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| - I've never expected great decor from Vietnamese eateries, but a Viet restaurant inside in 50's style diner is something I've never thought I'd see. It's strange but understandable after the economic crash and restaurants closing over night causing property owners to rent out space quickly and cheaply.
Lemongrass is the exact place where you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. It serves up some of the most authentic everyday Vietnamese dishes, there are even a couple of specialties I've never seen anywhere else in Vegas.
There are the standard Pho noodle soups, vermicelli noodle salads, and Banh Mi sandwiches, which allow me to never have to drive to Chinatown if I have a craving for the usual fare.
But if you're a non-Vietnamese and have never had something besides the dishes listed above, let me draw your attention to a few Viet offerings that are less-known but just as delicious:
1. Stuffed Calamari: fresh squid stuffed with minced glass noodle, shrimp, and ground pork and then deep fried. This dish is time-consuming to make and doesn't yield too much profit (which explains why I've mainly had it home-made) but completely yummy.
2. Tuna in Tomato Sauce: a peasant favorite that stands the test of time; it brings me back to the days of when my grandma used to cook this for me. It sounds simple and it is: tuna filets are fried and then topped with crushed tomatoes with garlic and basil. Simplicity in peasant food is usually what makes it so emotional.
3. Lotus Salad: usually seen at parties, a rare exception (we don't have too many salads) in Vietnamese cuisine that works. Thin pieces of lotus stems are mixed with jicama, pork, shrimp, and mint, then topped with roasted peanuts and served with tamarind fish sauce. A healthy alternative as an appetizer or main entree.
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