Binh Duong

Binh Duong
Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine
61 ½ Belleville Avenue
Bloomfield
973-680-8440

Hours: Mon-Sat, 11 am-10 pm; Sun, 11 am-9 pm

Price: $

Style: Bright, no-frills dining room tucked in a strip mall with Asian markets.

Don’t Miss: Pho, the classic Vietnamese soup, comes in a large bowl with your choice of grilled pork, shrimp, chicken or beef (brisket, tendon or tripe). You can customize your bowl by adding bean sprouts, basil, lime, hoisin sauce or hot sauce ($6.50-$7.95). Also classic are fresh-made summer rolls filled with shrimp and mint and served with a sweet peanut sauce ($3.95), and crunchy spring rolls with fish sauce ($4.95). Banh xeo—a crêpe filled with shrimp and pork—is another great starter and fun to share ($8.50).

Head’s Up: Prepare to get messy as you wrap rice vermicelli and grilled meat or shrimp in large lettuce leaves to make banh hoi ($12.95). Less messy but equally good is bun, a bowl of vermicelli with shredded lettuce, cucumber, bean sprouts, mint, crushed peanuts and grilled meat or shrimp ($7.50).

The Scoop: This is healthy, fresh and fragrant food, served by a friendly staff in a family-owned BYO. They are happy to explain and recommend dishes if you find the plethora of choices overwhelming, as many neophytes do. With quality high and price low, it’s little wonder Binh Duong is packed on weekends.