![]() ![]() “My mom makes it from scratch every morning,” he says. The traditional Vietnamese noodle soup is a mix of broth, rice noodles, herbs and meat. “Pho is our number one dish,” Nguyen says. Think of a savory broth in pho or a pile of fresh cilantro and basil on top of rice noodles, a creamy pâté sandwiched between baguette slices in a bánh mì with fried shallots or a squeeze of fresh lime. ![]() Lighter and, some say, healthier than other Asian fare, this cuisine relies on balanced yet complex flavors with layers of textures and tastes. Vietnamese food has five elements: bitter, sour, salty, spicy and sweet. I think that’s what brings someone back in.” I tell my servers to get to know our customers what they like, who they are. “But we’ve noticed a lot of repeat customers in a short amount of time. “It’s a completely different dynamic here,” Nguyen says. There’s less foot traffic, but there’s a higher volume of takeout orders, and they have a dedicated lunchtime crowd. We wanted to build a family-friendly neighborhood place.” They opened their doors in August, and, after a quiet start, business has quickly picked up pace.Ī suburban location is different from a downtown Minneapolis address, so Nguyen and his family (including brothers Yoom, Toom and Joey) had to quickly adapt to Maple Grove’s needs. “I noticed there weren’t many mom and pop shops in Maple Grove,” Nguyen says. Fast forward eight months, and Nguyen and his family had negotiated a lease, gutted and rebuilt the space to code and created what he calls the kitchen of his mom’s dreams. A few moments later, the landlord happened to arrive. After their meal, Nguyen noticed a “For Lease” sign on the door. ![]() Maybe it could be here, he thought.Ī moment of serendipity took the lead. Nguyen knew the restaurant industry, and he also knew he and his family were looking for a new challenge. Nguyen’s parents, Tri and Le Nguyen, have owned Lotus Restaurant-their downtown Minneapolis Vietnamese mainstay-since 1983. At the end of the meal, he noticed that most of the tables were unoccupied. In October 2017, Hung Nguyen and his wife were dining out at a neighborhood restaurant near their home in Maple Grove. For a primer on the key ingredients in Vietnam cuisine, click here. For recommendations on what to drink with your Lotus take-out, click here. ![]()
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