Vientiane Noodle Shop
3422 W National Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53215
Vientiane Noodle Shop Menu
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Address :
3422 W National Ave
Milwaukee, WI, 53215 - Phone (414) 672-8440
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 8:00pm
- Mon : 10:00 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Kelly B.
I was in a phreaking pho mood and I have tried so many, that I decided to be phodventurous tonight and head down National to Vientiane Noodle Shop. It was pharther (okay, I'm done) down than I realized initially, and when I finally found the unassuming storefront I was surprised that I had even seen it. I was quickly annoyed by the four street parking spots, and had to cross the bridge to circle back around... reminding myself how badly I wanted a steaming bowl of soup. The inside is just as downplayed as the outside, a few tables and a 5-6 stool bar. She immediately knew I wanted takeout. I ordered just the boring chicken pho (gimme a break) and fresh spring rolls. It took under ten minutes before I was paid and out of here, which was really nice. When I got home I was a little peeved that I didn't have a bowl big enough to encompass what I was about to indulge in... but I figured two smaller servings was better anyways. The broth was in a big styrofoam container, and the fixins were separate. In the fixins container there were bean sprouts, one lime wedge, TONS of green onions, noodles and chicken. This was a big issue for me... the chicken. It was COLD. Like didn't even nuke it cold. It was all nasty stringy dark meat that had skin chunks and fatty strings dangling off. I probably ate 1/4 of it... and Porkchop got extra treats in her bowl that night. They included three small containers to mix in: flash fried garlic, beef paste and a pepper sauce. I used all of them. Also included was a packet of soy sauce, salt, and sugar? Odd... The spring rolls were just not my thing. They were big and were rolled fresh, but the rice paper was very chewy and seemed older. The peanut dipping sauce was terrible, it was just red oil with a few crushed nuts on top - very sour. The 'meat' in the rolls was bight pink and irked me... I picked that out. Plus the cilantro was insanely overwhelming. I had one. Overall with the two gross meats, the cilantro etc... I would call this an AOK experience, but I don't see myself driving this far to return. The broth was good, but Pho King was just better.
(3)Shannan L.
SCORE!!! I usual make my own pho, but I just didn't feel like cooking the extremely long process, and this place got good reviews on Facebook by some of my friends. So off we went. For 2 white people, we're kinda sorta pho snobs. Just fyi. We've been to the place across the street, so we knew where we were going. We walked in, and were caught off guard by the quaintness and "diner like" atmosphere. It's like an old greasy spoon, but remodeled slightly and throw in some glamour shots of the owners (???) And cute little decorations on the wall. Menu is pretty self explanatory. Ordered the spring rolls to start. The sauce for dipping was PHENOMENAL. I put my roll in the sauce to soak. THEN DRANK THE SAUCE. GLUTTONOUS, I KNOW!! I ordered the regular sized pho. My other half ordered the large. The combo is seafood. Remember that. Because if you don't like squid, that'll be a problem. I do, but I prefer meat in my pho. Glad I asked, because most places the combo is meat, seafood, fowl. But not here. Anywho. ... the broth was nice. Luckily all the the good spices and sauces to jazz it up were on the table. So is kinda like "make your own". Which is good, because alot of places, their broth is super salty. MY BOWL WAS HUGE. FOR A REGULAR SIZE!! YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE LARGE. It's served with peppers, sprouts, basil, your standards. Will I go back? HECK YEAH!! For $20 I was super full, WITH LEFTOVERS! My other half was having a super "hangry" day, and smashed all of his. In record time. GO THERE.
(5)Jc C.
We go on Sundays and see Bae--she's so sassy. We love it. I've been here a lot of times but honestly have only tried the pho. It's really good, in my opinion. Not too salty, solid flavor and a good portion for around $10 (large). It comes with a large plate of goodies; lime, basil, iceberg lettuce (which I never use), and bean sprouts. My friend got the chicken pho once and I tried it. It was pretty good, but didn't have that really seasoned and aromatic broth like the beef one did; kind of more like a really good chicken soup broth (makes sense and I didn't know what to expect, but thought I'd throw it out there).
(4)Pamela M.
