I lived in New Orleans for a long time, and while it has always had some of the greatest restaurants in the country, there was not a great deal of diversity in menus; translation – very few ethnic places. Except for the Vietnamese blocks in New Orleans, it was tough to enjoy these Southeast Asian delicacies, but I’m delighted to say, “fusion Louisiana/Vietnamese” has spread around the city. Couple months ago, I was in one Mo Pho, which I really enjoyed.
This time around it was “namese” (as in VIETnamese, get it?) at Tulane and Carrolton, just up the street from the giant new hospital complex. A smallish restaurant, the food is reminiscent of street vendors and markets in the SE Asian country, with a lot of soup (Pho), small plates (rolls), and Banh Mi sandwiches (which in New Orleans, are commonly known as “Po Boys.”
I went with the latter, fried shrimp for innards, and spring rolls in a rice wrapper to start. Both were excellent. New Orleans is blessed with some really great bakers of French bread (including Vietnamese French), and they surely do make a sandwich. The main difference between a traditional po boy and banh mi is the vegetables, with the latter taking on a cool and refreshing air with the addition of cilantro and peppers.
The food is really superb, wait staff is strong. Give it a try.
Open Monday – Saturday, 11AM – 10PM
Full menu. Order online for delivery.
Namese Review