District One

District One was overwhelmingly the top choice for Vietnamese food in our survey. That’s no surprise, since Chef Khai Vu's modern take on the cuisine has the ingenuity to draw in foodies, yet remains approachable enough to attract a mainstream audience. And it doesn't hurt that the dining room is a stylish, contemporary space, making it one of the most engaging restaurants in Chinatown.

The food, of course, is the best reason to visit – especially signature dishes like the oxtail fried rice and a ribeye chow fun with turmeric rice noodles. Then there’s the famed lobster pho, made with a full 1.5 pound Maine lobster that’s had the meat is loosened from the shell.

“Chef Khai keeps it fresh, because he goes back to Vietnam as often as he can and comes back with new ideas and new ingredients. He’s always studying," write Elaine and Scott Harris of Cuisineist. "And the pho is just absolutely delightful. You can’t find any dish like it anywhere in town. It’s so rich and satisfying."

Even the cocktails have attractive creative touches, especially the Hennessy Cafe Sua Da, a boozy spin on classic Vietnamese Coffee.