Vietnamese | Page 6 of 11 | Mass Food & Wine

Sunny Side Egg atop Ground Pork from Dalat on Park Avenue in Worcester, MA

Unassuming, eclectic décor, Vietnamese cuisine, BYOB, all of the key ingredients to a perfect evening.

Having moved away from my most beloved Vietnamese restaurant, I have been on the quest all through Worcester to find something that (for me) is at the very least comparable. Dalat is it!Located on Park Avenue, this small, simple, BYOB is sure to please your palate and wallet. Dalat offers many authentic dishes to choose from as well as Boba. The staff is always pleasant and welcoming. One small charming detail is the eclectic assortment of wine glasses, each visit I get a different one.

I have often been asked how I would describe Vietnamese cuisine. I struggle coming up with the perfect description that would offer any justice to this amazing food.

Vietnamese cuisine is known however to include five fundamental taste senses – wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. All of these correspond to flavors/spices, senses, nutrients, organs, and colors. The perfect yin yang balance. Additionally, it is also considered one of the healthiest cuisines due to the use of fresh ingredients and minimal use of oil.

I typically order vermicelli, a mixed vegetable dish, or Pho Ga (what many know Vietnamese food for). Tonight, I was craving something new, maybe something “off” the menu.

My craving was met as we were ordering; our wonderful server mentioned that there were in fact a couple of “chef specials”, not listed on the menu (perfect). I was excited to order the – sunny side egg atop ground pork, mixed vegetables, and rice.

The flavors in this dish were amazing! Lean ground pork, fresh mixed vegetables, sautéed in a light but slightly spicy sauce, and the egg? All five of my senses cherished each bite.

As an aside – long ago, a friend asked me to try Vietnamese restaurant; I declined, as I had no knowledge of the cuisine and was frankly naïve about it. I decided one day to try it, and I am so happy I did. By far the most amazing cuisine. If you want something good and perhaps you are a newbie, I suggest the Pho soup or a vermicelli dish. I have never met a person that I have introduced to Vietnamese cuisine that did not fall in love with it. In addition, truth be told, I am addicted.

Bo Xao Bong Cai Xanh from Dalat on Park Avenue in Worcester, MA

It’s disappointing that when most people think about Vietnamese food they immediately think of phở. Well, I should clarify, I’ve disappointed myself in so strictly associating Vietnamese restaurants with phở (but, in my defense, most restaurants have it in their name). That’s where Dalat Restaurant comes into the mix. Located across from the firehouse on Park Avenue, this Vietnamese restaurant is tucked away in a small, unassuming storefront nestled between a barber shop and foot massage parlor. Admittedly, many Worcester diners would opt for more active spots like Pho Dakao where, on weekend nights, a young active crowd is found singing karaoke with tasty libations in hand. But this helps keep Dalat real.

Upon entering the restaurant, you find a large open space with a dozen or so tables sparsely decorated (table cloth, fork, chopsticks, and napkin). Towards the rear is a counter where you can place your to-go orders and also pay once you’ve completed your meal. Next to the counter is a table with small television set where you’ll typically find some of the restaurants family members sitting. The atmosphere is great.

The menu, which contains over 100 items (of which the charming waitress had numerically memorized) from the common Vietnamese items like phở to the exotic items like pigs feet and blood. For my dinner, I chose to stay safe with the Bo Xao Bong Cai Xanh (beef with broccoli, for those who speak American-Chinese food). The meal consisted of thinly sliced beef, broccoli, white onions, and a sauce that combined sweet with spicy (just a hint) with undertones of soy, vinegar, garlic, and spices that complimented the thin meat and vegetables. The sticky white rice was the perfect accompaniment to the meal by helping savor the flavors of the sauce and make a more formidable bite with the beef and broccoli.

Yes, I may have skipped out on the exotic options but, knowing the beef with broccoli satisfied my needs, my next visit I may have to venture beyond my comfort zone.