Tried this place for the first time during "Pho-February" where participating restaurants in the area compete with the Pho soups for $5. I must say that this place was a nice treat. The ambience there is a diner experience and I am guessing that it have been one back in the day. It's smaller and not fancy, unassuming and that's ok. The Pho came out fast and was pretty good. They had a little more in terms of side seasoning options which is a common thing with pho. I tried the beef and it was decent and fresh tasting. Will definitely have to come by again to try out some of their other dishes.
(4)Rick R.
Stopped in yesterday for the $5 Phobruary promo. I noticed Vientiane when I visited Thai BBQ for lunch a few months ago. It turns out they've been in this spot for over 17 years. Who knew? The restaurant is dingy and divey looking, which I actually prefer when it comes to authentic ethnic dining. It's one of my many strange quirks. The hostess that greeted me was very warm and friendly. I started with the Fresh Spring Rolls. They're filled with cilantro, vermicelli, pork,, shrimp, and a few other veggies. I was pleased that I could actually see and taste the pork, so I know they didn't skimp. There was also a nice balance of the fillings, so I didn't just taste one ingredient, like lettuce at another restaurant I visited. Instead of peanut sauce for dipping the spring rolls, they served a sweet n sour sauce topped with a layer of crushed peanuts. The combination was delicious and innovative. I have not seen this before, but I liked it. It almost tasted like a peanut sauce but you knew it wasn't because the texture was very thin. The pho and its accompaniments were also a bit different than I've had before. In addition to the standards, there was a small plate of mixed whole hot peppers, a side of shrimp paste, and a big wedge of lettuce that I found no use for. The table sauces also included one simply called "seasoning." Ok, works for me. The broth wasn't bland, but I had to do a lot of tweaking to get it closer to my liking. I added hoisin, sriracha, a little fish sauce, and the "seasoning" sauce, playing with small amounts at a time so I didn't overdo it with any one of them. The rice noodles were solid and slightly on the thicker side. This pho just came with pieces of beef and meatball, not the tripe or tendon I was expecting. So not among the best pho I've had, but not bad. I think the spring rolls and unique side items in particular earned them 4 stars for standing out amongst the now, MANY, SE Asian restaurants around town. I will go back to try their Pad Thai and other menu items just to find out what unique presentation they'll use on those dishes.
(4)Kim C.
This would probably be the best pho place around. You don't have to pay extra for seafood and beef whereas other places will have either or options and then charge an additional $2.50 for 3 dinky shrimp. For non tripe lovers such as myself they don't add tripe. Their spring roll sauce is excellent. I want the recipe. It's not the typical chunky peanut sauce but almost looks like a duck sauce but much more appetizing. Sometimes their service lacks but it's a small restaurant so they usually only have one person up front doing everything. I gave it 4 stars only because they need to add a kid's menu or a section on the lighter side. They did increase their prices but their portions are fairly large, still I don't want to spend $12 on a large bowl of pho when my kid only eats 2 bites. But on the flip side they are the only pho restaurant to offer chicken curry soup which is just as good as the pho.
(4)Kao V.
Please keep in mind this is a Lao restaurant and not a Vietnamese one so if you are here for pho, I suggest going elsewhere. With that said, I really wanted to like the pho but it lacked the aroma and flavor like authentic Vietnamese pho that I prefer. With that said, don't get me wrong the pho here was ok. The broth tasted artificial like it wasn't from boiling meat but came from a powder. The meatballs were too rubbery like it was freezer burnt. The meat were plentiful (we ordered the combo pho) but not sliced thinly :( You're paying $10 a bowl here so I was expecting higher quality. The laab was freaking delicious though. It doesn't come with sticky rice. It's $3 extra. They ask if you wanted cooked or raw, the spice level, plus if you wanted bitterness. Can't get more legit than that. Service was fast. They brought food to our table in less than 10 minutes. The waitress was really nice. The walls were decor of the family dressed in Lao or Thai outfits but at least it was clean. We parked on the street and afraid of drunks trying to open our car door so we were seated close to the window to keep an eye on it. Yes, our "we are from a small town" colors were present. Took stars off for location.
(3)Nikki D.
We had spring rolls, papaya salad and pad-Thai with shrimp. All of the food was great, and the padthai was some of the best I have ever had.
(5)Holden K.
This is my favorite place to get Pho in the MKE. Their broth is probably the best in the city.
(4)August B.
