Fast-casual Le House Vietnamese delivers classic dishes
Le House Vietnamese Restaurant is a simple, straightforward concept — classic Vietnamese dishes in a fast-casual, modern atmosphere — and the restaurant in downtown Orlando delivers just that.
What I would try a second time
Fried fresh to order, Le House’s chicken wings ($8) are doused with a mixture of garlic, chili and fish sauce.
The result? Five crunchy pieces bathed in a perfectly balanced sauce: slight sweet, no spice, and a touch of saltiness.
What I didn’t like
Our server was friendly and sweet — but literally all over the place. It was difficult to grab her attention or that of a busboy for refills or other items.
What I would put on Instagram
A steaming bowl of pho along with its pile of accompaniments is always a tasty-looking photo. Le House’s pho Saigon ($9) topped the noodle soup with meatballs, and slices of round-eye-steak and brisket. The broth itself was light and fragrant — an ideal base to doctor up with the bean sprouts, basil, wheels of jalapeno, lime wedges, hoisin sauce and sriracha sauce that flank the dish. Other eats
Plump summer rolls ($4) starred in the appetizer round until our wings arrived. Stuffed with a shrimp, grilled pork slice and noodles, the two rice paper rolls were refreshing thanks to generous amounts of lettuce, mint
and basil.
An accompanying thick peanut sauce gave the fresh rolls a touch of salty richness.
Le House’s hearty fried rice wasn’t the greasy mound of rice some may expect from the dish. My guest opted for the combination platter ($10), which comes with shrimp, pork sausage, and pieces of pork.
How I was treated
Despite our server’s scatterbrained attitude, I appreciated the manager coming by to check on us at the end of our meal — and for the timeliness of the meal itself.
My next visit
I’ll be coming hungry for Le House’s heaping vermicelli noodle bowls which consist of rice noodles piled with lettuce, cucumber, pickled carrot and daikon, fried onion, crumbled peanut, a spring roll and likely pork slices (shrimp, chicken and beef are also available).
For bar-hoppers
Forget the alcohol (Le House doesn’t serve any) and opt for a Vietnamese Cafe, or iced coffee, instead. This creamy, almost chocolate-like concoction serves as dessert and caffeine pick-me-up.
For those with special diets
Two vegetarian dishes are highlighted on the menu — a rice plate as well as a vemicelli noodles. Vegan “meat” or tofu can be added to either of these $11 dishes.