish. We then shared a vermicelli platter, lemongrass seabass, and shrimp curry. The vermicelli platter is fun but I'd prefer to just go with fresh spring rolls or the regular vermicelli bowl. It's essentially make your own fresh rolls and it turns out that when you're hungry you just want food prepared for you already! But again, the flavors were great and everything seemed fresh. Both the seabass and curry were perfectly flavorful. Service was just ok but the restaurant was quite busy. Servers were very friendly but just a bit slow. Green Leaf is definitely one of the top Vietnamese restaurants in town!
(4)Jennifer D.
Thanks to fellow Yelp'er Julie P. for introducing me to this delicious restaurant! I'm a big fan of Vietnamese food; my favorites include grilled pork chops w/ fried egg and bun noodle bowls. So of course I've tried both these dishes here and they are top notch! They have quite a variety of noodle soups besides pho that I've heard are pretty tasty. Food is authentic and serving sizes are generous and filling. Green Leaf has an upstairs that is roomier and mainly for parties of 4+. The 2-tops in the main level gets kind of cozy so it's a good thing food comes out fast cause there's really no way to not hear your neighbors conversation. Green Leaf is definitely a restaurant worth braving the (sometimes)horrible parking in the ID for!
(4)Ryan N.
Although the food was good here, I would not give it 4 stars. It was not anything special or outstanding, but it was decent, no complaints. I tried the Vermicelli Combo. It was pretty good, but I would not go out of my way to go here. I'll give 4 stars for a place to make that extra drive.
(3)Bobby C.
Had lemon grass chicken and it was cold like it sat out for a bit. Not much sauce and they used really strong onions. Friends had the seven course meal and liked it for the most part but was disappointed in the boiling beef course. The mini boiler wasn't really hot enough. The spring rolls were bomb tho.
(2)David N.
Hands down the go to spot for vietnamese food in Seattle... this is what i grew up on from Moms house, and is my comfort food. Greenleaf does a great job delivering.. the food is traditional yet slightly modernize with game changing ingredients.. Rainy, gloomy, snowy, or sunny there is a dish for each mood. The cuisine is fresh while balancing out greens starch and protein. The flavors harmonize with some spice, acidic, and not to overwhelming. I get stuff to go a lot. for the go to spot, the go to dish is Bun Bo Hue (Spicy beef noodle) (see pic). Pure bliss, its like an american eating a cheeseburger. So its thick rice noodles (to soaks up the broth) in a spicy beef broth (from bone morrow, or oxtail) served with slices of brisket, shrimp cake, cha' (pork meat loaf), pork hock, and pork chocolate (aesthetically). Add some mint, bean sprouts, cilantro, and onions you got yourself the perfect noodle soup. Right now, I think green leaf is the top supplier. I eat this at least 3x a month. Other notables are - banh cuon dac biet (rice noodles stuffed with ground pork served with grilled pork and shrimp, and balanced with cucumbers & sprouts) (see pic) and served with fish sauce. - spring rolls (the fresh ones with shrimp, pork, and the crispy stick) - banh xeo (vietnamese crepe with pork (i believe sliced belly) and shrimp). Served with lettuce and meant to be eaten like a lettuce wrap, dipped with fish sauce. - Payaya or Mango salad with chicken, fresh and a feel good feeling. Only thing is I wished they served broked rice which soaks up the fish sauce to provide a better bite with your protein of choice. This place gets pretty busy though there's a decent amount of seating. I say the ambiance is a little better than your standard vietnamese spot, but thats not too hard to beat. Service is super friendly and they will be happy to interpret things. Also get the saigon or 333 beer, it's the coors light of vietnam and brings me back to that nostalgia of running the HCMC streets.
(5)Jessie D.
if I didn't do my research about this restaurant, I wouldn't go in a restaurant situated such odd location. you feel like walking into an very old accountant's office. Food was very very good. it was quite impressive.
(4)Chan L.
By far the cleanest tasting beef pho broth I've ever had.
(4)Sara R.
I love this restaurant! It's my go-to when I take out of town guests to the ID for lunch. The vermicelli bowls are my fave. I much prefer this location to the Belltown location - I found Belltown very cold - in mood and temperature which left me with semi-cold food.
(5)M J.
This place rocks! My family all time favorite, great food and friendly service. I always order the duck soup and salad combo, and it's outstanding. The duck meat is savory with delicious flavor, and goes well with soup or the salad. The green papaya salad is really good. The prices are very reasonable.The place is always packed any day whereas nearby restaurants are always near empty making me feel bad when I walk past them. The ambiance is neat and cozy, and very family friendly place. I don't like how it opened up another location in Belltown. Not that I want to keep it all to my hood, just hope the quality stays the same.
(5)Will C.
The food is 4 stars, the overall experience and price pushes it to 5. A very casual fun place to dine. The staff is always friendly and service is quick. I've had Pho, Bun and Com dishes and they are all tasty with fresh ingredients. The crinkle cut Jicama they add to Bun and Com dishes is a nice touch. If you are a fan of Vietnamese style coffee - you won't be disappointed. Both hot and iced are delicious! Come with a group of friends and ask to be seated upstairs. The chairs and tables are from some old western themed restaurant and are ridiculously cool. If you are looking for 'fine' Vietnamese dining try Long Provincial at 2nd and Stewart. Best Vietnames food in Seattle plus a fine dining atmosphere. You can't go wrong with either of these places.
(5)Finn B.
I'm definitely not a vegan, but their vegan pho is to die for and their spring rolls are delicious! The seating is very cluttered and uncomfortable though.
(4)Yukio W.
Just ok. Maybe I had high expectations... We had fried egg rolls, good... It's a staple item, it'd be hard to mess that up. I had bun Bo hue (spicy beef soup)... Too sweet for my taste. First, temperature wise... Just warm I like my pho to be steaming hot, especially on a cold seattle day. Second, there definitely was a good meat to noodle ratio. Lastly, like I said earlier, it tasted more sweet than spicy. I'm not a fan. Boyfriend ordered vermicelli with bbq pork... It was good, I mean fish sauce makes everything better.
(3)Karen L.
First thing I noticed about this restaurant was their funky furniture. Not sure how to explain it, but one Yelper calls it "Western themed." My second time trying bun bo hue, and it was sooo good!! The broth was perfectly spicy and rich. The meats were good, but I'm a carbs-loving type of girl, so if you hand me a big bowl of just the broth and noodles, I would be ecstatic. The BF and I shared it, so I let him have most of the meats, haha. We also tried their spring rolls, but to be honest, they were okay. The spring rolls I'm used to are stuffed, but these lacked volume (and also didn't taste that amazing). Their 3 bean dessert was typical--it was good, but what's with the ice chunks? The ice chunks did not make for an enjoyable dessert experience. So why 4 stars? For their bun bo hue, of course! It was that good!
(4)Jingjing Z.
A great Vietnamese restaurant located in Chinatown. We had spring rolls and Banh Xeo for appetizers. For entrees we each had a bowl of pho. The food is great here yet the service is slow. Probably because it's a busy weekend night. They have two stories in the restaurant. We sit on the first floor and didn't have a chance to check out the second floor. Would definitely recommend this restaurant if you are looking for some good cheap noodle soup.
(4)Jessica L.
I went to Green Leaf for lunch and it was fantastic. I had previously gone to The Lemon Grass on 12th Ave and was really disappointed. Anyways, at Green Leaf the portions are huge, the prices are good, and there was tons of flavor in all the dishes I tried. I'm always a sucker for any Vietnamese vermicelli dish and spring rolls, so that is usually what I order- but like i said... tons of flavor and I was very pleased. The atmosphere is very themed all the way down to their dish wear and utensils. There aren't a crazy amount of tables, but I feel like that makes the experience more cozy and enjoyable. Our food came out so ridiculously fast that I don't think we even waited 10 minutes. I will definitely be making Green Leaf my go-to spot for Vietnamese.
(4)Khara S.
This past week I had lunch here with some co-workers. I hadn't been to any of their locations in a long time and it was as good as I remembered. The ID location is small, but crowded and that's usually a good thing! We had a large group and the staff was attentive and polite about explaining the dishes to those not familiar with Vietnamese food. The servers were able to get us our drinks on time and the food arrived quickly. I ordered a vermicelli bowl with grilled chicken. It was delicious, and the portion was huge! Would go again :) (and again)
(4)Dalina L.
It's a little over priced for Vietnamese food honestly. It was good, it was. It's clean compared to other places in china town. The service was good. I had a vermicelli bowl, and at other places it would of been about 7-8$ but at green leaf if was 10-11. So it's up to how much you wanna pay. It's good though.
(3)Natasha C.
This place is great for one of Seattle's many rainy-blustery days. Walk in, sit down and discover the air is balmy inside. The waitress comes up with hot tea and menus, and is patient with those who are unfamiliar with Vietnamese cuisine. Lots of stuff that looks absolutely tasty on the menu, but I went right for some pho. Hot, steaming, and with the herbs, bean shoots and condiments on the side, I was able to customize the intensity of the dish to my own liking. After a valiant effort, I still had not finished half the bowl of pho, but was quite full and happy. It was *delicious* and I will be exploring more Vietnamese food relatively soon.
(5)Don C.
I brought my family here recently for lunch. It's got a offbeat vibe, because it clearly used to be some other restaurant (maybe seafood, judging from the vestigial nautical decor) and it's underground. The glowing rocks in the grotto ceiling are especially nutty. But the important thing is that the food is great. My wife and I had the pho, which was just plain excellent. One of my kids had the spicy beef noodle soup, which was very different from what she's used to. So she didn't like it much, but I snarfed and slurped my way through her tasty leftovers. My other kids got the vermicelli with stir-fried beef, onions, and bean sprouts, which was also really good. I also had the hot soy milk, which was a nice sweet complement to all of the savory and spicy flavors. The meal was pretty inexpensive, which made it all even better. I'll certainly come back for another visit when I'm in Seattle next time.
(4)Loon E.
Simply put, this is a great restaurant! Really good. It's not the easiest place to find and is nestled away in the ID, but well worth it once you step through the doors. Service is always great here! Very friendly, but not overdone. They have two floors, but prefer it upstairs. Feels a little more private, even though it's typically busy and noisy throughout the entire place. I've found all of the food here to be of high quality. Love the spring rolls here, they are excellent! Wrapped very well and you can taste the freshness of the ingredients with every bite you take. Even better than that and maybe the best things you can order from the menu on here are their crepes/pancakes. Have tried both their meat and the vegetarian options and the quality is there in both. They could use a little less sprouts, but other than that, everything is perfect about these. Their salads are all good, but I prefer the duck salad here and have gotten it a few times. As for their entrees, haven't had any bad ones here. And I've tried a wide variety from beef plates to vegetarian entrees and they never disappoint. Also love the portion sizes for the prices. It will typically be $25-30/pp after drinks, but definitely should have leftovers and good ones at that, so I consider it good value. Come here if you're craving some quality Vietnamese food! You won't be disappointed!
(4)Bob F.
Awesome spring rolls and combo vermicelli! The spring rolls were crunchy just like they make them in little Saigon in garden grove. Don't be fooled by the small area and dinky atmosphere. You will smell pho and fish sauce when you walk in but the quality of the food is very high and clean. Definitely worth checking out
(4)Josh Y.
Looked like a hole in the wall from the outside, but once you are inside it is bustling with servers. The establishment was clean and the service was top notch. I got my hot tea refilled multiple times throughout our dinner. We started out with the shrimp spring rolls and they had a small crunch to them because of a fried union or something in the middle. It was pleasantly good. I tried the combination plate and the meat and the egg...oh so good. My friend got the shrimp fried rice and that was tasty too. Fast service, affordable food, convenient location. I would come here again.
(4)Anthony N.
The food here is awesome and the prices are extremely cheap and fair. I got the 7 course beef for two and it was only $25.95 total! Typically they are $20-$27 per person, so this price is unheard of. The 7 course beef here was very good, but not "the best" like Anh Hong, but you can't complain with $25.95 for two. The one big downside of this place is the service. The waitress was nice but she was very forgetful and so were also the other wait staff. My table asked for water and more veggies and rice wrap repeatedly and it took them about 3 times to finally get what we wanted. But they do come back apologizing profusely so I cannot be mad at them, but the forgetfulness can be annoying. Overall, good Vietnamese food and cheap price. Definitely worth trying out.
(4)Betsy T.
Incredibly popular Vietnamese restaurant in the ID (read: be prepared to wait a bit to get seated, even on a weekday night). But the popularity is well-deserved. Green Leaf takes familiar Vietnamese fare to a higher level. For example, they're the only place I've seen spring rolls wrapped so that the lettuce blossoms out one end like a floral arrangement, and their peanut dipping sauce is excellent. I've never had a bad dish here - everything tastes incredibly fresh. Their short-ribs are amazing. I also highly recommend Green Leaf as a caterer. I've used them for both work-related events and private events, and they are incredibly easy to work with, responsive, and affordable. The food also arrives perfectly and everyone's always happy. My favorite catering items are the skewers - mushrooms and eggplant - and the noodles - vegetarian or chicken.
(5)Kyle U.
Definitely a solid Pho broth, and all the traditional beef parts including the tendons and tripe. A little on the salty side, but very good. The green papaya salad was very flavorful. It's in a basement. Dark atmosphere. Decent service.
(3)Flora C.
Yes, I pay another $10 for lunch in Chinatown but it was good and refreshing for a sunny lunch. Order out is good idea instead of fighting the lunch crowd.
(4)Lydia E.
It may not have the most attractive surroundings, but it's got some damn good pho. The broth was super flavorful and not diluted. My noodles weren't overcooked too. Oftentimes, my noodles fall apart and that drives me nuts. Everything was fresh and service was great. We were served immediately, but the crowd came after us and I can see how it could take awhile to get your food. I'm a fan!
(5)Tom S.
My first time here. I got the #37 and it was so good. I can't wait to go back to try the other menu items. I really needed some Pho today
(5)Michelle Q.
Walked in and sat down for 10 mins, and no one served us water and handed us menus. Only one waitress but there are about 8 tables. I would feel uncomfortable visit here again even the food is good. Good dining experience is always more than food, right?
(1)Alice T.
There seems to be some rivalry between this Green Leaf and Tamarind Tree. Green Leaf is way better! The wait can be very long so if you don't like to wait, then go alternative times (Tues evening for dinner, for instance). Service is always pleasurable and the food - of course, the food - is delicious. Very authentic and well-marinated. My favorite is the banh cuon dac biet. But other dishes I've tried, such as the bun thit nuong cha gio, are excellent. I always warm up my palate with an order of goi cuon...best prepared goi cuon in town, with the fried egg roll skin to add yummy texture.
(4)Brendan M.
I was here last month with my brother on an unusually cold, wet afternoon. The warm, cozy interior of Green Leaf was the perfect escape. We were between the lunch and dinner rushes, so we had no trouble getting a 4-top all to ourselves. I had a Vietnamese iced coffee and the tofu fried rice. The iced coffee was much better than other sweetened iced coffee. The sweetened condensed milk was kept in moderation, so it merely tempered the coffee flavor instead of masking it completely. The glass was mostly filled with ice, so there wasn't much liquid in there, but at least the flavor was spot-on. Our entrees were ready quite quickly. The portion size for the fried rice was huge. I was especially hungry beforehand and finished my serving with little room to spare. The tofu was deliciously seasoned, so it wasn't just pale and bland, but the texture was just a tiny bit rubbery/firm. Regardless, my meal was delicious and satisfying, and I'd certainly order it again. For what it's worth, my brother enjoyed his pork banh mi and rare-beef pho. Service was good. We got fortune cookies with our bill. Yay.
(4)Shirley B.
Only three stars bc the pho is a little inconsistent. I like to order rare beef with tendon. The beef the first time was perfect--rare and cooked in soup while I mixed. The second time it was overdone. I like the shrimp pork fresh spring rolls. Overall this place satisfies my frequent pho craving.
(3)Larena H.
We stopped by here to try out the spring rolls. They're on "the list" so we had to! The list must be finished. I'd say approximately 2/3 of the time that list will steer you towards the right dish in the right restaurant. As of the day I am writing this review. I am officially 60% through the list, and most of the things left on the list are beverages. In fact, 18 out of the 60 I have tried so far have been a bit of a disappointment. I can tell you that Green Leaf's spring roll does in fact earn its place on this list! First of all, it's a beautiful dish. I posted a picture of it. It's so colorful and inviting. I also ordered the grilled lemongrass beef vermecelli noodle bowl. It was delicious as well! Portion sizes were very generous, and the dishes were well prepared. The restaurant itself is relatively small and cozy. Service was friendly and prompt. Prices were fair. We'll be back!
(4)James W.
Cute exterior, small und cozy. Then inside, cozy tables, close together giving you a big city feel. Fried spring rolls were great, escargot/pork stick dealy, rockin. Lemongrass chicken owned my tastebuds, no contest. Anchovy/eggplant soup rocked... THEn sumpin really funny. The guy at the tableau next to us ordered some soup I can only guess contained a special type of vinegar, but he just said it was duck soup, but I'm telling you, "Duck with Special Amonnia Aroma", that's the title I would have given it. We had to split...so what the heck review is this? It's a great place, but be ready to retreat. The waitstaff were all attractive, yes. Like they were gonna go shoot a V-pop music video or something..........
(4)Gary W.
Typically, I eat to live versus live to eat. That said, Green Leaf or just Vietnamese food in general is something I love to eat and feel so good afterward. I like going into a non pretentious place that's very comfortable. Green Leaf is like sitting in my aunt's house at a kitchen table. This is a special place! Comfortable, warm, relaxing and the food is great. I usually get a ice coffee and eat the vermicelli unless it's freezing outside and then get the Pho. Another dish I just so enjoy is getting the #75 rice dish that has a pork chop, chicken, shrimp and rice with a fried egg on top. Actually have other customers come to me after seeing this dish asking "What is it?". It's so good and filling. If you're someone that likes Vietnamese food you have to have tried this place out.
(5)Lisa P.
This place is a great stepping stone for any one who hasn't had the chance to try Vietnamese cuisine besides Pho. The Green Leaf offers a large array of dishes that are borderline healthy with a lot of fresh herbs and homemade sauces. The service is always nice and courteous, even if they tend to take a long time preparing your order; you could always ask them to box it up for you if that's the case. I've dine once downstairs, but you could ask to dine upstairs if you prefer a more quiet atmosphere. The only memorable experience was the time my mother and I ordered the special course meal of Beef 7 Ways. There needs to be a minimum of 2 people, otherwise you can't order it. Be warned, when they say seven ways, the mean SEVEN ways. Course One: Round -eye steak beef cooked with vinegar broth. This course is DIY. They provide raw beef slices and a little pot of vinegar for you to cook it your own beef, plus rice paper, vermicelli, a large array of vegetables (basil, mint, chives, lettuce, bean sprouts, pickled radish and carrots) to wrap the beef up into spring rolls. Course Two: Cold, but cooked beef slices on a bed of shredded green and red cabbage, caramelized onions, basil, red onions, and crushed peanuts. the salad is coated with a light ginger fish sauce that is very vibrant. Course Three: A beef loaf that is steamed with cellophane noodles, wood ear fungus, pepper, and cut into wedges; similar to cha trung hap. Course Four: Grilled seasoned beef wrapped in betel leaves then pan-seared. It is also known as Bò Lá Lot, a Vietnamese snack, usually eaten with vermicelli noodles or by itself; served with a light fish sauce. Course Five: Beef meatballs that were seasoned with garlic, pepper, and other spices. Course Six: Lemongrass beef marinated in light soy sauce. Course Seven: a bowl of beef congee made with beef broth and also a little ginger. It was light and comforting. At the end of the meal, I was contemplating on becoming vegetarian. Needless to say, I was stuffed and had to take the last couple of courses home. A seven course meal for less than $30 is unheard of, but you can get it here. So, if you are feeling adventurous, hungry, or both, you should order Beef 7 Ways. It will certainly satisfy your inner carnivore and appetite!
(3)Bob J.
UPDATE: This restaurant was closed by the King County Health Department on 10/2 for multiple violations of the health code. If you are the least bit turned off by a dirty restaurant, avoid this place. Server wiped down our table with a wet rag, then walked off. We had a window seat at the front of the restaurant, which gave us a direct view (through dirty windows) of garbage cans lined up on 8th street. The ambiance prevented me from enjoying my food. My wife's Bun Combo Vermicelli was served stone cold after sitting on a nearby table for 20 minutes. As filthy as the dining room is I can only imagine what the kitchen looks like.
(1)Sergei S.
This is my go to place for take out vietnamese. The spring rolls in particular are delicious. Quick service, good prices, and good food.
(5)Teya W.
I had my first experience at Green Leaf yesterday. It was incredible. I must say I was a little concerned when I opened the door and looked inside this small restaurant in the ID. It looks like it is one health code violation away from being closed down you know kind of like all of the rest of your favorite dives. The downstairs was packed with folks, the tables were filled with plates and bowls that peaked my interest and the aroma in the restaurant told me I was in for a treat. My dining partner and I decided to go a little off the beaten path when ordering. As in not ordering Pho, fresh rolls, pancakes, or one of our favorites lemongrass chicken. We asked the waiter what he thought was good. He pointed us towards the shrimp and yam, wrapped in eggroll wrappers and deep fried. This reminded me of the Shrimp rolls I had in Vietnam. Score one fabulous waiter. We also ordered the eggplant again, another point to Green Leaf. For dishes we ordered the Lemongrass Sea Bass, and a stir fried rice noodle dish with vegetables and chicken topped with fried onions (a dish I'd spotted on one of the tables downstairs upon entry). We only made it through our first portion of the seabass which was seasoned crispy fresh and amazing. I took the noodle dish home. I reheated on my stove today. WOW!!! What can I say. Green Leaf offers top notch Vietnamese food and our waiter was equally as good. Also one of the better Vietnamese coffees I've had in the city. I plan to go back soon and try my favorites but boy am i glad I took a walk on the wild side they've won a long term customer! Thank you Green Leaf!
(4)Madison G.
With all the great reviews this place has, I was expecting A LOT better. I got two pretty common and easy-to-make dishes. The Banh Xeo (Asian crepe/pancake) and chicken congee. The congee was absolutely disgusting! It tasted like they threw in a whole onion, let it sit in water, and then put a jar full of pepper all over the onion. I had to take it home and add a bunch of fish sauce to get a better flavor. How do you ruin congee? It was horrible. :( I'm used to Cambodian Banh Xeo, so I guess I won't say much. Different ethnic groups make food differently, even if it's the same thing. Duh.... So, I won't bad mouth the Banh Xeo too much, but I'll say that I've definitely had better. My girlfriend loved her little noodle bowl, but I was not impressed with any of it at all. I feel like a hater since this place has a good rep and everyone loves their food, but I was not satisfied. Sorry, Green Leaf! I won't be back.
(2)Ola F.
Good, authentic food. The restaurant itself could use some work and it is a bit out of the way. I had trouble getting a cab back to downtown Seattle, but I was glad I made the trip.
(4)Hanh P.
The food is delicious and there's a huge selection. I highly recommend the 7 courses of beef--it's the best thing on the menu, especially if you want something authentic. The bún is good as well (vermicelli bowls). One star off because they charge you quite a bit for extra veggies (seriously? lettuce and cilantro are so so cheap!) The staff here is very friendly, polite and welcoming. They always check in to make sure we have everything we need and that the food is to our liking. The upstairs is filled with huge chairs that aren't the most comfortable but eh, whatever. Portions are large, food is good and it's cheaper (and more authentic) than Tamarind Tree. This is my go to spot for Vietnamese food when I'm too lazy to make it at home.
(4)Jon L.
I originally planned on going to the Cambodian noodle place down the street but it was closed..was recommended Green Leaf by some Seattle natives as we stared in defeat at the closed sign of the Cambodian place. This place is pretty damn awesome. Like most other Vietnamese places I've been to in NYC, prices are cheap and portion sizes are generous. What they have here, that I can't find in NY, is a larger and more diverse selection of food, and really really really really good spring rolls (or I guess as the menu puts it, deep fried pork rolls). Not sure if it's just a Seattle versus NY thing, but the two times that I've had spring rolls in Seattle, they have blown away any of the ones I've had back in NY. Dunno what is the secret ingredient? Love? Crack? Whatever it is, it is awesome. Other things besides spring rolls to get: any of the vermicelli dishes, and the vietnamese crepe. Yum.
(4)Julie L.
Five stars because it is what it is..... I was craving something other than my usual haunts and I wanted some really good Vietnamese food. According to some 400 other people on Yelp, this would be a great place to go. I admit I use Yelp's help like 99% of the time to help lead me in the right direction...( the 1% is when T-mobile's not giving me coverage!! argh. I liked our main waiter fellow... fast, friendly, courteous and obviously not his first day at work. When I told him we were newbies and wanted to know what to order, he didn't even hesitate to tell us the 15 or so items that were popular. What I loved is that he said, "We are FAMOUS for our pancakes"...how can one not order that?? not just "people like", or "this is popular" but "We are FAMOUS!". The pancakes were probably my most favorable impression, yummy yummy yummy! We ordered the shrimp and pork one, and just one. Easily enough appetizer for the two of us. They brought out a big bowl of lettuce to wrap the pancakes in, a bunch of leafy herbs to adorn and then that crazy yummy sweet vinagery Vietnamese sauce to pour on. Excellent people, excellent. For our main dishes, I ordered #49, the fried duck noodle soup. Normally it would come with egg noodles but they let me sub clear noodles. It was perfect, great ducky broth, big chunks of juicy duck meat, mushrooms, jicama, chinese broccoli, carrots, a couple jalapenos for a little kick....mmm-yeah! My bf ordered the short ribs and rice..it was definitely as tasty as you would find in an authentic Korean restaurant. IT came with a nice salad as well. We left saying, "we'll definitely be back". 401 yelpers and counting now love them.
(5)Ben C.
Green Leaf is always at the top of our list when we are in the ID. Service is great, food is delicious. I'm not a connoisseur of Vietnamese Food but I know good food when I taste it! In the last few years they opened up the upstairs which was a brilliant decision. They do a great job handling large groups. There's three dishes I seem to always get. Combo Vermicilli, seems like the perfect balance of meat, vegetables and noodles. They also have a fried dough with egg we get that as an appi all the time. From time to time if I'm in the mood for soup the duck noodle soup is really good. Also if you have some time and want a more unique eating experience try the 7 course meat dish they have with someone. Good amount of food and it's kind of fun to enjoy with someone else. Overall excellent restaurant, 4.5 for me. Their dishes are presented very well and taste delicious. Go there for lunch or dinner you won't be disappointed.
(4)Scorpio P.
This is a small place and the decor is nothing special but if you love good food at a reasonable price, it is top notch. We eat here frequently and have never had a bad meal or less than excellent service. A hidden gem.
(4)Sherry S.
Green Leaf is one word - Awesome! I really give them props for presentation because even if something ends up not being that good, it LOOKS SO GOOD that you'll eat it anyway :) However, if you are coming here for the first time, get ready for a long wait and get used to the claustrophobic feel of the place because it is EXTREMELY SMALL. Anyway, I've had a few of their dishes here so far - Pho, Bun Bo Hue, Banh Xeo, Bun Dac Biet, and others that I can't remember. They were all tasty, fresh, and delicious! Service has always been friendly here and the owners are just sweethearts. Love Green Leaf and can't wait to try more. I would highly recommend this spot to anyone craving for some Vietnamese food.
(4)Jean L.
Ranked number #20 on tripadvisor but was terrible vietnamese food. I first ordered the egg rolls and they came out in less than a minute which meant it was already cooked and was just sitting out. First bite, I was right. The eggrolls were room temperature and soggy. We also ordered the Hu Tieu and rice plate, both were bland and tasteless. The service was also bad, the waitress never cracked a smile and just took our order without saying anything besides ready to order. I've had way better authentic Vietnamese food. Would never go back.
(2)James M.
This is a great Vietnamese restaurant somewhat tucked away in a downtown building but an easy walk from the outdoor sculpture garden. It was very clean and the food was excellent. One of the best Vietnamese restaurants I have eaten at in a very long time. Highly recommended.
(4)Robert M.
BEST PHÓ EVER!!!! Spring rolls are amazing!! I have to eat here every time I fly up from California!!
(5)Tammie C.
Went on a Monday night around 9 and it was still busy--great sign! Made it just in time before they close at 10pm. It's a quaint little place with 2 floors (though everything feels congested and small in the space). Food- came here for pho but all the yelpers and awards say to get the pork and shrimp spring rolls (which happen to be my fave). At $5.95 for 2 long rolls cut in half, they are more expensive than the typical Vietnamese spring rolls, but also better tasting than the typical Vietnamese spring rolls. These ones had sufficient pork and meaty shrimp; not to mention a sweet little crunchy stick in the middle to give it some texture and crisp. Delicious! They also had tofu spring rolls at the same price so vegetarians are more than welcome here. The pho was pretty standard, coming with all the usual condiments of bean sprouts, mint leaves and jalapenos. I got the pho ga (chicken instead of beef) and the chicken was super dry. Stick with the tai (thin rare beef slices). The broth was hot and flavorful, although a bit too salty (msg?). Still perfect for a rainy day (got a lot of those in Seattle :)). Would love to come back and try the vermicelli dishes and the ban xeo (Vietnamese pancake/ crepe). A little more expensive than your typical hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese restaurant, but the selection is great and you can get a lot more than just a bowl of pho. Service was fast and nice.
(4)Alberta M.
Friends who used to live in Seattle recommended this restaurant for good Vietnamese food. I wanted to try it because I'm always in search of good Vietnamese restaurants and they seem few and far between in the NW, although I am no expert. The food was fresh and delicious here. We ordered four or five dishes for three of us. Everything came out quickly and it felt like the dishes were prepared with care. The sides of greens were all fresh and crispy. The sauces were tasty. The Gi cun were very fresh. I hadn't had Bánh xèo in a while, and this was absolutely the best! It was crispy on the outside and full of good stuff. You could taste the coconut oil. I wish I could remember what else we ate. It was all amazingly good.
(5)George B.
My friends' favorite place in the I.D. this place has no wait the two times I've been so far. The food is average and decent. The place is more expensive than a few other places of similar type. The fresh rolls are great. The vermicelli bowls are good and you can have them "ON TRAY" which is $5 more (way too much) to wrap your own goods. But because I've never really had a bad experience three stars seems fitting. I recommend this place to all, but don't go our of your way.
(3)Denise L.
Probably my favorite Vietnamese restaurant to date and one of the [literally] hidden gems in the International District. You would never guess that that dark, run down exterior leads to a bright, upbeat restaurant. Everyone talks about the pho which is pretty good. A bit salty for my liking but they give you a lot! Must gets: the vermicelli bowls and the fresh spring rolls. The food is pretty high quality here. Everything is super flavorful and seemingly fresh. I also appreciate the cleanliness of the place.
(4)Gentle V.
I would give Green Leaf a 3.5/4 star rating. Yummy bun bo hue and spring rolls are hard to find! Green leaf is a good place to satisfy your cravings, and it's conveniently located in Chinatown. Besides Rainier BBQ, Green Leaf is one of the better Vietnamese restaurants in my opinion. Last time I visited, I ordered: - Bun Bo Hue (Spicy beef noodles) - Fresh Spring Rolls (that included shrimp, basil, and a peanut dipping sauce). The BBH is obviously not as good as if you were in Vietnam, but Green Leaf does a respectable job of being pretty flavorful and tasty. The waiter was friendly and understanding when I wanted to wait for a friend to arrive before ordering. However, when I was ready, it was a little hard to get the waiter's attention since the restaurant became much busier. It was also nice to see a very diverse customer base. According to my friend, they also have good vegetarian options for those meatless lovers.
(4)Lexi P.
Green Leaf is my favorite Vietnamese restaurant outside of Little Saigon. Their vermicelli noodle bowls are wonderful. My favorite is the one that has egg roll cut into it. And the price is so good! Green Leaf is also a great restaurant for vegetarians. When they make a vegetarian version of something, it actually IS vegetarian (no hidden fish sauce, oyster sauce, etc). And the veggie versions aren't just the meat version without meat - the vegetarian vermicelli noodle bowl was chock full of veggies, two types of tofu, and I think even had another meat substitute. Very impressive!
(5)T V.
Disappointed.. I placed an order over the phone for pick up and when I arrived a little later than they suggested (20mins) - they did not even put the order thru; It was still written on a notepad by the phone. The response from the lady at the cashier was ooooops... And then she gave me the bill. Most of the time they're good with service until today. They were not busy. In fact, I parked in front of their restaurant and there was plenty of open tables and workers standing around. I wouldn't have a problem waiting if they had apologized and at least offer me water, because I had to wait another 20+mins. They get the 2 stars for the decent food - since from the sound of it, it's their parents who are in the kitchen - cooking. Props to the parents.
(2)Laura N.
Love banh xeo, cha oc, goi cuon, bun mang vit, bun bo hue here....they are all so good. Only finding parking is difficult here.
(4)Ann V.
Trust me, I'm Vietnamese. My favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Seattle, so far. Their food is the closest thing to legit Vietnamese food around. Everything that I've ordered on the menu so far has been flavorful and abundant. - Bun Oc - Bun Bo Hue - Bun Dac Biet - Grilled Combo Must try in International District!
(5)Daniel N.
Amazing southern vietnamese food. On the steeper side when it comes to prices, but it was worth it. Got the combo rice and fried shrimp yam rolls. Delicious. Great atmosphere as well.
(5)Joanna L.
Quickest delivery in the area! Food arrived a few minutes after my husband got home. The veggies were fresh, the meat tender and well-seasoned, and the noodles were cooked to perfection. The lemonade soda made my night. We'll definitely be eating this food more often!
(5)Sabera R.
This place told me what Vietnamese food tastes like amazing food! Great service! The food is so flavorful! Yum! Can't wait to go back to Seattle and try it again!
(5)Jessica H.
Delcious! Very attentive and kind service. Small joint, get to know your fellow diners well. I have used this as a first date spot several times which I found can be awkward to have your neighbors listen in on so maybe a better a better 3rd or 4th date place. Huge portions. Everything is tasty! Everything. I would highly recommend taking out of towners here to give them a dose of the international district.
(5)Levi P.
Cheap and good! I've been to the one in Belltown more but this was the same, just smaller. Same menu I think. This one might not have a bar though. Crowded on a Saturday afternoon.
(4)Eric S.
We ordered delivery from them. No real complaints other than the springrolls being packaged between two hot items so we had to chill them before they could be eaten. Spicy lemongrass chicken and beef shortribs were good and the price was fair for delivery. Still not 100% sure about this place but this delivery was better than the last time we ate in.
(3)Reebz P.
The service was terrible! I ordered vegetarian egg rolls and they gave me pork egg rolls then lied about it. I don't eat pork so I was pretty pissed off. When I asked a random server she took the egg rolls in the back and switched them out with vegetarian egg rolls as if I wouldn't notice. My brother ordered the pho #36 (which he had to remind them about) and he loved it. I'm sure there are many other places to get pho in this city so I would go elsewhere.
(1)Yen P.
~this was the first time we ate here in Chinatown. I really liked the atmosphere like the art and design. The place was tiny like a size of a living room. The food was really good. The dinnerware was fancy. It was a good experience. Thank u!
(4)Marc G.
Good food. I really enjoyed the duck soup, but the egg rolls were lackluster. The kitchen staff would occasionally run out the front entrance with a vat of hot, smelly cooking water. Not a pleasant sight or smell.
(3)Rohan K.
My wife and I went here for dinner last night at about 9:15 pm. There was a lot of chaos in the restaurant and the servers kept dropping things everywhere including sauce and bottles on our table. They were clearly exhausted after a long day as we were informed. The spring rolls were really nice. We got both the veg and the shrimp/pork spring rolls and loved them. Very flavorful. The rice paper was a little too chewy but I guess it can be forgiven. Would definitely recommend this dish. The why the 2 star review? The Pho. It's a Vietnamese restaurant. You expect good Pho. This was HORRIBLE. I ordered the Pho with rare steak and brisket while my wife ordered the veg Pho. Both were basically bowls of water with no flavor whatsoever, no seasoning and some chewy noodles. I've had better Pho in food courts. Was thoroughly disappointed. Ended up having to add sriracha and hoisin sauce to the bowl just to make it taste like something other than boiled water. I don't think I'll be going back here anytime soon. At least not for the Pho. Will maybe try something else someday.
(2)Candi K.
