*** Vietnam Kitchen
5339 Mitscher Ave.
(502) 363-5154

Vietnam Kitchen Primarily serving Louisville's South End Vietnamese-American community, this spot in the old Iroquois Manor Shopping Center just off South Third Street near Iroquois Park is well worth the discovery for the rest of us Americans.

The chef here goes beyond the ordinary, preparing dishes of unusual subtlety and flavor; whether I go with standards like pho (large, generous portions of Vietnamese soup and noodles with meat or fish) or try something more exotic, I have yet to be disappointed with the quality of the food or service at Vietnam Kitchen.

Originally very small and spartan, it recently remodeled and expanded into additional space in its shopping-center storefront and now boasts a fairly large and comfortable dining room. With prices that make it hard to spend more than $20 for a very filling lunch for two, it's well worth a trip to the South End. $