Thanh Da in Sunset Park is one of my favorite Vietnamese spots in the city. I used to only go for the (delicious) banh mi, neglecting everything else on the menu. Then one day I saw that they offered bun rieu, a Vietnamese crab and tomato noodle soup that I hadn’t seen anywhere else in New York.
And what a shame too. This dish is immensely flavorful, with bright tomato-y broth, bits of crab paste, tender pork, fried tofu puffs, and a hearty amount of rice noodles, all topped with fresh mint and bean sprouts. To compare: the last time I had a bowl of bun rieu was in Hanoi at a street stall. Thanh Da’s version is almost as good, without requiring a plane ride to Vietnam.
Also recommended: an order of the fresh shrimp spring rolls and some Vietnamese iced coffee.
(Photos originally from Appetite for China, my other blog.)
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Thanh Da
6008 7th Ave (between 60th St & 61st St)
Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Map
I used to live near Thanh Da and got the house special or shredded pork banh mi. Moved to another neighborhood but now your post is encouraging me to go back and try the noodle soups.