Come here for a late lunch on a Saturday with my mom and grandfsther, and it was dead. We ordered our food ( 2 pho and vermicelli bowl) it took a while to receive our food, and they were bringing in supplies from somewhere and the door kept on slamming shut, quite annoying after the 5th time. The broth was flavorful and I tried some if the vermicelli bowl which had grilled shrimp that was tasty. Service was meh. Maybe I'll try the Belltown location since it's closer to me.
(3)Tom S.
Was in the international district and came here expecting a good meal due to the high number of reviews. Seattle's rainy weather makes it perfect to have a nice hot bowl of pho! Came in around 5pm and place looked busy. Then it all went downhill from there. My tea cup still showed lipstick stains from a previous diner...disgusting, did they not wash the cup and just filled the cup??? I ordered the claypot fish and the bun bo hue. When they arrived, the server suggested I get a bowl of rice to accompany the fish, so I did. However, as I was eating the fish with the rice, I found a piece of plastic in my rice, see picture. Then I noticed the couple next to me complaining about their vermicelli dish tasting like soap. The waiter gladly took their dish back and came back with a remade dish. However, they still noticed a soapy taste. Three strikes and you're out! The couple did note that they never had an issues before...maybe something changed? This place seriously has quality control issues. In addition, the restaurant is very small and you feel a bit stuffy as soon as you walk in. As for the food, the chef's special claypot fish was awesome. The bun bo hue was a bit average and lack luster. A lot of people were ordering the vermicelli dishes so maybe that's what to order, however make sure it don't taste like soap! My one star is for the service, the server seemed respectful and very accommodating.
(1)Jackie H.
I didnt know that Green leaf had a location in Chinatown and I found this place by accident, I have always gone to the one that's located in Belltown. The place is small, crowded, dim and super stuffy when it's busy compared to their Belltown location, they do have an upstairs level but I have never gone up there. I love spicy food so I always get their bun bo hue and extra satay sauce on the side, it's probably one of the best tasting bun bo hues that I've ever had. The way they designed the interior is similar to the one in Belltown, I'm sure both locations have the same owners. Service is great, the servers are always attentative and seems pleased to help and they always make great recommendations especially if you're stuck in between food choices. Even if someone is on break and is outside hanging out, they still greet you before you come in which shows that they care about their customers. Even though its crowded and you can barely walk in there, I dont mind since the food is so delicious. You cant go wrong with anything on the menu. I would definitely recommend this little place :)
(5)Kate B.
Had a markedly better experience here than at the Belltown location. My dad was in town and wanted some Vietnamese food so we opted for Green Leaf. He got the pho and while I didn't get the chance to taste it- it sure looked like it was piping hot! He enjoyed it. I tried the Ca Ri Ga and it was very good- just rich, creamy, and flavorful enough. The only drawback at this location was the service. I don't blame our server- she seemed to be the only person on the floor in the restaurant at the time and was stretched way too thin.
(4)Justin C.
I would give 3.5 stars, but there's no half stars. The Service is good. The Food is not bad , but portions were small for the price you pay. Our Tea cups were filled often. The area is clean. The staff are nice and friendly. They don't have brown rice! Other than that, this restaurant is good..
(3)Monique E.
Yummy Vietnamese food. I had the pork Bahn Mi which was yummy and made just right. The pho was big good and they gave us plenty of bean sprouts and basil to add to pho. It's super good!
(4)Auntie E.
My favorite sit-down, casual Vietnamese restaurant in Seattle, across from Four Seas in the ID. If you get to sit upstairs in the wagon wheel benches, kids love them. Green Leaf has the most beautiful, delicious fresh spring roll I've ever had - it has bits of crunchy coconut for taste and texture. I can eat those as a meal in itself. If you have never had Ban Xeo, it is a fried Vietamese Crepe, which is huge, crispy, and yummy here. My Vietnamese friends from the Midwest were trying to give me the recipe to make it at home, but then agreed that it would take more time and money to do so and probably would not taste as good as Green Leaf's!
(5)Anna P.
I just recently got back from traveling Vietnam and loved the food - Green Leaf offers an authentic menu with the delicious taste to back it up. No frills and friendly service. Not a huge place so if you are with a group of 5+ I would recommend calling. Always a crowd which is always a good sign! Recommend the ban xeo, (Vietnamese pancake) it's delicious! Pho is standard, but good quality and flavor.
(4)Riley C.
Great Pho. Easily accessible location. Fairly cheap (not in a bad way). Spring Rolls are really really really good.
(4)Chunteva S.
Here I am my second time at 8PM on a Friday night with my friends enjoying a nice bowl of pho, the room is nicely tempered, I'm happy, they're happy, and by nice bowl of pho I mean. . .BEST BOWL EVER. The broth was so on point. It was delicious. AND RICH and dark and full of so many wonderful flavour balances out of every bowl of pho I've ever tasted. Salty, sweet, mouthwatering spices. It was wonderful. I SHALL BE BACK. Tips! Come earlier than 8PM! It was really packed, So much in fact I saw people come in and stand there for awhile dumbfounded on where to sit because it was so packed. Funnily a few people left they were intimidated. Service could have been a lot better, 5 stars for the broth on its own. But there was only like two people waiting on tables so with the amount of people it looked hellacious for them. So I have understanding for waiting for me to make my order when 3 other tables were ordering too. After the broth cools, the noodle starch changes the flavour of the broth and colour into more of a milky substance so always keep the asian tradition of eating your soup while its hot!
(5)Amy W.
Came on a weekday with plentiful street parking during the late evening. I wasn't too thrilled to be sitting by the door where a gust of wind chilled me each time someone walked in or out. I was freezing even with the heater running. One other thing I noticed. I don't recall coming to a restaurant in the international district where only the wait staff was Asian and not another Asian to be seen on the floor. It didn't feel like an Vietnamese restaurant and makes me wonder if the food has been to Americanized. I didn't gamble on my food choice and ordered the korean ribs. Tender and easy to rip off the bones. The dish comes with some tomatoes and cucumbers. Food is good, but the layout with the door makes me give it an average rating.
(3)Robin A.
One of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. I've been coming here for years, ever since they first opened. 8 years now? Can't remember exactly. But I've eaten here hundreds of times, and that's not an exaggeration. It's been amazingly good every single time. Their consistency is incredible. I never hesitate to brag about this place to people from out of town, because I know when I take them there it won't disappoint. Highlights: spring rolls with shrimp and pork, the vermicelli bowls, beef in la lot leaves, green papaya salad. Their pho is pretty good too.
(5)Jonathan H.
I had Bun Bo Hue, Hu Tieu My Tho and fried egg rolls at Green Leaf. I really liked the Hu Tieu and Bun Bo Hue here. Hu Tieu My Tho is a noodle soup with clear pork rib broth, shrimp, squid, fish ball, BBQ pork, minced pork, wonton and clear vermicelli noodles. You will see different styles of Hu Tieu, and the one i got was Hu Tieu from the My Tho region in Vietnam. Broth was flavorful, and the topping were good except for the wonton. Green Leaf is definitely my go to place for Hu Tieu. If you like pho, you will mostly like this too. Bun Bo Hue is a spicy beef noodle soup from the central region in Vietnam. It has beef, cha (fish cake), sliced beef, pork hock and pork blood cube. I really thought the flavor of the broth was excellent, tho not nearly spicy enough. Definitely a repeater for me. As for the Egg roll, it was disappointing. Just standard egg roll, not much of anything. Overall, Green Leaf is a great Vietnamese restaurant with high quality dishes and I will be back!
(4)Matt L.
I've eaten at a lot of Vietnamese restaurants in my life. A lot! Most of them just provide decent comfort food and are very consistent from town to town. Good spring rolls, good Pho or Bahn Mi. It's inexpensive and fresh food. Once in a while there is the "high end" Vietnamese place that tries to take this simple country food to new gastronomic heights (I am thinking of the place in Portland's Pearl District) and overwhelm the food with fancy plating on expensive dishware, interior designer-inspired decorations, or cocktails with lemongrass stalks with skewered olives in them. It's fun, but to me, it's the equivalent of trying to make hamburgers and fries a gourmet meal. It can be done, but somehow it's just inappropriate. Green leaf has managed to do something very different: increasing the quality, flavor and variety of the comfort food without going over to the expensive, pretentious side. My appetizer of eggplant skewers was so flavorful that I was a little taken back. But when my spicy lemongrass chicken vermicelli bowl came, and I took my first bite, I realized that these high intensity, fragrant, and aromatic flavors were the norm at Green Leaf. I completely get why this restaurant is on Eater Seattle's "The 38 Essential Seattle Restaurants" list. It's almost laughable how insignificant this place looks from the outside. However, it's the best Vietnamese food I have ever eaten.
(5)Alice Y.
Portion and quality is great here. I've been here many times, especially when the weather is dark and rainy. One concern from my recent visit today... I think the fresh spring rolls got smaller! =( wasn't as impressed as I used to be. Since portions are huge, three of us shared two entrees and an appetizer. We were all decently full. Tip: try to get seating upstairs. It's quieter and the air seems cleaner. Kitchen is downstairs.
(4)Christina C.
I have only eaten veggie pho here and it's the best I've had in the Puget Sound area. I love that they use vegetable broth upon request.
(5)Maggie L.
This is as good as it gets!! I had food in Vietnam and this is just as good if not better!
(5)Ben B. N.
They have some of the best Vietnamese noodle soup varieties around. The one in seattle is much better than any of the others.
(4)Michelle B.
average flavors. had better vietnamese in saint louis. the broth sweet and not complex as other places. the spring rolls look amazing until you see the unwashed lettuce.
(3)Chanel C.
I love it here! They have an authentic menu and quite diverse. I come here all the time and one of my regular choices is their vermicelli bowl (especially the combo one). I have also tried some of their rice dishes and pretty much anything with any of their grilled proteins is delicious! The fish is also yummy! Good size portions too. They do take-out and you can order online. They are very friendly! Every time I do take out, they always bring me a cup of tea while I wait. Also, one time I showed up right as they were closing and they still took my order which I appreciated. They're a bit hidden and not a very large restaurant. It does get crowded so avoid the dinner time rush.
(5)Alanna M.
Green Leaf is ultimately my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in town. I'm a fan of the 7 course beef for 2 people for $30 -- making your own spring rolls. Their rice dishes are awesome. Their pickled carrots & daikon is just perfectly crisp and has a great balance of salt & vinegar. I'm a fan of most of their dishes with the exception of the pho. If you want pho, go to a pho restaurant that does nothing but pho. Most of the time the service is pretty awesome, but my experience yesterday was less than perfect. I had 7 course beef and they barely gave us any rice paper wrap this time, compared to last time & I had asked for more and the server asked me how many. Uhm... usually they don't ask me that. Funny I was also asked if I knew how to eat it. Dude, I've ordered this a million times. I just thought it was a bit odd. He was less than attentive. Also, our congee came super late. We were basically done eating already. I get that it was busy lunch hour but they seemed to care more about helping the white folks. Yeah, this restaurant caters heavily on white people, but the food is solid so I keep going back. I prefer to sit downstairs when possible. They have an upstairs but the service seems to be less than great when dining up there. I think it has to do with the women running downstairs and men running things upstairs. Not to be sexist, but I'm just calling it how I see it.
(4)Mary T.
I am not sure why this place got 4 stars. The front of the restaurant is so unattractive....trash cans and boxes. It can be overlooked if they have great food. But they don't! I am giving it 3 stars because the servers were nice.
(3)Eric B.
Great food and excellent service! The wait staff were very attentive and the ingredients were fresh. Prices were very reasonable for Seattle. Highly recommend!
(5)Lucien A.
My favorite restaurant in Seattle. I used to stop by on my way home from work just to pick up a to-go banh mi. Its kind of like a Vietnamese hoagie. Never had one? Get on it!
(5)Phillip Y.
I have mixed feelings about this place. The flavors at Green Leaf are different from Viet food that I am use to. I ordered the spring rolls and the beef short ribs rice plate. The spring rolls were tasty, but different... The beef short ribs were slightly burnt and not seasoned well. I may have just been unlucky. On the bright side, the vegetables are really fresh and the atmosphere is nice and casual.
(3)Jeff K.
I have been here twice over the past year. The last time I had the vermicelli with fried egg roll salad. The egg rolls had that old grease taste. On the prior visit I had the green papaya salad and it was ok. The place does have an extensive menu so I might try it again. However, overall the food is ok, the place is cramped (you could call it a dump) and prices are high for the area. There are other places in the area (especially the little Vietnam area) that have better food for less money.
(3)Monica B.
I'm a member at The Wing so I'm always precariously close to Green Leaf. The storefront is unassuming and you may miss it if you're not paying attention. Don't miss it. I enjoy the selection on the menu. I've also found that staff will work with me on things that are not on the menu (particularly for my child). A bahn mi awaits for a quick, portable lunch. Fantastic noodle dishes are there to please if you have time to stay awhile (please do). I'm a sucker for just about every kind of noodle dish they prepare here. The rolls are beautiful in presentation and well-balanced in content. I'm not a big fan of the broth in the pho but hey, that's just me. Service has always been good - efficient, fast, and right on point. The prices can be a little high, depending on what you order. For the most part, I think the price points are right. The space is a little dark for my liking but clean and holds more people than it first appears.
(4)Lee A.
Very good! The Pho is excellent. I got the boneless chicken pho. The broth is very good and I liked the chicken because it was shredded white meat. I also got spring rolls which were good and they were really big. The pho is huge, you could probably easily share a bowl with someone but it's so good you probably want to keep eating even after you are full!
(4)Ree A.
Average food, you can find better in International district. Been here twice and the first experience when we came in for lunch and got the pho was very good. Second time for dinner with curry chicken noodles and vegetarian vermicelli noodles was quite average. For vermicelli bowls, tamarind tree is way better. They have extra seating upstairs but the ambience is kinda weird. Much nicer downstairs. Would only recommend getting pho here.
(2)Cassie N.
Green Leaf is a solid place. They're are many very good classic Vietnamese dishes here. The ones that stand out to me are the Bún (noodle) dishes and the Goi (Vietnamese Salad) dishes. The Bún here is wonderful, very refreshing and full of flavor. The Fish Sauce for the Goi is good, it's all about the sauce... I like it a tiny bit better than the Goi at Tamarind Tree. Green Leaf is a bit more authentic than Tamarind Tree in vibe, decor and menu. I like both places, each has their strong dishes but if you like Bún and want a more authentic feel, than Green Leaf is your best bet.
(4)Roland L.
Seattle's cooler climate makes for ideal soup weather year-round, and should you be in need of a comforting hot bowl of chicken noodle soup to nurse a cold, look no further than Green Leaf Vietnamese Restaurant's Pho Ga. A little more about that in a bit. A dimly lit dining room with densely packed tables and chairs provides an intimate setting. With limited seating, it's no wonder why Green Leaf's dining room becomes occupied to capacity. But even while busy, their attentive staff is quick to satisfy. Goi Cuon - Shrimp and Pork Spring Rolls ($5.95): 2/5 yelp.com/biz_photos/gree… Although I appreciated their artistic wrapping technique, there was a strange flavor resonating throughout the entire roll, akin to a dirty/earthy taste that was difficult to pinpoint its origin. Thomas N could only tolerate eating half of a roll, I on the other hand consumed the entire roll. What can I say, my mum raised me to finish everything on my plate...good or bad. Pho Ga - Chicken Noodle Soup ($8.25): 4.25/5 yelp.com/biz_photos/gree… yelp.com/biz_photos/gree… In my evaluations, there are two make or break components for any Asian noodle soup: 1) Flavorful Broth 2) Noodle texture While this was one of the better bowls of pho I've had, it wasn't the best chicken pho I've had. Green Leaf's broth might have been a little sweeter than I prefer (even without adding hoisin) but their noodle texture was ideal and not overcooked. Greeted with a warm reception was the generous amounts of juicy, tender chicken breast chunks which swam comfortably in the broth. Being a tourist with little opportunity to try other Vietnamese restaurants during my stay, I feel Green Leaf is still worthy of another visit, to try other items on their menu, of course. Nevertheless, the rating system stands: 3.125/5
(3)Karen S.
I love coming to Green Leaf! The pickled chicken feet, vermicelli noodle bowls, and pho are delicious! There is so much flavor and everything tasted fresh. Definitely one of my top vietnamese restaurants.
(4)Kristen L.
I ordered the pork chops which were pretty good, although I left still feeling a bit hungry. The other dishes were generously sized, so I might order something else next time. While I enjoyed my dish, I think it was the same as other Vietnamese restaurants that I've been to; good, but nothing super memorable.
(4)Gabriel C.
7 Course Beef - 5/5 ($30). Plenty of beef and plenty of veg, daikon, carrots, bean sprouts, and vermicelli noodles. Make sure to come with a friend or two if you're going to tackle this beast.
(5)Jon D.
"It's not a long flight." I said to myself. Truly, it wasn't. The flight from LAX to Seatac is just shy of 3 hours. The on-flight wi-fi is exorbitantly priced, of course, but really, what the **** else are you going to do on an airplane? Well, here's what I did: search Seattle for the best Vietnamese food I could find. And I succeeded. I'll admit up front that I have shockingly limited experience with Vietnamese cuisine. I've been to Japan, Thailand, and Korea; I have exhaustively studied their cuisines, and consider myself pretty knowledgeable about the authenticity, flavors, and style of them. As for Vietnam? Well, I always order Pho with tripe and tendon, that makes me an honorary citizen, right? I'll admit up front that I don't know anything about Vietnamese food. Well, at least I didn't, until I spent my 2hr 47min flight trying to figure out what to order at Green Leaf. Until I came here, Vietnamese restaurants that I'd been to had been polarizing: they were either terribly Americanized Pho places, or places where no one spoke English and live snakes were trapped in nets hanging on the walls and "what to order" was limited by your bravery and the wait staff's patience. Green Leaf was neither; it was comfortable, inviting, and the wait staff seemed overjoyed to explain their restaurants cuisine to fascinated diners. I'd like to say I planned ahead when fasting all day, but last-minute travel forced upon oneself is hardly planning; needless to say, I was starving when I arrived, especially after my in-flight research session. I ordered, as the waiter warned, "a lot of food for one person:" Bánh xèo: It's huge. The single portion is nearly a meal in itself. Fantastically crispy on the outside, succulent shrimp and perfectly cooked veggies inside. The waitress explain how to use the provided sauce, and it was a good thing, because I legitimately had no idea. Delicious. GÕi ngó sen, with shrimp: I was really impressed to see whole, head-on shrimp. Perfectly cooked, crispy, delicious whole shrimp with not a hint of that awful "I've been sitting around just a little bit too long..." flavor that head-on, guts-included shrimp can sometimes have. Just that delicious, sharp, savory shrimp flavor. Not to mention the intensely flavored dressing on a refreshing, CRUNCHY salad. The textures are really something else, from what I know, the Vietnamese really crave that crunchy, chewy texture. This dish delivered big time. Cá kho to: I'd love to see the fish this dish came from, because I've never seen catfish STEAKS. Huge, meaty slices of fish in a very more-ish braising sauce. Succulent fish with an intensely flavorful sauce; I was really impressed with this dish. So yeah, this place is good. Really, really good.
(5)Mike S.
Go here for the special dishes, go elsewhere for pho. People need to know this is not a pho restaurant . The chief's specialties are exceptional, you cant go wrong. They have the best sour soup I have ever had ! Its the best!
(5)Mandy S.
Big portions. Great prices. Amazing flavors. No complaints. We got the banh xeo, green mango and chicken salad, and the regular vermicelli bowl combo and talked about it for days...im still craving the next trip back. One of my fav vietnamese restaurants..!
(5)Arries R.
Our always to go-to when we want some Vietnamese food. Their vermicelli dishes are delicious. The pho and its broth isn't so bad either. They have a whole lot to offer. Worth a try.
(4)Pete M.
Always reliable. Fast and friendly. Great, authentic food. Enough said. Love the salads and the cold bun dishes.
(5)Avinash K.
We had party of 6 for dinner, I didn't have any expectations. 3 of us were veg and 3 were non veg .. veg spring rolls were good apparently and chicken skewers were definitely good. We got green tea and some salad by default, entrees were big .. heavy stuff .. everyone got different stuff mostly either fried rice or vermicelli noodles but I got stir fried rice noodles with chicken and shrimp .. everything was cooked really well, but less spicy for my taste so we asked for sriracha sauce and there was some spicy sauce already on table. Everyone enjoyed and we asked for dessert as well .m we had the banana cake which was really good. Ambience and server was really good and friendly .. But place is slightly expensive but it's worth it . Spent about $20 each on the entire meal. Place is must visit if you want to try a different cuisine.
(5)Hoc P.
They got all the bún right. Bún Bò Hue is awesome. Bún Riêu is also good. Bún Mam (Bún Nuoc Lèo) is also very close to what I had in Vietnam when I was a child. So talking about food, they GOT IT! I have not tried their rice dishes though so I cannot comment. Honestly I don't like rice myself. And I haven't seen any good Vietnamese broken rice joint in Seattle either. So I will have bias opinion against it since I will try to compare to San Jose or Los Angeles. This restaurant is hard to find for first timers and it looks old outside. However, the inside is quite nice and they do have upper level. I never had to wait here even on weekend.
(4)Tien H.
Not so good. I thought they would have hu tieu nam vang but they didn't. I ordered Bun rieu c, agreed to get an extra charge for it but they use the different type of sails. So disappointed
(2)Allen T.
This place is overrated. We came with a party of 6 and ordered 6 different dishes but nothing were flavorful or authentic enough for the ratings and the price it has. I asked for the sauce to be on the side for my papaya salad but they just mixed everything together. My friend ordered Pho and they didn't even give him hoisin sauce or sriracha sauce to eat with. Everything tastes plain and has no flavored. Thumbs down for this place.
(1)Kellen C.
Delicious food, good quick service and plenty to choose from. The bamboo decor was nice place looks small but yelp and zagat love this petite hidden jewel. It has so many traffic fixes from the city right now you have to look both ways getting there, but worth almost getting hit to dine.
(5)Kim L.
I love Vietnamese food! I can eat it all day, everyday! I have been to this restaurant a long, long time ago and I have heard so much about this restaurant recently and what everyone says is true! This is one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in the Seattle area! It's as legit as food from the motherland. My favorite dish of all time is com tam dac biet aka the special broken rice. I've had this dish plenty of times at home or at other restaurants, and the dish at Green Leaf was one of the best, if not the best. The meat was really good and flavorful. I also had 1 banh xeo, aka a Vietnamese crepe, there as an appetizer. The banh xeo was so huge, omg! I was so full after eating there. Service there was good-our waters and teas were filled promptly. The restaurant was packed when we got there and we had to wait about 10 minutes for a table, which goes to show how good and popular this place is. I posted pictures of my food from Green Leaf on Facebook and a lot of my friends got jealous that I went to eat without them, so I will be coming back soon for sure to try other items on their menu! Yum, can't wait!!
(5)Amy N.
I've been searching for a really great Vietnamese place (that doesn't just have Pho and simple Viet dishes) since moving out to the Seattle area. This has been the best I've found so far, but haven't quite lived up to my expectations. I got a banh xeo (vietnamese pancake) which was good, more bean sprouts than I would like, but every Vietnamese restaurant will do that. It was massive for an "appetizer". Most restaurants would put that under an entree, it's also a bit hard to share, as it comes if one large piece. I got hu tieu mi (pork and seafood noodle soup with egg noodles). It was OK, I thought the broth was way too salty, although it did actually have good flavors, the sodium level was too high. It was a shame because everything else was good. the BBQ pork was delicious and they gave you multiple large juicy shrimp! I think I'd definitely come back here again, but try something else on the menu instead.
(4)Chantalle J.
CONFESSION #1: I am a sucker for pho... love it... crave it... must try it wherever I travel. CONFESSION #2: I am NOT a sucker for ridiculously over-priced pho restaurants with lazy workers. I have been a waitress at least 3 times in my life and I can tell you when I am getting quality service vs. "Crap-those customers just saw me hide in the kitchen because I didn't feel like helping them-and if I don't over-welcome them at this point, they might complain or not give me a tip" kind of service.. My business partner and I wanted some quick appetizers to get our day started, and it took almost 10 minutes to get the attention from 1 of the 5 workers. Seriously? There were a total of nine customers in the whole place... YEA, I counted!! My BP checked Yelp in hopes to "justify" Green Leaf's customer service, and to our surprise... 4 STARS?? On top of that.. pho is about twice the amount we pay for the Pho Xe Lua (XL) size in CA. Why'd we stay? We had a longggg trip and just wanted some food. We settled for the easiest foods to make.. and the process took just as long. This restaurant set us with a bad taste of their overall business. PROS: Goi cuon was unique and restroom sinks were fancy. ADVICE: Step it up... not all your customers are faithful locals.
(2)Connie L.
I ordered the Veggie Pho with fresh tofu, which I would give it 3.5 stars. It wasn't spectacularly delicious, but then again, it was Veggie Pho in Veggie broth, so it probably was supposed to be tasteless. My bf ordered a cold noodle dish with a combination of meats, where you add your own amount of fish sauce to make it tastier, and that was pretty good! So, if I go again, I'd probably order something like that. The nearby foods also smelled good. I also ordered the three colors drink (coconut milk with three different colored beans), and that was yummy and refreshing, as well. Don't be fooled by the dingy exterior. Inside has a nice, comfortable decor.
(4)Phillip T.
The ingredients they use are really fresh which brings out the flavor of the food. The bun Chay is amazing. I wasn't a fan of the veggie spring roll which resulted in a 4 star. I had better veggie vietnamese spring roll back in nyc. My wife had a pork chop and she loves it. She said it was grilled perfectly and the taste was infused into the meat.
(4)Jenny M.
This is my absolute favorite Vietnamese place in Seattle! I've tried the pho and a few other things (all wonderful), but my favorite is the vermicelli bowls. They come with a spring roll over rice, fresh veggies with whatever meat choice you like or (the best) beef, chicken AND shrimp. SO GOOD. Also, it's really nice and understated. Nothing fancy and a very good price. I would recommend to anyone craving Vietnamese.
(5)Gavin P.
what is all the fuss about? This place is a fad that offers the same vietnamese food as any other restaurant. The seating is squished with its large oversized and stiff wooden chairs that are VERY uncomfortable. Its also hidden and hard to find in dark gross basement.
(3)Michelle B.
Service was not that great. We had to keep asking out server for utensils & drinks. I had better pho.
(2)Thao N.
I was debating for the longest time whether I like Green Leaf more or Tamarind Tree. Tamarind Tree is bigger and provides parking, but I might like it better here at Green Leaf. It just feels cozier, the moment you walk in the doors, it's a like being in another dimension; totally a different world from ghetto China Town. Food is delicious, I always get the grilled pork and eggroll vermicelli bowl where ever Vietnamese restaurant I go to. I used to hit up a closer place to home, but they don't do how Green Leaf do. It's not in a pretty bowl and the serving size is no where as big as the vermicelli bowl here. Also, one unique thing about here is that they include those crunchy sticks made out of eggroll wraps inside their spring-rolls. It really does make a difference to the spring-rolls. My mom is Vietnamese and would tell me how much of a hassle it is make them since you have to cut a piece of the eggroll wrap, roll them up, and then deep-fried them, so props to Green Leaf for still only charging their spring-rolls around the prices of other Vietnamese restaurant without those crunchy sticks in them.
(4)RONALD W.
Pho here has a higher noodles to soup ratio than Than Brothers or Pho Cyclo. I think you will either like that or not. The broth is also less rich and salty than the other two establishments. Pho only comes in one size that clocks in around a medium at the other places. Spring rolls are pretty leafy.
(3)Chelsea J.
Good food, good service. Green Leaf is a solid spot for Vietnamese food. I love the Vermicelli bowls. Very reasonably priced dishes ranging from $8-13 each and portions are big. Great spot for a rainy day when you need a comforting meal to warm you up and fill the belly. Space downstairs is small but there is seating for larger groups upstairs. No complaints!
(4)Dennis M.
Just discovered this place. Where have I been? Salted squid was perfect. Sautéed veggies even better. Priced well with friendly and attentive service. Full bar with competent bartender although just water for us tonight. Return trip will be soon.
(4)Tesia L.
Went here with a friend and absolutely loved it! Great service, great environment, and great food! Will definitely go again!
(5)Mountain T.
Food is really good. I always like Vietnamese food. This one is the best I've had. The pho broth was really good. You should definitely try their banana peanut dessert if you have a sweet tooth. I'll definitely go back again! The only bad thing is the place was very stuffy and the upstairs was even worse and smelled bad.
(4)Sean M.
Oh damn is this place good! I went with a small, but hangry Vietnamese girl who is very hard to please - especially when it comes to her people's food. Yelp did not fail us. This is the best Vietnamese food I've had outside of Vietnam! It wasn't quite mama's cooking, but my dining partner was extremely pleased as well. Open one in NYC please!
(5)Eileen H.
As a Vietnamese girl this place is AMAZING! Me and my boyfriend just got back from Vietnam and we were a little worried that this place would be too "Americanized" and it was with the decor but the food was soo good! We had the Goi Ga (chicken salad), Ca Kho To (Clay Pot Catfish), Canh Cua (Sour Soup). All were amazing! I will recommend this place to anyone! Truly a great place for Vietnamese good! The also had Vietnamese Beer! (Boyfriend was excited about that haha)
(5)Carlos R.
If this is not the best Vietnamese food in town, then I don't know what is. Every time I eat here I'm absolutely astonishes by how delicious the food items are.
(5)Dae K.
By far one of the best places to get vermicelli in Seattle. I only got to try their vermicelli, unfortunately, but i literally cannot wait until my next visit. I ordered the combo vermicelli and the quality of EVERYTHING inside was great. My favorite part about it was the nice warmth of the noodles, which other places serve relatively cold. This is a must-go!!
(5)Michael M.
This is the 2nd time I have ordered pick up from these guys via EAT24 and both times they have blown the order. Missing items both times. I had to go back the first time to EAT24 to complain and get a refund. Green Leaf's order guy tonight was rude when we arrived for pickup. He gave me the bag of 3 items when I ordered seven. I saw it was incomplete and said so and he refused to agree and walked away. Spend your money with a business that cares or can count.
(1)Crystal N.
I had bun no hue and my friend had banh xeo and we both really liked our food. The service is fast. Kind of expensive for vietnamese food
(4)Megan N.
Honestly best Vietnamese food I've had. I especially like the Vietnamese coffee and bun with stir-fried beef and onions. The customer service ain't so great, but the food makes up for it.
(4)Paul Q.
I have always wanted to try this place, but my girlfriend and I always end up in another Vietnamese or even another restaurant. Besides my girlfriend has been here before and was not impressed. I am glad she agreed to come here with me. Too bad I was not in my pho mood so I ordered their mango salad with grilled chicken. I had no regrets ordering this. The green mango was sour which matched the saltiness of the sauce, probably fish sauce in the dish. The dish was just exploding with flavors and texture. Probably one of the best salads I have had. I love papaya salads in Thai places, but this one was so much better. The grilled chicken that came with it was perfectly charred and had the right amount of smokiness and tenderness. My girlfriend had the vermicelli with wrapped beef. It was a huge bowl. I am not a big fan of the wrapped beef but the dish was good too. However, just like the typical Thai, Vietnamese or Chinese restaurant, you will immediately feel thirsty even before leaving the place. But I will definitely try their pho or even rice dishes next time.
(4)Akiko I.
- Locale Destination - It's on 8th Ave S and S King St in Seattle. (International District) I'm a tourist, so I don't know what International District means. It seemed like a Chinatown to me, though I saw a Japanese bakery... It's a very tiny restaurant.
(4)Debbie P.
We've been to both the ID and Belltown locations. The food selection is pretty good. The service is OK. I'm just not impressed. I usually order the vermicelli bowls, but every time I've noticed something off-putting about it. I really can't put a finger on the flavor, but its a bit rancid. I have not tried anything else, because I already ear marked my favorite places for pho, spring rolls, and broken rice dishes.
(3)Star S.
I love the food here. Rice dishes, noodle dishes, appetizers. The only reason I'm rating 2 stars is because I saw small cockroaches running on our table and on the wall last time I was there.
(2)Jo C.
Restaurant's got some really good fresh flavors. The carrots and daikon are pickled and marinated. One of my favorite things to crunch on. This is also one of the few restaurants with bete leaves wrapped beef, so I really enjoy this dish when I am here. Everything is well flavored or they give you sauce to add flavor. This place is more expensive than Tamarind Tree and a bit more cramped and stinky, but food is better!
(4)Vanna P.
I think this is one of my favorite Vietnamese Restaurant. When I order pho, the broth is so sweet and flavorful, but I normally order the combo vermicelli bowl which is my favorite! Their eggrolls are pretty tasty as well because they have a piece of fried wrapper in the middle that gives it that crunch! They also have a really good vietnamese pancake appetizer which is really messy, but scrumptious.
(4)Marilynn L.
Ordered takeout and thought the vermicelli noodles with grilled pork was delicious and very large and filling. The banh mi looked good, too, though I didn't try it.
(4)David N.
Came here with a few coworkers (2 Americans, 1 German, and 1 Brit) since I was jonesing for some asian comfort food. before We ordered the crispy crepes and crispy rolls for sharing. We also each got our own entree (pho for me) and all of the dishes delivered on taste. The portions are also huge! It was worth the short trip to the International district in a taxi.
(4)Ryan H.
My favorite Vietnamese in the city! The ups: - great flavors and reasonable prices - portion sizes are great The downs: - it gets busy - it's older and the decor is less than inspiring
(5)Amber N.
This place was awesome. We needed to get some Vietnamese food in our system and this place called to us, vegan pho it said. Vegan pho! Well that was all I needed to hear. I'm glad I listened to the voice in my head because this place we delicious!
(4)Clint W.
Its much nicer here now and I admit that I like it. Fuhbulous. I grabbed a quick bowl of pho and even though it was busy, I had goodness at my side pretty dang quick. A bunch of pho places have quirks. Pho bac is cash only, right. Here, there is a 50 cent charge to your credit card if you dont spend at least $10. Since I skipped the spring rolls, I didn't make the hurdle rate. Regulars are treated like friends, and I love the small businesses. I always say I'll come back for a dinner, but never seem to make it.
(4)Kshira N.
I ordered a lunchbox through mealster. The meal consisted of "Tofu vermicelli noodle". the picture looked nothing like what was delivered. I ordered a vegetarian dish and found meat in there. Wasn't impressed. The picture looked like it was a saucy noodle but it was dry. Couldn't finish it. :(
(2)Leah B.
WARNING: COCKROACHES! While I was waiting for my to-go order this afternoon, the gentleman at the table next to me announces "EXCUSE ME! There is a cockroach in my salad!" I quickly look over to see a decent size bug crawling OUT OF HIS FOOD!! The staff did nothing to help him, so he carried his plate to the kitchen area as quickly as he could. I heard someone apologize to him and ask if he would like another of what he ordered but he declined. Why would you want ANOTHER order of bug infested food?! My mind was racing, "should i still get my order?! Could i even eat the food with a clear conscience?". I had to inform a waitress that wouldn't be accepting my order and left, never to return again. GROSS!!!
(1)Santiago R.
Green leaf is such an amazing resteraunt. Their food is very good though I would say that their chairs are slightly uncomfortable contradicting the rest of the resteraunts environment. I eat Vietnamese food about once a week and Green Leaf is one of my favorites. The wait staff is always so sweet and helpful and they have food for carnivores and vegetarians alike. I recommend their beef stew and banh mi. Also though now considered a Vietnamese dessert their flan is very good.
(4)Xingtao L.
My favorite Vietnamese place to eat if I'm not getting pho, for pho I always go to than bros. Anyways they do have wonderful soups here and a strong selection of tasty rice dishes. All the veggies are pretty fresh and the crispy egg rolls is a must every time I come here. Worth every penny.
(5)Kelli M.
I walked in to order takeout and was treated like any other guest... I was given a table and a pot of tea while I waited. The service was excellent, the wait time was minimal and the food was fantastic!
(5)Shari d.
Came here for dinner and based on all the 4 star reviews I was expecting exceptional food however I received food that was good but not great. I ordered the pan fried seabass and my friend ordered the combo vermicelli bowl. We also ordered some egg rolls for an appetizer. Not less than 2 minutes after we ordered the egg rolls arrived which I thought was impressive. Unfortunately the egg rolls were luke warm and you could tell they hadn't been freshly fried. They brought out the vermicelli bowl several minutes before bringing out my fish so my friend was half done with his dinner before mines arrived. When mines did arrive the fish had good flavor but was way overcooked and it was very chewy. All in all the food was tasty but I don't think I would order the same dish again. I will come back and try some different dishes next time. Hopefully the experience will be better.
(3)Laura F.
