Mai Kitchen, recently welcomed to Virginia Highland, recently held its soft opening. Co-Owners Alex Kinjo and Cong Nguyen offer an authentic Vietnamese menu designed to give every bite its full flavor profile.
At this restaurant, guests are treated to an intimate yet cozy dining experience, featuring cut-out shelves bursting with bottles and flowers. The menu specializes in dishes that can be quickly prepared in a small kitchen for large groups; examples of such offerings are banh mi sandwiches, bowls of pho, and hu tieu noodles with fried tofu; as well as grilled pork buns inspired by both American bbq and Chinese-style lettuce wraps; there is even beef carpaccio served with herbs onion lime zest & nuoc mam sauce!
Kinjo and Nguyen promise that over time, this restaurant will continue to evolve by adding craft cocktails, redesigned back patio and other upgrades. Their aim is for every patron to feel as though they're entering their family home, which was inspired by hospitality of their mother's restaurants in Saigon. Furthermore, the family hopes to preserve versions of food eaten there prior to becoming Westernized - two goals we all share together.