The food is 5 stars, the actual storefront, a 1 star. I'm a huge fan of dives with amazing and authentic food. Of you like spicy food be sure to try the number 30 rice noodle dish with a 3 or above spice level. (If you don't like mushrooms be sure to ask for them to be excluded.)
(4)Vladimir K.
This doesn't affect my rating of Vientiane, but just some words of advice: Don't park your car in front of that sketchy crackhead bar that is two doors to the right. The patrons there are all degenerates and are high on crack and/or meth, and will verbally fuck with you when you get out of your car. I don't even want to walk past that place anymore. Don't let this stop you from going to Vientiane... Vientiane RULES and has the best pho in the city, along with some other kick-ass things that you NEED to try like their fried sausages, khao piak, and larb. I just recommend avoiding that shithole next door like the plague. And the patrons, who are often smoking (probably crack) outside, look like victims of the plague. All of them are probably recognizable from episodes of "COPS."
(4)Y V.
I stayed in downtown during my stay in Milwaukee and let's just say the food was...lacking. I asked a friend who is from Milwaukee for a suggestion and this was the first and only place they recommended. I highly recommend the pho. The fried sausage was great, too. The fresh Thai pepper that came out first was definitely a win.
(4)Margaret R.
Stopped in for the $5 pho special. Overall rating? An enthusiastic "decent enough." Barely noticeable storefront from the street, inside is divey, but clean enough. (But boy, was it FREEZING in there!) Staff was friendly enough. Pho came out fast enough. Nice huge portion, especially for the price. A large plate of fixins came with the pho, definitely found the wedge of iceberg lettuce rather useless, but the bean sprouts and fresh basil were good. The meat was good enough. The broth was also good enough. Not much else to comment on. Worth a try!
(3)Mika M.
The pho noodle was soggy and soup doesn't taste like anything. The papaya salad was too salty. It's not Vietnamese food. It's Laos or some other country. It's not authentic Vietnamese food at all. It's like when a non Japanese Asian makes sushi or other Japanese dishes. I'm not coming back here again.
(2)Loki N.
STILL the best Pho in the country, no contest. Kids, Pho is NOT a strictly Vietnamese food, anymore than a hamburger is strictly an American food. Most countries throughout S.E. Asia have their own take on Pho, and at the VNS, you will get the Laotian version. There is no such thing as AUTHENTIC VIETNAMESE Pho. Sorry. There is Vietnamese-style Pho, just as there is Vietnamese-style Larb. The broth at VNS is made from bones and meat, not powder, as someone "speculated". What does that mean? It means that you will be expected to season it to your own taste, for one thing. That "seasoning" thing one reviewer talked about? Home-made oil with peppers slow-roasted in it. Killer. Just go easy till you know how hot you want it. Use the nuoc mom, use the anchovy paste that comes with the soup, figure out how YOU like it, instead of having someone else tell you how you like it. No, you won't get tripe in your bowl. Deal with it. It isn't traditional in their Pho, so it doesn't get used. If you really want tripe, order Larb. Okay...the neighborhood? Afraid to get out of a car because of the drunks? Damn...best to stay in Akron. Here's your hot tip of the day; if you ever find yourself in the big bad city again, park across the street, walk down to the corner, and cross over, obeying all traffic control devices. Come on. This is about as dangerous a neighborhood as the one Mister Rogers lived in. As far as authenticity goes, I have eaten Pho in S.E. Asia, damn near lived on it at times, and for close to twenty years now, VNS has been serving some of the most authentic, traditional, Pho, as well as other Lao dishes, in the country.
(5)Bao Y.
The papaya was so delicious!!! Definitely hit the spot of what I was craving today, chicken wings were good too but one of the pieces out of the 5 was a wing tip, really? Chicken pad see eew was okay, had a rather sweet flavor to it. I would totally give them five stars but I've ordered out from them before and the papaya wasn't always on point, neither were the chicken wings. I wonder what it is since I'm assuming this place is a mom and pop place from all their pictures on the wall. Which I thought were kind of awkward. Reminded me of my moms place, if that's what they're going for with their decor. Place is small but the tables are evenly spaced so that you don't feel cramped and service was good, there were a few to go orders and one other gentleman when we were there, slow day maybe, but I will definitely come back for the papaya.
(4)Becky S.