Especially fond of the clearly marked items on the menus, easy for those who don't frequent the ID too often. Spring rolls are near perfect with a lettuce-leaf-handle, served with a fun plum sauce for dipping instead of the usual peanut. And what are those crunchy things inside? They taste like fried pita chips and they're amazing. The bun vermicelli was a huge bowl full of grilled tofu and noodles, with a salad-like layer of pickled vegetables and lemongrass on top. The vinegar sauce was tangy and savory (almost BBQ like) all at once. I was a little weary of the vegetarian ham in the description, but I couldn't quite pick out exactly what it was in my dish to begin with. So I treated it as a unit, and it was pretty delicious. Tamarind soda was extra tamarind-y with a touch of creaminess--fun--but I wouldn't advise eating what's left in your glass. It was packed for a 12pm weekday lunch! But tables move fast, especially since they give patrons the menu to look at outside while waiting. A nice way of saying "please know what you want before you sit down." Visit the restroom upstairs, if you have a chance. Of course I'll be back.
(4)Diana N.
Really wonderful Vietnamese food that will please your taste buds! I'm lucky to dine here when it isn't crowded. The place is already rather small and bit cramped so imagine a full house, it ain't pretty. The service + staff are superb and the dishes are all pretty great! Even Iron Chef Mario Batali dines here (his parents live in Seattle) so worth a try! You may need luck in finding street parking though!
(5)John P.
I'll start with the BAD I came here during a busy day and it was horrible! The food was so bland and my sister pointed out that the fish sauce for the vermicelli was missing vinegar which made it taste horrible. Plus the pho broth was terrible that day. Now the GOOD All my other visits usually fit in this category and it's a great place. When this place is on top of things the food is exceptional. I've had a lot of pho here and there but this pho was way different in a good way. A whole lot of herbs and flavor in the broth just flood your senses. The vermicelli was just flat out great, but what I loved the most was the lilly pad root? salad. I forgot what it's called but this is the craziest salad I ever had! When you bite into one of these little roots its trippy. The roots are like fiberous but the fibers like disintegrate so you get this weird crunch in your mouth. It's a sweet and tangy salad that's really addicting so I recommend it (whatever it's called sorry). Yeah maybe you'd think it doesn't deserve 5 stars after the bad experience but I'm always up to forgive if a place really serves up good stuff.
(5)Laura P.
Love at first bun! This little hole in the wall is right next door to szechwan noodle bowl, another of my favs. The service is quick and attentive, and the food comes out fast! We started with the fresh spring rolls with pork and shrimp that come with delicious peanut dipping sauce, super fresh and crisp. Three of us then shared the combo vermicelli and a two piece Vietnamese pancake and very very happy and full. We splurged a little and had the grilled banana cake too and ta-dah only $29 for all three of us. Wonderful food, great service, cheap cheap cheap! I will be back for fried duck noodle soup and to sample some of their rice dishes!
(5)Christian S.
Had lunch here and the food was fantastic! Can't wait to go back.
(5)C. N.
I finally had lunch here last week after hearing about this place from friends and family. Sat in the upstairs section which was nice and spacious. Food was good and pretty reasonably priced. The Banh Xeo (crispy Vietnamese pancakes) was excellent. Two huge pancakes and a huge salad plate to accompany the pancakes. What really stood out was the presentation. Nice plates and bowls, especially for a cheap Vietnamese place. The pork and rice dish was so so.... the rice seamed dry and there was not alot of pork especially since it was the main dish. Overall, the place is good.
(4)Diane T.
One word: Fanastic. I will dine here until I burst and when I do, I will go back for more. Two appetizers you MUST try: --Vietnamese pancakes (ask the server how to eat them. They're lots of fun to put together and oh-so-tasty) --Beef a lot (if I explained it, you might be turned off, but just pop one in your mouth and you will moan with delight) Small-ish place. Get there early for lunch! (Not sure what the dinner crowd is like).
(5)Zach G.
Finally! A really good, cheap Vietnamese restaurant. No more fat and gristle at Pho Cyclo. No more microwaved pork from the mediocre Pho 900 across the street from me. No. Pay a buck more and get thee to the Green Leaf. Walk in the door and about fifteen seconds after being seated a large mug of tea appears on my table. The menu has plenty of the usual suspects on it, although so far I will admit to having just stuck with the bun combinations (but having done some special ops type spying on my fellow diners' meals, I feel safe in saying you can't go wrong with much on the menu here). When the food comes out, it's carefully put together in a nice bowl. Really, it's exactly what I want in this kind of dish -- flavorful charbroiled meat, trimmed of all the parts you don't want to eat; spiced up diluted fish sauce stuff; quality veggies. It's not particularly fancy or imaginative food; it's classics done the way they should be, and the way they're generally not. I'm convinced that even the hot sauce on the table is better than its competitors'. Top it off with smooth, friendly service throughout from various of the waiters handling the small dining room and I am totally sold on this place. Excellent. Thanks to the other reviewers for steering me right.
(5)Damian L.
Ok, so Green Leaf isn't a traditional Vietnamese restaurant and thus, shouldn't be compared to one. Their pho is on the small and expensive side, but if you're looking for pho there are plenty of other Vietnamese restaurants in the area. I consider it an upscale Vietnamese restaurant that caters to a wide range of patrons. I find the staff at Green Leaf to be friendly and courteous. Most of their dishes are delicious. In particular I like the spring rolls, mango/papaya salads and grilled tofu. I wasn't fond of the lemon grass chicken dishes-too much flavor overload. Green Leaf's presentation is top notch and the prices are affordable. It is one of my favorite little spots in Seattle.
(4)Tricia C.
Every now and then I have a craving for their Vietnamese crepe and 3 bean shake. I get this every time I go there.. yes, I should probably venture out and try something else there, but I LOVE both of these items. Occasionally I also get their fresh spring rolls, which are also delicious.
(5)Edwin W.
Overall very good. A nice selection of dishes and the chef specials sound like good options but I always just end up getting the combo vermicelli with pork, chicken, shrimp and egg rolls. The meld of flavors with the pickled vegetables and fish sauce is not only fragrant but tasty. The Vietnamese style marinade in the meats is seared to perfection. I've also had the lemongrass beef here, which very good as well. The service isn't the best, but pretty typical for an Asian restaurant, especially in International District. Perhaps if I venture out a little and expand my selections, I can bump my ranking up to a 4.5.
(4)Tonya N.
Ahhh green leaf. This place is great... very small and really really busy, i've been turned away a couple times and not too happy about it but have been back anyway... Classic flavorful vietnamese food, they are heavy handed with the fried challots here which i like and there is this nice little hole in the wall feel about it. Service is ok, not great, not bad... Overall good place for Vietnamese cuisine!
(4)Kevin S.
A couple of friends of mine introduced me to one of the few places in the ID i hadn't made it to yet. And I must say I was pretty impressed as this place has good food at a great price and what's more they even take credit cards. All of which makes it the best Vietnamese restaurant in the ID (as tamrine tree has gone down hill a bit). Couple of notes, their service is pretty good, but the place is SMALL - we're talking like 10 tables small so if you want a seat get their early or be prepared to wait. Oh and I will say this if you're expecting a huge menu - this isn't the place for you as they make a few things, but they make them well.
(4)mandy m.
im only subtracting a star because seating smells upstairs by the bathroom. hello hangover food. greasy enough to silence the nausea. light enough to keep the involuntary bulimia at bay. the buhn platters are where its at- you get to play with your food. and the homemade limeade is a perfect mixture of sweet and sour. i am picky about my meat too and i have yet to have a bad bite. my roommate and i order the same thing and then box up the pound of greens that they give you. basil and cilantro are expensive. we are cheap. so is the food.
(4)pete h.
small place, long line but well worth the wait. I came here last weekend after a fellow co-worker recommended it to me since I told her that I love bun xiao (Vietnamese Pancake). We ordered, the papaya salad, bun xiao, duck noodles and pork chop rice. The food is more expensive than say Pho Hoa' or Seattle Deli but worth it in my opinion. I've had better bun xiao while in San Jose, Ca, but I would have to agree that this is probably the best you can get in Seattle. To avoid the lines, come during lunch hour.
(4)L. S.
the star rating on yelp is frustrating bcause you feel like if you dont say 5 youre downgrading them. but this place is a gem. wish we had it in NY. The cooking is light and fresh-- they give you a pile of beautiful lettuce leaves and purple basil to wrap up a very light pancake, pickled vegetables, tofu and flavorful vinegar dips. noodle soup so lovely. great lively cozy local atmosphere and service fast and friendly. the owner even came over after our meal to say hello.
(5)Julia C.
Hello most amazing beef broth ever. Eat pho here and love every herby, deep and flavorful sip of Seattle's best broth. As for the rest, it's as you expect, only better, because your world has stopped to savor and devour the best bowl of soup in Seattle.
(4)David B.
As authentically close to the food I ate in Vietnam as I've found in Seattle. And the staff is extremely nice. Easy five stars!
(5)Michelle B.
Questions: The secret? The crack sauce? The reason we all love this place? Answer: Hanh kho phi, otherwise known as, deep fried shallots. Yep, that's what all the fuss is about, and oh boy is it worth it! These little beauties are served up with just about every dish on the menu here and add amazing flavor. The portions are relatively large, but don't let that stop you from trying many different items from the menu, this is why God invented to-go boxes. The dining room is really teensy tinsy so you may want to consider ordering to go. You may also consider skipping dessert since the "Flan Cake" don't worry it's just flan, is served covered in ice making it very difficult to eat. Luckily we used my water glass as a holding vessel for the ice cubes and enjoyed the flan. Green Leaf has some tasty Vietnamese food for super cheap - be sure to check out the hanh kho phi.
(4)Charles T.
Fabulous restaurant! Extreamly happy with both the service and the food.
(5)peiting l.
yam fried shrimp is a must try here, place's a bit tight but good food and good service is always expected. consistent food and almost all dishes are excellent, would give it a 5 star before they raised the prices :(
(4)Brian S.
I just got back from lunch at Green Leaf so this comes to you as fresh & hot as my food was! Steamed bread & stir fry lunch special... this was like a savory humbow exploded on my plate, mushrooming back on itself to leave the pork & onions sitting on top of the the bread, with mint, cilantro and lettuce on the side. Dessert was a banana rolled up in sticky rice and sliced, covered in coconut sauce and crushed peanuts. Wow, all that great food... total bill for 3 people was only $28, and the service was excellent. Very nice staff... the lady that kept refilling my tea gave me a little bit of a hard time when I tried to insist I'd had enough, all good natured teasing, I think she thought I didn't like her tea (I just didn't want to have to visit the bathroom all afternoon!).
(5)Jenny L.
great vermicelli bowl combo and one of a kind spring rolls. the deep fried crispy wafer adds great texture to the spring rolls and was perfect for my mum's birthday dinner- she's not a fan of raw bean sprouts. also had some crab and shrimp udon- it's kind of chinese style in that the soup is thickened to an almost gelatinous consistency- add a little bit of spicy sauce, sprouts, and cilantro, and you're golden. Also substituted the udon noodles for the vermicelli noodles (pho noodles). thought the udon noodles were interesting being clear and chewy, but prefer smaller noodles in my soup.
(5)Laura K.
I had the combo rice dish and the flavors were good but all of it horribly overcooked. The marinated veggies were too sweet but maybe I ordered the wrong thing. I also had the escargot balls and they were very good. I want to go back because their menu looks interesting but I think this place is overrated.
(3)Hannah C.
Best Vietnamese crepe (banh xeo) ever! Great quality, great price (2 huge crepes with loads of vegetables for only $10.25 taxes included). Their Crab soup was not too flavorful, just a lot of yellow color in it, and their Hu Tieu Nam Vang (southern Viet Nam seafood soup) was mediocre comparing to Huong Binh's on Jackson.
(4)Brant P.
Food is very good, and I managed to over-authentic myself on my first visit, which is a rare-accomplishment. Good food, quick service, nice authentic foodstuffs.
(4)SB K.
Been to many Vietnamese restaurants and I have to say it's one of the best I've ever eaten! Even though it's small the location is quite clean and ambiance was nice! Prices can't be beat! Had the combo bun (vermicelli) which was beautifully presented in a nice, big bowl and tasted even more delicious than it looked! Shrimp, pork, egg rolls on it were all amazing!! Can't wait to go back to try out other dishes--appetizers looked fantastic (maybe we'll order a few of those to share as our main courses), and a friend had this lovely shredded papaya salad with gigantic grilled prawns!
(5)Linh H.
Their noodle bowls are very delicious. I'm not a big fan of fish sauce (nuoc mam), but I liked Green Leaf's. I would come back here and try other dishes. Authentic food, good for the adventurer.
(4)Xxxxx X.
We wanted some good food in the International District, and we had read about Green Leaf so we were wandering in the general direction, hoping to find it- we forgot to jot down the address. Well, fyi the restaurant has a large green leaf on a white background lit up, and we were able to park and find it. Our timing was good, we got seated quite quickly, and my pho was delicious although I would prefer the thin sliced meat to be less cooked, but still it was tasty! Their Spring rolls were so good, as was the vermicelli my friend ordered with 3 types of meat on top. We were so happy to find this place, the service was great, and we were taken care of by the staff. If you want some Vietnamese, stop in and get yourself a feast!
(3)Jean K.
This place is bangin! I got the lemongrass grilled beef in a bowl with noodles and veggies. Im not sure what the crack sauce is that they put in there, but its yum. My friend got a similar dish that came with shrimp skewers, tasty pork and spring rolls. My other friend got some anchovy soup (he's (Italian), so unless you like the taste of fish it might be a little much. I looked over at the people next to us and they got what looked like an assortment of stuff they rolled together kind of like mieng kum at a thai restaurant. It looked good whatever it was. Did I mention all dinner entrees were around $6? I cant wait to go back.
(5)Syd C.
One of the best vietnamese places around. I've gone here about 5 times and have not had anything that wasn't delicious. Their soups are very flavorful and the broth is excellent. Their rice dishes and grilled meats are also very flavorful with a good amount of vietnamese style marinade/seasoning. Despite it appearing small from the outside, it actually has decent seating with an upstairs. Its been busy everytime I've gone but I've always been able to get a seat right away. As with most vietnamese places, the food comes out quick so you can be in and out within 40-45 mins. There's nothing that can be a good bowl of noodles/soup on a cold seattle rainy day...or to combat a hangover.
(5)Pete C.
We really enjoyed our first trip to Green Leaf. At 7:30 on a Saturday we got a table in under 10 minutes and had great service all the way throughout our meal. We both enjoyed the spring rolls with the crunchy surprise. I had the combo vermicelli and enjoyed the grilled meats but was a bit surprised that there wasn't any type of sauce for the noodles (I improvised and used leftover dipping sauce from the spring rolls). We'll definitely add this place to the rotation.
(4)Michael W.
I give credit of my new customership status to Jean K. She kept jawin' about this place so I just had to check it out. How it sprung up in my hometown without me noticiing is a mystery to me. Jean was right though. This place is definitely the shiznit! The menu had all this stuff I wanted to try, but the wife and I resorted to just 4 things. HAH. We got stuff lined up for our next visit. If this was iron chef ratings, I would judge it like so: Presentation points = 5 (out of 5) Originality = 5 (out of 5) Taste = 10 (out of 10) ------------------------------- adding my own: Price - 5 (out of 5) Service - 5 (out of 5) Environment 2 (out of 5) - Nicely designed, but cramped; Noticed they take reservations so that might be a good way to avoide the long wait.
(5)Alicia C.
The fresh rolls were wonderful! We watched as they picked herbs in preparation for more food and thought that was great. I had a vegetarian vermicelli that I thought was really good. It was fresh and filling. My husband's pho was different than what he was used to but in a good way. The service was quick and nice. I really liked it!
(4)Aaron E.
Amazing food. I'm drooling just writing this review.
(5)Carmen R B.
I went looking for a good bowl of Pho. It came a bit iffy - the chicken seemed unedible, in fact I didn't eat it. Good broth, though. I'd go with the pancake and stay away from chicken anything.
(2)Ivan M.
oooh man! i love the bi cuon and goi cuon here! they roll them tight and the ingredients are mad fresh. if only i could get my blunts rolled this tight. haha. ahem. almost all of the noodle soups are excellent if a bit small, if you're used to the xl bowls at than brotha's then you'll be a lil disappointed here but i prefer quality over quantity. the restaurant is kinda squishy if you are rollin' deep or are big skinned like me and even though they expanded a little to upstairs you might still be in for a wait if you're there during prime time. peep 'em out, great place for a snack!
(4)Andrew D.
Went to get pho and was not disappointed. I'm not a huge pho guy, but the broth here was really nice. I had the well-done beef, wife had the chicken -- both impressed. The fresh rolls were also very good -- a little crunch which was different in a good way.
(4)Dean D.
best Vietnamese kitchen in town. the decor is... a little weird, especially upstairs, but it's clean
(5)AJ R.
LOVED IT!!! Very fresh . Loved the fact they gave you a plate of fresh herbs and greens.. Nice healthy portions. Great service.
(5)Whitney k.
Lively atmosphere, quality ingredients, fresh, flavor full, good portion sizes, really enjoyed the pho the broth was very flavor full, short ribs were a really good portion, i enjoyed there spring rolls. We will be back its keeper!
(4)Yiling W.
Good food, nice service, very decent price: get the beef short ribs. It's a relatively cramped space, so it may no be good for, say 6+ people to eat together. If they are close, try the green onion pancakes next door (red and yellow sign).
(3)Tim N.
I'll give Green Leaf a full FIVE stars--not because I'm Vietnamese, but because they really represent Vietnamese cuisine. I'd recommend this place to anyone who thinks that Vietnamese food consists only of pho and spring rolls. Anything on the menu is game and is cheap too. If you've heard about the famous seven course beef meal, get it here instead of the other place (rhymes with Lamerind Bee) because its great quality and its a whole lot cheaper! The spring rolls are great because of that extra crunch and the Bot Chien is a great appetizer to start with. The place is a bit cramped and is always busy and there is just street parking, so expect a long wait time for a seat, especially if you have a large group or you're waiting on a Friday. But don't give up, it'll be worth it. And do me a favor and don't get pho here. I'm mean yes it's still good, but c'mon you can get that anywhere you want to. Pho places in Seattle are as abundant as Starbucks. Be adventurous and try something new on the menu. You wont be disappointed. Mario Batali says yes to this place (don't believe me? Check the picture next to the door) and so do I. Go. Go now.
(5)Kelly Z.
Good, but not great food. I was slightly disappointed after reading all the glowing reviews on here.
(3)L O.
My brother brought me here after a recent trip to Vietnam. Thankfully, he offered to order for me since I was new to to Vietnamese food, outside of the usual pho. He suggested the combo vermicelli.....YUM! My boyfriend won't stop talking about their duck noodle soup. I've been back about 5 times now and it's on my "go to" list of places when I want an easy, cheap, and yummy dinner. It's always a delicious decision!! The only strike is that they don't have a full bar, but they do have decent selection of beer and wine.
(4)peter n.
Ive tried this place out and wanted to give it a few more tries before I can write a review. Its just ok to me, people I knew has been raving about this place and we decided to try it out, probably about 4x now. I'm vietnamese so its obvious I've gone to a lot of vietnamese joints. All the people who suggested this place werent, and I think it really shows to me. The food was definitely good, no question about it, but it doesnt taste like real vietnamese food. Banh xeo(vietnamese pancake) was good, but off, it was really sweet. Pho is just ok, most of the time if you want pho you probably should just go to a pho restaurant. My least favorite item has to be their bun bo hue. It really didnt taste like bun bo hue, but more like bun rieu with bun bo hue stuff in it. Bun bo hue you take thick steak chunks, this was thin sliced meat. Our original plan was to eat pho bac and after that dinner I kind of wish we did. Once again, the food was good, salad rolls are money, but its just not right. If you dont frequent vietnamese restaurants often then this place is perfect, but to a guy like me, its sub par at best. Service was superb, food was good, if not then for what it is, it would get less stars.
(3)tina k.
This my favorite place for Vietnamese. I am so devastated that today might be my last at Green Leaf w/ my lunch buddies!! boo-hoo. The vermicelli and eggroll dish is delish. Anyone know any equivalents in Redmond? Maybe not, b/c no place could ever compare to GREEN LEAF!
(5)Alary M.
This place is great! The service is always so good, the hot tea that they serve immediately after sitting down was great--and of course the food is phenomenal! Parking can be something of an issue in the ID, and the wait time can be ridiculous because it's so small, but it is worth it. We really like the combo noodle bowl (#45 I think), the lotus salad, the beef salad, and their spring rolls (we don't normally like to buy spring rolls, but they make the best!).
(5)Sarah M.
The atmosphere at greenleaf is unlike any other vietnamese restaurant in Seattle. The place was very clean and modern. I was impressed. I definitely recommend the Vietnamese pancakes (super cheap and filling). I wasn't as impressed with the vermicelli bowl with egg roll, but the food was pretty good overall.
(4)brian a.
You probably don't need me to tell you it's the best Vietnamese in town.
(5)Nixie G.
LOVE LOVE LOVE! Pho is very good, menu is fresh and unique. We've also had catering by these guys and they're spectacular! No complaints, but lots and lots of praise! Unique and delicious. Always a fav.
(5)Eugene W.
Amazing food, wonderful staff!
(5)F D.
Tasty, cosy, and cheap. For the price the green leaf is hard to beat. I had the veggie vermicelli. A big bowl comes full of noodles, veggies, and soy-based meat. They also provide a sweet sauce to poor over everything. I also added some chili sauce to liven it up. Take a peak at some of the photos they represent it well.
(5)CJ B.
5 of us had another great meal here. The shrimp with lemongrass, shrimp salad, and usual rice noodle bowls all shone. In addition to the fabulous food, the staff here are the friendliest, most personable in the City. They convey a sense of pride in their food and gratitude in their customers' patronage that is unmatched.
(5)christopher p.
I dunno if it was the food or the bad day I was having but it was the best pho I've ever had. Been here many times and never disappointed. I will be back asap.
(5)Mary K.
I hate to rock the boat here but Green Leaf was just OK. Decent but not great and left me wondering why all the rave reviews? I made my husband come here with me to see what all the hype was about, being the foodie I was, but slight disappointment was the aftertaste. Maybe I ordered the wrong dish at the wrong time? I ordered #45, the combo vermicelli and found the preparation to LOOK nice but as far as taste went, it didn't knock my socks off. The meat on it was kind of dry and not juicy or really tasty and the fish sauce was fine but a little bit too light. My husband ordered a noodle soup (not pho) which he thought was just ok. Seating was fast (we got there at 11:30 on Sunday), service was prompt but none of the warm smiles I read about, price was very reasonable (under $10 for main entrees), and food was decent. I didn't have to drive 20 minutes from my home to come here and look for parking when I've had better Vietnamese vermicelli and just as good spring rolls at Square Lotus (or pho at I Love Pho) just 5 minutes away in my neighborhood. The hubby agreed. The verdict - if you don't have any good Vietnamese places to eat around where you live, I guess Green Leaf is a safe bet. Otherwise, if you already know of a good one in your neighborhood, stay put where you are because there's no need to emit gas to come here. Second chance, different dish? Maybe..maybe not.
(3)Liz A.
The pho (rare beef and brisket) was sensational. I don't know WHAT they put in the broth -- but it's singularly savory. The fresh rolls are beautiful and simply delicious. Seems like the real deal. UPDATE, June 2011 -- my second visit -- just today -- and still it is magically delicious. Can't. Get. Enough.
(5)Ann M.
My new favorite Vietnamese joint!
(4)David B.
Really enjoyed this hole in the wall Vietnamese spot on 8th between Jackson and King. Great for lunch and dinner, handy to WIng Luke Museum and other ID and P-Square destinations. Hard to beat the papaya salad, super-fresh spring rolls and pepper salt squid. Service was polite and attentive.
(4)Tazzy M.
This is probably my favorite place in Seattle. When I have friends in town and I want to give them some Seattle love, Green Leaf time. Never fails. I just wish I could get myself to order something besides the Papaya salad and Chicken Vermicelli, but Im too scared I wont like it as much. Some day...
(4)Helen Y.
Have been here several times and enjoyed it but last night it was so not good! The meat was poor quality and the shrimp was tiny - neither were flavorful and the portion was not worth the price - disappointing.
(2)john b.
7 courses of beef! The meal is good for two people. It comes with beef wrapped in seaweed, congee, beef ball, spring roll (wrap it yourself) with plain beef or other Beef dishes with this plate. $28 without tip... highly recommend.
(5)akzidenz g.
this place is actually clean for a vietnamese restaurant....score! the spring rolls i had were probably one of the best in my life. seriously. they put some fried egg roll skin inside so thats its crunchy when you eat it. delicious. the pho broth was ok....not bad, but a little too sweet for my taste. next time i come, i will try the vermicelli noodles and other items, as i hear that those dishes are better than the pho.
(4)Andy G.
As a newbie to Seattle I've been trying to sample as many restaurants as I could before going back to the well. That all went out the window when we tried Green Leaf. I found myself craving the Bun from Green Leaf and back at a cozy table the second Saturday in a row, meaning that I really was in love. The noodles, spring rolls and egg rolls are delicious, and helps me get my fix of Vietnamese, when all I seem to be able to find is Pho. (I love it, but I like my BUN!) Pretty inexpensive and they move people in and out quickly - definitely a spot on my rotation.
(4)Tim K.
The first time I came here was because of another review I read about Green Leaf's Vietmanese pancakes. Wow! They are to die for. I've only tried a couple other things at Green Leaf, but the pancakes are still the best thing so far. The Pho was pretty good, but overpriced if you ask me, especially becuase of how small it is. I've also tried a cocount noodle appetizer, but wasn't very impressed. It's all about the pancakes!
(4)jil r.
Seriously, what's not to like? I give this place 5 stars for food, service and price. the prices are awesome and the food is very tasty - freshly roasted or grilled shrimp, chicken and pork on vermicelli rice noodles with fresh salad mixed in great portions. I also had the banana sticky rice dessert with warmed coconut milk and nuts. Delicious melt in your mouth. A bottomless cup of tea was continuously filled, and the staff was very attentive. I was here 2/1/11 - the same night the other person who gave a negative review on this same day I am (although I don't know her) She was loudly complaining about the food, not to the waitresses but EVERYONE else in the restaurant and informed two other people that entered the restaurant that the food was inedible and to take their business to Tamarind Tree. That couple then left and told the waitress they had an emergency and had to go. Your stuffiness, rudeness and loud passive aggressiveness to all the diners was not missed or appreciated. I hope you enjoy the restaurant in Copenhagen, of which you two spoke - i was many tables away. Maybe you'll stay there.
(5)Jojo A.
Great place to get Vietnamese food. Presentation is very nice but food is a bit pricey. You can get the same quality of food at smaller places in the International District for less. Great atmosphere and presentation.
(4)Kenny C.
Service was excellent. The food was pretty good, my gf's Bun was excellent, the meat was perfectly marinated, my spicy broth soup was good, but I kind of felt like the soup lacked depth but it was good spicy with plenty of meat and veggies, the spring rolls were tasty but didn't enjoy the fried stick wrapped in. I've heard great things about their other dishes and will definitely be back to try the others.
(4)Roxana N.
I LOVE this place...especially for a casual lunch out. The food is out of this world and the place is small and cozy. It is a little expensive for pho but the good thing about it is you can get other types of soup other than traditional pho. I would recommend the chicken and bok choy soup! The chicken is tender and the broth is so flavorful! Next time you are in the ID and craving a bowl of soup, this is the place to go!
(4)Jerry M.
A great little find. Great Vietnamese reasonable. Sign me up"
(5)Jeff K.
Great variety of well-priced traditional Viet dishes here - beef is usually your best bet - the pork is hit or miss, which drops this a star on my list. I've been here enough times now to recommend a visit. The place is small downstairs- go up if you can, but popular (even a small pic of Mario V. near the front door). The staff is quick and friendly. Give it a try.
(3)Howard C.
Okay, for all those Monsoon fans who give them a 5 Star rating, have you tried Green Leaf? I love eating the apps, main courses, and then finishing the meal with a nice hot bowl of pho. Mmmm. And you can take a bunch of loud boys to this place because they have a large dining area upstairs! Prices are great, but parking is tough.
(5)T. B.
move over Tamarind Tree, there's a new boy in town! The offerings are very similar-great Vietnamese food at very affordable prices, maxed out waitstaff. The key differences: TT has better decor and a larger space Menu selection is more interesting at TT GL is a tad cheaper TT will continue to lead in the race for my affections, but, like the soda wars-when I'm feanin something a little different, but not too different, Mr Pepsi looks just as good as Mr. Coke. I'd definately recommend trying both places and deciding for yourself. Perhaps with a blind taste test of bahn xeo.
(4)Cheryl Y.
Ok, so this place was quite a walk. I had read the positive reviews and decided to come here after I was near the space needle. It's a nice day so I figure I'll walk. I first make my way to 8th and go down that for a loooooong time only to find out that the 8th Avenue breaks up near the highway. Wah-wah-wahhhh. I walk back down to 6th and across. At this point I'm exhausted and the international district looks deserted. I'm thinking even if I make it to this place it will be pretty awkward eating in an empty restaurant. Well, I suck it up and walk the final 3 blocks. I go in, and this place is packed! This is apparently where everyone in the neighborhood is at. Good sign already. It takes them a few minutes to seat me but were very attentive and quick with my order. I go my usual, pho with beef slices. It was excellent and hit the spot. I would definitely recommend this place.
(4)Molly T.
Went here a month ago....Horrible location and not very clean...TERRIBLE seating and horrible customer service - hence the 1 star.....Took 15 minutes for the food and even a water refill! I cant stand eating and looking around at the walls and it has dirty fingerprints on it. Vietnamese food was bland....nothing unique. Wouldnt come back.
(1)Y K.
Never fails to satisfy my Vietnamese food craving. I especially love their Fresh Shrimp Rolls, Grilled Lemongrass Eggplant Pancakes. Brought my family and friends over and it Yum!!! never fails to satisfy them. Yum.
(5)Jonathan H.
Had the combination Pho. Very good but not as good as other places. The Bun with pork though...man, that was amazing. Too bad my girlfriend ordered it instead of me. So I wrestled her and stole what she had left. Will be back for sure.
(4)Retired B.
Good food, reasonable prices. Ambiance is nice. I tried the bun (vermicelli) and it wasn't as good as my favorite place ever in San Francisco. However, I would say it is probably the best Vietnamese place in Seattle that I've tried. This place is popular and gets packed quickly.
(4)Vanessa F.
Best Bun in the ID.
(5)Clarence J.
Don't normally eat vietnamese food but it was goooood!
(4)Shane D.
shhhh dont tell anyone about this place.
(5)Nanette L.
A beautiful glass art work with an Asian woman welcomes you as you enter Green Leaf Vietnamese Restaurant. The interior is wainscot with bamboo paneling, tinted with green tea coloring and contemporary art deco style lighting. This restaurant is itty bitty in size with an added second floor seating. Wahoo! An order of lemon grass chicken and onion rice plate was SPICY HOT! Vermicelli with grilled chicken was light and tasty. Service is warm and friendly. The regulars are welcomed with affectionate greetings.
(5)Dest S.
I don't think there's any point in writing a long review for a restaurant that already has 100 great reviews. I just want to add that if you haven't tried the pancake appetizer, you should. Holler!
(5)Shar S.
Probably the best Vietnamese restaurant near International District. I love their spring rolls.
(4)Derek R.
So far this is my favorite restaurant in Seattle. You go in here expecting a descent meal after you check out all the hype written on the walls...but you have no clue what you are in for...Peter, the husband of the chef is usually up front greeting you and making sure your meal goes smoothly....and in 6 visits it always has...The service is great the food calls my name like a drug and the dungeness crab is Heaven!!! You can't go wrong with the asian pancake, the short ribs or the eggplant. If it wasn't 3 am i would venture there right now cause I'm lookin for some green leaf right abouts now... Thanks Guys your food rocks!!!
(5)Grace Y.
On a Tuesday night after 8 pm this place was pretty crowded...always a good sign...and it was recommended by fellow Asian foodies...another good sign. I did enjoy the crispy tofu in the vegetarian spring roll, which was a tasty surprise, and the seafood broth and noodles in dish #29 was flavorful and filling. My companions were not so lucky...a forgetable, overcooked shrimp dish served with rice and a sickly sweet coconut juice/papaya salad/ rice noodle concoction were dishes I would not recommend. They also completely forgot to bring the second appetizer that we ordered. This is a decent Vietnamese place for the price but hey if Mario Batali loves it, it's got to be good, right?
(3)Kristin S.
Good food and very reasonable prices. The ambiance is a little cramped but sometimes this is nice on a cold night. I had the vegetarian bun. I liked that I knew my dish was entirely veggie but I really didn't like the weird fake porky flavor of the "fake meat". Next time I'll just get plain tofu or nothing at all. The spring rolls were great!
(4)Eric P.
Great Pho, quick service, great Vietnamese coffee
(5)Josh F.
Yum! their noodle bowls rock!! only not 5 stars for slow service.
(4)Glen P.
Excellent food, great staff. Some of the salads (we had a lotus root, papaya and mango salad as well as a pickled greens salad) end up being a little samey, but their version of samey is still better than most places could hope to achieve. Excellent soups and fish. Look forward to returning.
(4)Kerstin K.
Horrible! We ordered an appetizer (spring rolls), salad (green papaya), and 2 entrees (fried duck soup and fried rice). Spring rolls were ok...not great. We sent the rest back not eaten (tried 1-2 bites of each). Waiter asked what was wrong with duck soup, was told we didn't like it. He left it on the table and walked away! On top of inedible food, nothing was refunded when sent back. If you like bland, flavorless, tough food...I'd strongly suggest Green Leaf. Otherwise steer clear!
(1)Dennis B.
Great food. Great price. Very small space, but worth it if you want good pho.
(4)heather g.
For the price, Green Leaf is amazing. There is a 'pancake' on the appetizer list that's really good, and huge. If you get there early, you can certainly get in-- but it's a tiny hole-in-the-wall space, so be prepared to be friends with your neighbors. The tamarind soda is really good, too. Definitely a great place to go before downtown activities.
(4)TaDao V.
It's cheap and it's really great. What more can you want? The menu is well balanced with enough variety but not too much that you get overwhelmed with choices. I love how they had items I haven't seen since my mom dragged me back to the motherland. The flavors, the quality, the love in every bowl of awesome goodness... You can't go wrong with anything on the menu and if you think you did, you don't deserve to eat. By the way, the wait sucks so go on the off hours.
(4)Lyca F.
I've been there once only, but it was because my Vienamese friend took us to. She wanted to show my mid-west friend "real food." Also, she recommended the place to me, I love Vietnamese food. I had escargo and noodle in soup. It's worth a try for everybody who likes Vietnamese food.
(5)Wendy M.
I love this place! The fried crepe was sooo yummy! Everything I've tried here is so good. I don't know if you can go wrong with anything that's served up here! The grilled beef with lemongrass was great!
(5)Trevor R.
Yes, it's small and cramped, but for 1-4 people with good timing, it's worth a visit for some great food at a great price. Two entrees and an appetizer with hot tea for under $20 at dinner! The deep fried shallots topping most dishes are quite tasty and addictive. I recommend the grilled lemongrass eggplant, the fresh rolls (either vegetarian or pork and shrimp), and the vermicelli with grilled beef wrapped in thin sliced pork.
(5)Linh T.
I used to say it was hard to find a Vietnamese restaurant in Seattle that can beat my mom's cooking until I stumbled upon Green Leaf!!! What a pleasant surprise. I've been going here ever since it first opened and it has always been my first go-to choice of restaurant whenever I need to get my Vietnamese food fix. Every single dish on the menu is super tasty, and did I mention their exceptional customer service? They have the friendliest waiters and waitresses in town! I highly recommend Green Leaf to anyone who wants a taste of authentic Vietnamese dishes!
(5)Karen R.
i just returned from my first meal here and i know i'm going to be returning often. with the help of yelp reviews, i manage to have a scrumptious meal. yes, the crepe/pancake is awesome! we tried both the tofu and pork & shrimp. naturally, the latter is more tasty but the tofu ain't bad either. i especially enjoy the basil and mint that adds both texture and taste to a mouthful of this dish. yum! my husband had pho and i had the combo rice. yummy!! when can i go back?! :D we got there past 2pm and it was packed! we managed to get the last table for two at the door and they were very apologetic about the cold but we didn't have a problem with it at all. service is good - above regular asian restaurant standards - they actually smile and seem to be happy you're there at their restaurant. tables turned pretty quickly today while we were there so even if there were a few groups of people after us waiting in line, they didn't have to wait too long. i think 4pm is probably a good time to come here to have some form of a meal :)
(4)Sue M.
