A great new find in Chinatown ID
By Matthew Amster-Burton
Special to The Seattle Times
Green Leaf, a new Vietnamese restaurant in the Chinatown International District, serves a variety of rice dishes, noodles, soups and salads, all at reasonable prices. Of course, you could say the same about most neighborhood Vietnamese restaurants in town. But Green Leaf is special: It sets a new standard.
Green Leaf's street presence is nothing more than a tall sign with a green leaf on it, but step inside, and you'll feel instantly welcomed.
The small dining room, comfortably bustling, is decorated with tons of bamboo and has those snazzy, black reflective tables. The service is friendly and watchful. Empty platters seem to disappear of their own accord, and everything I ordered arrived quickly.
April 23, 2007 - The grilled chicken and pork in the combo vermicelli was smoked well and very flavorful. Of all the dishes we had, our favorite was the humungous bowl of escargot noodles. And the coconut juice was so refreshing after a warm day and a stroll around Seward Park. The staff is warm and inviting and very helpful in picking new dishes to try.
Editorial Review for Green Leaf – by Anna Roth
In Short Pioneer Square workers and neighborhood locals generally know the best spots in the ID, and they pack this tiny restaurant's faux-bamboo interior at mealtimes. Friendly servers promptly provide earthenware mugs of tea upon seating; the food comes gorgeously arranged in matching bowls. Savory pho and the omelette-like banh xeo are the big draws here, but the crisp green mango salad and the spring rolls, with a fried crunch in the center, also satisfy.