Vietnamese is Back on the Menu in Silver Spring
Written by DCist contributor Andrew Schneider
Finding good Vietnamese cuisine in Silver Spring, or any Vietnamese cuisine besides pho, used to be tricky business. No more. The newly opened Lotus Café, on Georgia Ave. around the corner from Jackie’s and within spitting distance of the Red line, is a fantastic addition to Silver Spring’s increasingly diverse culinary scene.
Originally opened in the late ‘90s as Kim Tan, the restaurant became My Le after a change of ownership. My Le fell into increasing disrepair (and an increasing number of rats) following another change of ownership in 2003. The restaurant was finally shuttered following a suspected arson on Halloween, 2007. The property has since reverted to its original ownership, who have aggressively remodeled and refurbished the space with lotus-themed decor, including a charming and expansive open-air deck perfect for a snack and a drink on late summer nights. They serve beer and wine and are open until 1 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and until 10 p.m. on weekdays. This is a big deal in Silver Spring, where much of the town closes down early. Likewise, the rat problem has been resolved.
While Lotus Café serves up generous bowls of pho at a reasonable price, it would be a shame to stop there. We enjoyed Hanoi-style grill with vermicelli (skewered beef, chicken, pork, and shrimp), Half-burn rice noodles (partly-burnt rice noodles with chicken and vegetables in a savory sauce), and Caramel Fish (a hot pot of fish in a sweet ginger-pepper sauce). Our personal favorites were the delectable Beef with Grape Leaves and an outstanding Beef Ceviche (thin-sliced rare beef mixed with onions, nuts, and herbs, and tossed with a sweet-sour-spicy sauce). For dessert, we had the chance to sample one of the better renditions of fried banana in town. All the main dishes and appetizers were accompanied by rice or vermicelli, vegetables, and Thai basil. There is also an entire menu section dedicated to vegetarian dishes. The chef is still tweaking the menu, so now’s the time to head over there and give them some feedback.
Lotus Café
8073 Georgia Ave
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-588-8888
Metro:Silver Spring (Red Line)