I have to say....I really did wish I was the only one to know about this resturant. It usually is busy and that's a bummer because the space is oh so small but the quality of the food FAR out wieghs the small cramped quarters. Often, I find that I can't decide on what to have since everything I've tried has been excellent so I usually end up ordering 4-5 dishes just for me! I will say this has to be my favorite Vietnamese resturant in Seattle.
(5)Reed A.
Green Leaf is amazing. This gem of a Vietnamese restaurant serves high-quality, very fresh food in a nicely decorated interior for really decent prices. I've paid much more for food that didn't even come close to Green Leaf. It's always busy, and they seated us at a shared table once, which was fine. Everything I've gotten there is fantastic, but the Vietnamese crepe (Bahn Xieo sp?) and anything with grilled chicken stand out.
(5)Bill E.
I like this place a lot. the food is fresh and delicious and the service is always quick and polite. I had the chicken egg noodle soup when I was sick and I left feeling like a million dong. The wine list, yeah! much better than most places in the neighborhood. So, there you have it!
(4)mahalie s.
OMFG I LOVE THIS PLACE. It's not all tricked out like Tamarind Tree and unfortunately everyone else found out about it so it is VERY busy but it is still my favorite Vietnamese in town. The owner is so sweet, we live in the area and she always remembers us. They have great pho, of course, and we often get the Lemongrass Tofu and pancake. I think their sauted banana dessert if my favorite right now.
(5)wes y.
Great, innovative Vietnamese food. Highly recommend!
(4)Ken C.
I really love the food and atmosphere at the Green Leaf. If you get bent out of shape when you have to wait for a table, or don't like to be crammed into small eating quarters then this is probably not your place. But for me that just adds to atmosphere, energy and overall dinning experience at the Green Leaf. It feels like dinning in a city should. Of course if was going to drop a wad of cash at a place like El Gaucho I would pissed off it was crowded, tight, and noisy. But for $6 bowl of incredible soup its perfect. I stumbled upon Green Leaf while looking for Pho restaurants I had not tried . It is the best Pho I have had in Seattle hands down. I normally opt for the Pho Ga (chicken) which what I have been using as a reference point. The Pho Ga at the Green Leaf was amazing. When they brought the bowl of soup to my table there was a fantastic aroma flowing out that made me even hungrier. The staple Pho accessories (sprouts, basil etc...) were fresher and cleaner than most Pho places. The broth was fantastic and flavorful but not to salty/msg tasting. In comparison to most of the Pho joints in Seattle, the Green Leaf is quite clean, the plates and bowls have more personality than your standard Than Bros white bowl. To top it all off they sport a menu that has much more than Pho. I will be going back many times to experience all the different choices.
(5)Jon L.
Fantastic Vietnamese Cuisine! Great presentation of food, difficult to find in I.D. The spring roll is like no others, there is a crunch to it and the sauce is awesome! The Beef Wrap with Loof Leave is awesome (spelling?) LOL. All the noodle is good. The rice dish is somewhat the same as everywhere else. All in all a great tasting Vietnamese Restaurant. On the final note, its CLEAN. ;-)
(4)Julian d.
I had the beef with noodles and I was kind of astonished at the fact the dish literally had NO FLAVOR. At all. Even the beef was bland. It was as if all the flavor had been romoved surgically. My girlfriend suggested I dump some of the various dipping sauces we had around on it, along with some sri racha. I eventually did, and then it tasted like sri racha and dipping sauce. I mean, noodles with beef on them should at least by proxy taste a little LIKE THE BEEF....damn chef, at least give me a reach round and dollop a ladle of broth on the thing for some kind of taste. Will probably try again, for another dish. The service was prompt and nice, and i think overall it has the potiential to shine, but my first impressions were less than positive.
(3)Eric H.
I've been here several times and it never disappoints. The vermicelli bowls are awesome and the pho is better than average. Love the fresh rolls. It's cozy, but that only adds to the appeal.
(5)Katniss B.
Is this the best vietnamese food in town? After reading all the rave reviews, I thought we've hit the jackpot when we found this place. I've had much better vietnamese food in SF and even better in San Jose. The food wasn't horrible, but I guess it doesn't really deserve more than 3 stars. Service was great.
(3)SF Doom ..
here is what you do: go in, stand in the drafty entrance way until you are noticed and get a table. then, flip thru the menu as if you are interested, but always order the duck soup. fiddle with the idea of getting spring rolls. drink tea. drink water. do this until the meal arrives. the soup shows up in a bowl, and on the side you get a plate of cabbage salad topped with duck. do not ask me what other vegetables come in the salad, i am neither a horticulturist nor a gardener. it tastes good, so i eat it. some people dump the whole salad into their soup and go to town. i prefer to dip the cabbage salad and duck into the ginger sauce, and keep it separate from the actual soup. either way is acceptable, but my way is the best way. do not argue. the wait staff is nice, and the food is prepared in a short amount of time. with my blessing, you may eat here.
(4)james s.
Best lunch I've had in a few years. Lemon Grass Tofu and spring rolls (3.95 each) are some of the best deals in the city. $6.95 dishes: very good. This is a true 100 plus reviewer, 4.5 - 5 star gem of a find.
(5)M -.
I really liked this place. I brought a out of town friend here for a yummy meal and wine. We had a glass of white wine with pho & a appetizer & the house fried rice. I was impressed with the flavors, but the woman that served us could not have made it more apparent she didn't want to be there. But looking around I saw all the other employees cheerful & happy--Maybe it just wasn't her day. Anyways, we sat upstairs which was nice, but VERY warm. Maybe better vents would be a good thing for this place. But all in all, I was happy with my food & that is why I was there :)
(4)Eve C.
Hands down best pho in Seattle! Super lean flavor, never greasy and great portion size. Everything we've had has been amazing!
(5)C S.
Hands down best Duck Soup & Spring Rolls.
(5)KK B.
my favorite vietnamese restaurant in seattle. quite possibly in the whole universe. fresh spring rolls (hmm tamarind tree might be slightly better on this one), viet pancakes (my hubby's favorite), pho and bun... i start drooling just thinking about it. i would not recommend 7 course of beef tho. not worth it.
(5)N J.
Cheap, fast and yummy! Their lettuce wraps are super delicious! It's a bit small and there can be a wait, but it's definitely worth it. They have high chairs too and are baby friendly. :)
(5)Kiran C.
Small portions put me off on this place. I am sure if you order the right thing, this place would be nice. It is pretty small and you can end up waiting for a while for a table since there is very limited seating. I am willing to give it another try based on the other reviews but I was a bit disappointed with my lunch dish.
(3)Clara L.
Green leaf is great! The bun was amazing and spring rolls were wonderful - we can't wait to go back for more!
(5)Mr. Q.
I have no complaints and left the place beaming - spring rolls with grilled chicken in them dipped in that peanut sauce - and authentic and delicious Pho for a price that can't be beat - amazing - I'll be back and will bring friends next time!
(5)Ngoc H.
I would say Green Leaf has the best Vietnamese food in Seattle. And no, I don't mean pho. Actually, the pho is not good here. But the other noodle soups are very good. Lots of good flavor. Oh yeah, good prices too. My favorite dishes here are the bun rieu (crab noodle soup) and bun bo que (spicy beef soup). I would choose the food at Green Leaf over Tamarind Tree and Made in Kitchen any day.
(4)Josephine J.
I went in a party of seven right at the beginning of dinner. We had a little bit of a wait, but they were great about getting us the big table. We went in kind of clueless about what to order, and they were pretty helpful about suggesting things to us. The food was amazing--all greatly satisfying, perfect combination of flavors, the vegetables were fresh and not too over/undercooked, and the meat was tender for each dish. The service was efficient, but I can't say that they were very friendly or attentive, either. (Once we got the dishes it was hard for us to figure out how to actually eat them.) Regardless, I recommend this place to anyone craving good Vietnamese food--from the everyday to the fancy.
(4)Maus Y.
Having lived in CA and NY, this is one of the most authentic places for pho. The combo pho had everything- all good pieces.. nothing too chewy. The ambiance warm and clean (not a hole in the wall noodle house) and service was great as well- staff was attentive and very friendly. Be prepared for a wait, but usually a quick turnaround
(5)s c.
The food is unbelievably fresh, very well presented and has an explosion of flavors.The service is friendly - the staff recommended us to get one special since it was large enough for two; and quick. The tables are close to each other, and you get a New York restaurant feel, which I liked. I saw a few groups - this was on a Sunday, and they seem to have additional seating upstairs.
(5)Tammy V.
i reallly like this place! after coming here once, i fell in love with it and keep on going back. not only is it clean enough to take friends (which doesn't happen very often in chinatown), but the food is delish! i suggest the banh xeo, banh cuon, or bun dac biet. this place generously uses little fried onions/shallots to sprinkle on top of dishes that add so much flavor. the best thing about it is, it's vietnamese food therefore, it's cheap!!! =D i would give it a 4.5 but we just don't have halves on here - do we? edit // the prices have really gone up in this place and the portions don't seem as big. also after they opened the upstairs, service doesn't seeem to be half as good as it used to (i could almost say the service is bad)
(5)Ro V.
Great restuarant but unless you really like to wait, go early. They are packed by 11:45, for good reason. It doesn't help that it's a small space. Everything I've had has been great especially the vegetable spring rolls.
(5)Corrine C.
Came here for lunch yesterday at 11:30am. Scored parking right out front and there was no wait for a table for 4. In fact, 11:30 is the time to come because it was practically empty. It filled up quickly though afterwards and people were waiting by the door at certain points during our meal. We started off with spring rolls and fried wontons for appys. Entrees were the combination rice vermicelli bowls and beef short ribs on rice. The food was good. I really enjoyed the spring rolls - love the fried wonton inside, gives it that extra crunch. The vermicelli bowls were good! The wontons and short ribs were ok. The short rib plate in my opinion was a little small. Lots of rice and 6 ribs. And the ribs don't exactly have tons of meat on them. My iced coffee was too sweet- too much condensed milk going on. Our tea cups were refilled several times throughout the meal. We had one nice waiter and one guy who was really abrupt. He took away our fish sauce before we were done with the entree and when we tried to call him back, he had already disappeared towards the kitchen. Strange. Overall- food was good. Filled us up. Not too expensive. Didn't have to wait for parking or a table so it was A-Ok!
(3)Michael N.
best spring rolls ive had and im viet - thats sayin something. the rice dish i got - com suon bi nuong - was above avg among viet restaurants ive been to. service was efficient and i liked the interior and ambience. one of the better viet places ive been to.
(5)kristopher y.
surprised despite some executions flaws: mango salad was cut too thick to really enjoy making it almost a chores to eat. it could have used a bit more mint and basils for my taste. shrimps were cooked fantasticly, but the yams tasted more like regular fries. maybe it was just the season. local fav 2006/07/08 award, though anyone from sanjose would prolly be dissapointed if harboring highs expection.
(3)Teman C.
vermicelli combo plate was great, all the different meats were prepared well
(4)Joseph L.
ok. the food is mediocre. the service is terrible, I order the bun bo hue, Vietnamese spicy beef soup, it took nearly 23 minutes to get my order in, and another 20 mins for the dish to make it to my table, ok. thats 43 mins of waiting for a dish that seems like it was already cooked even before I walked through that door, It wasn't busy, I didnt get a water, and when I was ready to pay. it took another 15 mins for the young lady to come to me and ask me if i was doing ok. Ive been here 4 times hoping it would get better everytime, and it just failed be each time. c'mon i gave it a chance, this is actually my first post.. go somewhere else.
(1)Alec S.
Serendipity at work thanks to Tamarind Tree being so busy. While we still had to wait for a table on a Saturday night, the delay was minimal and the service once we were seated was both polite and attentive. But onto the food. Grilled short ribs: great bbq flavour, but I couldn't tell the difference between this Vietnamese rendition and Korean bbq; lemongrass chicken: very lemongrass-y (if that's your thing) and surprisingly spicy; vermicelli with grilled beef: decent, but remember to apply the fish sauce! Attention to matters of presentation was also a pleasant surprise. Overall I had a very positive experience; I wasn't wowed by the food but I am certainly encouraged to come back to try more of the menu... Ultimately, I guess that's the important thing for a restaurant: getting repeat customers. And I'm looking forward to being one!
(4)Raquel F.
ABSOLUTELY LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! It is always busy but the service is amazing and they tend to get small groups in and out easily. The fresh rolls are the best coupled with the "special" vermicelli noodles. I've NEVER had a bad dish here. The prices are great and the portions are generous!
(5)YumYum Y.
another place of mine that i like to frequent. a good solid place. the pho dac biet is good. nice aromatic broth. a bit too salty though. love the bun mang vit, and the bun bo hue is a fave. nice spicy broth. beefy. piggy. shrimpy. bloody. yum yummy. the upstairs is a bit scary though. it looks like what a pho place might look like deep in the heart of the wild, wild west. yikes. be sure to sit downstairs.
(4)Dandelion F.
I'm rounding this review up to 5 stars from the 4.5 I would normally award it because the people who run it are so kind, professional and efficient. Overall I've enjoyed nearly everything I've ordered here, especially the papaya salad which is full of a black leaf with a strong, interesting flavor, and chopped peanuts. As a creature of habit I almost always get the charbroiled pork on vermicelli, yum. The one thing I wasn't crazy about was the seabass, which was an excellent piece of fish that was massively over-seasoned with salt and served with blah steamed vegetables. But considering the reasonable prices, super-fast service and kind attention, Green Leaf is a winner.
(5)Ellen B.
Visited the Green Leaf on a Saturday for lunch. Seated immediately, although the place was nearly full. Friendly service. Very comfortable place. Never-empty tea mug -- thanks! Loved the charbroiled pork with vermicelli, and the lemon grass chicken was good, too. Would like to have tried the shrimp spring rolls, but didn't think I had room and it's a good thing. Portions are HUGE. Will definitely go back again.
(4)Avitania B.
A breath of fresh air in the I.D. -- great service, excellent pho, and prices that can't be beat.
(4)Shawn H.
I won't claim to be a expert on the cuisine of Vietnam but compared to all the other restaurants of its' kind I have experienced, this is the best. Having been to Green Leaf several times now the food is much more flavorful and well prepared than any other Vietnamese restaurant I've been to. The only reason I didn't go for the 5 stars is that the appetizers (besides the fresh rolls of course) lack the same flavor and attention to cooking times the main courses receive. The place can get very crowded if you are stuck on the first floor.
(4)teresa w.
The food I have had here has been pretty good! I am however not a fan of their pho. But everything else is pretty good.
(4)A. B.
love the food, just can get very crowded & that means long waits.
(4)M L.
I'll be back. Solid Vietnamese food, nice ambiance, went for a weekday lunch. I don't know what other people got but we got the ban sao (sp?), Bun, and fresh spring rolls. Spring rolls are large and have some crunch fried thing in the middle - unique. It was enough for 2 people, so price was nice and we left full.
(4)babynorah t.
Yummy! I agree with the reviews that this is a good restaurant. We're from out of town and decided to try this based on the recommendations. I'm vietnamese so i'm SUPER picky when it comes to vietnamese food. The vegetarian spring rolls were SO good. It has shredded coconut, jicama, tofu, and a fried rolled up egg roll wrapper. Usually the dipping sauce is a disappointment BUT it's good here. Almost as good as mine :-) The grilled tofu is AMAZING. You gotta try this. I'm going to order two servings next time we go. I had the banh xeo. It came out slightly crispy as it should with lots of herbs and lettuce. There's two ways to eat this. The cleaner way is to tear the herbs and lettuce to smaller pieces. Pour the fish sauce on top and eat with your chopsticks or fork. The other way is to put pieces of banh xeo and herbs and roll it up with the lettuce like a burrito. It's too messy for me. The lotus root salad was good too. We had the grilled prawns on top of the salad. It's true they put a lot of fried shallots on everything. So if you don't want any or much, let them know. I rarely order any noodle broth dishes b/c it's really hard to make it right without using msg. So i can't say anything about the noodle dishes. The place was crowded even on a Monday night so i suggest a reservation. The staff is really friendly.
(5)Richard Y.
great service, good prices, and everything i had was very tasty. but the 7-courses of beef was a gimmick.
(3)fedmama m.
i think this is as close to vietnamese food in vietnam as you can get.
(5)Geronimo K.
I'm Turning Vietnamese I really think So... This place is starting to get really popular, so go now. I heard it was reviewed in Sunset Magazine. The food is above par of any Viet place around but at the same prices. It at least tries to add some atmosphere with the decor and tries also to offer a higher level of dining to the normal viet dives. Its not fancy, but its not dirty and plastic covered either. You'll see more non asians here giving the Viet style food a try for the first time. It reminds me of what a little effort can do for any cuisine. I remember when the Slanted Door in SF was hailed as a breakthrough restaurant, when the chef went a little further and offered dishes that were based on traditional Viet food. I'm not saying in any way that Green Leaf is Slanted Door, but the owner is definitely trying to offer something to non-asians. Who knows, if he decides to take it to the next level, you might find a restaurant like Slanted Door in the Downtown area started by the very same chef..... You never know..... Try the combo rice plate, Viet Crepe, Egg Roll, Spring Roll, Grilled Chicken...
(4)Mags L.
fantastic. well-run restaurant with helpful and friendly staff/owner. the decor is well-planned, and the food unique but palatable. try the "special 7 courses of beef". we had four people, and a noodle soup, the seven courses, and vietnamese pancakes filled us up perfectly.
(5)Rachel R.
so i still love green leaf . . . i've just branched out and tried more on the menu now than pork noodle salad (aka bun). if you stick to the vermicelli 'bun' bowls its still 5 stars in my book . . . but the soups. the soups are not 5 star worthy. i mean, its good, but not great. i've had much better i the city. i also think they must use MSG in their broth which makes me feel really horrible. so just a word of warning if you are sensitive to MSG . . . you might want to stay away from the brothy items.
(3)Leo C.
generous amount of FRESH herbs on many of the dishes. Not like the chained Thai places all across Seattle. Even if you don't know what to do and end up with "phad thai," you'll be pleasantly surprised how different and refreshing it turns out.
(5)Dien N.
My New favorite Viet place.... The Banh Xeo (Creepe) is truly tasty. Service is always speedy and super polite. Doesnt hurt that I always get the same server (tallest server there with big eyes and a smile).
(4)Lani A.
Excellent, fresh food and easily affordable prices. I love the papaya salad, duck pho, grilled dishes and the fried rolls. Good variety, a little cramped inside, the staff are friendly though and again, the quality of food here is phenominal. Come here if you want to eat great food and feel fantastically healthy when you leave.
(5)Traci R.
really cute, really good food, good service, good prices, huge portions. i went a few weeks ago but think i had the vegetable vermicelli and the fresh rolls. can't wait to go back
(4)Jeranel J.
Cant wait to go back. LOVED the green papaya salad. Not nearly as much sugar as thai green papaya salad but every bit as good, even better actually. The pork skewers on the other hand had too much sugar. It was like eating candied pork. Really excellent Bun as well!
(4)Leah K.
I came here with my family, hungover. So as you can imagine, I wasn't feeling well. I didn't really have an appetite but after my first bite, everything changed. Green Leaf is one of those places where literally everything on the menu tastes good. Kudos, not very many restaurants can do that.
(4)Jen T.
I had heard so many great things about this little dinky vietnamese restaurant - finally I had a chance to try it out for myself. I ordered the combo vermicelli bowl. It was OK not great. there was a good amount of fresh veggies and noodles- even the meat portion was decent. I also ordered a Pickled plum soda, which was delightful. Being in the ID- I have to say that this was pretty pricey and there wasn't anything so special about the flavor from this place.... I'll eat it again but its definitely not my first choice.
(3)Lynn N.
My husband and I loved stopping here for their delicious food every time we wanted to eat Vietnamese food. Last Monday on 09/10/2012 , we stopped by for my older sister birthday dinner and it's one memorable experience we'll ever forget. 2 of my sisters got really sick for the next 3 days and they are still under the weather. They said it's the worse flu/cold they had in ages. My 1 year old son and I started to developed coughing symptom and nose congestion after 1 days later ... I am still having coughing now, depending on airborne to boost my immune up. We ordered appetizers #12. 2 Banh Xeo Vietnamese Pancake & #29 Fresh green mango salad. Everybody (including my son) ate these. One sister ordered #42 Mi and Hu Tieu Dac Biet (yes both noodle as she requested) . The other ordered #$49 Mi Vit tiem. I ordered #62 Bun Dac Biet. My son ate #42 and offered me some of his noodles to me as well Giving 0 star till does not eased my anger right now. The food quality & cleanliness is now a big stop for me to ever to come back to this restaurant again. But the waiter was great in explaining the menu and repeated all what we order back, his sweat was running down through his forehead and side face while he was taking order. May be he was working too hard. We also had to asked for refill of tea, thus service is 4 stars. Food taste and presentation - 5 stars. Together with many many ZERO stars, giving them 2 stars here just to let them know staff and services are great but the food quality and cleanliness is horrible. I am sure they violated the food temperture and storage guidelines. I expect Tamarind Tree & Green Leaf has no issue following these standards where as many other traditional Vietnamese restaurants failed to do so. I am very very unhappy with Green Leaf now.
(2)Pearl V.
I was craving pho to soothe my throat because I came down with a cold when we arrived in Seattle. But of course, being from the Silicon Valley/Bay Area (namely San Jose) where we are spoiled with a plethora of Vietnamese cuisine and pho noodle houses, we couldn't settle for just mediocre pho if we could help it. Turning to Yelp, we found this place as one of the top rated in pho. I loved the tiny space that this restaurant was housed in. Small and cozy, it felt so exclusive and intimate. Luckily we were able to score a table as soon as we walked in. We were given hot tea and menus to peruse. The tea was divine for my poor irritated throat, and magically seemed to stay steaming hot throughout the entire meal. I must know their secret! Was it the ceramic cups they were served in? The fiancé ordered the dac biet (special) pho, and I got the pho with just brisket and tai. To my surprise there are no small or large sizes here- they are all one size only! I enjoyed my bowl of hot soup because it definitely was what I was craving for: comfort food. Was it as good as pho places are back at home? Hmm.. not quite but it still was a very good contender. Not bad, Seattle. Not bad.
(4)Victoria M.
Loved this place! We came here for dinner at 6pm on a Friday night. Party of 4 and we had reservations. I would highly recommend reservations. It got really busy around 7:00. We decided to share our dishes. We ordered Banh Xeo (Vietnamese crepe), Chicken Banh Mi Sandwich, Goi Cuon (Fresh Spring Roll), Hu Tieu Hoac Mi Ga (rice noodles with veggies) and the Bun Dac Biet. They were all delicious! We each ordered a drink too and the bill was only $60! The only reason I gave it a 4 is that the service was pretty slow and they were not very attentive. The food was a 5!
(4)Anna C.
I really like this place. The pho noodle soup is always hot and fresh! i also like to get the vermicelli noodles here as well.. SO good. The reason for 4 and not 5 stars is because sometimes there can be a long wait. I wish they had more tables.. and also I wish it wasn't at dark in there. lol Give it a try!
(4)Don B.
Green Leaf makes some downright incredible Vietnamese food. It's really as simple as that. This little hole-in the wall sports some pretty epic furniture and decorations, but really, it's all about the food. Specialties include lemongrass grilled mushrooms, a fantastic heady bun bo hue, and various other delicious Viet dishes. Green Leaf has been a standard stop on our food tours of Seattle. The prices are fantastically cheap for how good it is, and the low key ID location makes it a casual stop. The most recent time I dined here, however, the food was just... ok. Nothing too special. In fact, for most of us at the table, the assessment was the same. An off night? Maybe, but I've had a lot better food at much more mediocre places recently. I still love me some Green Leaf (and can't believe it's taken me this long to review it), but for now the inconsistency is keeping me at 4 stars.
(4)Griffin E.
This place rocks! It's always packed but they keep things going by being efficient but still courteous and attentive for all their customers. We tried the Vietnamese pancake (pork and shrimp), the bun dac biet and the com dac biet - which are essentially the same thing except the com dac biet is served over a bed of rice and comes with a fried egg instead of a fried egg roll. The marinated meats are delicious and tender, the veggies are plentiful and all of the dishes are reasonably priced. I believe the 3 dishes we ordered came out to less than $30 including tax and tip.
(5)Evil W.
I hit this place late one night after I was ... well, let's just say that I was doing some late night hacking and leave it at that. I was famished and really needed a good pho tai and some spring rolls, so I was trolling the International district, avoiding the yuppies and the cops, trying to find parking. Suddenly, up ahead, a car's tail lights came on - bingo! Slotted into a spot (right across from the cops - gotta have nerves - and walked to the nearest pho joint, which just happened to be this place. Went inside and it was jumping - at 9:30 on a weeknight. You know it's good when the place is crowded - which isn't hard for this place because it's maybe ten feet wide from side to side. I heard there's an upstairs that's bigger but I didn't get up there when I went. Got a table - single - and ordered within five minutes. Looking around at the crowd (and the servers - I *said* I was hungry), everyone was tearing into their food, few people talking. Food portions were good sized - this looked promising. Food arrived - you could tell it was fresh, and frankly after that it's kind of a blur because I just ate everything. Didn't really look up again until the food was gone. Place was emptying out - it was around 10:00 PM now and they were closing up. Whatever they do in the back this place is top of the line Vietnamese, and cheaper than Long (which is my staple for Vietnamese in the city). Since the City decided not to let people ride the downtown buses for free during the day, I can't just jump on a bus to come down here for lunch, but I would if it were free to ride ;) If you're in the vicinity of the International District come check this place out, but be forewarned it's small and it looks like the secret's out, so keep it to small parties and have a plan 'B' if this place is wall to wall.
(5)Rose R.
Unbelievable flavors, great selection and reasonable prices! This will definitely be my go-to restaurant in the ID. Rivals the best pho I've ever had! I can't wait to go back!
(5)Ni N.
Large portions. Filling. Fresh. Quite satisfying after the end of your meal. Ca get busy in the evenings.
(4)Alex G.
This is the tale of two disparate experiences, meshed into a single dinner outing. Came here after going up to the Smith Tower Observation Deck for dinner. The place was packed, and we were quickly seated upstairs, simultaneously a fellow group of 2. I mention this because somehow, despite being seated at exactly the same time, our experience was very, very different. We sat and chatted for about 10 minutes. At one point, I realized 1. that there was no utensils on our table, 2. that we didn't have water, 3. that no server had stopped at our table to offer us anything, and most outrageously 4. I was witnessing the other couple ordering their food, with waters and utensils already in hand. I remember thinking, "That's odd." Five more minutes go by. Water appears. Finally, after a good 15-20 minutes, we get to order food and drinks. This was about the same time that the other couple, who I again mention sat down at the EXACT same time as us, received their entrees. The food itself was really good. I don't even like soups generally, but their rare beef pho was fantastic. But I have to question the service. Whenever we asked for something, be it more water, Sriracha, etc., our server seemingly looked at us as though he was thinking "why are you bothering me?" In short, great food but horrendous service. Maybe it was just an off night.
(3)Daniel A.
Best pho ever, always ordered the combo pho, never been disappointed. The broth has such a distinct flavor, haven't had pho anywhere else that compares to Green leaf.
(5)JP B.
Looking for a great meal for $11? Walk into Green Leaf and order #62. Have a beer with it and you'll hit $15. Yes, it's a very pedestrian dish: cold rice noodles with veggies, herbs, a variety of grilled meat and a spring roll. But this is the best version of it I've had. Add the friendly service and pleasing decor (bamboo noodle shop, not trying to be too upscale) and it's easy to see why this place gets crowded. The summer rolls and green papaya salad were above average in both flavor and presentation. Looks like I have a new go to joint in Seattle.
(4)Honest-a-bliss R.
Decent but not extraordinary vietnamese food. My vietnamese friends say a bit americanized....but not overly so (like a Ba-bar, e.g.). The restaurant itself is unique in being narrow, but two floors, and you can always count on attentive and helpful service. greenleaftaste.com for their menus. i think everything is pretty good, so just find something that peaks your interest.
(3)Zara P.
Delicious! They really understand how to add depth to their flavor. Vermicelli salad is to die for. We love that they have an extensive menu. My kids love pho but my husband not so much. So many of the pho restaurants in town don't work out well for our family. We all love green leaf though.
(5)Pink N.
Fist time here and I totally say it was a great experience. Food was great wasn't sure what to order but I looked at the pictures and that help a lot ! Food was really good, good service
(4)T T.
If I could, I would rate this restaurant less than 1 star. The food they are serving in this restaurant is NOT what I would consider Vietnamese food. I have fond memories of my mother making khoai lang chiên tôm (sweet yam & shrimp fritters) as I was growing up and I've eaten this dish in multiple Vietnamese restaurants. Seeing this dish on the menu, I happily ordered. What I got was the shrimp version of fish and chips. The yam was cut into french-fry shape and then fried individually, so was the shrimp....which is definitely not what any fritter should look like....much less khoai lan chiên tôm. It smelled like fish and chips, too. The dish smelled as if it was fried in very old oil that they've repeatedly fried fish in. The dipping sauce that was served with this was the sweet-and-sour chili sauce that can be bought by the bottle at any grocery store. Typically, this dish is served with nuoc cham. I asked for the nuoc cham. Tasting Green Leaf's version of nuoc cham, I am sure it was made with the cheapest grade of fish sauce possible, because it tasted and smelled awful. We also ordered the vegetarian (fried tofu) spring rolls. The main highlight of spring rolls is the dipping sauce. This dish was served with the peanut dipping sauce that typically accompanies the meat spring roll dish. I'm not sure if the mistake was on the server's part or the chef just doesn't know, but tofu spring rolls taste much better when accompanied by a soy-based dipping sauce. Either way, the fried tofu spring rolls with the peanut dipping sauce is a terrible mismatch in flavor profiles. Our third dish was the cháo goi vit (congee with duck salad). The duck was not cleaned/prepared properly as it had an odd smell that made it quite unpleasant to eat. All in all, we were quite hungry when we walked into this restaurant and could not finish the meal. We also left the uneaten food on the plates as what is the point of taking inedible food home?
(1)Richard U.
Green Leaf is great! Its greatness is evident by the crowds. Usually crowded but not with a long wait. The place although small is a bit more spruced up than your average vietnemese pho houses. Also, their menu seems to be more interesting than a lot of other places a well. Cha gio ($5.95)(deep fried spring rolls) nice and porky. You get three of these chopped in half. I could eat this every day. Mi Vit Tiem ($8.95) fried duck quarter in noodle soup w/ chinese broccoli and pickled veggies on the side. Tastier than I have had elsewhere. The keep the meat on the bone (which I prefer) but it does make for some awkwardness. The noodles are thin egg noodles you get in cantonese chow mein. The broth this good and flavorful. Service is here is quite outstanding. My tea cup was constantly topped off by multiple servers. Everyone seems pretty friendly too. Much more of the menu to try so will be back soon.
(4)My S.
One of my favorite Vietnamese restaurant. We seem to come here and order the same stuff. Appetizer: -Spring Rolls & Goi Ga (Chicken Salad) Entree: -Pho Tai Gau (Pho beef & brisket). -Bum Rieu. My all time favorite dish. Reminds me of my mom's home cooked dish. It doesn't have that overly powered shrimp taste that most other Vietnamese restaurants in the bun rieu noodle bowl. -7 Beef Dish for two. You'll be able to sample all types of meat. My all time favorite is the lemon grass beef. -Lemon grass anything here is AWESOME! You can never go wrong!!!
(5)Dana R.
I really don't understand any of the rave reviews. Went here tonight after reading such good things and found the food to be disgusting. My friend and I ordered shredded pork salad rolls to start with -- they were largely flavorless and the noodles inside were gross -- rubbery, so much so that I had a hard time chewing through them and my friend literally gagged when she encountered a large clump of rubbery/chewy noodles which she eventually spit out. My friend's lemongrass shrimp was too spicy for her -- I liked the spice level, but the quality of the shrimp was horrible (they tasted fusty and like they were frozen). My "lemongrass" chicken was just horrible - the quality of the chicken was extremely poor and the sauce was cloudy and fusty and didn't taste like lemongrass at all. One word overall - yuk. I'll continue going to Tamarind Tree.
(1)Hoang T.
This place is so awesome. and its get better that it's inexpensive for the amount of food. Unlike other Vietnamese restaurants in the ID or elsewhere, it doesn't cater exclusively one style of cooking. It's all three regions put into one place and into one dish. From the spicy region of central Hue , to the southern seafood oriented and the greasier northern dish, and in between. Unlike other typical vietnamese shops, they put ideas and efforts into the food they put in front you. They are not going to serve pho in 3 different styles of beef . Don't go here for pho or banh mi, familiarized with americans. do that somewhere else. Go for something more exotic and wild. When trying anything soup base, confirmed my occasional visits here, the less sharp and less salty and more bland relative to other Vietnamese pho shops. Why? No MSG and that the idea is that you should taste the other flavors. Always lots of vegetables . good customer service and great food, what more can you ask for ? good time with friends.
(5)James K.
This has to be the tastiest Vietnamese restaurant I've tried here in Seattle. The service is professional, the food is extraordinary and the off-the-beaten path nature of the restaurant does not detract from the good fare within. I suggest you check them out!
(5)Sarah F.
A solid four star place. Grubby exterior that begs to let all the tourists wander past without peeking in to see a clean place. This review is only for the pho and spring rolls... Pros? -The chicken tastes like it's truly off the bone -Peanut sauce is unique and they give you enough -Broth is flavorful Cons? -Too many noodles in their soup. They did however bring me more broth when I asked, which meant a (better) ratio but not excellent. Confusion... -Why did everyone say the spring rolls were "amazing" when they're really just your average, albeit good, spring rolls?
(4)Kimmie A.
What a great find. Had the spring rolls and they were amazing. We also had the rare need pho and it was pretty decent. The give you generous portions of beef, basil and sprouts. The bowl is huge and decently priced. Oh, and the fortune cookies were tasty and fresh.
(4)Paul N.
We visited the city for the first time; so as usual Yelp is our beacon for words of mouths. Greenleaf as healthy as the name sounded and rated as 4+ , popped-up in our list! There were some specialty rice dishes on the menu, but we skipped them. We opted for our all-time favorite duck noodle combinational fried rice & egg-roll/barbeque pork in rice vermicelli. The decor was more of a Chinese setting than Vietnamese. My son was hungry so the relatively fast service (for a semi-busy on a week day evening) satified him well. My wife noodle were a bit cold and salty while the duck not as fresh as she would expected. My defenlessMy vermicelli nothing spectacular worth mentioned. It was a first time my wife heard of Yelp so she specifically asked me to write this disappointment comment Overall I think it's overated for the price vs. quality/service.
(3)Hannah Y.
Green Leaf never disappoints! I'm a huge fan of the vermicelli noodle bowl (bun dac biet, #62 on the menu). The chicken, pork, and shrimp were marinated and grilled to perfection, and the fried egg roll added a nice crunch to the bowl. Over the years, I've noticed that they've started to incorporate less green vegetables in their bowls. This is the only reason why I'm giving them a 4/5 rating. I've also tried the curry chicken with bread (ca ri ga with banh mi, #57 on the menu). I would highly recommend this dish to anyone who wants to venture away from the norm. The chicken falls off the bone and the curry is packed with flavors of coconut milk and lemongrass. You have the option of choosing between noodles or bread to accompany this dish. I've always picked the bread. You won't regret ordering this!
(4)Kamie K.
Delicious every time! Two sisters have introduced the best of Vietnamese food in this tiny two-floor restaurant in Chinatown. Bring a friend to to lunch and share a few dishes. Start with their crisp and sweet papaya salad. Bahn Xeo is a fried crepe filled with pork and snappy bean sprouts which I love to pair with the sides of mint and basil. If you are super hungry, also share the Combo Vermicelli bowl with a mixture of grilled chicken, pork, and shrimp piled on top of noodles and sliced crispy fried egg rolls and lettuce leaf. You will be satisfied with the taste and the price.
(5)Malibu S.
It's been a while since I've stopped here but I'm very glad I did this week. The food was delicious as ever. The service, friendly and attentive as always. I'll never wait that long between visits again!
(5)Abe M.
Great pho bowl (rare beef) but the spring rolls were the highlight. You have to try them. The only thing I didn't like was the overwhelming smell of fish, almost a rotten smell, in the restaurant.
(3)Norman G.
