Minh’s

2500 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA (703) 525-2828

For our first official dine out of 2009, Dottie and I had the pleasure of introducing soon to be newly weds, Josh and Kim, to Minh’s in Arlington.  At first, we had initially spontaneously decided on Ray’s Steaks but when we arrived at Ray’s at 6 PM the hostesses informed us we wouldn’t be able to get seated until after 9 PM … boo.  Since we were in the neighborhood and starving, I suggested Minh’s or as Kim heard, Mince.  So we headed up Wilson.  I first thought we could walk it but I’m glad we rode up in Josh’s car because the walk would have been long and cold.

Minh’s has been consistently listed in the Washingtonian Top 100 Restaurants for years.  Dottie and I have eaten at Minh’s numerous times and for me it is by far the BEST Vietnamese Restaurant in the area.  And yes I have eaten at Four Sisters in Eden and also in their new location in Falls Church which is also considered the top Vietnamese Restaurant in the DC area so I come from that experience.  But for me, Minh’s is tastier and more authentic than Four Sisters.

When we arrived we were seated quickly and it was nice to see Minh’s had new menus that were really authentic, something I’ve never seen before.  Instead of your normal standard print menu that come in the big folder, these menus were on torn paper to give that feeling of reading an ancient manuscript and were printed landscape.  It’s these small details which make dining out memorable.

Josh ordered a beer (unfortunately they were out of 33), Kim and Dottie had Chilean red wine and I had an ice coffee.  Note – if you order an ice coffee at night from Minh’s don’t plan on sleeping any time soon.  The ice coffee was potent as NoDose.  Dottie and I did the ordering of food because we know their menu well.

We started off with shrimp-and-sweet-potato cakes.  This is a wonderful appetizer accompanied with fresh lettuce, mint and a vinegar sauce.  It was delicious and had us craving for more.  

Next arrived sizzling catfish and from what I heard Minh’s is the only Vietnamese restaurant that serves this dish.  The sizzling skillet of catfish perfumed with dill is also served with vermicelli, fresh lettuce and mint and fish sauce for dipping.  Kim got hit with a piece of the sizzling shrapnel.  Another fish dish was also served, the catfish in claypot.  This bubbling cauldron of catfish in a sweet sauce is a great contrast to the first fish dish.  We started dining when the remaining dishes arrived.  Shaky beef (Bo Luc Lac), my favorite dish, comes with tender marinated filet mignon, peppers, onions, mushroom with a pepper lemon dipping sauce.  And lastly, tofu with lemongrass, a dish with some kick.

With all these 4 dishes on our table, we had to clear our waters and anything extra in order to make it all fit.  The feast began and our conversations went from long dialogue to “Wow!  MMMM!  Sick!  Oh my gosh.  Can you give me some more of that?”  

Kim at one point had to leave the table because her nose was running from the spiciness of either the tofu with lemongrass or the lemon pepper sauce for the Shaky beef.  Haha.

The meal was absolutely delicious and only 2 dishes had barely enough left over to take home.  We finished the meal with fried bananas in rum, flamed tableside  with green tea ice cream.  

Overall it was an incredible dinner.  We finally got to spend time with Josh and Kim and it was all adults, no kids.  Thanks Josh and Kim for a memorable night.

Minh’s is one of favorite restaurants in the DC area and I give Minh’s my highest recommendation.

4.5 out of 5 STARS