Vanessa's Bistro

Pho

House-made broth with noticeably more depth than the average Bay Area bowl — the French-trained hand shows in the clarity and layered aromatics

Fresh Spring Rolls

Tightly wrapped rice paper rolls with shrimp and herbs, served with a nuanced peanut dipping sauce that avoids the cloying sweetness common elsewhere

Lemongrass Chicken

Fragrant, caramelized lemongrass chicken with a clean brightness that reads more refined than the typical Vietnamese-American version

Vietnamese Crepe (Bánh Xèo)

Crisp turmeric-laced crepe filled with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts — best eaten immediately, wrapped in lettuce with mint

Clay Pot Dishes

Slow-cooked proteins in caramelized fish-sauce broth — comfort-forward and well-executed, particularly the fish or tofu variations