My wife and I had the perfect evening at Green Leaf. Just before closing we darted in for a quick bite. It was a coolish, rainy sort of night and our hostess immediately gave us hot tea to knock off the chill. We were looking for a light meal, so spring rolls and the mussel & basil special seemed about right. And right it was: tasty, fresh, and clean, which is exactly what we wanted in this meal, so thumbs up for that. Now comes the twist: It was after closing when we finished and taxi's were quoting a 45 minute wait on pickup for some reason. The owner himself came to our rescue by offering to personally drive us home. I can't say that's a service that he'll want to start regularly offering, but I can say that this was service above and beyond the call of duty. What a wonderful business owner! He won our hearts and continued patronage that night. Summary: tasty & fresh food, outstanding service.
(5)Darth V.
Green Leaf is an awful lot like the almost-famous Jedi....Joe. Not told in the movies, but Joe was on the verge of being great; however, a couple of fatal missteps relegated him to the annals of merely being a bit above average but with a name so plain nobody bothered to remember him or put him on the memorial of lightsaber jockeys I slaughtered. Green Leaf's Foodie 100 list offering are their fresh spring rolls. I will say this: They are certainly fresh. It's obvious they put a lot of care into their ingredient choices. The problem is one end of the spring roll always has the root of a piece of lettuce in it, which is not tasty. At the other end, the roll achieves perfect balance, and the shrimp they put in it is a wonderful touch. It's like half the roll is Episode 2, and half the roll is Episode 5. The two should never meet, because what you end up remembering is what a pile of crap 2 was, and not what a field of awesome 5 is. The rest of the meal was fairly similar. The vermicelli dish was good, but needed help to push it over the edge. The noodle dish where they took a piece of pork and wrapped it around a piece of chicken and a piece of beef was almost spectacular, but ended up somewhat bland. I couldn't decide whether to let everybody live or to Force Throw the entire building. In the end, I decided to notate it for further study. As to the Foodie 100 item? I deem half of each roll worthy of the list, and half of each roll worthy of Jim. Or Jared. Or...fuck, who was that guy I was talking about before? So easily forgettable. Which is really a shame, because I'm sure Jin could have done amazing things. Service was a big plus, but I still can't give this place anything more than a split down the middle. Which, really, is better than the alternative of splitting all of the employees down the middle. 3 Deathstars. Random useless note: This review has been half-completed for over half a year now. That's gotta be some kind of apathetic record. Which means this review is a lot like Green Leaf, too. I'm sure it coulda been great, but after half a year? Who gives a crap? :P
(3)Elizabeth E.
Wow! Their vegetarian pho is fabulous! Ample amount of vegetables and spicy! The price is also very reasonable!
(5)Opal D.
Delicious Vietnamese food. I highly recommend trying a noodle platter with the wraps and the Vietnamese pancake. I have held a few group dinners here and they are always accommodating!
(5)MJ A.
The dishes are fairly large, and we found (in a party of 2) that we could have probably split a plate. Average Vietnamese cuisine-- nothing stood out, other than the cool chairs with mariner wheel supports. Very rude service, but typical MO for a place like this.
(3)Kate S.
Yum yum yum. Chicken curry noodle soupy thing with yams. Yum yum yum. Beef wrapped in betel leaves with lots of fishy sauces to dip it in. Yum yum yum. The pho smelled delicious. And oh, they can make banh mi's anytime you ask, sweet! The water is slow coming, but tea is free! Fun space, with upstairs dining even so it doesn't get too crowded. Food comes out fast, check gets taken care of quickly too. I can see why this place is a local favorite - yum yum. I'll be back.
(4)Callie C.
I LOVE that they have late night Pho! I don't know of any other place in the city where you can get delicious pho at 1:30am. great atmosphere!
(4)Melissa L.
mmmm i heart spring rolls, especially the ones with the fried crispy goodness in the middle! you can't find them ever where, but you can at green leaf. their bun xeo is ginormous and delicious. id actually prefer less bean sprouts in there because the sprouts make the bun xeo soggy, but it's still yums. the edges are my favorite and you get tastes of coconut from them. the duck salad is my fav! my first go i dumped the whole dressing over everything, but i'd recommend starting off only doing half. i had the salad swimming in the dressing, but no matter - it was still amazing. nice morsels of duck all around. the place is small and can get jam packed. they take credit cards too.
(4)Amy L.
My favorite place in Seattle for Vietnamese food. Everything I had there was flavorful and freshly prepared. It seems inconspicuous at first but the decor inside is nice and chill. They make excellent presentations on their dishes, shows that the chef actually cares how the food looks to the customer.
(5)Joshua B.
I've been here twice for lunch and come away impressed both times. The lemongrass chicken (and beef) and the vermicelli bowls are great - flavorful, spicy without being overwhelmingly so, and plenty of vegetables. Definitely better than your average Vietnamese place and a nice change from the Chinese and Japanese food places that populate the ID. Worth the walk all the way up here (that's assuming you're working in Pioneer Square). Let's also mention that they seat you, serve you, get you your check, and turn the tables quickly without making you feel like you're being hustled out the door. My only complaint is that it can be hard to get a refill on your water or tea if they get super busy.
(4)Whitney B.
My life is divided into two eras: before I had Green Leaf's vermicelli bowl and after I had Green Leaf's vermicelli bowls. I walked out of the restaurant as a brand new person. Their vermicelli is dangerously addictive with some of the freshest ingredients, ever. Their consistency in quality is spot-on, and my family and I go out of our way from the Eastside to Seattle just to eat here. I don't think you could go wrong with any of the variations of the vermicelli bowls whether you are a vegetarian or not. Their Bún Chay (yes, I googled this) has lightly fried tofu, lettuce, fried shallots, Chinese mushrooms, carrots, and jimaca. Jimaca! Looks like Jamaica, but it's not! I didn't even know about this delicious root vegetable until I came here and asked about it. Also, a note to those who are full vegetarians: they have an alternative sauce if you are against having fish sauce with your vermicelli bowl. The Bún bò Hu (spicy beef noodle soup) they make here is also outstanding. It is not for the weak stomach or the non-adventurous eater. It is spicy, has blood cubes, and it has pig's feet. If you are into such ingredients, you will not be let-down. It is the perfect amount of spice with no hot oil drips on the side of your mouth. Not too salty, which is always a crucial thing when it comes to these types of noodle soups. With the exception of another small, Vietnamese restaurant in Capitol Hill, Green Leaf's Bún bò Hu comes in at second best I have ever had in Seattle. You also cannot go wrong with their appetizers. I would recommend the deep-fried sweet yams with shrimp, as well as the fresh spring rolls. The sweet yam with shrimp is fluffy and seasoned well. The fresh spring rolls have shrimp and pork, and the pork adds a little bit of flavor because eating shrimp itself is rather bland. The restaurant has two floors because the lower level is rather tiny, so if you have a large party, you'll likely sit upstairs. I personally love the second level because of its quirky interior design. It has a nautical flare to it, including the chairs and the wall decor. The wooden tables looked like polished planks glued together. It is fun in there. We have never had bad service, either. All of the waiters have a grin on their faces and pleasant. They are willing to make a lot of accommodations, as well, from my experience so that is always a plus in my book. The reasoning behind giving Green Leaf 4-stars is because I would say that their pho here is almost forgettable. Kind of like the Michael Douglas of movies; you know he is an actor, but he's more like a shadow whose prominence in movies is rather lackluster. This is how I would describe their pho. Pho's most important component is the soup broth. If it's subpar, your whole pho experience is subpar. What do I mean by "pho experience?" Why, it's the do-it-yourself fixings what with the sriracha, hoisin sauce, lime, basil, and bean sprouts. Should I add the jalapeños today? I don't know, exactly how spicy do I feel today? Yeah. All of that stuff just goes down the drain when the broth is bad. The broth, how can I say, is a little like water that's been simmering for two hours. Last time I ordered it, the noodles were severely overcooked. Overall, not my cup of my tea. I wouldn't be opposed to trying it out again, but there are so many other things I can order here. Everyone will find some thing that they like here; let the 600+ reviews of this place speak for itself. But no, I am serious, though, get the Bún.
(4)Sharon Q.
Reccd to us by a friend. Came for lunch last Monday. Place looked kind of dingy on the outside, with 6 garbage cans on the sidewalk, not great parking....so we just poke our heads in. Wow, warm and inviting on a cold rainy day. Super service, very attentive. Best salad rolls, fresh shrimp, tasty spicy dipping sauce. Spring roll appetizer as good as ny we've had in Vancouver bc. Coffee was delish, thick and strong. We had the pho with rare beef. Broth was so aromatic, it was fantastic. Will def go back next time!!
(5)Julie P.
I'm in love with this place. I used to pay way more $$ to wait forever for a table at Tamarind Tree but will never do it again. My awesome Vietnamese friends introduced me to this place just a few months ago and I like the Bun Rieu, Bun Bo Hue, any of the vermicelli bowls, and grilled porkchops w/fried egg. Try the spring rolls here, they're really good and fancy looking too. I've already brought my hubby, sister, and some friends to this place because I couldn't stop drooling over how delicous and cheap it was. But now I'm realizing I have to stop telling so many people otherwise risk having to wait to get a table for myself =D
(5)Eula M.
I usually love pho, but tonight i was tired and just want my rice fix. Ordered short ribs and their fresh egg rolls. While the short ribs was just ok, the egg rolls was the star! What makes this restaurant a 5 star for me is the service. Great staff, very attentive ( including calling and checking for a taxi for me). Met a few interesting people, shared a few laughs... Will definitely go back next time I'm in Seattle!
(5)Chariya S.
We've never dined inside the facility, but they catered at a Friend's wedding. The foods were absolutely amazing!!! Their mango salad was perfect. OH GOSH, EVERYTHING they'd served us were so delicious. I didn't try the escargot on lemon grass, bc the thought of it freaked me out. However, my Hubby said it was yummy! He'd even ate my share, lol. The lady that was waiting on our table was on top of things. She'd kept replenishing my soda and wine. I'll definitely give this place a try whenever we are craving for some good authentic Vietnamese eats.
(5)Saied K.
Their vermicelli is one of the best I've had. They're also open late and it's a great late-night venue if you're looking for takeout.
(5)DeAnne E.
This restaurant leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. Have you ever been to a restaurant where the hosts wants you to move to a different table so they could cater another customer? That's exactly what happened to me at Green Leaf. I wanted to try this place out for lunch. The atmosphere was crammed-the feeling of claustrophobia. I was brought upstairs. I was seated at a 4 person table. I sat down. Got comfortable. Soaked in the atmosphere. 5 minutes later the host wanted me to move to a smaller table. I thought: What if I said no? Would they poison my food? Would I not get better service? I should have walked out of that restaurant but I didn't. I wanted to try the food...and I did. I was let down. The food was bland and I didn't even finish it. I didn't even want to box it up. Guess what? Even though I moved to a different table, the service was still horrible.
(1)Joyce J.
A hole in a wall place that turned out to be surprisingly good. The Vietnamese crepes was tasty. Loved the vermicelli with the grilled pork. The place is clean. The service is quick. The price is reasonable for the amount of food. I like it a lot better than Tamarind Tree. I would come back again.
(4)Sarah M.
Has anyone else here realized that the Green Leaf servers all have see through shirts on? My fiance was quick to point this out which at first I had completely missed, but then at an after glance, I'm not sure how I missed this. He compared it to a possible Vietnamese Hooters - not sure if their dress was intentional or not. Anyway...on to the real review. I have constantly read great things about this place on Yelp and was dying to try it...but rarely make it to the International District. On a HOT, sunny day while most people are opting for salads and grilling chicken by the pool, we decided to get a nice, hot steaming bowl of pho. We came here at an off time - around 4 pm on a Saturday - but were surprised that there were as many people as there were. First off, can I just say that we were seated at a table next to a clown? That was odd... I was wondering what made this place so much better than other pho places that I had been to and was a little skeptical, but after tasting the deliciousness of what is REAL pho, I no longer have any doubts. And I am now questioning the pho that I ate as it is clearly not real pho. The quality of the ingredients is high and everything is extremely fresh. And there is something about the broth that is just superior to any other place that I've been. Oh, and there was LOTS of beef. It was a bottomless pit. A fellow yelper (You know who you are) has informed me that $7.50 is a lot to pay for pho. But I don't care if it makes me a bad Asian, it is totally worth it here. The only reasons why it lost a star...1) they didn't have crispy veggie or pork egg rolls 2) while the service was fast, it wasn't particularly remarkable. Servers weren't particularly friendly...they weren't mean, but they weren't nice. 3) The place itself is a little nicer inside but kind of a hole in the wall from the outside...and it smells a little weird. But it was definitely worth the wait over the last year or so to come here. Look forward to returning.
(4)Fbio F.
Place to go for good food after Sounders match. Try the crepe, wrapped in lettuce, herbs and sauce.
(4)Zachary S.
Came here for my fix of BBQ Pork Vermicelli Noodles. Given that this is supposed to be one of the best vietnamese restaurants in Seattle, I wasn't really disappointed, but I wasn't amazed either. It was definitely above-average vietnamese fare - my noodles were nice and chewy, the pork was of moderately high quality and it was seasoned somewhat subtly but still remained tasty. The fried shallots were a nice touch. In all, you could just tell that the ingredients they were using were very fresh. Maybe I will try ordering the Pho or Banh Xeo next time for some variation. For now, I consider Green Leaf a good vietnamese restaurant, but I don't find myself craving it enough to make a trip back any time soon.
(4)Faith Y.
Definitely one of my hot spots in the ID and it doesn't hurt that Mario Batali is a fan as well! They have a wide variety of Vietnamese fare such as pho, vermicelli, banh xeo and more. And don't be fooled by the first floor, there's a spacious upstairs as well! SPRING ROLLS: The only place I've encountered that had the genius idea of including a thin crispy wrapper in the middle of the spring roll for a delectably crunchy experience! PHO: Decent enough but I'd prefer Pho Than Brothers, Viet Anh or Pho Bac over Green Leaf. Plus theirs is on the pricier side with $8 or higher. BANH XEO: A savory Vietnamese pancake that has crispy yellow batter stuffed with shrimp and pork. Would have preferred more fillings but I did basically get a gigantic garden of basil, herbs and lettuce to punch it up. VERMICELLI: Realllllly tasty especially when you throw in sugar cane! But save yourself some grief by passing on the escargot/pork appetizer, it was not ... well, appetizing. And the sauce was very potent and ginger-flecked, not my thang. A word of advice to the servers though, I really do think your traditional Vietnamese tops are very pretty but er, please wear a tank top underneath - sheer clothes are not appropriate restaurant wear unless it's Hooters.
(4)Matt R.
Hands down the best Vietnamese food I have ever had. The food is super fresh, the flavor combinations are unlike anything I have ever had before- and the presentation was beautiful. I walked out of this place telling myself I might come back tomorrow for another serving. Service was super attentive without being annoying. Had 2 or 3 different servers but they were all on the same page and did a fine job. Food came out unbelievably fast- which was good because we were on a time crunch before the Sounders game. Prices are extremely good value. Restaurant was packed on a Sunday night at 6pm. I'm seriously considering going back tonight for some more. This restaurant is AWESOME.
(5)S. Elizabeth L.
A friend told me that she had a "hole in the wall Vietnamese place" that I had to try. I wasn't disappointed. The fresh spring rolls were great- there's a little crunchy something inside that makes them really stand out. I've been several times now and always get the vermicelli noodles. The vegetarian one includes something called "imitation ham." Don't be scared of it, it's great. My friends like their mushrooms- I find them a bit garlicky for my liking but apparently they're quite popular. Good beer selection. We've gone at 6pm and been fine but somewhere around 7ish a line formed and went all the way outside. It's a small place. Parking is a challenge.
(4)J And M D.
We moved away from Seattle over 2 years ago and we were in Seattle for a week...and Green Leaf was definitely on our "must visit' list. As expected, it did not disappoint. The combination vermicelli noodle dish was fantastic, perfectly grilled meat and a great combination of flavor and freshness from the accompaniments. The spring rolls were fresh, flavorful, and delicious as always. We also tried the fried duck noodle soup. It was good, but not a stand out for us. Why oh why can't Green Leaf be in the cornfields of Indiana where we call home ;)
(5)Leslie B.
I love this place, 5 starts all the way. Everything we had was so freaking good, and definitely better than any Vietnamese restaurant in the Bay Area (well except the super upscale Vietnamese Fusion restaurants). My son had the beef stew soup minus the blood cube and he loved the tasty broth. My boyfriend who is typically not a fan of Vietnamese food (thank goodness this was right off the freeway which is why he gave us the green light to come here) had the Com Dac Biet. He loved it so much that he said as long as they have Com Dac Biet as good as this place, then he wouldn't mind going to Vietnamese restaurants more often. I had the Bun Dac Biet, and hands down it's the best vermicelli bowl I've ever had. It has an egg roll, pork and chicken with an extra touch of crispy onions on the top which I really liked. I wish they had this in the Bay Area as this is one of the best Vietnamese restaurants that I've been to! I can't wait to go back.
(5)Dan L.
Our first trip to chinatown in seattle in the 3 years we've been in Seattle and Green Leaf did not disappoint. The Beef Salad. It's such a simple title but the flavors are complex with simple crunchy vegetables. Every bite was delicious and the sauce is what put this dish over the top. BIts of ginger floating in a slightly acidic fish type sauce. Drizzle it onto your salad and you will not put your fork down until it is all gone. Red and Green cabbage add crunch and sweetness to the dish with simple, thin slices of beef....enough beef to last until the last forkful. I got the duck pho (#50). That's a bit exotic for me, but i was very impressed. The broth is super clean and addicitive. The noodles are spot on and the duck was lean and tasty. Too gamey for my wife but i enjoyed every last bite. All in all, i would definitely go back.
(5)Tu-anh D.
It might be because I'm from California so I'm a little spoiled when it comes to Vietnamese food. We came here per a friend's suggestion. It's kind of a hole in the wall. It is has really nice decorations for a vietnamese restaurant, and it has a very friendly and open atmosphere to go with friends. Don't let the size of the place fool you, they have an upstairs as well. The chairs are so cool looking! it looks like you are on the xich lo in vietnam. The waiter was really friendly and very helpful while we were trying to order our food. On to the food, the spring rolls (which i heard they are known for) was pretty good! Nothing to complain about. I ordered the Hu Tieu My Tho, for some reason I was craving it. Their food presentation is really impressive. Taste of the dishes doesn't live up to the way it looks, but you don't leave the restaurant disappointed. The portions are HUGE! so unless you are super duper hungry, you can do with sharing your dish with one other person. I heard their pho is good, so I would recommend trying that first next time :)
(3)Mark D.
This place was decent, and I just found out it's a Zagat 27 for food, which I'm surprised to learn. It certainly did not compare to the many 25-26 restaurants I've ate at. I had the Banh Xeo (1pc - $7), and Bun dac Biet (Vermicelli Combo, $11) The Banh Xeo is a vietnamese crepe. The batter included pieces of pork and shrimp. The inside has a bunch of bean sprouts. It came with some green leafs, basil, mint, and cilantro for you to put inside. It also comes with this sweet/sour sauce that's quite good. The sauce is not thick at all, it's only slightly thicker than water. The portion is fairly good, maybe something like 75% of an average serving. I probably wouldn't get this again, just because it's a bit too pricy, though I would recommend it. The Bun is okay. I don't like vermicelli, but I was getting it just to try how Bun dishes are supposed to taste like at a good vietnamese restaurant, so my opinion is biased. But if you know you don't like vermicelli, then you can be fairly sure you're not going to enjoy the Bun here as well even if it's from a good restaurant. It comes with lettuce, mint, basil, cucumber, bean sprout, carrot, jicama, onions, and peanut. The jicama was sliced like zigzag potatoes, which I found strange. I would have prefered it to be sliced thinly or in circles instead. The grilled chicken, pork, and shrimp were okay, though nothing special. They were slightly overcooked. It also comes w/ the sweet/sour sauce provided for the Banh Xeo. The Cha Gio (deep fried egg roll) is really good. It came with the vermicelli, and was the highlight of the meal. I would definitely get this as an appetizer everytime I come here. I would try this place again, and I'm looking forward to it.
(3)Sonoma Cty Fan N.
Excellent soup and service. Highly recommend. The only thing I would recommend is better/cleanlier environment (hence 4 stars).
(4)Brian D.
Green Leaf has great staff, great service, and great food. Despite the fact that my party of six arrived a half-hour before close, the staff was very happy to sit us down upstairs. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable about every menu item, and was cheerful in making recommendations and answering every question we had thoroughly. Wait time was a little bit long in between being seated and ordering, and one friend with a peanut allergy got a salad that had peanuts in it by accident. This same friend, who's normally very accommodating, was also not thrilled with his dish, which was definitely the weakest that any of us got. But everything else about the visit was great. Everyone else's meal (including the salad that my poor friend couldn't eat) was delicious, fresh, and well-made. I'm very happy we went here.
(4)Linh T.
I enjoy their Banh Bot Chien (fried flour cake with egg) very much, in fact that's the entire reason I go there. But that's not the only thing that's good at Green Leaf. Atmosphere is nice and cozy, though it's quite narrow and right between tables. They also have upstairs for bigger party. Their Bo La Lot is terrific! Service is good and the staff is attentive. Overall I have good times there. The reason why they don't have 5 stars, was because the waiter poured hot tea on my boyfriend's hand TWICE and one time when he got up to pay at the cashier's, she was eating and showing attitude when he interrupt her to pay. I don't think he wanted to come back soon.
(4)Shert J.
A group of 15 of us ate lunch here today. One of our members made a reservation 1 week ago for the 15 of us. The day before she called to reconfirm. They assured her that they would have our tables ready at 11am, right when they opened. We got there are 11am, only to find two groups of middle and high school students, fresh off school field trip tours of the nearby Wing Luke Asian Museum. No reservation. No plan. Just walked in off the street right as we were entering. Although we all arrived simultaneously, they were seated first...that did not seem fair. Yee Haw!--We were shown upstairs to the "Chuck Wagon Parlor" (where in h*ll did they get those funky, Old West chairs and tables?!?!?!?! I felt like we should be ordering corn pone and frijoles). Menus and water right away (and a huge menu it is with lots of selection)..... but then we waited and waited and waited. No tea. No waiters in sight. No service. Hungry people. One female diabetic having low blood sugar issues. When we could flag down a waiter, he said they had to take the orders and feed all the people seated in the lower level who had just walked in. We said "We have a reservation, shouldn't we be waited on first?" "NO," the waiter answered"We don't operate that way". What did he mean? Hmmmmmmm... What the.......? Then why have a reservation? The waiter said "we saved you these tables". But if we can't get waited on, who cares if we have the table? It's not the table we are here for, but the food. Anyway, they have a small kitchen, and it took quite a while for our orders to be taken, and to get some tea. Then more long wait to get our food. But once we did I must say it was delicious. Many different dishes were ordered and tried: Pho, duck soup, salads, vermicelli with pork and shrimp, etc. All was pronounced very delicious, fresh tasting, and great. We were just somewhat steamed that they made us wait and that we did not get great service, for having had a reservation! And the upstairs is so garish with the wild western decor.... did not enjoy that very much (felt like we should be ordering baked beans and chili to go with the decor)..
(4)Andrew P.
Great noodles and fast service
(4)Monkey T.
MSG! UGH! Monkey headache all day. Lots of accolades all over the walls, Monkey think a lot of MSG goes a long way. Nice decor, friendly service, cozy seating. Do ask your server to have your order made without MSG. Beat the rush or stand in line outside by the locked trash cans out front. Your choice. Monkey got headache days later, while writing this review.
(2)Kuishinbo E.
A four or five block walk up from the light rail station, you have to know where you're headed or else you probably won't be lucky enough to just stumble across this place. The place seems small at first until you learn of the upstairs. The service is friendly although they seemed a bit thin on a Sunday afternoon. The Pho here was a full star above Long Provincial's and the Goi Cuon were healthy and on point. Yes, after a night of drinking, this place hit the spot.
(4)Jason D.
Love this place. Super nice staff, little Asian ladies in the kitchen, and they are open until 10 which I love. I have had most of their pho and it has all been fantastic. When you get it 'to go' they keep everything separate from the broth. Other places are 50/50 on that. It works out better to get home, warm up the broth in the microwave, then throw in the noodle, meat, basil and whatever. They have some huge and tasty spring rolls. One of their waitresses is downright sultry, so hot. And for Green Leaf's block has one of the lowest crackhead populations in the international district. I think it's because of the abundant lighting and proximity to a busy road. But that doesn't work on third street downtown so who knows.
(4)Lisa B.
Based on yelp recommendations, I had the spring rolls, green papaya salad, and fried duck soup. Everything was super fresh and flavorful, but I'd go back mainly for the soup. Deep, complex, dark broth. Bone-in duck with a hint of sugar. Perfect for a dark, gloomy day, which is often enough when you live in Seattle! If the front door was a little farther from the tables, and there was a little more space to breathe, I'd give it 5 stars.
(4)Monique M.
I love this place! It is authentic and delicious.
(4)Toa B.
Came in yesterday with a friend based on the yelp ratings. First impression, place is pretty small but yet it has this nice ambience to it. +1 for that. I liked the layout and it didn't feel to cramped. We were seating on the first floor so I can't comment on what the upstairs area looked like. I was craving Banh Xeo ever since I returned from Vietnam and this place along with Saigon Bistro are a number of places that serve this 'southern' dish. The Banh Xeo was quite big. There was way too much bean sprouts but I like bean sprouts so it didn't bother me. What was disappointing was the size of the shrimp. I'm not expecting king sized prawns but most places use tiger shrimp when making Banh Xeo. Too my surprise the shrimps are more dime size. If I'm not mistaken, these are the same shrimp that is used in Xoi (Sticky Rice) or grounded and top over Banh Beo. I know I'm making a big deal about the size of the shrimp but but seriously it really makes or breaks the Banh Xeo. Next time I'm going else where or heading back to home California where my mom makes the best ones. My friend on the other hand ordered the Banh Canh Dat Biet. She commented that this was one of the better Banh Canh. I'm glad they included the pork blood cubes to give it the authentic taste and real crab instead of the crab paste you see at many other restaurant. +1 for that. Overall, it wasn't a bad experience but I feel a lot of their dishes have been change to appeal to more of their western patrons. I saw a couple next to me who ordered a bed of steamed veggies topped with a grilled fish steak. Yeah, that's not really vietnamese.
(3)Latifa S.
I saw this place on city search and I thought I check it out. That was the end ! I have been a regular ever since.The decor was cozy and clean.Nothing special.Food was super delicious.They turned me into a Vietnamese fiend.I was never that big on it or tried it as much.Now I cravee green leaf.I can eat it anyday or night. Back in 2006 ,when I first ventured in there, their prices were super good.So was the food.Best part was me bumping into the IRON CHEF!!!! I was there just before the holidays in 06 and there come Mario Batalli!!!!! OMGGGGGGGG!!! Imagine my shock and happiness!!!!! It was lunch time,nothing crazy..Just another full house at green leaf.Along came Mario with 2 other ppl.Boy he sure loveddd their foooddd. Not that you need to go there just for that.Their phos are really good. And the vermicelli salads are soo delicious ,fresh and tasty. Their Udon soup with shrimp and crab meat is a Must try!Chunks of huge crab meat,delicious shrimp meat and clear udon noodles in tomato broth. Major yumminess!!.They also have great rice dishes! my fav is the grilled lemon grass chicken.Also the seafood noodle ( chowmein ) is not to be missed! Oh and dont forget to try the fresh spring rolls with shrimp and Grilled Tofu for app.You will die in flavor :) If you have room after eating all that , try their 3 bean dessert! Comes in a beautiful martini glass!! Talk about the yummy goodness!
(4)Marie T.
Definitely would eat here again! This place is known more on flavor than the place itself!
(4)Chelsea G.
Best. Ever. The spring rolls are superb!
(5)Jennifer B.
One of my favorite Vietnamese restaurants in Seattle. They expanded to include an upstairs, remodeled the whole restaurant, raised their prices, and expanded their menu. The staff is attentive and really friendly. They tailor their food to more of a non Asian crowd with a little more sugar in their fish sauce and you need to flag down hot sauce to spice things up. Even though I'm not vegetarian I like their Bún Chay - Vegetarian vermicelli (served with tofu, Chinese mushroom, vegetarian ham, and mushroom ball). If I'm more in the mood for soup I get their Bánh Canh Tôm Cua - Udon noodles with shrimp, & crab meat. I really like their 7 courses of beef and it easily feeds 3 people. Their fresh spring rolls are tasty with a mix of crunch from fried wonton skins inside that most spring rolls don't have. The owner and waiters are really nice and friendly and recognize me whenever I come in.
(4)Susie M.
Visiting from San Francisco, which I thought was one in the running for most Vietnamese restaurants per capita (next to So Cal and San Jose). Was soooo surprised by Green Leaf's quality, esp for the price point. Went there with a party of 9, and even though t the place is tiny they managed to accommodate us all by moving customers around to make the appropriate space. The food was clean and delicious. Had enough variety to keep the children and adults happy. Will go back next time I'm in Seattle.
(4)Shira R.
Vegetarian pho!!! Vegetarian pho in vegetarian broth! Delicious vegetarian broth! Through a modest storefront you'll find a truly fantastic selection of food - some of the best Vietnamese I've ever had. Scrumptious, fresh and aromatic. Fast and friendly service. A friend took me here on a recent trip to Seattle, and boy am I glad she did. I just wish I could have some of the pho here in NYC.
(5)Andrew K.
My favorite Vietnamese restaurant in the Seattle area! I wish I lived closer to Seattle to have the opportunity to eat here more often. They probably have the best fresh rolls the area, their noodle dishes are to die for! The service is great to, very patient and will give recommendations and explain dishes in detail. Everyone in the great area needs to try this place out once. + Great food and service + Best fresh rolls I have had in my life! - Parking can be a hassle as it is in the International District Tip Get the #62! If you can't find street parking, there is a pay lot in front of Bush Garden.
(5)Doug B.
Visiting Seattle friends we stopped in here for dinner. The first thing you notice are the stage coach looking table and chairs... or are they more nautical like big boat steering wheels? Whatever, they sure are big and clunky , a bit hard to belly up to the table as the table and chair legs collide.... but don't let that stop you from trying this place out. The appetizers we ordered, a pancake, egg plant and spring roll, were all really tasty, fresh and different from other restaurants I've been to. The main courses we shared , a rice dish and a noodle dish (57 and 62, I can't remember the names) were good, not great, the chicken was a bit overdone. But we left happy and full and truly enjoyed the meal.
(4)Tim U.
Best Vietnamese in Seattle. Super fresh, not to mention the pho is better than your average shop. Priced appropriately also, can usually get a good meal for under $10.
(5)Jamie J.
Why did I come here? I heard a little birdy that told me Mario Batali liked this place. Whether or not that is true, I loved it! I came here on a slow moving Sunday morning. This place was hoppin'! After a little wait, we got into the exclusive seating area (it's all exclusive because it's small as heck). The menu was so large that I almost gave up. But, the waitress was so great and helped us pick out a few things. I would reccommend the fish cake thing (just say that and they will know what you mean). My favorite was the classic: Goi salad. It was fresh, light yet filling, and really delicious. The spare ribs are also a winner! I will be back to further explore this menu. Winning!
(5)Diana L.
What the hell happened to you, Green Leaf? Did the Sounder's fans traumatize you? Did their geek level fandom of a lame team confuse your chef to the point when he can't remember that three day old fucking shrimp are NOT ok to toss on top of Green Papaya salad? Did the Anglo-Saxon influence cause him to just want to COOK THE FUCK out of the vermicelli to Campbell's Soup mush standards? Did all the green and blue and scarves on a 80 degree day disorient your waitstaff to the point that they were unable to bring my son the NOODLES in the pho we ordered him? Because why else would he be served a bowl full of broth and meat? The only other thing I can come up with is that you have forged an unholly partnership with The Green Door, a few blocks away ( yelp.com/biz/the-green-d… )? If this is the case, I expect something a lot more interesting than fucking basil in my bun/com/what-pho-king-ever from now on. Let me know when you work that out.
(2)Catherine C.
Very yummy food! I had the bun, vermiccelli noodles with chicken and my friends enjoyed the food as well. We likes the fresh rolls! Great for small groups and families. Affordable prices too! Small but clean.
(4)Ace C.
Good stuff. My dining companion and I both got bun (vermicelli noodle) dishes and were glad to see that the greens were fresh, the noodles were QQ, and the flavors of the meat and sauces were strong, but well-balanced. Prices are a little higher than your average Vietnamese place (I believe we paid $8-10 per dish), but I think they are worth it. Staff was friendly and the bathroom was impressively clean. I wish I lived in Seattle so I could come here again.
(4)Svetlana O.
I loved this place! Why? One, the interior is lovely. Nothing too pretencious or modern. You feel very much at home and comfy. Two, the food is cheap yet tasty and unique. I had the the duck congee (under $12.00). This was essentially a bowl of rice soup and a salad with duck and a delicious dressing. It tasted fresh and home made. It was overly salty or greasy like you find in many cheaper restaurants. Was it the best food I had in my life? No. Is it an outstanding deal for the price? Absolutely!
(4)Ann W.
Downhill slide! They raised the prices (over $9 for bun?! Please.) and modified the menu a bit. I wasn't happy. I don't know if I can go back to Green Leaf again...
(2)Ashley F.
My experience with Green Leaf was a very satisfactory one. Overall, I would say the food and cost was a 3.5 star, but the service was exceptional! I ordered the Vegetarian Pho with vegetable broth along with an order of vegetarian spring rolls. The waiter was very happy to oblige when I requested fresh tofu instead of fried in my pho, and my dinner companion and I received our orders very quickly. I think part of my lackluster food experience may come from the fact I did not order any of the meat items on the menu (such as the duck that was so highly touted in other reviews). That being said, I found the vegetarian broth to be pretty bland. I loved the fresh tofu, and the bok choy was an unusual addition that was delicious! There is only one size of pho offered, and it is $8.95. It was certainly a decent size for the cost, and I had a tremendous amount left over, but I would place it on par with a larger "medium" or smaller "large" that I've had at other pho restaurants for less. I wish there had been a smaller size available at a lower price point... I was most excited to try the spring rolls. They have become a favorite of mine at other restaurants, and my mouth was literally watering upon their arrival. Overall, they were tasty, but not outstanding. The texture was terrific with just the right about of crunch, and I enjoyed the peanut dipping sauce even if it was a bit thin for my taste. I thought the flavors were just a bit too boring. The lettuce, tofu, jicama and even the coconut lacked depth, and I found myself wishing there was another ingredient to really make them pop. I think next time, I will try a different appetizer. Our server is really the reason this review is a 4 instead of a 3. He was friendly, prompt, attentive and flexible. When we walked in the door at 5:30, there were a couple of open tables, but by 6:00pm the place was packed. Even with a full house, our waiter found time to check on us while we dined, and he was very speedy when we asked for our check. Our third dinner companion was stuck in traffic, so our waiter happily took down a last minute order to go. (and kudos to the kitchen for getting out his order of grilled chicken with vermicelli so quickly!) I will probably give green leaf another try, and next time, I'll have to try the mango salad and duck soup.
(4)Celeste T.
I have been here several times. The food is exceptional, while the ambiance average. Unfortunately, I'm writing this review with quite a delay, so the details are a bit hazy. I would go back again though!
(4)Ron M.
This is another great restaurant that one should check out when in Chinatown. I kind of hesitate before digging into a meal here because the presentation is so pleasing to look at. It can get a pretty busy if you don't get there early, but getting your food to go is always a good option. The only thing is that you miss out on the great atmosphere. Seating is a little tight though. UPDATE: 07/16/07 Tried a new dish today: Vietnamese Pancake. This is like an omelet that is crepe thin and is filled with stir fried bean sprouts, shrimp and pork. Very tasty!
(4)Kaya W.
This is my favorite Vietnamese restaurant. Food is tasty, fast, and fresh. The atmosphere is very friendly and the waitstaff is really nice. Who says you can't have it all?
(5)Rose B.