I'm digging Vientiane Noodle Shop. Came here to have some more "authentic" Pho in the area. It was slow when we visited. The waitress/hostess was friendly and talkative (although we could have used a water refill). Pho was solid. It was served with some of the typical garnishes (basil, sprouts) but hot peppers and lime were missing and lettuce was added, which seemed unnecessary (I don't really want to add lettuce to a hot bowl of soup). I didn't necessary love the meatballs but the regular beef in the pho was good. FYI-no need to get the large, the regular bowl is big enough. I also ordered a Taro bubble tea which was okay but was a little too milkshakey and had too little boba. But they do have a good selection of bubble teas. The restaurant is a little older and the neighborhood might be outside some people's comfort zone, but I think this place is worth a stop, especially if you like pho and are interested in sampling it from different places around the area. Come with an open mind and empty stomach.
(4)Justin L.
Came to Vientiane from the suggestion of a friend who claims their noodle soup is superb. Vientiane is a family owned Thai/Lao/Viet restaurant that is housed in a old diner. The bar, bar stools, and old grill are still in the front half of the restaurant. The lady...chef or owner...was very nice and friendly. I went for the beef noodle soup (pho) and it was okay. The broth was slightly on the bland side and I needed to add a little hoisin sauce. Keep in mind...I'm the type of pho person that usually does not need to add extra flavor/sauces to the soup. I am a firm believer that good pho should be good just as is...well after you add the bean sprouts and basil of course. The noodle soup comes with meatballs and tender meat. No rare steak meat but the meat was tender so it wasn't bad. The major plus was that they had FRIED GARLIC...I sprinkled this liberally in my soup and it made the broth sooooooooo much better. As for the pricing...it was a little on the pricier side for pho...especially with one that did not have all the meat fixings (e.g. brisket/tendon/tripe/rare steak)
(3)Heather W.
Don't be put off by the area and the store front, the food is phenomenal and the service (for the most part) is also very good. This used to be my lunch spot but now I have a new job and do not work as close, that being said i have only been here for lunch and it's usually not too busy ( maybe 2-3 other tables) and is therefore comfortable. We usually have the same waitress help us and she is delightful; so sweet and attentive! However once we had this younger server who completely took down the order wrong and i subsequently got a meal that was not very good, but I lived. I usually get the chicken pud sew-ee i believe (#27). Its so good... I'm craving it as I type!
(5)Melissa D.
LOVE IT! Their fresh spring rolls are amazing, with a light, dressing - like dipping sauce, not the thicker peanut sauce other places use, and I prefer that. Great pad Thai (good old standby always) and the combo pad si-eww never dissapoints. I like their Vientiane stir fry, but when I get take out, the portion seems a little small for the price, but delicious regardless. Kang phet (had once dining in) was also good. They also make a great volcano chicken. I've never had a bad meal there, and order out about once every 2 months for over 5 years now. It's got an old diner quality to it, but it's always clean, even if the decor is a bit dated. Would have given 5 stars, but parking is nearly impossible over there, and I wouldn't recommend parking too far away because the neighborhood seems a bit sketchy, especially at night. And I agree with a previous reviewer about that bar; depending on where you park, sometimes you have to walk by it, and I have had some mildly uncomfortable encounters with some of the patrons (think wolf whistles). That's creepy. But still, Vientiane has awesome food - go during the day and avoid the bar if you can. Be prepared to park across the street and cross over, because really, the parking out front is horrible. Just be prepared for that...
(4)David J.
Seriously amazing! Get the Vientiane sausage and the pho and the cucumber salad and everything else! I came here with a Laotian friend and he said it's as authentic as you can get in Milwaukee. It has an old school diner feel and the service is good. Also bubble tea. 'Nuf said.
(5)Krishna A.
