In Tempe, Arizona, a small family-owned restaurant called Vietshack is making waves with its authentic Vietnamese cuisine, served up in a space that's all heart and commitment to tradition. Thuong Huynh, alongside his wife Ngan Vo, has nurtured Vietshack into a beloved local eatery that began its journey via Facebook Marketplace. According to Arizona's Family, Ngan originally started to quickly sell her homemade spring rolls and egg rolls online, drawing in a crowd so large that the couple was compelled to open a brick-and-mortar shop to better serve their burgeoning customer base.
Despite boasting a near five-star rating on Yelp, you won't find an elaborate menu at Vietshack. Instead, the Huynh family has chosen to concentrate on a select number of dishes. Thuong Huynh told Arizona's Family, "Our big concept here was just to make Vietnamese food accessible and easy." They aim to provide a fast, casual environment where orders can be turned around relatively quickly — an essential quality for the bustling life of Tempe locals.
However, visitors seeking the traditional Vietnamese noodle soup, Phở, might find themselves surprised. Thuong explains that they opted to not include Phở on the menu, in order to spotlight other regional and fusion dishes that are just as central to Vietnamese cuisine. Among the specialties that have made a mark are the four different bánh mì sandwiches the restaurant offers, combining Asian fillings with French bread – a nod to Vietnam's culinary history. These dishes, says Thuong, often provide "a good time to just kind of educate them about, like, all these other different dishes that are part of the Vietnamese cuisine," as detailed by Arizona Family.
The dedication to authenticity extends beyond the food to the restaurant's aesthetic, with decor sourced from the couple's visits to Vietnam. From the trinkets to the paintings that adorn the walls, diners at Vietshack can anticipate a truly immersive experience. The address for those eager to taste the family's famous grilled pork and peanut sauce dishes is 7510 S Priest Dr #104, Tempe, AZ 85283, with doors open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., as reported by Ginzadolo.