We happened in here on New Years day. We were actually looking for the hole in the wall joint a few doors down (Szechuan Noodle Bowl) but they turned out to be closed. This place was hopping around 5pm that night. We were seated quickly. The atmosphere is nice enough, a few space heaters keeping it cozy. We were given menus and hot tea immediately. The waitress took our order very soon after. I ordered the vegetarian fresh rolls and the combo salad with lotus root, green papaya and mango with tofu. My bf ordered the anchovy noodle soup. Our spring rolls arrived within 3 minutes after ordering. When ordering I asked the waitress if the spring rolls had carrot in them b/c I have a sensitivity to them and she had said no they do not. When they arrived I saw pretty quickly that they do in fact have carrot in them but just proceeded to pick out rather than call the waitress on her error which would have been really embarrassing since when my salad arrived (2 minutes after the appetizer) I realized I never even thought to ask about carrot in that (duh). Anyway, as I was picking about a million shreds of carrot out of my fresh roll and salad my bf was thoroughly enjoying his anchovy soup. I had a taste of that and really regretted not just ordering soup because it was really delicious. I am sure we will go back but I have to say that I felt kind of rushed, they obviously want to turn the tables as fast as they can. The prices seemed a bit steep too but it seems like a sure bet if you want something tasty and don't mind if the waitstaff can't answer questions about the menu items.
(3)Annika v.
I no longer reside in the Seattle area, but whenever I am home I make it a point to stop at Green Leaf. I was skeptic at first however all of the dishes are delightful and unexpected. I always order the fresh rolls, they are perfect in every way. Looking forward to the next time I am back in Seattle to nibble on this amazing cuisine.
(5)Jay J.
Came here on a recommendation from my sister and it did not disappoint. Do not judge this book by its cover. The exterior is pretty rough looking and it's totally non-descript. Classic hole-in-the-wall. Ordered the special Pho (Dac Biet) and a side of their fresh spring rolls. Presentation was really different and the crunchy friend goodness inside of the spring roll was an extremely pleasant surprise. The soup broth for the Pho was clean and flavorful. I did not get the usual post-MSG thirst-bomb that I usually expect. Prices were super reasonable. From the time we ordered, we had spring rolls on our table in a matter of a couple minutes and the Pho was not far behind. We went on a Wednesday right at 12:15. Definitely close quarters so big groups probably aren't ideal but they have upstairs seating that they told us was pretty full.
(5)roselyn d.
I've never had a bad experience here! The staff is warm and welcoming (unlike most Viet restaurants, where they ignore & rush you). The food here is the best in Seattle, because they use quality ingredients, and make the dishes as authentic as possible.
(5)Sheila L.
This is the best place for pho in my opinion. The soup is so flavorful and they give you a good amount of meat. I also order their combo rice - which is really good with the fried egg slathered with their house fish sauce. I normally don't like fish sauce but I really do like theirs because it's spicy and doesn't have the strong fishy taste to it. Their spring rolls are delicious with the crunch of the fried wonton wrapper inside.. I've also had their 7 courses of beef which I liked especially their beef congee. Mmm... There's several other dishes I've had but too many to list out.. It's definitely a good place for vietnamese food and the atmosphere is great. Ever since they've remodeled with an upstairs dining area, it has gotten better on the wait-time and the service is friendly which is a plus. :)
(5)Annie L.
Hits. The. Spot. Vermicelli rice noodle bowls! The combo comes with chicken, beef, egg roll, veggies, and the most delicious marinate ever. Portion is pretty huge. Also saw Vietnamese crepe, need to get that next time. Pho isn't as great as expected (a little bland), but still a nice pair to your meal on a cold winder day.
(4)Kimberly B.
Don't judge a book by its cover - otherwise, you may never make it past Green Leaf's storefront. Came here on a friend's recommendation, and were not let down. Some of the best pho I've had (and at $8 a bowl, a total steal), friendly service, great appetizers. Do not miss this one. And on a side note: the single largest chairs I have ever sat in. I felt like I was sitting on a queen's throne - if a throne was made of wagon wheels. Hilarious!
(5)D.J. Y.
199 reviews, and I'm going to take a stab at this place, for number 200! I had the veggie Spring rolls, OMG, they were to die for, the deep fried shallots added that special touch and crunch that took me over the edge. The flavors of all of our dishes were totally solid, and super-delightful. I decided upon the fried duck noodle soup, that was some seriously damn-fine broth, and the duck pieces were huge! My partner-in-eating crime, Matt J., fellow Yelper, had the Bun, with pork, he graciously shared a few of the ever so tasty pork morsels from heaven. Uber friendly service, topped off with 2 iced coffees and we were finished. I'm ready for a nap....sadly we didn't get anything off of the "special" menu, but that's for another life time.... ;-) Damn fine eats, that's for sure.
(5)Ed M.
Great Vietnamese food. I ordered Pho and learned the art of eating with chopsticks. So not only did I have amazing food, but I learned something new while eating it!
(4)Edward N.
I eat lunch here about once a week, only because I love Vietnamese food and it happens to be close to my office. I really like the Banh Canh here. Their Hu Tieu Mi is also very good. I've tried some of their Bun dishes, also very good. Overall, it is a solid place to grab some Vietnamese food in Chinatown. This place is better than Tamarind Tree, although you can't really go wrong with either I suppose.
(4)Alex T.
Just to reiterate. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS PLACE SO MUCH. Prices are SO very good for the amount of quality and care put into your food. The servers treat you like brothers and sisters! This is just an update of the various dishes to try and eat: I always get bun bo hue here: it's got the right amount of spice, and the right amount of blood (as creepy as that sounds, it's actually quite delicious). This is MY go to dish guys. The banh xeo, or yellow pancakes are PERFECTLY crisp and absolutely delectable. Great serving sizes as well! If you want to try something even more different, try the banh canh doc biet, or 'house special udon soup'. It's basically a thick noodle dish with shrimp, crab meat, as well as blood cakes. So wonderfully fragrant and it's just really good comfort food. Try their rice or bun dishes as well! Avoid the pho though. Personally, when I think of Vietnamese food, I try to avoid pho as it's generally seen to me as a quick lunch type of food, not something I really want to delve into when I'm in an establishment that has SO many different types of dishes. If you want pho, there's 3217632 places in Seattle to go to for that. This is a place to EXPLORE the wonders of Vietnamese cuisine. That being said, their pho IS delicious, just not something I would immediately go for.
(5)Dean M.
Fast service, fresh ingredients, and friendly staff makes this place a go-to place for dinner. We have always ordered the Spring Rolls and they come out within minutes of the order. Good portion size as we split the appetizer (2 rolls cut in half). Then, onto the main course. We bounce between the chicken vermicelli and the combo salad (with chicken). You can't go wrong with either. Not much atmosphere and a small hole in the wall restaurant, but they do things correctly.
(5)Kalivin H.
Not sure what all the "Hype" is about this place. I personally don't think Real Vietnamese would eat at this place. When my family was there, I think we were the only Vietnamese there besides the workers. Which I knew was a bad sign, but what the heck, we were hungry. 1) A lot of the soup dishes like the Mi, were bland and overpowering with fried shallots. The other dishes were watered down or not seasoned enough. 2) While eating in the downstairs on a Thursday night, it must of been trash pick up the next day, get this, two kitchen staff without a care, hauled garbage cans of kitchen waste and took it out through the front door to the awaiting trash cans outside the place. WTF!!!!!!!!!! It grossed us out and the rest of the patrons that saw this. I looked at the next table and just shook my head. We pretty much got up and left this rat hole. 3) Expensive, a couple of bucks more than most other places. Overall, it was a bad experience. I feel a lot of their dishes have been changed to appeal to more of their western patrons. Not real Vietnamese! Head to Orange County or San Jose for the authentic stuff PLEASE...
(1)Dop T.
Shady place! Worst ambience. And much more to follow. Keep reading. So I ended up going to this place after seeing the "number" of reviews and ratings on yelp. Guess what, I had to pay the price for making the decision of choosing to eat here. First of all, I arrived at the place to find out there was no parking so I had to park my car on street. I hated to park my car here but had to do it since I didn't have an option. After parking the car, myself and my girlfriend walked into the restaurant, there were no long-standing queues, but the moment you enter the place, you will find this place bustling with all sorts of people. There was no person to take us in. We stood there waiting for someone to show up and after a while, a waitress directed us to the table. Tables were arranged so close to each other, so close you can't even get in/out of the table without hitting the person sitting on either sides of the table. Anyhow we started to open the menu and browse through. The waitress came to our place after few minutes and she was so cheerful in giving us so many suggestions on vegetarian dishes. What am I kiddin!? She showed up exactly after two minutes and asked us whether we were ready to order. She had a grim face, such a one we thought we might very well order some food quickly and get the hella out here! Please don't plan a calm, pleasant lunch/dinner here. This isn't the place. After awhile, the food arrived. We ordered fried rice, pho bowl and salt pepper tofu. I wasn't surprised to not find some authenticity in the food. The fried rice was awful. It smelled stale and pho wasn't that great. It was like a regular pho that you can get from a not-so-extraordinary place. We tried to eat our food as fast as we could because we were able to literally hear/see/smell what was going on either sides of our table. A random waitress came to our table to check on us how we were doing. A dessert menu was not offered after we finished the meal. Probably they never had one. So we had to pay our bills, walked out of the restaurant and walked back to our car. As soon as we reached the parking spot, my mind stopped for a minute. The rear glass window on my car was smashed to pieces. I couldn't convince myself how did this happen, it was parked on the street with several other cars being parked at the same spot. There was nothing visible/ kept on the seat but a sweat shirt. It was heavily tinted so no possibility that one could see a backpack placed behind the front passenger seat. I think he/she tried to reach for the sweat shirt but guess it fell down. So he/she couldn't get that far, but certainly the backpack was nearby. It had some documents and electronics. It was gone. I called 911 and lodged a complaint. Later, I had to spend 250$ to fix my car. Such a horrifying experience just for the thought of "Lets have some authentic asian food on Sunday"!
(1)Sonia C.
Very good Vietnamese food at decent prices. Stuff just tastes very fresh. We started with the papaya salad with grilled shrimp and the fresh spring rolls. I really like fresh spring rolls and these were excellent. I ordered the combo bun which came with lots of crunchy vegetables, a spring roll, and an assortment of grilled meats. I tried my parents' combo pho and it was a very big bowl, but quite normal. My bf enjoyed his combo rice plate, which included a giant pork chop and a fried egg. I would definitely come again, but I don't think it's so exceptional that it deserves the long wait for a table.
(4)Kelleyann H.
This place is very cute and dim. I don't really enjoy the fact that it's really small, makes me feel really trapped if there's a lot of people eating there, there's no where to walk which kind of sucks but their food is amazing, it gives me a hint of the motherland in my mouth
(3)Joseph S.
The food here is very good; the vermicelli bowl is awesome. Fairly priced, service is good (as long as you are willing to be assertive) and the restaraunt is always clean.
(5)Jeremy Y.
The food here is amazing but I am giving it 3 stars because the last 2 times the service was pretty horrible. I have probably been here 7-10 times over the past several years and only recently have I felt dissatisfied with the service. It also was the only times I have been seated downstairs, so maybe there is a correlation there? The first bad experience came when my friend was visiting from out of town. We specifically wanted to go to Green Leaf and when we arrived around 5pm, the place was empty except for people prepping food at the tables near where we were seated. We decided to move to another table because this was an awkward place to be. Maybe this made them mad, I don't know because they never came to take our order, bring us water or anything after 15 minutes of waiting. It is a small place, it is not like we were hiding. To top it off, they immediately helped a person who came in for their to go order. We decided to leave and they couldn't care less about our departure. I tried it again about 2 months later. This time was lunch time and it was busy. We got seated again downstairs. I should have requested the top floor. The service was better but still lacked it any sort of speed or upkeep. The food did arrive super fast which was nice since I was hungry. So, I guess it is just hit or miss here. Still wonderful food.
(3)Clemmo B.
Green Leaf is a hidden restaurant in Belltown, yet it worth stopping and trying it! I went 5-6 time to Green Leaf, and I absolutely love it. I appreciate the restaurant carved-wood decoration, and the separation with the cosy lounge corner. Sports amateurs: games are featured on the big screen! Regarding the food, I would absolutely recommend it too. The menu is varied, the food fresh, and the portions worth the money. I loved the lemongrass kamikaze cocktail and the crispy noodles beef & vegetables. I lived a few years in Asia, and I couldn't tell the difference!
(5)Danan R.
We came for dinner and almost drove by it since it is a rather inconspicuous restaurant hidden behind a street sign and tree. The interior is very small but cozy and we were seated right away. I had the shrimp with stir fried vegetables and my friend had the deluxe mixed bun combination. My dish was delish and cooked in a flavorful sauce that was not overly salty. Plenty of shrimp too! The highlight was the bun combo however with the flavorful and tender marinated chicken and beef and the juicy grilled shrimp kabobs, all over tender and fresh vermicelli and topped with pickled julienne vegetables and lettuce. The nuoc Cham was delish and perfectly flavored: sweet, spicy, and with the perfect balance of fish sauce, lime juice, and brown sugar. Service was very efficient and we were served in less than 10 minutes. Definitely an authentic Vietnamese restaurant and worth the trek to Chinatown for!
(4)Lisa T.
I came in because lots of people on yelp recommended that this would be an excellent choice for Vietnamese food. The place was alright, kind of small but cozy and friendly in a way. Service was sth I wasn't impressed of. Staff scattered from place to place and it took them quite a while to take my order, and assisted me when I needed help. The food wasn't bad, though wasn't necessarily the best. The taste didn't leave much impression, but I guess it's alright, since you can't expect a real authentic Vietnamese meal in a country that's not Vietnam.
(3)H H.
#7 on our International District Restaurant Tour and now we are wondering what took us so long. Actually, I know what took us so long. We are usually going to Szechuan Noodle Bowl next door. DARN, they have good spicy dumplings. Anyhow, I will save that for my #8 review. Green Leaf is tasty, like REALLY tasty. Not only are the ingredients fresh and flavorful, but the meals are very reasonably priced. We ordered the Bún đc bit -served w/ grilled chicken, pork, shrimp & fried egg roll. It was better than Ba Bar (trendy on 12th Ave.) and about $5 less. We also had a shared appetizer of Khoai lang chiên tôm which is deep fried sweet yams with shrimp. YUM! We will definitely be back. The food was perfect, the service was quick and friendly and the restaurant was clean. The only thing I am not a fan of is all the clutter in the restaurant. It is very crowded and the tables are close together. Obviously, this is something I will look past based on my overall experience and such tasty food.
(5)Henry O.
Good food! Fast and friendly! Wont knock your socks off like i remembered after visiting other Vietnamese restaurants Parking a little confusing Drinks came after our meal..a big no no which cost them a star It was so so, its where the who whos of Seattle Asian DIstrict go for lunch!
(3)Khairi E.
Numerous menu options, small place. Maybe seats 20people. Food was excellent. I had vermicelli with grilled chicken and shrimp and veggie egg rolls. Also ordered shrimp potato egg rolls. Everything was fresh and rather fast service. Drinks were topped off quickly and everything was severed without much wait. My only regret was not asking for my noodle bowl to be prepared spicy. But that's my fault and siracha helped that out. Seems like a lot of places in the International district but I will be coming back here next time in Seattle.
(5)Astrid A.
We went to this restaurant because of the reviews on yelp, and this place was absolutely amazing. We are from Miami, FL and we go to a local restaurant in our hometown at least once a week. However the flavor here was way better than our usual restaurant. Wish they were closer to home.
(5)Jessica B.
Dam i think ill be the next regular customer. I got raw beef pho and was pleasantly surprised to see nice little additions other restaurants don't add. Not to mention it was delish! Nice place for a small and intimate dinner setting. Service super fast and friendly! They have a great menu selection. I don't think you will be disappointed. Only problem was the red sauce and chile sauce was missing from my to-go order even after i asked if it was for sure in there. Regardless the soup was very spicy. I just love my red sauces !!! It would have been a perfect soup otherwise.... :) best pho ive ever had.
(5)Jack L.
I was reluctant to enter this place because of how many Yelp stickers and advertisement was on the window. I trust you fellow yelpers, but I just don't like hitting up spots that are up and coming or are too trendy -- I don't like being disappointed. The place was comfortable despite it being a small place with 8 tables. Little did I know, there's a whole second floor for group parties. The servers were attentive and nice. Ordered PHO DAC BIET, PHO TAI GAN, and COM DAC BIET. Both pho were good, but it seems that in Seattle this is one of the better restaurants when in Los Angeles, this is just the average. The soup was hot and brought a small amount of sweetness My only dismay with the pho was the toughness of the beef. Now the com tam, on the other hand was pretty impressive. When I frequent a Vietnamese place, I seldom order anything else but pho because the moment I enter the restaurant I crave pho even if I initially enter for something else. This restaurnat made me regret ordering pho because the com dac biet's meat were well marinated and just the right amount of cooking that allows it to not dry out. MotS: order the com tam and you won't be disappointed.
(4)Misha T.
Pretty good food. Even better? The wagon wheel chairs upstairs. Can't explain that and don't need to. The goi vit was pretty sweet but very tasty and the banh xeo, which I gather is one of their specialties was pretty good. It looks like they char it a little and the batter is thicker so it stands up pretty well to the higher heat. My bun mam was good. It started a little too sweet but after some lime and chili oil settled and really came alive.
(4)Hana J.
Oh goodness, everything was soo delicious. Pho, stuffed pancake, and vermicelli dishes. Service was superb; they're so generous with their meat and fresh leafy vegetables which is rare at usually Vietnamese restaurants near LA/OC area. It was a bit strange being the only Asians, but to you Asians, this is seriously one of the best Vietnamese restaurants I've been to. Even the dishware was very elegant; a perfect place for a family outing, a girl's night out dinner spot, or even a first date!
(5)Kevin C.
This place used to be the best, but their quality has dropped and their service is confused. The 7 courses of beef are way salty, all of them. And they rush out all the courses, our table was full and they came out with more food. Ridiculous. The middle courses don't seem fresh, and are overly greasy. They seem like they've been frozen for awhile. I'm done with this place, on to the next. Too salty. Much too salty.
(2)Sarah N.
Coming in as a Vietnamese tourist who lives in Orange County my expectations of this place were not very high. But... They did stay true to many of the dishes. I ordered their banh xeo and my boyfriend ordered the bun dac biet. The banh xeo was still crispy when I go it, and the pork and shrimp were complimentary with the dish. There were too many bean sprouts for me, and the fish sauce was good. The batter for the banh xeo had a strong coconut taste but was very tasty. My bf's bun was good with the combination of pork, chicken, beef, and shrimp. The fried onions were crispy and flavorful. I didn't care for the egg rolls. I prefer the other rice paper sheets that are more transparent... gives it a better crunch. Overall, I felt it was good tasting.
(3)Tony L.
I came here on the weekend for a late lunch. At first, they sat us at a tiny table, but when I told them that I was going to order the "tray" with my combo, they slid the next table over for us. I ordered: Fresh spring rolls with shrimp and pork (I like the crispy stick inside the roll for the crunch) Combo rice vermicelli bowl with the tray (rice paper wraps, veggies, herbs, sprouts, etc.). The tray costs $3 extra, but I like the fact that you can make your own fresh rolls. I am not sure which place I like better between Green Leaf and Tamarind Tree (nicer interior, free parking), but Green Leaf is one of my favorite Vietnamese restaurants in Seattle.
(4)Mandy W.
I honestly thought this place looked better than what it actually looked like when we arrived there. Very unattractive front view. I was hesitant to go in there actually... it looked very dirty from the outside like we were about to eat at some third world country place. I have to say though, when the food came, it looks very good and appetizing. But when we eat it, it was rather too much MSG/heavy flavoring. We had grilled chicken egg noodle and a rice dish with variety of meat. At the end, I felt like my mouth was overwhelmed by heavy saucing, salt, sugar, and msg. Bottom line: Exterior appearance: Horrible.. Interior appearance: Alright Service: Alright (3 stars) (didn't seem so friendly to me) Food: Alright. I would say 3-3.5 stars. Definitely not 4. Won't be wanting to come back but rather try other places.
(3)Wesley O.
Great food, good for familys and groups up to 8. Very careful if you have any allergies and the waiters and waitresses are extremely nice. P.S.- The mango salad (#29) is not with yellow mango but green mango.
(5)Katherine N.
My boyfriend and I usually frequent the Greenleaf Belltown location. But we decided to give this one a try and why not be risky? We ordered delivery through Bitesquad. I honestly was not expecting much but their portion for the bun bo hue (beef spicy noodles) was really filling, and my boyfriend ordered the lemongrass chicken :) We were both so full after we didn't even eat the appetizers we had also ordered. (The spring rolls, and chicken wings). Amaze balls
(5)Mark Y.
My wife and I's go-to place in Chinatown. Great prices, awesome vietname food.. we usually get the house combo on noodles or rice. tastiest vietnamese in Seattle for sure. Service is actually quite friendly, and a variety of vietnamese drinks/sweets.. go to place...for a reason!
(4)Sharon K.
I haven't been back in awhile but I've just got to say, I LOVE THIS PLACE! The spring rolls are ridiculously huge and delicious. Perhaps they just look big because of all the lettuce that if fluffed around at the top but still good. I don't think there is one thing that is bad here. The space is tight and the place is busy but it's worth the wait and lack of butt space.
(5)Mary K.
this place is very good. I'm half Vietnamese, and this tastes like my mom's cooking. the egg rolls here are exactly what I grew up with, and its amazing that this place has a similar recipe to my mom's! I ordered the Bun Bo Hue, which is my favorite soup of all time. its just a spicy beef noodle soup, similar to Pho, but I think its a lot better. It was spicy enough to make my eyes water, the noodles were the right kind of noodle (I've seen some places that serve Bun bo hue with the wrong noodle!), and everything was just RIGHT. I felt like I was back home in the hole-in-the-wall vietnamese places in Oakland. This one seemed nicer than the ones I'm used to, but it was still good. The spice level was good too. It was actually spicy, which I love. This soup tastes the best with a hot spicy level. If I'm back in the area, and craving authentic Vietnamese cuisine, I'll be going back here!
(5)Ji M.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. I usually get the combo Banh (Noodle with vegetable, chicken, pork, prawn, egg rolls, sauce) and spring rolls and they are beautiful. The combo, despite including every meat on the Banh menu is not much more expensive than the other ones. I usually can't decide which one to pick, so I get the one that contains everything, and I never regret afterward. Compared to banhs that I had at other places, I feel that the proportion of noodle, vegetable, meat, and other things, are perfect. The spring roll here is so good, too! They put some fried (spring roll?) sheet inside, which is not too greasy, but crunchy. Perfect! It is bit more expensive than the usual Vietnamese restaurants I go to, but I would definitely come here again and again.
(5)Kevin C.
This place rocks. The Belltown location is very underground-cozy and the food really kicks a%8. The cold vermicelli noodles with vegetarian egg roll was delicious. Staff very friendly and attentive. The house hot tea they bring to the table is also very good. Highly recommended restaurant.
(4)Stefanie N.
Had the Bo 7 Mon here. Its good and the service was good with a party of 10.
(4)JungWoo L.
I expected Green Leaf too much because many people who live in Seattle recommend this restaurant. But it's not the best restaurant. It is similar with other Vietnamese restaurant. I don't know why it is the best in here. My words don't mean it is not good restaurant. Just it is not the best. I hope Green leaf changes their interiors. It looks a deserted house.
(4)Dub N.
First thing - the restaurant is TINY and that sucks - you will prob have to wait and you will prob be sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with your neighbor. The selection of food is very average and the price is average. Honestly, this is a your cookie-cut Viet diner and there is at least 25 of the EXACT SAME in Chinatown area. This is not a restaurant to dine out, this is TINY quick stop pho spot, and it aint a cheap one.
(2)Thai D.
Order the Bun Dac Biet. It's truly the best bun I've ever tasted. Also, the banh xeo here is great, which I absolutely have to commend, because it's so hard to find great banh xeo. I took my parents here when they visited. They loved it. My mom, who is a total vietnamese food snob, highly preferred Green Leaf over Tamarind Tree. That says a lot. I love this place. I haven't even tried the pho yet, and to be honest, I'll probably go to Pho Bac when I have the pho cravings. But for bun and banh xeo, this is the spot. Only one thiing - I really liked it better when the sign in front said "Please wait to be seat" instead of the now-corrected "Please wait to be seated". The old way made the restaurant seem even more authentic.
(5)M P.
De-virginized at this restaurant. Well, sorta. During my first visit to Seattle ever (Im from So Cal), I visited this place and immediately fell in love with her. Green Leaf is a place that serves food that is tasty, fresh, well-portioned and wont rob your wallet - just like the ideal date! I realized I was in love because I visited her at least twice during my visit to the sleepy town called Seattle (I fell in love with Seattle too) I visited this restaurant right after I visited Bruce Lee's grave (not to sound morbid). I placed my IPad at the top of his gravestone and asked for spiritual Jeet Kune Do guidance on places to eat - and guess what Yelp restaurant review came up? It was Green Leaf! Ok, I made that up. But this place is a must-visit destination in See-at-tul.
(5)Naveed N.
I love phó. Plain and simple, i'd marry it if I could. As far as Seattle area goes, i'd have to say this is my go-to destination when i'm looking to get some (phó that is, if you're looking for 'some' you may want to check out some federal way massage parlors.. haha jk). I haven't tried too many other dishes, other than the bun, fresh spring rolls (AWESOME), and the pho itself. The little vietnamese girls/ladies who work there are friendly and attentive, but sometimes a bit shy. More or less what you'd expect to pay $ for. **This place is clean, and actually has a good ambience for a good pho place (usually does not go hand in hand)** Also- there is an upstairs, so if you have a larger group, don't fret.
(5)Sarah C.
Great food but the ambiance was a bit crowded. I recommend ordering as a group and sharing!
(4)Nancy L.
Delicious vermicelli bowls, great price for the amount of food that I had. Will definitely come back and try more things.
(4)Miki C.
I would normally give this place 5 stars. It USED to be my favorite restaurant in Seattle. But ever since the closed in May 2011 for a week, did a remodel, new menus and raised their prices, the food has been WAY off. Last time we went there, I got ill from either the food being way too greasy or the nuoc mam sauce for the bun being too strong. When we first starting going to this place 4 years ago, the food use to be much better. The owner, Peter, has let the food quality of this place slide. Even though the place looks nicer and bigger, the food is going downhill.
(3)Kim I.
i went here for the first time today and i got the Bò 7 Mó. (7 course beef dish, and it was delicious) I'd stay away from the chicken wings, crispy and edible, but not as flavorful as they should be. You must get the 7 course beef meal. Amazing. I left full and happy.
(4)Becky G.
I have been hearing good things about this place, but I must be allergic. I got pho and while I was eating it, it was really good. but just when I was enjoying my last bites of pho, a weird allergic reaction overcame me. My whole face hurt, like a sinus headache but worse. I felt like my head was cloudy. And there a weird pain in my face and head. I only had rare-steak pho and Jasmine tea. Some fresh air helped, but I was out of it the rest of the night. Do they use MGS? or some other unusual ingredient? Maybe I'm a freak, but I won't be back. :(
(1)TJ R.
Green Leaf is ultimately one of my favorite vietnamese restaurants in all of the Greater Seattle area. Living right next to International District i have had the luxury of trying different types of places and pho is my go-to default when it comes to making decisions for lunch/dinner. First off, expectations people! If you're looking for 5 star decor/service from ANYWHERE in the I-District, then you're either white or non-asian. You just have to flag them down when you're ready to order. With that said, Green Leaf does have amazing service - lightning fast service, prompt seating (even when it's crowded, which it usually is), sensitive to odd requests/big parties. Now to the food! I pretty much always get the brisket and beef pho which is amazing. The broth is ... different than what i'm used to from say Thanh Bros or any other type of pho. If i had to describe it, i would say it's more of a gourmet-type of broth which gives it a unique flavor which i think is amazing and genius! They only have one size so that eliminates the need to debate upon sizes. The combo rice dish (with pork, chicken, egg, veggies) is decadent as well. A little oilier than expected, but great nonetheless. The vermicelli is above average and the spring rolls are to DIE for! they contain a crunchy egg-roll like texture inside which gives it a nice balance. I've been here countless times and never once has it disappointed... so remember next time you're reviewing any asian place don't focus on decor and service, but always focus on the food because that's why we go to these places in the first place!
(5)Andrew W.
This place is more like 4.5 stars but I'll give it a five. The place is humble but the food is fantastic and authentic. The service is attentive at least they try! I always order the #72 - the dac biet rice is so delicious! The waiting can be long on a busy time so it's good to call ahead!
(5)Jill P.
I'm sitting here dreaming of Pork Vermicelli and planning my next visit to Green Leaf. Each meal I have had here has been fantastic, the service is always pleasant, and the food delicious! I love the fresh ingredients and clear flavors. Hmmm, maybe I can go again this week...
(5)Claire R.
The food was excellent! We had a combo rice dish with fantastic, tasty meat, an appetizer made of fried rice flour, and a dessert of sweet sticky rice and banana with coconut milk. It was a reasonable price: two of us shared a beer, an appetizer, an entree, and dessert for less than $30. It was amazing ! I thought about it the next morning when I woke up, like good sex!
(5)Pretty S.
Delicious EVERY TIME and the staff is great. Have been a loyal customer since 2006.
(5)Michelle F.
For every rave and rant I heard about Greenleaf, I was surprised. I agree, it's good. But I don't think it's so good that it deserves raves and rants. The bun there is good. Fresh, light, and they have a wide variety. The pho is good, but not my favorite. I'd totally go back in a heartbeat. But would I go out of my way? Nah, probably not.
(3)Patrick L.
The first time I ever tried a Vietnamese vermicelli noodle bowl, years ago, it was at Green Leaf. Since then, I've had that at countless other Vietnamese restaurants around here, but have never found one better. The ingredients taste fresh, it arrives quickly, and the prices are about average. The nuoc mam (fish sauce) here is pretty potent, not as diluted as most other places. It's one of the few places where I make do with just one bowl of the sauce, and don't have to order a second. It's a small place, so seating is limited, but I've never had much of a problem getting a table, even when eating with a group as large as 6 people or so.
(4)Linda V.
Really good fresh rolls, really good rice dishes! I don't remember what I got the first time I came, because it wasn't really memorable, but this time I got the Combo Rice (whatever number 75 is) and it is amazing. It came with flavorful grilled shrimp, some hunks of chicken, lots and lots of rice, a bit of pickled radish/carrot and salad. I had that with the regular pork and shrimp fresh roll, and it was so good. I can't speak much for the pho or any of the soupy noodles, because I don't quite remember what they tasted like, but I know that the rice combos are super amazing. Also, I think this places in terms of taste is better than Tamarind Tree, but their selection is fewer and their atmosphere is more cramped. The people are less friendly. At Tamarind Tree, the service is much better and they have a wider selection. In my opinion, it's comparing apples to oranges. They're both good, but just for different things.
(4)Ann S.
FABULOUS!! Let me get this straight: this place is a hidden gem. You could never expect to get such amazing food from the external view. I am not really a fan of Vietnamese cuisine, but Green Leaf had changed my perspective. When i got a birthday invitation from my friend to have dinner at Green Leaf I was like " oh man, seriously?" but now, I CAN NOT thank him enough for taking me there. Unlike other restaurants which only some main good dishes, Green Leaf's menu is filled with you-cannot-skip-it entrees...So these are all the dishes I'ever had: 1) Marinated Catfish and Sour Soup: I was told by my friend that these dishes were meant to eat together. And he was absolutely right! The flavorful, slightly salty combine with that sweet and sour over the white steam rice made me leave nothing left on the plates. Literally nothing. 2) Spring rolls: fresh, delicious and healthy!! The little twist of the crispy stick in the roll makes it very unique. Super appetizer. Come very fast, yet, very fresh, I can see it clearly from the lettuce' appearance. 3) Duck salad: Again, i embarrassed myself when i finished eating before everyone else, with nothing left on my plate. The fish sauce and vinaigrette dressing over the crispy cabbage , fried onions, peanuts and tasty boneless duck meat. Yummmm 4) Combo vermicelli: good portion of all the fresh lettuce, bean sprout, carrots, and a lot of variety of tasty meat ( grilled pork, chicken, crispy egg rolls, and shrimp skewer). Cheap. Yes! For real! A diner for 2 never get over 30 bucks. Last but not least, awesome staffs! Super friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. Once i had a very happy and beautiful with super cute dimples :) She patiently answer every question about I have with great details. Don't wanna stereotypical but i didnt expect such excellent service from an asian restaurant. It absolutely deserves my 5 stars.
(5)whitney h.
I usually stick with the vermicelli bowls or pho, but I decided to give something else a shot: crab, shrimp and blood cake soup...I didn't realize it until I was paying that there was an entire pig foot floating in my bowl, awesome. The broth was really potent and satisfying. The blood cake was weird, but I have an out of hand affinity for trying new, oddball things...the chicken wings and spring rolls are to die for, and while looking around at the other table's meals, I felt the strong desire to come back before I even got up to leave. All in all, the food was great quality, the service was attentive and friendly, and hey! they have a clean bathroom! Just kind of wish the menu was more diverse. By that, I mean they have A LOT of soup.
(4)Monica D.
fantastic fresh and flavorful food. my favorite was the Bot Chien appetizer.. amazing flavor.
(4)Rob C.
4.5 excellent pho. nice depth of flavor in the broth with heavy cilantro, onion. meat ok could be more rare, veggies fresh, noodles ok, would stack up with the bay area. the rice plate with shrimp, short rib, pork chop, was ok, not as strong. iced coffee fine. the spring rolls did have the crispy part but the sauce could be more hearty.
(5)Dae Y.
I didn't know about this place at all. Tried it out for the very first time. They don't have the option for a small or large. The $7.50 bowl of pho thai I had was huge! It was great hangover pho, indeed. My friend had the combination bun and it smelled FANTASTIC. I want to try that next time. the place is pretty cozy. i would probably give it more like 4.5stars. really good stuff.
(4)Nhi T.
Green Leaf is my favorite restaurant in Seattle. Apparently I'm deeply in love with their vegetable spring rolls? :) I'm a pesco-vegetarian so I love their huge selection of vegetarian foods. I highly recommend: Shrimp or Tofu Vietnamese Pancake, Tomatoes Shrimp Patty Noodle Soup, Vegetarian Vermicelli Ham and Mushroom Ball, Soft Tofu Rice Noodle Soup! Green Leaf oiiiii I love you long time!
(5)Lindsay L.
Having been to Seattle numerous time and never eaten in this neighborhood we decided to try something new. We went with Green Leaf based on the multitude of YELP reviews and we weren't lead astray! We started with the Fresh Spring Rolls and they were everything that all of the other people have stated: fresh, flavorful, delicious! Next, we tried the Combo Vermicelli (chicken, pork, skewed shrimp, fried egg roll) and Combo Rice Dish (steamed rice with grilled pork chop, shrimp, chicken, & fried egg). Both of those were EXCELLENT and enough to feed a family of four. Last, we tried the Deep Fried Chicken Wings and while the plate was extra large for an appetizer, the flavor and excitement was missing. I would pass on this dish in the future.
(4)Yuri S.
Delicious food, and really great options for vegetarians and vegans! Yum!
(4)Steve H.
Awesome....great food. Busy but the service is great
(5)Elizabeth R.
As long as I've been living in Seattle, I will admit that I haven't been to every restaurant establishment in the International District. This was my first visit to Green Leaf. My cousin-in-law wanted to have lunch with me, so my boyfriend and I decided to drive on up on a Friday to have lunch with her and two of her co-workers. We went right at the peak of lunch time, so it was pretty packed. Luckily, they put us upstairs. So many choices! Pho, rice plates, soups, vermicelli bowls, etc! I ended up going for their grilled chicken rice plate and boy was it good! It was just the perfect portion to fulfill my hunger. The boyfriend had a soup dish with egg noodles. Very flavorful. My cousin-in-law and one of her co-workers both had bowls of pho, which looked like great portions as well. And my cousin-in-law's other co-worker had the meat combo rice dish, which consisted of chicken, pork, and shrimp. Wow... looked like it was totally worth the money. And like I always say, don't judge a book by its cover. Yes, the place looks a bit rundown on the outside but the food was great!
(4)Unjeela G.
Delicious noodle soup dishes (house special, bon bo hue) and the 7 beef dish. Whenever I ordered a noodle dish other than pho at other vietnamese restaurants, I always ended up disappointed; soups were bland, lacking in herbs.... Then.... I found Green Leaf (well, actually my bf told me)! I ordered their house special noodle soup, and it was very flavorful ("real" broth, a little salty), plenty of herbs, fresh yellow egg noodles that are cooked al dente, chewy meat. You can add cilantro, lime, and bean sprouts to your liking. My sister got the bon bo hue; I sampled it, and the broth was spicy (but not burning) and very rich, again flavorful. The soup is similar to Korean yook-gae jang or jjamppong. Environment: small, casual, another "hole-in-the wall" treasures Service: fast, friendly, checks with us to see if all is going well
(5)Randy N.