First, the owner is very nice! Very welcoming and friendly. i tried only two dishes - a cucumber salad and fried quail. The cucumber salad was too fishy smelling - it left an awful taste in my mouth.. I needed a mouth wash after coming home. I had tried the quail in the past and remember it being amazing.. This time, it was not that great. It was not bad but not very good. I had a bad after taste, after eating this also. I do make quail myself at home. I find that frozen quail becomes stale, in a couple of weeks.. I think that's what happened here - the quail they used is a bit stale. I noticed that many of their rice dishes were in the $14 range. I would say that it is very high, for a 1 star ambience restaurant like this. They would probably give a lot of quantity of food for each of those dishes but I was surprised at their prices. Since I have not tried other dishes, I cannot say whether or not they are any good.. Its possible that a typical Milwaukean might actually say that those dishes are good... I am not going back to try them.. The ambience is simply too low, for its price range. But the food itself might be as good as any other chinese/vietnamese restaurant.. From what I noticed while they were serving others, the portion they serve might be quite large - suitable for the typical Milwaukean, who might enjoy larger portions. If you like pho, and are on south side, you should try the restaurant next to the pacific produce at Grange and 27th. I tried their pho and that is a nicer restaurant than this one.
(2)Jeff K.
Walking into Vientiane felt like walking into my aunt and uncles living room. Someone is sitting at the chair barely acknowledging you as they watch T.V. The host gives you the head nod to acknowledge your presence. Kids are sitting around the table taking turns playing with their Nintendo DS's. But although they may not have silver spoons and champagne glasses, you're going to get a satisfying meal. The Large Combo Pho was flavorful and left me full . There isn't really too much too it. Those of you who like to order brisket and other similar meats might be disappointed, since they don't have the meat selection that other pho places have. I don't mind getting the mystery meats. I also ordered the spring roll which was reminiscent of other rice paper spring rolls I've had, except that it was served with a sweet chili fish sauce (I think). I'm not too well versed in Lao Cuisine, but I'll probably be back to try some of the other food they have. Especially looking forward to trying the sausage.
(4)Allen P.
PAPAYA SALAD 5/5 SAUSAGE 5/5 BEEF JERKEY 5/5 Thats all i gotta say! Got my laos food fix for sure! If I ever come back to Milwaukee, I'm definitely coming here!
(5)Catherine G.
Satiated my pho craving! I enjoyed their combo beef pho. The broth was clear and flavorful but the plate of bean sprouts were wilting. There was an ample quantity of sliced beef - very different than other restaurants. I usually finish all the meat with half the noodles still left in the bowl but that was not the case this time. Quality wise, the sliced beef was sub par - too chewy for my liking. The brisket on the other hand was superb. The egg rolls were deeeeliciously crunchy and flavorful. Homey vib with lots of wedding photos of the owners hung up... I've been to more than a handful of Vietnamese restaurants in Milwaukee and I would rank Vientiane Noodle Shop on the top half. Still love Hue the most for their ambiance and pho :)
(3)Mike C.
Gosh are my pipes hot. And by "pipes," I mean my esophagus. And the "hot" is not a painful, heartburn-like hot, but the delicious sting of a spicy fried noodle that left its ambrosial trail as it slid from my throat to my stomach. Ambrosial trail. Am I a little over-the-top? Who cares? It was scrumptious! My wife and I are fortunate to be able to dine at numerous places around the city of Milwaukee, but this afternoon we thought, "Hey. It's been a while since we ate at a good Chinese/Thai/Vietnamese/Japanese/Laotian restaurant." I recalled seeing a few places in Milwaukee's Silver City neighborhood so I suggested we try a place there. After a little Googling, we settled on Vientiane Noodle Shop. Vientiane is a slightly disheveled little place off of National Avenue. It's just the kind of place you'd expect might have good food. For an appetizer we ordered egg rolls. They were great. Small and stuffed with fresh ingredients and then fried in very hot oil. They were greaseless and their light skin crumbled under the slightest utensil pressure. Drizzled with a little sweet-sour sauce, I could make a meal out of these. We also paired our meals with a couple of cream sodas: a red and a green. We ordered one of each so we could try them both. We preferred the red -- it had a taste of berries while the green had a more floral flavor. Our entrees were Tom Yum Gai Soup (my wife's) and Lard Na. I ordered mine spicy knowing I was taking my life into my own hands. I like my Vietnamese/Laotian food hot and hot is what I got -- I only had to get up and leave the table 3 times to clear my head, if you know what I mean. My wife enjoyed her soup although I never tried it. Looking at a bowl of hot broth while my pipes were inflamed just didn't seem appetizing, but her soup sure looked good. For as much as we enjoyed our lunch, it appears we ordered the wrong thing. Vientiane is known for their Pho. The waitress told us after our meal that people come for that dish specifically and a quick glance at a few Internet reviews confirms it. Get the Pho at Vientiane. I will be returning soon to give Pho a try. I'll try to remember to come back to Yelp and update my review after trying a bowl of this brothy, noddley delicacy.
