Soall Viet Kitchen: Another Amazing Lunch

The bubbling and aromatic dish above is the Chicken Claypot from Soall Viet Kitchen in Beverly, and it's probably my favorite dish at this excellent Vietnamese restaurant. 

Soall was also one of my Favorite Restaurants of 2022 and I noted that "the two owners, Sa Nguyen and Mia Lunt, offer authentic Vietnamese cuisine, to highlight the culinary delights of their homeland. The food is fresh, well-prepared, delicious and reasonably priced." Recently, I dined there for lunch once again, and the food was at the top of its game: fresh, delicious, and well-made. Each dish couldn't have tasted any better. This is why it's one of my favorite restaurants, and why my readers need to dine there as well. 

We started with the Sweet Potato & Shrimp Fritters ($9), composed of very thin and crunchy slices of sweet potato (like a nest of French fries), which concealed plump shrimp within its center. The sweet chili sauce that accompanies this dish is a nice addition. This is one of my favorite "Snacks" on their menu, and each fritter is a good size as a starter for your meal.

The Steamed Pork Bao ($10), is made cucumber, pickled veggies, and Vietnamese mayo. The fresh, soft bao is filled with plenty of tender, thinly sliced pork, that has a savory and delicious sauce, similar in many respects to a barbecue sauce. It tastes similar to the sauce they use on their braised pork ribs. The cucumber and pickled veggies add a nice crunchy aspect, as well as some different flavors. 

The Chicken Claypot ($17.50) is made with small pieces of tender chicken in a caramelized sweet and savory sauce, with a couple chili peppers. It's accompanied by jasmine rice, or noodles, with some pickled and fresh veggies. It's also served bubbling hot and the aromas are so enticing. The chicken is moist and tender, and the sauce possesses a great depth of flavor, nicely balanced between sweet and savory, and with a mild bit of spicy heat. The veggies act as a nice palate cleanser to the richer sauce. You can also order this dish with salmon instead of chicken, and it is equally as delicious. If you dine at Soall, you definitely should order this dish.

This was the first time we ordered the Caramelized Pork Chop ($21.50), a center-cut chop marinated with garlic-lemongrass and honey, caramelized in a pan then finished in the oven. It's atop a bowl of rice, pickled veggies and fresh veggies. It was large and thick, cooked perfectly, tender, moist and flavorful, and with a delectable glaze. Definitely one of the best pork chops I've tasted in quite some time. 

Get yourself to Soall Viet Kitchen and enjoy some of the best Vietnamese cuisine on the North Shore.