Green Leaf has many good dishes and they never seem to disappoint me. I had the Mi Dac Biet(Special egg noodles) the last time I came here and it was delicious! Everything was well prepared with a great presentation. Green Leaf is one the of best Vietnamese restaurants around the Seattle area.
(4)Laura M.
It's all about the "7coursed beef meal" for two. $26 and you get stuff to make your own salad wrap rolls. It was basically all you can eat Vietnamese salad wraps with different types of beef. We went with a group of four of us, which was super fun, and exciting to have all seven courses come. The seven courses were: 1) a hot broth with raw beef to cook in the hot broth. I wasn't a huge fan of this. There wasn't much flavor but the beef was good quality. 2) beef cabbage salad (mmm!) with a light dressing and dried onions on the top 3-6) the beef plate with 4 unique types of beef. Normally something like this would gross me out, but it was really tasty. 7) beef soup with some bits of rice. Also very good. Overall I thought the meal was very well put together. The quality of the food was really good and the veggies for the wraps were plentiful. Ambiance: 4 Food quality: 5 Authenticity: 3 Service: 4 Value: 4
(4)Amy P.
The pho broth was beyond flavorful. The spring rolls were exceptional. Overall, I think this place is TOO OVERPRICED. Orange County has better, affordable vietnamese food, hands down.
(2)cindy w.
Green Leaf gets 4-stars because of presentation that separates itself from its other Vietnamese competitors. You might laugh but I'm serious -- Mario Batali ate here! How do I know? Cause I scrutinized a photo that Green Leaf proudly hangs near its doorway of a fat, pasty, red-haired dude posing next to a waitress and I thought, "Huh. That's weird, why would they have such an awkward looking dude's photo up?" ... then I realized I just accidentally dissed Mario Batali. Whoops. My brother ordered pho and I ordered the beef curry bowl (with banh/bread instead of mi noodles). We also ordered the vermicelli rolls which had some inventiveness to it -- a fried wafer inside that made it more crunchy to bite into. As Viets, I'm sure I'll encounter another Vietnamese restaurant that offers a better selection of pho or whatnot but Green Leaf is a place I'd like to take my family to try out to see their reaction. The fact that this place does draw Viets is a good sign -- so I'm not sure how much they may cater to the white folks besides the slightly higher prices, haha.
(4)L K.
all dishes (pho, rice dishes and vermicelli) I've tried have been consistently delicious; ambiance is good, but the price seems to be a bit high for a vietnamese restaurant. still a good place to visit for vietnamese.
(4)Zachary M.
Since 346 glowing reviews aren't enough, here's another one: This place is a noodle soup mecca. Since some reviews here said it, I got the duck soup, and it was delicious. I'm not really sure what the etiquette is behind eating hunks of duck that are still on the bone out of a bowl of soup. I just fished a leg out with my chopsticks and then gnawed on it like an awkward barbarian. If you know a more appropriate method, please let me know, as I will surely eat here in the future.
(5)Jessie R.
Holy Freaking Yum. The heater outside to keep us warm as we waited for our table? Genius. Fresh spring rolls with peanut sauce? Heaven. We shared the vermicelli with grilled beef wrapped around pork, and a lemongrass and pork rice dish. Both were excellent. I'm ready to go back now, please.
(5)Yvonne D.
The food's good, the service's very nice. The servers pay attention to your needs, the service's pretty fast, most of the items are under $10. Good place for lunch.
(4)Heather S.
I love, love, love their pho. Perfect broth, just smelling it makes me happy. Bamboo covered in shrimp is a great dish to share as well. This is my first choice for eating in the ID.
(4)Jean Y.
I've eaten here about once a month since moving to Seattle a year and a half ago. I work in the ID, and this is one of my favorite restaurants in the ID (Not that this is great praise - Seattle ID food is lacking) Overall, flavors are great. Ingredients always seem fresh. Portions are decent - enough for a meal. Staff members do not speak English fluently, but service is good (For those of you who are picky about service - I really don't believe in rating Asian restaurants according to Western standards for service though). Some notes on specific menu items - Seven courses of beef - The menu mandates that you order this with a friend. Each of the seven courses has great flavors. My friends who are meat lovers love ordering this. I like vegetables but I like ordering this as well. There is enough food to fill 2 guys. The courses include: summer rolls (swish the beef in hot water to cook, dip rice paper in hot water, wrap veggies and beef, dip in fish sauce), beef congee, beef wrapped in lop leaf, several types of grilled beef. Pho - Excellent. Fresher ingredients than you'll get elsewhere Vermicelli bowls - I don't normally get full on vermicelli bowls elsewhere, but their vermicelli bowls come with a lot of vermicelli. The various toppings I have tried, such as stir fried beef and onion, have been great. Duck noodles - Excellent duck. Not too much bone as is often the case elsewhere. Lemongrass tofu - More than I expected for the price of an appetizer. Comes on a bed of lettuce and shallots. The only complaint I have is that the tea is very light and that you don't get your own pot of tea at the table - I drink A LOT of tea with meals. Since they remodeled and opened the upstairs area, seating has become much less of a problem. The upstairs seating area is much more comfortable than the downstairs seating.
(5)Bryan M.
Awesome. I had Bun Chay which was vermechelli noodles with a bunch of vegetarian stuff and it was just great. Tea came when we sat instead of water and it was nice. Seating at 11 or so was immediate. When we left after noon there were people outside waiting. Waitfolk were pretty immediate and prompt making it a fast lunch even with the quick ride down through the bus tunnel from downtown. Nice inside, cozy, not your typical stuff them and ship them Vietnamese restaurant design. While talking to a coworker afterwards he said he loved the place but it got a good writeup and is now super busy.
(5)Denny K.
I love this place. In my opinion, they have the best pho in town. Their meat seems to be of a higher quality than most pho places. It's always busy, but I've never had to wait long for a table.
(5)Christine C.
end up here every time i visit Seattle. totally been craving vietnamese food for several months (why is there no good vietnamese food in manhattan? why, god? why?) absolutely no complaints. perfectly executed dishes. nothing particularly above and beyond, but great nonetheless. sea bass = favorite dish. i have no idea what they do to behind the closed doors of their kitchen, but this is some freaking good fish. i MUST learn their secret! even the veggies they serve with it are incredible by sheer proximity to this heavenly fish. bun is also GREAT. spring rolls are basil-y, which i don't particularly care for, but it's so fresh the basil managed to not bother me. seriously. never had a bad thing here before.
(4)Philip L.
It's been awhile since I was last at Green Leaf, so the details of my meal are a bit foggy now. I'll just say the food was great. The service very amiable. And the atmosphere enjoyable. Everyone I was with thoroughly enjoyed their meals. I'll hopefully be back soon so I can post a review with more detail.
(4)Logan N.
Bo La Lot with the Bun Dac Biet is good. Craving it ! Can I get it shipped?
(5)Maureen K.
This place used to be better before the renovations and new upstairs addition. The past couple times I've been there, the place has been disappointing. First, it seems like their makeover included a tweek to the menu. My usual dishes came with extra sprinkles of fried garlic flakes or caramelized onions. Personally, I liked it without these additions, but the food was still good. However, their che thai dessert has completely changed to an artificial flavor with green food coloring (it stained some of the fruit a pale green). Second, their service is starting to slack. We ordered an appetizer (vietnamese pancakes) minus the shrimp. Unfortunately, it arrived with shrimp...and it arrived the same time as our entrees! Luckily, their fresh spring rolls are still the same and still yum. Overall tho, decent food with fresh ingredients and good portions. Unfortunately, I find myself no longer having the urge to go there whenever I can.
(3)Sarah C.
Of all the times I've been getting food at the I.D. why oh why did I not hit up this place?? I'm ashamed of myself!! And I call myself a Yelper! Well, I can hold my head up again because I went to dinner here last night w/ David N. & Brian N. :) Can't really go wrong with two Vietnamese friends as my dining patrons? haha. Unfortunately, I can't pronounce or remember the names of their dishes. David got a rice dish with grilled pork/chicken & shrimp skewers with a fried egg on top! (yummers)~ Brian got this spicy noodle soup that looked pretty tasty.Appetizers: fresh spring rolls & grilled beef wrapped in leaves. Also full of flavor. I got the grilled pork vermicelli bowl. :) It's a pretty small establishment like most ID joints. Ambiance, not much of one but again its more for the food quality & price! Pho is on tap for the next visit. :)
(4)Jean B.
I am seriously addicted to the food here. I have not had a single item that is not fantastic. The meals are delicious and affordable--you can eat here for 1/2 the price of Tamarind. It is small but the service is fast and friendly and tables open fairly quickly. Fresh Rolls are really good but it is the vermicelli noodle bowls I live for--try the combination. The sugar cane shrimp appetizer is also really something. Try this--you wont be sorry
(5)Frederic P.
Unpretentious settings, bargain priced, and tasty, yet not too inventive Vietnamese food and that's ok. I have to say I was wowed by the Cà TÃm Nuóng / Grilled lemongrass eggplant, which were tasty and garnished by a variety of herbs and savors. The Bun and duck soup we had were also convincing, well presented and well sized. We finished by flan, the way it should be, milky and with a nice caramel flavor (I would remove the ice cubes on it though, no need), and Chè Ba Mà u / three beans dessert, which was as good as in Vietnam. But if you go there, do yourself a favor, and try something else than Phô, leave it for Phô houses who are specialist and let it simmer as it should. be. A safe bet for authentic Vietnamese cuisine, ain't PF Chang!
(4)Quinn R.
Sketchy. That was my first thought when I saw the entrance for Green Leaf. Then I saw the "yelp loves us" and other stickers on the window, I was comforted. After all Michael E. and I were here because Yelp told us to go....and I don't know about you but I always listen to yelp. You basically walk directly in and find yourself amidst people eating at tables on either side of you. No "official" waiting area you just stand and wait for someone to grab you. I must say I was pleasantly surprised to find the inside of the restaurant remarkably clean, clean enough that I'll be bringing Gamze here (honestly that means a lot). In the end though its all about the food and IT....WAS....DELICIOUS. Best Vietnamese food I've ever had. Hands down. Green Leaf I'll see you again...soon.
(5)Prashanth N.
This place rocks.. Great great food.. I'm not a typical Vietnamese food eater, but this place is great. I had the combo Vermicelli, which is the grilled chicken, shrimp and pork. I also had the pork and shrimp spring rolls. The prices are very cheap... they also have chef specials everyday.. I will def go back to this place..
(5)Sonia G.
I love here! I always order the vegetarian vermicelli bowl and it never disappoints. I have sampled other menu items and they are also good. It is a nice change from the plethora of Chinese fare in the ID.
(4)Dolly D.
I have been here a dozen times and have ordered the beef congee or got it with their 7-course beef dinner everytime. Of all the times, only once the congee had too much ginger (which overpowers any other flavor), otherwise its been consistently good. The service is prompt and food varied and yummy. I'll keep returning.
(4)Melinda P.
The food wasn't bad, but it's hard to see past the kid at the next table who barfed all over the place after eating his lunch. Perhaps he was already ill when he came in, or he ate something horrific.. Either way the staff were dour about it, didn't say a word of apology or anything else to us at the next table, and the service was lousy. The bathrooms were dirty and the unsanitary feel, plus the barfing was too much to overlook!
(1)Chris D.
our favorite vietnamese place. tiny, always packed, but worth any wait. tables turn over quickly so your wait is never long. always order the bun dac biet - a noodle dish covered with various meats and vegi's. my wife asks for a small cup of their pho broth to toss over the top.
(5)Hanafi L.
I just keep going back! I'm a sucker for being treated like family. We counted 5 different servers who came to our table during the meal. Each one warmer than the last. Last night, we ate upstairs for the first time. Its definitely a bit spacier than the downstairs dining room, if you are a bit claustrophobic. One of the owners came over to ask if we wanted some wine and he was soon joined by his 4 year old daughter who attempted to put a pink "jeweled " tiara on her dad's head. He mentioned that he had an even better Cabernet than the one on the menu and offered to let us sample it first. I was surprised to find my favorite Malbec (Septima) offered. Definitely not the kind of service one expects in a little restaurant like this. His brother came by a little later to see how we liked the "Anchervy" soup, since it was his favorite. Actually, I preferred the Udon with shrimp & crab (real!) we had the other night. Fabulous. Some other taste treats worth mentioning are the mushroom and the egg plant appetizers, as well as those beautiful leafy spring rolls with the fried won ton skins in the center. I LOVE Tamarind Tree, but there's something about Green Leaf that inspires me to return frequently to try something new. Next up will be the 7 styles beef dinner that is $22.95 for 2! This place is a gem, not to be missed.
(5)Travis N.
Yep. This place is as good as the reviews suggest. I got the vermicelli combo bowl and likely made a fool of myself from devouring it so fast. Very good.
(5)Minh V.
I think this is as good as it gets in Seattle for Vietnamese food. Everything is pretty good here and the owners and staff are really nice and friendly.
(4)Wing M.
I really like this place. It's one of the best Vietnamese restaurants I've been to. They are not a cheap pho place---cheap pho places are awesome but sometimes you want something fancier---but also not super upscale and pretentious though their food may be just as good. We had some really good pork rice rolls, mushroom skewers, fried tofu and spring rolls. They were some of the best Vietnamese spring rolls I've had (in the US) and the pork rice rolls were definitely very tasty. The service was friendly and happy. The prices were very reasonable---they may seem a little on the high side because usually you get Vietnamese food for very cheap, but they were very good for the food we got.
(5)Dan u.
The spring rolls and fried wontons were both pretty tasty. I had the vermicelli bowl with lemongrass beef wrapped over pork and onion; the beef was very tasty, but the vermicelli noodles were undercooked and something in the veggie mix in the rest of the bowl just tasted a little "off." On the upside, they had no problem seating 8 people, and they didn't mind us hanging out chatting for a while even after we'd finished the meal and paid.
(3)Becca S.
When I want to convince people to eat Vietnamese or vegetarian food, this is where I take them. Their salted pepper tofu is the stuff dreams are made of. Not terribly fancy, but still great for a nice meal.
(5)Amélie B.
Still the place where I could go several times in the same week (and even on my own!!) for intense pleasure and I am sure to feel good each time I go!
(5)katie s.
Food hysteria = when you are so hungry for lunch that everything looks good on the menu, you can't hone in on satiating any specific cravings and then when you order, you get food envy and think that you should have ordered the udon noodles the woman at the table next to yours is slurping. And afterwards, you kind feel a little let down.. Anyhow, that's how I felt when I came in.. Yelpers have been raving about this place and I too will probably end up raving about it next time I go, but yesterday, I just had the food hysterics. The Pho was better than Than Brothers and the Bun was also better than What The Pho's.. (as I eat at those other two places waaay too much for my body to process out all the 'MSG') 2 steamin' hot teas 1 order of Pho (beef) 1 order of Bun combo (egg roll, pork, chicken, shrimp skewers + noodles) Total bill = 15.99 Not bad for a lunch expenditure I called to see if they were open during the great blizzard of Jan 28th and yes - in fact, there was hardly any snow in the ID. Thank god I went with someone whom I have no qualms about sharing my pho with (which is kinda wierd but when you have to, you have to).
(4)May N.
Very good food! Holy cow, this place has very good food! Having been raised on fine Vietnamese cuisine (thanks, Mom), I think I can tell good Viet food from mediocre Viet food. And let me tell you this place has great Viet food! I had the Hu Tieu Chay (veg) and the broth was perfectly seasoned with a good amount of tofu and veggie "ham" for protein. Instead of the usual water, you get hot tea! Just like that! You need to ask for water if you want it but the staff is quick and really nice. The place is small bordering on tiny so expect a wait when it's busy. And because when the place is packed, it stays packed, the volume reaches from lively to boisterous to almost loud. But it's because people are coversing and obviously enjoying themselves and the delicious food. I definitely intend on eating here again and again.
(5)Cecil J.
Amazing spring rolls and green mango salad...fast service, friendly, fresh fresh fresh food and we ate to our fill for $30 for two people...a friend had rec'd Green Leaf and last night we were in rapture eating there (pun intended)...delicious!!!! We will be back
(5)Jon N.
I flew in for the weekend to find me killer local foods. I decided to stop in here based on recommendations from fellow yelpers and Im glad I did. Really delicious home cooked Vietnamese food. I had Mi Hu Tieu and I was really impressed. This is a must try!
(5)Kieu-Chinh N.
I'm Vietnamese and of course I love Vietnamese Food. This restaurant is the best vietnamese restaurant ever in Seattle. I love everything there.
(5)Sarah M.
they make the great wonton spring rolls that always goes down oh so well. awesome. super star for that alone. great peanut sauce and a relaly great duck soup noodles dish. it was flavorful enough for me. thei pancakes were crispy and really good to eat. i savored each bite. loved the food... all in all a good place to hit up in the id!
(4)Leonardo H.
Finally went to this place after hearing about it oh, for the 1278th times from friends and lovers....and strangers. Whatever. All I'm gonna say is...don't wait any longer like I did. Just go. Do it. Eat their food. I dont think I even really need to write about the food here, there's 120 other reviews and I think you just have to go and try it for yourself. One thing though: Try the egg soda drink. It may sound gross, soda, condensed milk, and raw egg...but it's really creamy and tasty.
(5)Tommy K.
I've had some amazing Vietnamese food all over the country but there's nothing that quite beats this place. The only places that comes close would be PPQ in San Francisco and Quang's in Minneapolis. The crepe appetizer might be my favorite. The Pho is good but if you're coming to Green leaf for the first time do yourself a favor and try something else. I think the recommendations others have posted on here are all very good.
(5)Sara W.
Small but cozy. Emjoyed my noodles while on a trip to Seattle. The only bad thing is it's overcrowded.
(4)Ray Z.
Tamarind Tree vs Green Leaf Shootout! Tamarind Tree and Green Leaf are two of the most raved-about Vietnamese restaurants in Seattle. Recently, I ate at these places (on consecutive nights). In the great American tradition of pseudo-statistics and xcientific rankings, I present, for your consideration, the Tamarind Tree vs Green Leaf Shootout! Ambiance: Green Tree is nice; the interior is comfortable, simple and functional. The marble-top tables are a nice touch. But Tamarind Tree wins this category with a well-executed concept. Can you say "silk fixtures", "fire pit", "water feature" and "cast-concrete washbasins"? GL: ***, TT: *****. Service: Both restaurants provide prompt, attentive, knowledgeable service. Your orders show up in good time, and empty dishes are cleared promptly. Glasses and cups are seldom left empty. Both establishments get bonus points for owners who consistently cruise tables, schmoozing with customers. Overall, a dead heat. GL: ****, TT: ****. Menu: Green Leaf concentrates on the more traditional dishes - rolls and skewered appetisers, rice plates and vermicelli bowls. Tamarind Tree has these, but also more. The menu is deeper and more diverse. In addition, they have a full bar, while GL makes do with beer and wine. GL: ****, TT *****. Food: Greef Leaf really is as good as they say! Rolls are soft and fresh, salads are freshly prepared and adequately tangy, grilled items are well marinated and cooked just right. The noodle bowls and rice plates are nicely plated and the combo dishes are a good way to try a bit of everything. In contrast, Tamarind Tree seems to have lost a step. It used to be that their dishes could be counted upon to knock your socks off. EVerything's still good but it just seems like things are more hastily prepared, cooked or assembled. For instance, the grilled pork/escargot appetiser arrived pale and oozing juice when it should have been well seared with a firm, moist interior. GL: *****, TT *** Price/Value: On average, Tamarind Tree prices are a buck or two more for main courses (appetizer prices are about equal). For a nice dinner for two, expect to spend 20 to 35$ at Green Leaf (drinks excluded). The same at Tamarind Tree will set you back 25 to 45$. Cocktails at TT cost about $7, give or take a buck. Overall, the pricing disparity is perfectly reasonable, given the differences in ambiance, selection, etc. GL: ****, TT **** Other/Intangibles: Both restaurants are incredibly popular and thus, expect to wait for a table (TT takes reservations, but it's something silly like "before 5 p.m. only"). For both places, it used to be that death-knell Monday nights was a good time to visit, but this has changed. So if you find this review useful, I implore you to stay home on Monday nights. (Besides, don't you need to recover from the weekend?) GL: **, TT ** The Final Analysis: Oh come on! You weren't really expecting a clear winner, were you? Tamarind Tree is great for more fancy, more formal meals. Business meals, out-of-town guests and birthday dinners belong here. Green Leaf is comfortable, and gets the job done each and every time. Eat here for an excellent altenative to cooking or for casual meals with good friends. The bottom line - you can't go too far wrong with either! **This public service analysis was brought to you by the I. E. Toutalot Foundation. No $$, goods or services have changed (or will change) hands as a result of this review.
(4)Miss Y.
We loved their tomato crab rice noodle soup! Their duck salad is also quite amazing. All and all the food is quite good there. Too bad we haven't found a place like this in the bay area...
(4)Niall K.
Food was great, service was fast! Price cheap for good eats.
(4)Abby L.
This is one of our favorite vietnamese restaurants! It is palette friendly to adventurous and non-adventurous eaters alike, which is great. The vietnamese pancake with shrimp and pork is delicious with hints of coconut milk making it extra addictive. I've also had their spicy noodle soup (with fun stuff like blood cubes and tendon) which was on par or better than vietnam house and my friends really enjoyed their lemongrass chicken and beef vermicelli bowls. All in all, a great experience if you want Vietnamese food beyond pho - if I was just getting pho, I'd probably just go to Pho Viet, that was the only just okay thing I've gotten here.
(5)Ate R.
One star for cleanliness and place, one star for food presentation, one star for customer service and a half star for d food. Food was OKAY. I am not amazed! Will i ever come back again? Yes, if i was in the area but i won't drive 30 minutes or more to eat here!
(3)Joyce D.
This place was pretty good but maybe it was slightly over-hyped by other reviewers because I left not feeling like it was the best pho of my life. The boyfriend and I went for a simple bowl of pho but it sort of seems like most people go for different dishes, which may be amazing (i don't know). If you want to go try something that is unique or has a special twist to it, green leaf is probably a good choice. If you're just looking for a simple bowl of pho, maybe you can save yourself the trip out to the International District. Pricing was good for the ambiance, decor, and it's reputation. The service was pretty fast for such a busy place (but again, I think this depends on what you order). They could really make more money if they had smaller chairs... they have HUGE wheelbarrow like seats, which although comfy for being so hard, take up a lot of space. All in all, if you wanna try some good vietnamese food, come here! Be adventurous and try something new, it'll probably taste good. If you just want a bowl of pho, maybe go somewhere else.
(4)Lily H.
I'm not jumping on the bandwagon on this one. The beef pho was fine, though the portion was small (and no sizes to choose from, important if you burn up a lot of calories at the gym!). Ambiance quieter than at most International District restaurants. A good choice if you're looking for a place where you can actually talk to the other person without the din of the kitchen or staff (though other diners can sometimes be a problem). Small narrow space. Nice to have a small celadon cup of green tea to sip with meal, refilled without having to ask. Still prefer Tran Brothers, ambiance or no ambiance.
(2)Sam W.
I would make love to all of the delicious foods and all the sisters.
(5)Adam K.
I have nothing but good things to say about this restaurant. It is a great lunch place, it is a great place to go with friends and family for dinner. There are already a ton of reviews talking about how delicious the food is and how its a tiny little place so I won't bore you with that. To summarize: the Vietnamese food is splendid (maybe not even the best in all categories like Pho) and if you're going for dinner you'll probably have to wait on any weekend night. The one thing you should know about Green Leaf is that every single time I've been there the waitstaff and owner have always provided impeccable service. Not the robotic kind many American restaurants have extensively trained/programmed their waitstaff for, but the kind where you can tell everyone is pulling together and are happy to be working as a team to make the restaurant a success. Romantic notions aside, I've seen waitstaff tell patrons to stop hitting on other workers, and I've seen old white ladies make weird faces at the menu. There's something about a place where everyone wants to go that always attracts great people-watching. I guess all shapes and sizes come to a place in the ID when so much of the mainstream has raved about it. Thankfully it's not so accessible the Ugly American of lowest common-denominator convenience reigns supreme. Green Leaf is the kind of restaurant that makes you want to leave substantial tips in hopes you can come back and do it all over again.
(5)John C.
I was visiting Seattle for work. I was in bad shape when I came here. A night of boat races of boilermakers had me search out one of my favorite hangover cures, pho. Thank god for yelp. We got the vegetarian spring rolls and I ordered the pho. I couldn't for the life of me remember what my friend ordered. She was a newbie to Vienamese food and really liked the place. Food was fresh, cheap and very good. It's not my Turtle Tower in S.F. but it is one of the better places I've been to. My only complaint was the fat wench sitting next to us bitching to one of her co-workers. Keep your work issues at work. We don't need to hear that crap.
(5)douglas h.
Dinner I like it.
(3)Chris F.
1st time: had the anchovery soup and wasn't impressed. But I went back and had the combo bun (I think it's called Bun Dac Biet). It blew my mind. Well worth it at $9 or so.
(4)Chau L.
Great Vietnamese restaurant. The only downside is that its really cramped and claustrophobic in here, and there's usually a wait time.
(4)Seng S.
One of the best place i've been too. The setting was nice. I was surprise the pho was good too.
(5)Stephan R.
Service from the start was excellent. We were surprised by how tasty the food was. We never had before the dishes we ordered and weren't dispointed. It is a 4 stars instead of 5 because the seabass was a oily but still really good.
(4)jerry h.
Overall: I was blown away. To describe it in less than 10 words: Quality, Authenticity, Freshness, Value, Excellent Service, Beautiful Presentation... I'm from San Jose where I'm spoiled by authentic Vietnamese restaurants that are a dime a dozen and I found this place on Yelp. OMFG thank you yelpers. This place really made my trip to Seattle since it rained 90% of the time. What was ordered: Grilled Lemon Grass Mushroom on skewers: dang good, dang cheap Banh Bot Chien- fried flour cake w/ eggs... crunchy and heavenly.. Banh Mi Hap- Steam bread topped with seasoned pork, jicama wrapped with lettuce dipped in prepped fish sauce. .. authentic... Bun Thit Cha Gio (Combo Vermicelli Salad) - Everything about it was fresh down to the steaming egg roll Dessert: Sticky rice with Coconut Milk and bananas- done right, and an excellent finish. Total Bill: $32 bucks... for 2 entrees, 2 appetizers, dessert, and a Vietnamese Coffee.... Only con is the fact that the place is very small and was packed for a Wednesday night. I can only imagine how long it would be for a wait on Fri/Sat nights.... I'll definitely be back....
(5)Richard T.
My mom, my girlfriend and I went her a few days ago after hearing about it from some friends. Apparently the iron chefs have been here, so it must be good right? Definitely agree that the entry way is very cramped, we literally walked in and joined a few parties as they were eating. The wait for a table was about 5 minutes, so the awkwardness didn't last too long. My mom had the bun mam (anchovy noodle soup), my girlfriend had the pho tai (pho with rare beef) and I had the com dac biet (combo rice dish). My mom didn't like the bun mam at all, it wasn't flavorful and didn't include the correct vegetables to put into the soup. It wasn't traditional. My girlfriend said the pho was just okay, but the broth didn't have all the flavors that pho is capable of having, it was edible but not tasty. My rice dish was overly sweet. The fish sauce that was provided had a few more notches higher of sweetness than the traditional salty fish sauce. I guess some like it because it cancels out the fishy taste, but I'm all for traditional. I don't want my rice tasting sweet, fish sauce should be salty! The service was decent. The place was clean. The price is higher than other Vietnamese restaurants and the food doesn't correspond to the higher price. I would rather go down the street to Tamarind Tree or Vietnam House.
(3)Caroline C.
Best Vietnamese I've had outside of Houston! The space is low on ambiance but the food more than makes up for the lackluster decor. The spring rolls are amazing, as is the lemongrass chicken. Solid all around and no frills.
(5)kelly c.
Oh. Yes. This is what I'm talking about: Green Leaf. Totally yum. They may only have one vegetarian entree on the menu, but they do it up right and that's all this little tomato needs. I had the vegetarian vermicelli, without the fake ham (sounded sketchy. I do not miss meat, so I never feel the need to nosh on imitations of flesh.). This little number appeals to all of the taste buds with its snappy sprouts, fragrant cilantro and mint, caramel-crisp onions, grilled tofu, fresh tofu, nummy sweet-spice-sour sauce and firm-yet-comforting noodles. I just came from there, and am already planning my next trip.
(5)Janine S.
I haven't eaten in the international district in a lllooonggg time - sad days! I'm glad to say that this trek was full of good food. The bf and I came here on a Sunday evening for dinner and we were seated in about 5 mins. It's kind of hard to find (especially since their sign is missing an "R" and spells "G een Leaf"). Downstairs was full so we got to sit upstairs in the fancy big wooden chairs. Since the food prices were so cheap, we decided to get the Vietnamese spring rolls as an appetizer. Took the first bite and realized there was something crunchy in it - at first it was weird but the more I ate it, the more I liked it. I ordered #49 (chicken curry with vermicelli noodles) and the bf ordered #50 (crab and shrimp with udon noodles). My dish was so so - the chicken is tender and falls off the bone... but then you have to pick out the pieces of bone while you're eating. It was also a tad too sweet for my liking. The udon dish was really good - although I'm not a huge fan of udon, the noodles were soft, the broth was thick and hearty, and there were generous amounts of crab meat and shrimp. Their waiters/waitresses have energy like the duracel bunny... they just keep going and going and going. Service is fast and accurate (our waiter repeated our order after he took it). Although the place is small and somewhat cramped, the ambiance is nice - they have these big wooden chairs upstairs and their window is covered with stars. In the end our meal was filling, flavorful, and cheap: Appetizer + two entrees for less than $25 - maybe we should eat in the ID more often
(5)A C.
It's good and it's very crowded. The restaurant is not the biggest so get ready to wait when it's busy. The food is well done. Bun and spring rolls are very tasty. Very large portions. Good service and cold beer with my meal. Good times.
(3)Trevin C.
For Vietnamese food, look no further than Green Leaf. Countless restaurants in the ID are tasty, but it's rare to come across one that is also clean. They even have soap in the restrooms which is always optional in that part of town. I've been here half a dozen times and enjoyed my meal every single time. You really can't go wrong at this place.
(4)Kiki M.
Just. Eat. Here. Everything on the menu is great. Just get here before it gets too popular!!!
(5)Ruby D.
Best vietnamese food in seattle. I dream about the pancake. A must for those that love vietnamese food.
(4)Andrew D.
Great Pho. First visit to the restaurant was great. Quickly seated, quick service and the broth was delish. Had the fried duck Pho. Awesome. Only downside is the noise and sitting close to your neighbors. Not a biggies because I am used to it, but you need to be read for it.
(4)Wanugee N.
For good Pho or Vietnamese food at reasonable prices, no matter where in the world, you are often willing to survive greasy dirty spoons, poor inattentive service, and dicey neighborhoods just to get it. The Green Leaf solves most of these issues by providing a pleasant experiene with excellent food. They are actually a Vietnamese restaurant that has excellent Vietnamese food but is more like a Japanese Restaurant in presentation. Green Leaf has a variety of common and relatively inexpensive Vietnamese dishes. However, their signature dish is actually on the Khai Vi list (appetizers), and that is the Banh Xeo. Banh (cake) Xeo (sizzle) is a thin flour crepe like omelet fried to a nice crispiness and stuffed with shrimp, pork and bean sprouts. Sort of like a Indian Dosa or Chinese Egg Foo Young (but crispier). Great appetizer! Get a single Banh Xeo for $5.95 or two for $8.95. We tried the Pho Tai and Pho Ga. Unlike many lesser Pho places, Green Leaf's broth has a clean, fresh taste, not muddied by cheap attempts to make it taste better. It was tasty and good, and didn't leave you feeling overly thirsty or heavy afterward. An Ngon Qua! The Japanese sensibility I mentioned comes out in the clean decor and the dishes. Japanese style ceramic Udon bowls are used instead of the white plastic chinese style. The sprouts/mint is presented individually for each diner on Japanese style flat half dishes, something you might get in a sushi restaurant, instead of the single oval white chinese plastic plate more typical of cheap Pho. The decor is clean and in a bamboo theme, in light fixtures and waynescoatting, with a clean, non-greasy tiled floor and comfortable and thematic wicker chairs. The service is polite and attentive, with many smiles. The restaurant is small, though, so come at off times, although we came Saturday about 4pm and they were 2/3 empty.
(5)Alexandra S.
Greef Leaf is a gem in the ID, with very friendly, helpful, industrious staff, quirky decor, and scrumptious food. The pho soup is very aromatic, with lots or star anise and scallions. The pho tai is a great dish to start with there, but if you have the chance, I would also recommend the lotus root salad (also available with papaya and mango), by itself or with a protein. We had it with shrimp, which are cooked satay-style, shell on. If only they had sweet shrimp or spot prawns instead, you could eat the whole thing, head and all, but these shrimp shells were a little too thick. I figured out, however, that you can just peel it. Delicious! The stir-fried seasonal veggies with oyster and garlic sauce were very good, their fresh rolls and egg rolls never disappoint, but I think the best dish I have so far tried is the catfish, cooked in a clay pot. Heavenly! Have this over rice (watch for bones, tho) and you will not forget it. It's on the chef's specialties section, amusingly titled "claypot cashfish" :) Monsoon has this same dish on their menu, and it is likewise delicious, and mostly deboned. But otherwise the two dishes are very comparable -- in all but price! Both restaurants offer a great experience, however different. Despite the kind of janky feel to the place, Green Leaf really delivers on service, flavor, selection, and freshness. And bizarre decorations and furniture! It's pretty cheap, too. Green Leaf is the real deal: an authentic ID experience of truly tasty vietnamese cuisine!
(4)The-Hoa H.
After taking the bus to Seattle on an empty stomach all afternoon I was tired, cranky and just wanted something to eat. Of course my original plan to was set out to try something new. And although I have had Vietnamese food a million trillion zillion times before and still eat it every single day my instincts miraculously led me to a corner of Chinatown I have never wondered into nor would have ever really passed by and enter through a door that described the joint as tired and mundane from the outside view. The moment I walked through the door I was very pleasantly surprised.....There was hardly anybody walking outside on the sidewalks around any of these shops and from the looks of it I wouldn't have USUALLY wanted to pay to eat here.....but inside was....well.....almost packed? 'hole in the wall' theory initiate!...it best describes this place! From the outside it seemed tiny and cramped, yet inside it stretched a good 45 ft back through the back of the kitchen. There was a relatively good amount of spaced utilized in the restaurant, ambiance was there, definately a little more on the higher end quality Vietnamese food. One of the first things I noticed were the plaques on the wall displaying the acknowledgements and awards they had gotten from local newspapers and such. This was going to be a good experience I thought.... Service was well.....alright. It started out exceptional but as I sat down I struggled with an internal conflict between whether or not I should order in English or Vietnamese. Visiting a busy restaurant of your original ethnic background and speaking your native tongue always carries a risk....one it could either initiate a closer more cordial environment for diner and server....or two the server will think of you in the back of his/her mind as a little brother they will check up on and forget to voluntarily ask if there is anything they could get for you like they are doing at the other tables...and well yeah I took the chance and got the brother treatment -_____- kinda disappointed. Three people ran the front house, which might I remind you isn't that big. As I dined alone I paid attention to who they checked up on and said thank you and smiled to. I had to flag down the waiter twice....Maybe they were simply too busy in between serving customers and restocking items from the front door to the back kitchen....or maybe I was just being crabby because I was hungry and didn't really have much to eat before then which was 4 pm.....I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.... For ten bucks I ordered the special combo rice platter which had of course rice, grilled pork chop, skewer of shrimp and a little piece of grilled chicken and salad. Price was very very reasonable....Looking at the other menu items such as mussells for only 12 dollars was quite surprising to me...The portion was reasonable....Quality and taste were very good and from my observations of other tables all of these dishes were made meticulously by the two older women in the kitchen. Because of them I wanted to five star this place. Maybe on a second visit I'll update this review. When leaving the woman who I assumed is the owner smiled and thanked me while her husband, one of the three front house workers was busy cleaning tables. Might I add that she is one gorgeous woman. Lucky guy....good looking wife, mom and aunt in the kitchen that can cook the hell out of authentic Viet food at a fast pace, and a pretty solid business going on in a hole in the wall joint. I'll definately be back with friends and family.
(4)Son v.
Simply awesome..Food is very authentic, staffs are very nice, cozy environment. What else can u ask for..
(5)Jesse C.