(4)Kim B.
Vientiane is a small restaurant serving Laotian food. It is family-owned as evidenced by the huge, framed photographs of the owner(?) and her family... Only an Asian restaurant would dare to try this and I found it to be pretty funny. On to the food.. Many of the dishes on the menu I have seen before in Thai and Vietnamese restaurants (pad thai, pho, pad see ew, etc). I tried the seafood combo pho and the taste was different than Vietnamese pho. The broth had a much lighter flavor. I'm assuming any dish you order will taste slightly different than you may be used to at another restaurant because it's a different style. For example, we ordered a noodle dish with fried eggs on top which I've never seen before at other Asian restaurants. Overall the food was good but not great. My favorite item was the beef jerky appetizer. There is a shortage of authentic Asian food in the suburbs where I'm from so it was refreshing to have some here. The service was very friendly as well.
(3)Hana C.
We've been to Phan's and Hue in Milwaukee. Among those, Vientiane is king. Phan's did their meat right, serving the steak rare, but their broth was always grease-laden and cloudy. Hue cooked their steak through and their broth was clearer, but not that tasteful. We went to Vientiane today after reading favorable reviews on Yelp and I am so glad we did! We were greeted with a friendly hello and invited to sit wherever we would like. We ordered two small combo pho, spring rolls, a soda, and a mango smoothie. The spring rolls were divine. Seriously. They were super fresh and delicious. The lettuce inside was crunchy and the pork was soft. The pho itself was the best I've had in a long, long time. The steak was rare, the broth was clean but flavorful, and we were given a heaping pile of fresh bean sprouts (not brown and falling apart like most pho places give you), lots of mint, and plenty of limes. I love a pho place that is generous with their fixings. We asked for a little extra cilantro and she gave us a bowl of cilantro, green onions, and raw onions. We were beyond happy. Our total bill was $30 including tip, which is very reasonable compared to what we used to pay at Hue. Overall, best pho place I've been to Milwaukee. We plan to frequent this place on a regular basis!
(5)Tony J.
Well I had to go and try their pho after several good ratings on here. I was not disappointed. I got spring rolls and a small combo-pho. First, it may be difficult to find parking so go slow when you drive by. The place is small, divey, but clean and neat and it has character. Not sure what it was before but I really dig it. The waitress was very friendly and fast and great. I sat by the window so I got a great view of the action on National ave. To be honest, I love window seats, much like the National Cafe a few miles down the road, oh that place is sooo good. On to the food, the spring rolls were the best i've had since I started eating spring rolls-about 2 years now, lol. They were very fresh, flavorful, and the sauce was killer. I recommend these if you like spring rolls. The combo pho was very good. Noodles were good and plentiful, seasonings and flavor were excellent. Meat and shrimp were good but I coulda used a few more meats. I will be back to try the beef pho or regular pho or both. The waitress brought out a huge pile of fresh sprouts, lettuce, peppers, limes, etc. Also the condiment tray was huge so you wont have to worry about them here. Overall, the service was awesome. As for the bill, it was much cheaper than hue. For the price, you will definitely get your money's worth here. Enjoy! i put this place in my top 5 and i have had pho in several places including chicago
(4)Frank A.
First time here. I liked it and generally with the high marks others give it. Some things a little different than most Pho stops. I got shrimp and squid in addition to the beef and meatballs. I missed grizzle, tendon and tripe. I ordered the large soup and it was plentiful but not as much broth as most others. So, no take home. Dated but very clean restaurant. I'll be back to try other things.
(4)Michael W.
If you like Pho - you can get really good home made Pho here at a really good price. The atmosphere is not fancy and service is simple but the food is delicious. This is the last good Pho place in town!
(4)James B.
