Phở Bằng

There was no chance the bánh cuốn (Vietnamese rice crepe) at Phở Bằng could compare to the real deal here or here but it was surprisingly good for a nothing special Chinese-run Vietnamese restaurant in Chinatown. It's the combination of flavors and textures that makes bánh cuốn so delicious; ground pork and dried black mushrooms wrapped in a slightly chewy rice crepe and topped off with crunchy shallots, bean sprouts, corriander and that all pervasive Vietnamese dipping sauce, nước chấm. We didn't check if it's actually listed on the menu, but it is written on the wall.
Pho Bang, 157 Mott Street btwn Grand and Broome