My girlfriend and I just went and checked this place out based on the reviews from yelp and I have to admit ya'll were right. This place is excellent. We split 4 dishes and some how managed to finish them all even though it was a ton of food. I asked about the Goi tuyen vua salad which was labeled in english as 'imposed dry vegetable marinate w/vinegar' and the waiter said it was similar to a pickled vegetable and that he couldn't really explain it in english but that it was good. So we tried it and it was very good; crunchy sweet vinegared mystery vegetables with 3 perfectly grilled shrimp. The other intriguing dish we ordered was skewered pork and escargot meatballs. I pictured little meatballs on a bamboo skewer robata-yaki style but it turned out to be three large fluffy meatballs each on an individual lemongrass stalk "skewer". They were awesome with the ginger gnoc mam dipping sauce. I highly recommend them even if you don't normally eat snails. We also tried the 'Vietnamese pancake' because it was mentioned in all the 'best of' articles I read while standing in the entrance waiting for a table. The pancake was a light crispy egg crepe that tasted faintly of coconut milk with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts inside it. To eat it you cut a piece of the crepe and place it on the accompanying pieces of lettuce, top it with mint and cilantro, roll it up and dip it in fish sauce. I have had this dish at other Vietnamese restaurants and this one was definitely a cut above but the meatballs were better. Lastly we got the pho tai gan which was a solidly good dish as well. Savory well balanced broth. I'd eat again; not much else to say about it though. The service was friendly and efficient if only slightly frantic dealing with a full house on a busy Saturday night. The prices are excellent for the quality. If you don't stuff yourselves like we did you could easily get a meal for under $10 a person.
(4)Tommy S.
Definitely in my top 5 favorite places. Good prices, funky international district ambiance, and delicious food. I especially love the banana dessert - you may catch yourself licking the plate of every last drop of warm coconut sauce.
(5)Brad W.
You can't go wrong here. The interior decor is not as nice as Tamarind tree but the food is just as good, if not better. Most of the noodle soups are full of flavor although they are not for everyone. I would order the Vietnamese pancakes to start. Delicious.
(4)Ronnie M.
This has to be my favorite Vietnamese in Seattle. The food is flavorful and delicious, the lighting is right and the restaurant is relatively clean. My boyfriend and I always end up ordering the spring rolls, lemon grass chicken and the curry shrimp. Soooooooooooooo good! The flavors are just amazing. There can be a wait on weekend nights, so arrive early!
(5)L C.
I have been tasting Pho all over the city lately. I had high hopes for this place. So far, Tamarind Tree is at the top of my list. When I've told people that they've said "oh you must try Green Leaf." Well I did and was not impressed. I had the chicken Pho. The broth was very bland and the chicken was rubber. I actually had to spit it out as it was so tough I couldn't bite through it. What a disappointment. I like Pho Ga 900, 900 Rainier Ave S and Pho Bac on Jackson Street.
(2)anthony g.
What can I say that hasn't already been said about Green Leaf..... Yum. This is one of the few places I could visit any day of the week. I have been here many times since moving to Seattle. Its consistently been great eats. For my money its the best meal in town.
(5)Jack B.
I love this place for its intangibles. While you can argue endlessly over whether Green Leaf or Tamarind Tree is the best place to be a white person eating Vietnamese food, I love Green Leaf because it feels like home. At its core, it's exactly what I remember Vietnamese restaurants to be but it steps it up a notch with better decor and very friendly staff. I could ask nothing more from them.
(5)Chris F.
The best Vietnamese I've had in Seattle to date. Not only was the food really good, but the staff were really attentive on a busy Friday night. The manager was even kind enough to take a few pictures of our party.
(5)Andrea M.
I think they changed the menu. Combo vermicelli is like, #54??
(5)Adele T.
I don't get it...I just don't get it. The place was ehhh...OK. The spring rolls were good, but really it's spring rolls....can't go too wrong with it. The pho, was errr- decent. Sorry to go against the grain here, BUT I have yet to be amazed. I've been here twice, still waiting to see what the fuss is about. Plus the place was way too cramped. I swear my elbow kept hitting passing customers as they came by.
(3)Mai S.
I love this restaurant this is my new favorite place to eat vietnamese food. I ate there for the first time yesterday. Small little place in Chinatown across the street from House of Hong. I ordered Egg roll, Pancake, Bun Rieu, Grilled Pork rice Plate, and Steamed Sea Bass. Everything was SoOOO Good!!. The restaurant is also really clean which is really HTF because most of the restaurant I've been to in Chinatown are pretty dirty. The service was also really good, but it took while to get all the dishes.
(5)H K.
The saltiest bowl of pho ever. I've literally had a thousand bowls of pho in my life and this had to be the saltiest. It's pretty small too so I was still hungry after dinner. Went around 6pm on a Wednesday. Place was packed. Waited 10 mins. to order. Food came relatively fast (pho usually is). The place is too small. My GF had chicken vermicelli noodles and the chicken wasn't all that great. She seemed to think that the fish sauce was one of the best she's had. She's viet, so that's saying something.
(3)Kathryn C.
This was the most highly rated Vietnamese restaurant that I found in the Seattle area so I expected it to be great. Though it wasn't necessarily a bad meal, I felt like it was way over priced. We pretty much eat pho every week at home and we pay about $20, but at Green Leaf, we paid double! I'm not familiar with Seattle so I can't say if this is the best here or not, but comparing it to my experiences in LA and OC, its definitely on the bottom of my list.
(3)Dennis S.
Tonight, I had the fried duck noodle soup with mushrooms and Chinese brocolli. Yum. The restaurant is rather small and it's always packed with customers. I've never been disappointed there and the service is good.
(4)Alex B.
I just had dinner here with a friend, and it was a fairly excellent experience. Also be aware that neither of us are super knowledgeable about Vietnamese food, but hopefully this was just the first trip of many. In any event, we split an appetizer of fried dough panckaes (which are filled with eggs and scallions), he had some sort of Beef Vermicelli (don't remember exactly), and I had the Combo Pho. The appetizer was pretty good, though I'll try something else next time, and my pho was quite delicious. The noodles were very good, the beef was very soft, and I quite enjoyed the experience of eating. I topped it off with a coconut juice, and theirs is very good. They do lose a star, howevever, for service. Our orders were taken quickly enough, but the appetizer and drinks did not come out until about 5 minutes after our meals did. Which was annoying. However, the food was excellent, and I will definitely be returning here to try out more dishes!
(4)Michael E.
Looks shady from the outside, but let's be honest, it's amazing. This is one of your standard Yelp gems. We yelpers live for these spots. And they know how to keep us happy. They were more than happy to make all the menu items splittable so Quinn R and I could enjoy the full spectrum of the menu. Eat it all, go back, and repeat. Apparently there is upstairs dinning as well, newly opened.
(5)Janel P.
Let's be real, I eat a lot of Vietnamese food so Ibe had good and bad. Saw all of the great reviews for this place and it did not disappoint. It was the best bún I've ever had. The fish sauce was so tasty and the fresh summer rolls were simple but had lots of flavor. Price point is low but portions are huge.
(5)Thuy D.
They really need to clean up this place. The whole place smells like back up sewage. My Bun Mang Vit was simply not good. Rice noodle was hard, bamboo tasted sour, not to mentioned the duck was so dried. I not surprised that this place violated all the hygiene practices. Raw meat for egg rolls was left out in the open....
(1)Emily W.
We showed up with 10 people unannounced and were quickly seated upstairs. Ordered chicken congee. Came in a bowl and a side cold salad with chicken and cabbage. It was tasty! Air conditioning was more than sufficient as the day was warm out. I love the odd chairs and benches.
(4)Maria Y.
I was in the International District with some friends and hungry, with a preference for pho. My friends had been to Green Leaf before and recommended it, saying that while the prices are a bit higher than the more bare bones places, the food is good enough to make it worth it. So we walked the few blocks from Uwajimaya to here. While the outside of the restaurant is unassuming (garbage bins block a large chunk of the sidewalk), the window is covered in stickers containing various accolades (including Yelp ones). Immediately upon entering, you are greeted with a stained-glass mural of a rather abstract reclining topless lady. (Don't worry, it's tasteful.) The seating area is small, but the lighting and overall atmosphere is more pleasant than some of the more bare bones pho places. The seats are wooden. There's also an upstairs seating area, though it was being occupied by a large group when I was there. The restaurant has air conditioning. We were seated near it and it was actually a bit on the cold side, but this made me appreciate the hot pho more! Three of us ordered pho and one ordered the combo vermicelli bowl. I had the combo pho (pho dac biet, $9.95) which comes with a bit of everything. Only one size of pho is available, which is probably about equivalent to a medium at places that offer different sizes. Each table has a pot of red chili sauce, which I thought tasted fresh and flavorful. I've found that I really prefer the taste of this in pho to just adding jalapenos. Sriracha and hoisin sauce are also delivered to the table once you order along with the usual pho additions (sprouts, basil, lime, jalapeno). The sprouts were also served with a small dish of a thin, sweet-ish dressing/sauce that I think may have actually been intended for the vermicelli bowl but we all used a bit of it while snacking on the sprouts. I really enjoyed my pho. It arrived with what appeared to be some fresh-ground black pepper on top. All the meat tasted good, and the broth was flavorful without being overly sweet or salty. I added about two spoonfuls of the red chili sauce which got it to a pleasant but not overwhelming level of heat. The meatballs were not overly spongy, and there was a generous amount of tripe (which for me is a good thing). This was my first time having Vietnamese coffee ($4), and I really enjoyed it! But it was just served in a mug and pre-stirred rather than having the whole filter system there, which my friend told me about as something fun about ordering Vietnamese coffee. I thought the portion was on the small side (just a standard-size coffee mug). But it tasted delicious -- very nutty and rich, almost like one of the after-dinner coffee drinks containing alcohol that you can order with dessert at some restaurants. The restroom was clean, and actually fairly nice inside. The service wasn't quite as good as the food. We weren't quite ready to order the first time the waiter asked, but then it took him a long time to come back. Also, the coffee didn't arrive until after the main dishes. My partner, who had ordered the vermicelli bowl, wasn't given utensils and had to flag the waiter down to ask for chopsticks. Water refills were not provided unless we asked. The restaurant was fairly busy, though, so it's forgivable. People with to-go orders, and a delivery guy from Bitesquad, came through, and they don't really have anywhere to wait other than in the narrow aisle between tables (the to-go orders are kept at a table towards the back of the room). This led to me feeling a little claustrophobic. By the end of the meal the wooden chair was getting kind of uncomfortable. Overall, I enjoyed my visit and plan on returning if I'm in the area. For $4, though, I probably wouldn't order the Vietnamese coffee again. They have some fresh fruit sodas that sound worth trying, so I might get one of those next time.
(4)Tan Lo S.
This place is a mix between a 3 and a 3.5, going on 4. Let me explain. This place makes good food. Food is pushing out the kitchen like a machine thanks to eat24, bite squad and any other online food delivery service in Seattle. They make it a standard to push food out fast and still packed with flavor. However the price just doesn't justify the food and the serviceis hit or miss. Not only that, they ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS mess up my online order. I have ordered online thrice now, and each time they keep giving me meat instead of seafood, especially when I cannot eat meat for certain religious practices. This makes me frustrated because online order gives you the # just like menu in person, yet they always give me the wrong food and that's just a waste of money, especially if I can't eat it. Positive notes: - i love their com dac biet. Lots of flavors. But it's kind of small for a $10 plate. You get a small chop (1/2 bone, half meat, fools me every time), thin slices of chicken and 3 shrimp with an egg. It's yummy grilled but let me say it's pricey because you can get a com dac biet for 7-8 bucks anywhere else, with the same flavor profiles. You can even get pork rice plates at a viet deli or stores for $5. -their seafood (#42) egg noodle (dry style) is tasty. Has a rich salty flavor but not overly salty. Gives some variety of seafood (squid, fish ball and shrimp). I like it dry because it taste better like a stirfry. But otherwise it's a small portion that barely covers the takeout box bottom for $10. Again, decent flavors but for $10? It should be more like $7. -their spring rolls are okay. Nothing to rave about but I appreciate the crunchy, rolled egg wrapper. My fave part of spring rolls. But for the price (5.99), you're better off making it on your own. They give you lots of lettuce but no herbs or beansprouts. Their other dishes are really good. The bun bo hue, the banh cuon is good but still a small portion vs. the deli which is half the price for the same portions. Thier bun noodles are the only huge portions I've seen. All of them have the same fish sauce vinegar sauce. More sweet than anything else. nonetheless, I think the food still taste like authentic viet food. Things to note: super super small entrance. Awkwardly small pathway to the cashier station for pick up. Sometimes it is so packed it's awkward when people are standing next to tables where people are eating. Lmao what if someone farts by your table? That's something to consider since it's so cramped. That is probably the most annoying thing here. But they have lots of menu items which is nice. But costs a few dollars more and parking sucks!
(3)Pauline T.
I'd love to give this restaurant 5 stars but I want to go back to really get a good feel for the place. Just went there for lunch and it was super busy! Tiny restaurant but they use their space well. Smells like fish sauce (Tagalog: patis) when you walk in but on a super hot day like today their air conditioning was on point. Immediately was seated but could see that they were very busy and had people waiting to be seated and to be given their checks. My friend and I shared the green papaya salad with grilled shrimp which was refreshing! Just the right amount of seasoning and dressing. We both ordered beef vermicelli bowls- mine the traditional lemongrass and his wrapped in some sort of leaf. Both were very delicious. I want to come back to try more of their menu items and see how much different they are than other good Vietnamese restaurants I've tried before.
(4)Davinci L.
Green Leaf showcases some of the finest Viet food that Seattle has to offer. Several of the travel guides I researched showed Green Leaf as the to-go place! As with most holes in the wall-type restaurants, I had some expectation of how good the food would be. Yes it looks run-down on the outside. Yes it's near Chinatown. Entering, you're immediately greeted by what looks like a piece of Asia... with oriental decor everywhere. Great for the whole ambiance that people go for. Service is quick: we got our food only 5 minutes after ordering. Parking is easy -- lots of metered street parking available. (++++) Pho dac biet: their pho with everything in it is great, soup base is just salty enough and flavorful. Portions are good and they give you plenty of meat. (++) Vermincelli salad: decent, lots of fish sauce, but not exactly my pallate since it's more dry, but the egg rolls they included in this were gooddddd. Overall, delicious and would recommend to anyone looking for Viet food in Seattle.
(4)John O.
Greenleaf is another of our favorites that we never got around to posting about. Along with Tamarind Tree, its been one of our earliest Vietnamese restaurant loves. Over the years, we have never had anything there that we were not happy with. We thought that the dishes where they shined the brightest were the bun's, rices, and the noodle soups - especially with duck. The main purpose of this visit was to try Bun Mam. We are planning our first trip to Vietnam for next year and this was on many of the "must eat" lists that we gathered. Normally we never would have ordered this because the fermented fish sauce that dominates has a strong, off-putting odor. It did, but like kim chee, after the first bite, you don't notice the odor anymore. The broth was very bold and flavorful, loved the squid and shrimp and pork belly, and eggplant was surprisingly fitting. Bun Mam will for sure stay on our trip list.
(4)Joe H.
I will revisit here one day and try other dishes, but today I tried their fried duck bone-in noodle soup (Mi Vit Tiem). Duck was very tender and perfectly seasoned. Skin wasn't feel quite "fried" but it was probably because it was served dunked in the soup. The noodle was definitely fried and thin. It was not overcooked! Super crispy! There wasn't anything special about the soup but it was slightly sweeter than what it looked like. There was absolutely zero repulsive duck smell detected in the soup. They take Visa and Mastercard. Recommended. Not hard to find at all - I am not sure why other yelpers say this. It's between S. Jackson and King and 8th.
(4)Deena L.
Ordered the com dac biet! It was delicious. The pork was cooked perfectly! The marination was sweet and savory. Best com dac biet I've ever had. At first I was skeptical about this place because the outside looked a little sketchy, but the food really blew me away.
(4)Leah G.
Pho and vermicelli bowls were both packed with flavor, perfect sized portions, and all around delicious! Happy that I consulted yelp prior to picking a lunch spot.
(5)Jessica F.
I tried the Fried Duck Noodle and Spring Roll, and really enjoyed both! The Fried Duck Noodle actually tasted like duck, not reused from their beef broth. The shitake mushrooms were decent too. Not too hard or soft, and actually tasted like shitake mushrooms (I am a shitake mushroom fan and duck fan). The only thing that I wish for was to have the fried duck not completely submerged in the soup. It would be great if the duck had the crispy skin from frying, really adding to the noodle as a whole. The Spring Roll was great. I think it had something like deep fried soft shell crab legs in the center. You might think that the roll would break apart because it was so thick, but it was wrapped in a way that wasn't way too chewy or too loose. The sauce was also very balanced, which also goes great with some of the hot sauce (not the noodle hot sauce). Finally, I tried their flan which I should have known would be old. Not much to say about it other than it's a typical flan, luckily not too sweet. Unfortunately too old. They're open late, not that I would go past midnight, but that's definitely a plus for a restaurant like this.
(5)Shino O.
The lotus salad with grilled shrimp, head on, was unique - not something I can easily find in other restaurant so I appreciate the experience of chomping down its shell, soft innards ,and crispy legs... it's a delicious shrimp cracker on a skewer! I loved marinated flavor too! What I couldn't quite love that much was the over processed salad: I would use less sweet-salty dressing, and would like seasoned fried onion crunchy. Other elements of dining experience added up. The entrance is quite small and cute, it made me feel like I walked into a cozy rabbit hole. Interior, cheap and old-school, clearly emanates long history of this humble joint. Other customers are obviously frequent visitor they order things without seeing the menu or know where the bathroom is. All in all I enjoyed this quick meal joint.
(3)Kathleen M.
They're at it again...just rec'd this from the health dept. Green Leaf Vietnamese Restaurant located at 418 8th Ave S, Seattle was closed by a Public Health food inspector on July 1, 2015 at 11:00 am due to the following food safety violations: Poor personal hygiene practices, hand washing and bare hand contact with ready-to-eat food Hand washing facilities not working and inaccessible Foods not protected from cross-contamination Improper cooling of potentially hazardous foods Potentially hazardous foods at unsafe temperatures Inadequate facilities to control temperature of potentially hazardous food, cold holding SAVE YOUR BELLY!!!
(1)Vivian H.
Get the pan fried rice cake with egg! The rice cakes are perfectly fried and the scrambled egg is nice and soft. Yum. My bun bo hue was perfect. I loved the broth and there was a very good serving of meat in it. The bowl looks huge but a lot of it is just soup. Seven courses of beef here is only $30 for two people. I haven't had it here yet, but that is an awesome deal.
(4)Kyle C.
There are few good Asian restaurants in Seattle Chinatown. This place is okay, since I was a little disappointed about the pork (too dry). Otherwise can visit again.
(3)Kendra C.
As much as it pains me to give this place two stars, the service was terrible. I literally stood at the front of the restaurant for 5 minutes before someone acknowledged my presence. I was pretty much ignored by all the staff. Finally, I was seated and waited for my friend to come join me on the second floor. After waiting around 10-15 minutes, I literally had to stand up and flag someone down to have our orders taken. I noticed other people were properly attended to and even had their waters refilled. The food came out really fast and it was delicious. I got the pork stir fry with egg noodles and it was amazing. I literally licked my plate. However, I literally had to flag a waiter down 15 minutes after we finished to get the bill and then had to flag him again to take our cards. To sum it up, the service was awful. The food was really tasty but I will never return here.
(2)J D.
Your review helps others learn about great local businesses. OMG.....THEIR FOOD ROCKS! They came to our home and catered our special anniversary party for 60 people! They set up, served, and cleaned up. Every single person was raving about the food. Fantastic! For example we had veggie spring rolls, grilled eggplant, spicy fried lemongrass chicken, grilled short ribs, etc. etc. Many went back for seconds! And Peter, the owner, was so easy to work with, and so sweet. He made it a pleasure to work with his restaurant. Thanks. I definitely suggest you have them cater your next celebration! Jackie
(5)Young Soo N.
I think they have the best spring rolls. The pho is also very good. This location is always packed and its small inside, they have an upstairs as well, but still small. You're sitting so close to everyone. The 1st ave location is huge, lots of room, they have a bar as well and a huge screen for the games.
(5)Craig M.
Fantastic. Passing through town. Lemon grass shrimp plate , short ribs were both fantastic . Fun place. Always nice when everyone is smiling and laughing.
(5)Ninette C.
Green Leaf has been around for forever and it's an old favorite for a good reason. I came for the second time recently. It was my first time in years. We started off with my favorite: shrimp banh xeo. We ordered two for the 4 of us to share and it was HUGE! I think this is enough for 6 people to have an appetizer. If you aren't too hungry, 1 for an entree is enough as well. At $13 for 2, it's a pretty good deal. This was delicious and flavorful. For my entree, I had the anchovy soup with seafood and rice noodles. This was also very flavorful. My dad really liked his shrimp fried rice. One of our friend's pho order got mixed up. We sent it back. It came back and instead of combination, it was all tendon. She was kind of sad about that but we all agreed the food is good. For a little more peace and quiet, get seated upstairs and settle in for yummy comfort food!
(4)irina t.
Best Vietnamese vermicelli bowl I've had. The restaurant is clean and really pleasant. Get the combo vermicelli bowl and an app and share it in two, it's a really big portion.
(5)Trent N.
awesome Vietnamese food, got the pork chop with fried egg. Simple, fresh ingredients and good service.
(5)Ben T.
Hm, toughie. I have to stay unbiased on this one and go with my stomach (gut). The food wasn't stellar. It was average! Slightly above average perhaps? Either way, me being the huge vietnamese foodie I am, just didn't walk away impressed. Green Leaf isn't difficult to find if you're well equipped with tech, but there isn't going to be a big sign not even a small sign of the restaurants name. Pretty small place and definitely cozy. All the waiters are super friendly and continuously check to see if you need anything! It's awesome! 5 stars for the service! But to the important part and why we're all here... The food. The fresh spring rolls just didn't leave a BAM in my mouth that I expected. The pho broth just didn't have that zesty taste you'd want out of a hot bowl of soup on a cold day. No hate against the place, but I think I'd go a couple blocks up to Tamarind Tree or Vietnam House for my Vietnamese food fix :3
(3)Mytoan N.
One of the best bun rieu (tomato noodle egg, tofu, pork's blood) soups i've ever eaten!
(4)Cindy N.
Don't judge a book by it's cover. This restaurant probably gives off the worst first impression by the small ass tables and worn-out decor on the outside but trust me, they know Vietnamese food. We ordered the escargot and eggroll appetizers ,and for entrees we just picked a bunch to share. Overall, I had enough to realize that I would be back soon. The food here is delicious, and not ridiculously over-priced. Two thumbs up on that! I'm not going to lie though, the small space drives me nuts, but you'll be so blown away by the food, you'll forget about it.
(4)Sho I.
One of the better Vietnamese places I've been to!!! So in Chinatown there's maybe less than a handful of Vietnamese places (there's more in the Little Saigon area on 12th and Jackson though), and Green Leaf is probably one of the better ones. I remember coming here from the airport as I was returning from my Europe trip and missing some Vietnamese food haha. I'm ALL FOR Vietnamese places that offer more than just pho, and Green Leaf does just that. Besides their pho, which is pretty well flavored and has all the fix its that pho is supposed to have, I also enjoy banh xeo (Vietnamese crepe), bun thit nuong (the combo vermicelli with charred barbeque pork), and the sugarcane shrimp with rice vermicelli. You can also tell the green ingredients (e.g. lettuce, herbs, and bean sprouts) they use are fresh. The place is not that big, so I would not recommend coming here with a large group. I've noticed that Green Leaf gets packed on Seahawk game days, so be careful when thinking about coming here on a Sunday afternoon/evening. Parking is scarce too on Sundays because people who never come to Chinatown park in Chinatown on game days, but that's another type of beef I have with Seahawk fans that I'm not going to open the can of worms here :)
(5)Alison C.
I love Vietnamese food and Green Leaf is one of my faves. The food is like what you would find in some authentic hole in the wall place, but in this case it's a cozy, well decorated little restaurant. I usually stick to an ordering rotation of the banh xeo, bun rieu, bun bo hue, and (always) the spring rolls. Everything is always so fresh and put together. The portions are very generous and I consistently leave with either a full belly or delightful leftovers. Service is quick and concise, but I've never really taken the time to ask about the menu so I can't say much more beyond that. If you're into Vietnamese food or are looking for some exciting textures and flavors to try, stop by Green Leaf!
(5)Nick H.
I'm not great judge of Vietnamese cuisine but everything we had here was quality. Fresh ingredients, well prepared, and fairly priced. My gf (who is Vietnamese) said everything was good (though she's had better) and we were generally happy with the meal. Definitely worth a stop in if you are in Belltown or the International District.
(4)Wendy M.
Best spring roll ever bite into crunchy delicious lettuce, pork, noodles and yummy peanut sauce! Pho is perfect broth noodles vegetables and meat! Very consistent Vietnamese food alwsys
(5)Josh T.
The service here is definitely better than most Vietnamese places, though the service at the Belltown location is a little better. The vegetarian pho is lacking flavor but I don't think this is really a pho place, its for other Vietnamese dishes. Very generous portions, try the escargot!! And the sour plum soda is great to go with spicy dishes.
(3)Z E.
This restaurant has just reopened after having been closed by the health department. is.gd/XS74JJ
(1)D Z.
Yum! Yum! Yum! Tasty soup and super affordable price;)
(4)Chau D.
When my parents retire and move back to Vietnam I will be okay with it because I can come here to Green Leaf and get food just as good. This place is definitely a great alternative to Tamarind Tree. Try their Goi Cuon, Banh Xeo, and Bun Bo Hue. You will not be disappointed. No complaints from anyone at our table. I hear the Com Suon, Duck Soup, and Spicy Lemongrass Chicken was good. PROS: Good food, good service, good for vegetarians, and cozy CONS: Parking can suck in the I.D.
(5)Christopher S.
Update - Food still excellent, service very good. The big difference this time is the SMOKING hot waitresses. Wow! All three were attractive, and 2 of the 3 were drop dead gorgeous. Love the atmosphere (and the hot waitresses), love the decor (and the hot waitresses) order was taken promptly, food came out quick, the waitresses were really hot and always quick to refill out tea or ask if we needed another beer. Needless to say, I will be back, tomorrow, when they open for lunch. And the next day. And the day after that. Oi.
(4)Jason W.
I have dine there many times (5 occasions) and they have never let me down. My reviews are simple and easy to read. 1. Escargot Soup/Bun Oc - 5/5 Flavored just right (lightly) and you can taste the flavor of the escargot. It was fantastic and very flavorful. The escargot is minced up with ground pork, the tomatoes base broth was delicious. 2. Lotus Root Salad with Shrimp/Goi Ngo Sen - 5/5 OMG, the shrimp was grilled to perfection, it compliment the lotus root nicely. The added deep fry onions gave it a sweet kick that compliments the fish sauce nicely. 3. Catfish Claypot/ Ca Kho To - 4/5 This is a very nice tasting dish, sweet, salty, and a strong ginger presence in it. However it was a bit oily. 4. Duck Boneless Salad/ Goi Vit - 4/5 Man, the duck was cook perfectly, the salad was okay...It was the duck that won me over with this particular dish Service - 4/5
(5)Rettir S.
We were quickly seated on a busy Thursday night and ordered some fine appetizers neither of us had before and one entree. The server said the one with the coconut milk and fish sauce over spaghetti-like rice noodles was her favorite. It was great! And we walked out spending thirty bucks. That's eating good in the neighborhood.
(5)Lisa V.
I really dont understand wth the hype is about??? Sitting next to a dirty kitchen is not very appealing. I expected to have authentic Vietnamese food by reading the reviews but when I got there it was more american fusion than authentic. Thumbs down.
(1)Anna N.
Great Service! So, we found this place on yelp & decided to try it. The decor is not very impressive. We were seated upstairs so I didn't get a chance to see if the main floor had better decor or not, but I can say that the second floor isn't that appealing to the eye, even w/it being dim in there. The place is small & kinda old so I can see why it's not very elegant or modern. We had a party of 10 & we are all vietnamese so I would like to think we kinda know what we are talking about when it comes to Vietnamese food. We started off with the Goi Xoai, Banh Bot Chien, Banh Xeo & Goi Cuon for our appetizers. All four were pretty good, even though I kinda thought the flour to the banh xeo was pretty thick. For my main entree I had the Cari Ga w/french bread. It was pretty sweet, but that's how i like it. My friend had the Bun Cari & it was REALLY sweet & so we asked to order something else because it was too sweet for her. The waitress was kind enough to not charge us for the Bun Cari, even w/out us requesting it....nice. Overall, the food is good, but kinda on the sweet side. We received great service and they were very accomodating. I'm not sure if i'll be coming back, but i did think the service was really good, even if its a lil' more spendy than most Vietnamese places.
(3)Minji L.
Vermicelli dishes all the way. The chicken pho never disappoints.
(5)Stephen Y.
Shockingly surprised at the quality and authenticity of the dishes at Green Leaf. I remember visiting Seattle back in 2002 and having pho at some random "chain" and asked them for some bo tai chanh (excuse my spelling) and they just laughed at me and asked me where I was from... SF!! I'm so spoiled in SF.... but now you can be spoiled too in Seattle. Green Leaf brings the taste of Vietnam to Seattle and they do it with quality ingredients and authentic dishes.
(4)Ce Y.
The four stars is somewhat biased from prolong Bun Bo Hue deprivation. Its been about 2 years since I had an authentic version of this particular spicy pork/beef noodle soup in Sacramento. So green leaf is getting my 4 stars for the first place to come close in about 2 years. I agree with some of the other yelpers that the broth is a little "different" than how it should be, but it was good none-the-less. The spice level was perfect for me and I am pretty wussy when it comes to eating spicy. They got the chunk of pork leg correct and the pork blood was awesome! One of the several beef slices was a bit chewy but otherwise good. Personally I liked the added shrimp cake. But the pork cake tasted like it was old but hadn't gone bad yet (had that adjacent foods in the refrigerator smell) yes I have a super dog nose so maybe most might not notice it. It hit the spot for my Bun Bo Hue crave and I am now a happy camper! Stay tuned, we'll be heading back to try more stuff next time.
(4)Rossana Y.
A Vietnamese restaurant that serves good pho...AND good Vietnamese dishes as well? Yes, this is the place. It's a little hidden so it may be hard to find at first, but you'll see the sign on the front. It's also a bit small inside and the tables and chairs are tiny, so it's best not to have big groups. Our order came out super fast. I had the Vermicelli combo that came with chicken, pork, skewed shrimp, fried egg rolls, veggies and fish sauce on the side. It came in a really big bowl and it was very refreshing. My friend had the bowl of pho and the broth tasted pretty good...maybe even better than Than Bros. The spring rolls were delicious, and the crispy wonton in the center made it nice and crunchy! Yummy. Our total came out to be around $22 so it's pretty cheap! I'll come back here to try their rice dishes next time (if you look at the pics you'll know why). Seriously, this place is good.
(5)J M.
Amazing food and by far the best Vietnamese food I have ever eaten. Very surprising what you get when you walk in. Being next to the labor union, it feels a bit 1970s walking in, but it is a different world inside. The bar is top notch and the staff is very friendly. Couple that with amazing food and you simply cannot go wrong.
(5)Lawrence L.
The first thing that struck me when I arrived in the quiet almost-abandoned International District evening was just how sketchy the neighbourhood was. Then as I entered a surprisingly busy restaurant, greeted with the wafts of Pho spices, I knew this place had to be good. It seems to say the neighbourhood didn't empty out, but rather crowded inside this diner. The decor was really neat with big wooden traditional-looking furniture as if it was picked out of rural Saigon. We had the Bò 7 món (7 courses of beef). The servers were all very helpful and were like tour guides enthusiastically telling us about the journey that we were about to embark upon. The first course was a beef salad, which was essentially beef cole slaw. We had also ordered the Green Leaf salad and the Lotus root salad, both very interesting salads topped with Barbecued prawns. The second course was a hotpot of round steak which we had to cook and wrap ourselves in rice paper. A little messy but delicious all the same, especially due to the generous portions of purple basil. The servers often came around and reminded us to use the dipping sauce and to not overcook the meats in the pot. The third course was a plate of three different grilled meats. And finally a delicious congee-like Pho-soup with beef. The thing about the 7 courses of beef is that I only counted 4, and if I were to count the third plate as 3 courses, that only makes 6. So I'm not sure where my beef ice cream went, but I'll take off a star instead.
(4)Tina P.
I have been here three times in the last month! It's that good :) However, I can only review the noodle soup dishes. Since I have never deviated from the bowls of very well seasoned soup! The soup comes out piping hot, which is a must. This is hard to find at other pho restaurants. I always find my soup luke warm at best :( But Green Leaf does it right! Hot and steamy. In addition, they have the best vegetarian noodle soup in my opinion. (however, please note... you must order the Hu tieu hoac mi chay. If you order "Vegetarian pho" you will get something different) I am not vegetarian but often find myself not in the mood for beef soup. So I opt for tofu and veggies. But most veggie noodle broths are bland and boring. While Green Leaf's vegetarian soup still has a huge kick of flavor without meat because it's loaded with tons of green onions and garlic. I would also suggest asking for the clear rice noodles when trying the vegetarian pho. it makes the dish! Besides the food hitting the spot. The wait staff rocks! They are attentive and checks in often but not TOO often. The only downside is the that the restaurant is a bit small and over done on neon flowers and window decals. But come for the food and not the decor and you're set!
(4)Sin T.
Don't judge a book by it's cover! This place looks shady and dirty from the outside but the inside is very nicely done. It's small but it's always packed. One of the best places to get Vietnamese food in Seattle...I recommend everything. :)
(4)Gorman E.
I always get the fried duck noodle soup with brocolli & mushrooms...it was Excellent. The restaurant is rather small but it has great service and the waitress is very quick + friendly. The waitress had great recommendation if you have trouble picking off the menu. Ever since Anthony Bourdain from no reservations came here to eat...this place have been more busy and picked with customers.
(4)Derrick V.
Excellent, reasonably priced Vietnamese fare served in a contemporary setting in Seattle's International District. Most of the patrons during our Friday night dinner were non-Vietnamese but I'll attribute that to Seattle's foodie community. We shared the Banh Xeo, probably the best cooked example I've had in a while. The crepe was perfectly crispy and browned, which contrasted nicely with the sprouts, shrimp and pork inside, and the lettuce wraps. My only gripe was the minimal protein inside, but it left room for my bowl of soup. I tried the Bun Bo Hue, and it was pretty damn good, probably just as good as Bun Bo Hue An Nam in San Jose. The broth here was definitely spicier, with a very bold lemongrass flavor. All the meats (beef slices, pork hock, tendon), pork blood, pork cake were nicely cooked, which showcased their full flavor and texture potential. Garnishes were the standard julienned banana blossoms, basil, jalapeno, and lime. If I want Vietnamese food in Seattle next time, I'd definitely visit this spot again.
(5)Christopher P.
Service was great! Unexpectedly had a guest, from France, so the waiter politely explained things, made a recommendation, and not only was she pleased by the food but we were BOTH impressed that such a place could be there, in an unassuming exterior!
(4)Kevin C.
Green Leaf seems like a name more fitting for a medical marijuana clinic, and the food is so great that I wouldn't be surprised if some of the 'herbs' floating in my pho came from the garden of Ms. Mary Jane. This place is definitely the gateway drug to a lifetime habit of adoring Vietnamese food. The pho was a beautiful blending of the succulent beef and Asian herbs, and the broth was really singing with clarity and depth. The actual noodles were a wonderful texture that paired well with the simmering bean sprouts. The infused basil added just the right overtone of 'grassy' brightness, and the lime really brought everything together. But the real testament to the Green Leaf's quality is that the next day, when I was heating up the leftover pho for lunch, the broth had completely congealed, clearly indicating the care with which the broth was made, and the high quality of ingredients used... A quick hit of Green Leaf could be all you need for a stroll through a winter wonderland of flavor. I know it was enough for me.
(5)Andrea S.
Had a great dinner here last weekend with a group of friends. We started with the spring rolls which were fresh tasting and delicious with a great dipping sauce. My friends ordered the pancake which looked awesome and they completely finished off. For dinner most of us got noodle bowls with a variety of meats (pork for me, veggies for one friend, etc). Again they tasted really fresh and light. My pork was cooked perfectly and added a nice grilled element to the dish. One of my dinner companions had the fish cooked in a clay pot (one of the specials) - he thoroughly enjoyed it and my mouth was watering looking at it alongside a side of rice. The menu is nicely varied and I'll be back to try out some of the noodle soups for sure.
(4)