Mobile Food Scene-
Yen Vietnamese Restaurant
763 Holcombe Avenue, Mobile, AL
(251) 478-5814
Website: http://www.yenrestaurant.com/index.htm
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Hours: Closed Mon, Sun, Tues - Thurs 11AM - 8PM
Friday & Saturday 11AM - 9PM
Dinner for 2: Under $35 not including tip
Mobile Food Scene rating: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
(251) 478-5814
Website: http://www.yenrestaurant.com/index.htm
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Hours: Closed Mon, Sun, Tues - Thurs 11AM - 8PM
Friday & Saturday 11AM - 9PM
Dinner for 2: Under $35 not including tip
Mobile Food Scene rating: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
There is a huge lack of places to have a good brunch in Mobile. So we gave up on that and had our other traditional Sunday food, Vietnamese. That may seem strange but trust us, when you have been partying all weekend, there is nothing like some pho to get you feeling better soon.
Admittedly, Yen is one of our favorite restaurants in Mobile. From the first day we went there, we knew we would be back many times. Since moving to Mobile, we have been there at least 10 or so times, including the time we took my parents.
Having been there so many times, it was difficult to find something we have not tried yet. For an appetizer, we decided to order the Mưc Bò Tái Chanh, Rare Beef & Calamari in Lemon Juice, from the Cold Appetizers section of the menu.
First off, the rare beef is a misnomer. The beef on our plate was fully cooked. However, we have seen this called rare at many restaurants and it is always served cooked. This did not detract from the dish at all, mostly we just wanted to make sure that people are aware they will not be turned off by the idea of raw meat. Also, we didn't notice any pork skin in our salad. It may have been there, just too small to notice.
The salad is cold, crisp, and very fresh. It is the perfect summer salad. The calamari, is cooked to perfection, and not one it rubbery. The finely shredded onions, basil, bird chiles, and lemon sauce all come together to make a very flavorful dish.
Admittedly, Yen is one of our favorite restaurants in Mobile. From the first day we went there, we knew we would be back many times. Since moving to Mobile, we have been there at least 10 or so times, including the time we took my parents.
Having been there so many times, it was difficult to find something we have not tried yet. For an appetizer, we decided to order the Mưc Bò Tái Chanh, Rare Beef & Calamari in Lemon Juice, from the Cold Appetizers section of the menu.
First off, the rare beef is a misnomer. The beef on our plate was fully cooked. However, we have seen this called rare at many restaurants and it is always served cooked. This did not detract from the dish at all, mostly we just wanted to make sure that people are aware they will not be turned off by the idea of raw meat. Also, we didn't notice any pork skin in our salad. It may have been there, just too small to notice.
The salad is cold, crisp, and very fresh. It is the perfect summer salad. The calamari, is cooked to perfection, and not one it rubbery. The finely shredded onions, basil, bird chiles, and lemon sauce all come together to make a very flavorful dish.
Up next was the Com Cari Tôm, Gà, hoạc Bo, Spicy Curry Shrimp found under the Rice Entrees heading. We chose this one since we'd never had it before, in order to further expand our knowledge of the menu, and we weren't disappointed. The flavorful curry had a strong, pleasantly floral aroma. Coconut curries have such a velvety texture and as with every dish we've had at Yen's they perfectly balanced the flavors. Perfectly cooked shrimp were presented in surprising combination with potatoes so soft they could barely retain their shape any longer. It was delicious.
The grand finale this time was Bún Bò Huê, Spicy Beef Noodle Soup, Hue Style found under the Main Course Soups Pho part of the menu. Although we have had Yen's version of this rich, spicy stew before, Miles just couldn't resist. Trying new dishes at Yen's has served us well every time, but we can only go so long without returning to one of our favorites.
Bún Bò Huê is a combination of beef and pork broth and it is the polar opposite of Pho, that other great Vietnamese soup. Were as Pho is based on a light broth, Bún is a heavyweight in all aspects. It is unabashedly rich, spicy and meaty, although not everything floating in your bowl is there to eat. No serving of Bún is complete without chunks of pig's feet or hog's knuckles, which continue to impart their glorious flavor into the soup long after it lands in front of you at the table. Thick rice noodles and multiple types of thinly sliced meats fill out the meal, which invariably needs a dose of lemon or lime and a topping of freshly torn basil and cilantro leaves added in. Although the option of adding more thai bird chiles was presented to us, the soup was already spicy hot when it arrived.
With this delicious spread in front of us, we ate to our hearts' content once again.
Overall, and by this we mean to include every meal we've ever had at Yen, the food was fantastic. On that merit alone, we highly recommend you give it a shot as soon as possible. But we must warn you, there are some challenges you'll have to overcome. Yen is a small place with a very small staff on hand. Most of the time it's not a problem but when the tables fill up, their lone server has his hands full. We rarely ever see a second person on the dining room floor, and usually only in a busser capacity. If you arrive and the parking lot is full, just remember that patience is a virtue and your reward will be oh so tasty.