As an unrepentant former Eastsider, and even more former (can that possibly be the right syntax?) Chicagoan, the part of Milwaukee south of I94 around Miller Park held absolutely no charms to me. I never went there, explored there, or ate there. It just wasn't on my cultural radar. Then I moved. Several of my posts on Yelp since then have been decrying the lack of ethnic offerings in my new neighborhood. Apparently Yelp was listening since my last e-mail from them included listings for a handful of SE Asian restaurants in that neighborhood, now only slightly removed from my own. Since you're reading this, it's obvious that Vientiane was the first one I decided to try. I almost didn't though, 'cause this place is kind of hard to find. I drove by Thai-BBQ, which is brightly lit and on the other side of the street, two or three times trying to find Vientiane. I finally located it and went inside to find a very low-budget looking affair of a counter, a few tables, and not much else. I'm not a snob! This is fine with me! Some of my favorite restaurants in the world are of the "divey" persuasion. I would much rather a place worry about what's going into the curry that day than what is going on the walls. So no part of (somewhat critical) review is in regards to the atmosphere. Just to be informative, I'm not sure it's a "first date" kind of place. That said, they didn't even have take-out menus available, which kind of sucks. As a huge fan of Loatian food, making a decision for me is often a matter of serious contemplation. I can't make a split second decision, ever. Being able to decide leisurely at my own house would be better than being on the spot at the counter. Okay, the food. I got Pad Thai. I know, it's boring, but you know what? Everyone has it, I know what it should taste like, and it's a good measuring stick. I got the chicken pad Thai, extra spicy. The flavor was good. Sauce, eggs, chicken, all very enjoyable. Spice? Completely lacking. Literally no spice at all. Not me being macho, I think they must have screwed up the order. Spice is half the reason that SE Asian food is my favorite. Indochina and India are the only two ethnic food groupings that make things consistently "OMG" spicy, so to not have ANY spice on my noodles is disappointing. Again, I see from the reviews here that people like this place for the spice, so I just assume my order was screwed up. Also had the spring rolls, which like Ee-Sane's version are just wrapped, not fried, and delicious. The sauce with them was really good, I think it's probably home-made sweet/sour, which I don't usually like. But this was very good. Overall, I don't think I'd eat here again. There are five or six Thai/Lao/Vietnamese restaurants on the Eastside better than this, at least one in my Washington Heights neighborhood, and I'm willing to bet one more just across the street. I'll try Thai-BBQ next, but I won't be back to Vientiane.
(3)Sona B.
Although I have my go-to Vietnamese joint, I decided to venture out, explore new options. One would hope the location of this place, the local patrons, the decor or lack thereof would equate to a truly legit ethnic food experience. But my experience was mediocre. The Pho broth was actually decent, if not a bit oily. Pad see ew was absolutely dry and truly lacked any good flavor. The mango bubble tea I ordered was just sugared mushy ice without a definitive mango taste. I was not completely won over, but should I happen to be in this area, craving a nice warm bowl of pho, I'd likely stop by again.
(3)Mike P.
As I sit here writing this review, my presence ten minutes removed from Vientiane Noodle Shop, I can not feel my lips. ORDERED: Spring Rolls, Pad Thai, Coconut Bubble Tea TASTED: The spring rolls were light and fresh tasting and filled with shrimp, pork and imitation crab meat. They were served a few minutes after placing my order. The Pad Thai (I know not very adventurous) was lacking the peanuts listed on the menu and was very light on the chicken. Be very specific about the spiciness level. It's like asking if a tattoo hurts, to some it's very painful others it's a mosquito bite. LADY BUGS: Bubble tea is strange to me. It's like a watered down milk with lady bugs that occasionally get sucked up through the straw. POST: I'd return to Vientiane but with more of a "Andrew Zimmern mindset". The space is pretty bare bones with photos of what I assume are the owners framed everywhere. Friendly service. Cheap Prices. Lock your car.
(3)Alicia M.
