Believe some of the hype.Yen Viet Kitchen - styled as YEN, but pronounced more like ien and probably a common Vietnamese female first name if you add the proper accent marks - is a little spot just off Spring Mountain which some have called the best Vietnamese food in town. I finally accepted the challenge today and stopped by in the dead of afternoon.We started with some apps, which should more properly be labeled shareables due to portioning. The Nem Nuong Cuon ($9.00) are oversized versions of this spring roll variant - think spider roll diameter as opposed to normal sushi rolls - and are therefore a bit unwieldy to insert into the mouth hole. However, the pork is served blisteringly hot and the overall flavors of the dish and the sauce are on point. I loved both the vinegary carrot and daikon and the crispy shell in the filling.The Banh Khot ($16.00) are a star dish here. "Mini savory pancakes" are a simplistic and insufficient description of these morsels which are coconutty, both soft and crisp, and each topped with perfectly cooked shrimp. The fish sauce for either dipping or ladling is essential for adding salt and umami, and the lettuce (usable as a wrap), mint, and pickled carrot and daikon are essentially for freshness and more flavors.The Bun Mang Ga ($16.00) is a rather unique noodle soup that's full of bamboo flavor. The chicken served with it is actually an authentic "walking chicken" that is more chewy than you might expect from a typical chicken preparation. The ginger sauce served on the side is very potent and adds a fun kick. It's a good rendition.The Banh Cuon ($16.00) is a little bit schizophrenic. The minced pork rolls are solid but could have used fresher rice sheets and more wood ear mushroom. The three different pork roll preparations are not typical for the dish, and the slices could have been further halved. The bean sprouts, cucumbers, crispy shallots, and fragrant greens were all typical and fresh enough though.One of my pet peeves is oversteeping tea, and the Iced Jasmine Tea ($2.00) had just a bit too much of that distinctive bitterness in it which you can't have. I would have been more generous with my rating otherwise.I will say that Yen Viet Kitchen seems to be a very solid Vietnamese restaurant that can execute a variety of non-pho dishes, which is what I have been hoping for in the Las Vegas scene for a long time. You'll definitely find better and/or cheaper in Orange County, but this is a must-try spot for anyone over here who likes Vietnamese food or wants to try something new.
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