Bu'n Soho - Vietnamese Small Plates

[weinoo]

So we stopped in this new Michael Huynh/Thao Nguyen (husband/wife) restaurant last night after a few cocktails a couple of blocks away and left feeling mighty impressed. Michael was the man behind Bao Noodles and Bao 111, as well as Mai House.

Nothing on the menu over $12 - everything we sampled was easily enough for the two of us, and with more food ordered, could be shared by 3 or 4 (I say 3, because that's how many delicious little lamb rib chops come, cooked as ordered) to an order - for $10. And you don't want to be fighting over them or their accompanying chutney.

We also sampled crispy duck rolls, spring rolls (I guess they could be called summer rolls), the tenderest cuttlefish I've ever had, head-on tiger shrimp, the better to suck the juices out of, sticky rice with funky lap cheong and pork cheeks that were luscious, sweet and devoured by me alone, as by that point my wife was full. Really smart, tasty food - leaning Vietnamese, but we'll need to head back for pho, sweetbreads, and and to try everything else on the rather extensive menu. 7 dishes, no booze - $57.

Hopefully opening for lunch, sometime after Thanksgiving, according to chef, who stopped by our table to make sure we liked everything. Evidently open late too, though far from packed when we walked out the door.

[Nathan]

technically speaking, I think the name is Bu'n.

thanks for your report.

[weinoo]

technically speaking, I think the name is Bu'n.

thanks for your report.

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Looks like you're correct - and they even have a website here.

[Nathan]

or on the edge of SoHo anyway.

this received a fair amount of press when it opened a few months ago but not much since.

finally stopped in last night.

very casual atmosphere. tried two rolls: one a vegetable mix and one composed of pork belly and shrimp. both were quite good for what they were...although the shrimp could have been better. served with addictive spicy carrots.

scallops were overcooked but I loved the braised endive they rested on.

lamb "lollipops"...three small chops were good. nice "lamby" flavor.

hangar steak bu'n didn't feature very good meat. liked the noodles.

better wine list than you would think.

it's fine for the price point. plates ranged from $6-12.

[Daniel]

Didnt the chef recently leave there?

[Nathan]

Didnt the chef recently leave there?

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no...but the whole thing is complicated cause Michael Huynh is the chef at Mai House and he was reported as out there and now he's back in...the real story isn't clear.