Hai Yen Restaurant
Hai Yen Restaurant — neighborhood chinese in Uptown. It wears its years well. The kind of cooking that doesn't need to explain itself. "The caramelized pork belly was not that crispy or caramelized" — Sasha “Sasha” Bratslavsky [$]
What 588 diners keep saying
What 588 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“this is low-key my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Chicago, but don't tell any of the influencers I said that 🤫. I've been coming here for years now, and every single time it hits. everything I've tried off the menu has been amazing, from the noodle soups, dry noodles, meat + rice dishes, banh mi, appetizers, everything is GREAT.”

“Loved this place and will be going back. The meat in the brisket pho was tender and flavorful. The broth was warming and delicious. The Hawaiian leaf sausage banh mi was incredible. I dipped it in the pho and it was my favorite bite.”

“This is a small but very good restaurant. I went there for lunch with a friend and was very impressed. The food was delicious, the portions were generous, and the prices were very reasonable. While the noise level was a bit high due to the restaurant being busy and everyone chatting, it wasn't a major issue. There was only one waitress, but he was very friendly and attentive. He did a very good job. While at the restaurant, even though he did a very good job.”

“Good Vietnamese food. I have dined with them many times. I like their spring rolls and Vietnamese Iced Coffee.”

“Đồ ăn ngon, sạch sẽ, nếm vừa vị Khẩu phần nhiều. Order 6 món, món nào cũng ngon Quán nhỏ xinh Sẽ quay lại This is perfect vietnamese restaurant”

“Buried in the middle of the famous Argyle block, this place may not jump out against newer and shinier establishments nearby, but there is a good reason this place has lasted a long time. The broth for beef pho is just as good as others, which is a reason enough to eat here. But add good service, liquor license, and consistently fresh ingredients and you have a great place for take out.”

“Hai Yen is a laid-back Vietnamese restaurant with friendly service and a comforting menu. The Hawaiian sausage was a standout with its flavorful, slightly charred texture and hearty meat filling, while the Vietnamese dry noodles offered a simple & satisfying mix of meat and seafood over noodles for a homey and comforting taste. A solid no-frills spot for a hearty and enjoyable Vietnamese meal.”

“We loved their chicken pho - co guo. The bun bo hue was actually not spicy. Springroll was on point”

“I hate to leave a poor review because I have come here and ordered take out from hai yen many times. I keep coming back because most dishes are delicious and remind me of home. But lately they have been getting stingy with the portions and the quality has been plummeting. I’m upset that my $20 shaky beef plate came with 5 pieces of burned beef scraps and this is not the first time that’s happened. I keep ordering here again hoping that it was a one time thing but am disappointed to see this be a trend. Hope the owners take note of this and improve.”

“I was served undercooked/rancid chicken. I noticed something was wrong as soon as my banh mi was brought to me. The chicken was pink, raw, and mushy. It had a rancid aftertaste. I took a photo in case I had food poisoning symptoms and only after did I notice the hair in my food! This has left me feeling so sick and disgusted :( I am quite disappointed by my experience”
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