Picked up take-out from this place last night. I'm sad to say it was my first time and I live only a few blocks away. For shame! I'm pretty stoked about the fact that I found a yummy Laotian restaurant so close to home though and I plan on frequenting this place enough to make up for the fact that I only just discovered it. I have heard that the best thing here is the Pho but since I was doing take-out I didn't want to order Pho (I just believe that Pho should be enjoyed immediately, never tastes as good when I bring it home). I'll update this after I've had a chance to check their Pho out. Instead I ordered (for me and the hubs--just so you don't think I'm a total pig) egg rolls, Banh Seo (pork filled yellow crepes), Larp with chicken (or Larb as I'm used to calling it) and Pad Thai (so unoriginal-I know. don't judge, I was in the mood). The egg rolls were pretty good but I preferred them with my own nuoc mam sauce I have at home than with the sweet and sour sauce they gave us (just a personal preference). The Banh Seo was excellent. I would definitely order this again. Just love all the fresh veggies with the coconut-milky-crepe. (Also very good with my own nuoc mam). The Pad Thai was ok. I honestly don't eat this stuff much so I don't really feel like one to judge. Hubs said the Larp was, "fantastic, easily the best I've had in Milwaukee." So home run there! Quite proud of my little 'hood for having such an awesome authentic Asian restaurant. The woman who took my order was incredibly sweet and chatted with me while I waited for the food. Oh a few tips: 15% off all dine in orders on week days! They take credit cards.
(4)Linda T.
The decor is quite shabby and the prices are kind of high but the food is great. I ordered a watermelon boba tea and it was delicious. The fried chicken wings are delicious but they're not consistent. Sometimes I'll get 6 wings and sometimes I'd get 4. Other than that, the staff is really nice and food is great.
(4)Chris N.
Awesome food and refreshments. I love the bubble teas and their appetizers are very yummy. The place isn't big, but the good service and food make up for it!
(4)Rohan D.
It's not a Thai restaurant, it's Laotian. For crying out loud, Vientenne (Vientiane) is the capital of Laos, I think the idiot who first classified this should be smacked with an atlas. They serve some Vietnamese and Cambodian dishes, so you could classify it as either Lao, Laotian, or Southeast Asian. The strengths of this little family owned operation are, authenticity (most of the customers are Southeast Asian, you hear Laotian or Hmong more than English), low prices, and friendly service. So much better than the NFWP places that have proliferated in Midwestern urban areas, that also call themselves "noodle shops," but that should be a crime. Get the noodles here (Vietnamese style pho or Lao style) and an appetizer, that's what they do best. Be very careful of the various ways they make their food hot (spicy), the condiments, the fresh peppers. Now me, I like a lunch that makes me perspire like a myocardial infarction and cry like a family tragedy, but I don't know you, so I'm just saying, treat those peppers like you would enriched plutonium. The hot stuff is served on the side, so you can make your noodles as hot or mild as you want. The noodle bowls have a larger option, which you don't need unless you plan on trying to actually sit in the bowl, their "small" is more than most people can finish. Nothing fancy about this Silver City restaurant, but it's clean and comfortable, and the big street facing windows enable you to keep an eye on your car while you eat (make sure you lock the doors, and take the faceplate off your radio). A couple of larger tables make this a great place to bring some friends, and it's cheaper and so much better than any "Pan-Asian" chain noodle place. You can also feel perfectly comfortable eating by yourself here. Now the area of Silver City has other excellent little family owned Southeast Asian restaurants, but I think this is the best Laotian one.
(4)Jody M.
You want your pho with stuff on the side and lots of fresh herbs? You got it. Afraid of pho? Perfect place to start. Don't know the difference between Thailand and...oh...never mind. They've got you covered with Pad Thai, but please try something different. That's what life is all about. The small portion of pho is just right.
(4)Jed H.
Great laab (Lao beef salad), papaya salad, and the only restaurant in Milwaukee with spicy cucumber salad. Made similar to Lao/Thai papaya salad but with cucumbers! Small family owned restaurant but the traditional food hits the spot!
(5)Stephen B.
Solid first meal at Vientiane Noodle House. Clean and spacious. Far from fancy, but very good food. We had the combo pho and the kang curry. Pho was great. The small was huge with plenty of goodies and noodles. All the right condiments (Thai basil, sprouts, shrimp paste, etc). I added the chili oil rather than chili paste. Pretty darn spicy. The curry was also excellent. Portion wasn't very big for that, but it was rich and tasty. Nothing worse than curry that is more like a watery curry soup.
(3)Marilyn B.
Kang Phet Tofu - AWESOME! Though it depends on who's cooking the day you go, most of the time the Kang Phet is fabulous. Fried Rice is also better here than at most places in the city. I've enjoyed many of their dishes, but keep coming back to the spicy, tasty, delicious Kang Phet! Friendly, fast service, great hours, discounts - all around Top Place for Thai!
(5)