Nha Trang Restaurant Inc

01/22/04

Standout Vietnamese at affordable prices in the shadow of City Hall.

by Contributor

During the day, this clean, simple space bustles with lunching jurors and city employees; at night, it mellows into a festive dinner spot for largely Asian groups and couples. The wide array of affordable Vietnamese food is a blessing for New Yorkers. Fragrant pho, a beef noodle soup, teems with tender rice noodles and flavors of herbs and onion in a profoundly comforting broth. Deep-fried spring rolls are delicate, crisp and full-flavored. There's a plethora of seafood selections, including succulent squid in a glaze of garlic, chili and lemongrass. And the superlative barbecue-seasoned pork chop, pounded thin and served on the bone, exudes a smoky tang. The menu also includes savory casseroles and a wonderful "hollow vegetable" stir-fry among the small selection of vegetable dishes.