The Paper Bridge (Bún Chả Cầu Giấy)

It was a busy saturday dinner service, but thankfully got here before all the seats were taken. Sadly, most seats were reserved already, and we were told that it would be a 30 minute wait for a table to open up. Otherwise, we had the option to sit in the small plastic stools with tables. Honestly, I didn't mind this. Kind of authentic as hell. I felt like I was actually on the street eating street food lol. They're small chairs, but not really uncomfortable. A few people tonight complained about this seating arrangement. Imagine coming into a packed restaurant with booked reservations and being pissy that they offered you the seats available. Crazy that its busy on a Saturday evening, amiright? If you don't get the vibes then sorry sucks for you I guess. Just say you hate Vietnam and eat elsewhere <3 Service was fairly quick and the hostess and waitresses were all so sweet! I was in and out basically in an hour. Tried the nem cua bể, bún chả hà nội, and the phở nam định. First time in general trying these dishes. I thought the nem cua bể was alright. The price point for it was a bit steep for such a small dish, but it was tasty nonetheless. 7/10 The bún chả was tasty!! Never had bún like it before. The different meats were all very flavorful and the pickles were perfectly mildly tangy. Also lots of herbs to go along with it!! 9/10 The phở.. honestly my favorite thing I tried. The broth was rich, but light. The meat was soooo tender, and the pickled garlic and chili sauce on the side were a great addition. The noodles were super soft, but didn't feel over cooked? The quẩy on the side might have been THE best part. I'd never had freshly made quẩy before, just the packaged kind mom would buy and cut into my cháo from time to time. But these gluten sticks.. perfectly crisp and yet SO soft and bouncy on the inside. They soaked up the phở broth so well without getting soggy. Pulling the two sides apart was also soooooo satisfying. I would honestly come back just to get a few of them. 11/10 Overall, I love the vibes of this place. The decor is so detailed and well thought out. The ambience is laid back but still organized. The service was prompt and friendly. It's somewhat difficult to find Northern Vietnamese cuisine but this place is an absolute gem of a find. The price point is a bit much. I can only hope the employees are being paid well due to this. Otherwise, everything else about this place was amazing.

Most authentic bun cha I’ve found in the US, and I’ve searched far and wide! Also great gluten free options. Definitely recommend!