Clockwise from top: shaking beef, banh mi and Vietnamese spring rolls.
Viet Town is a surprise in the environs of East Towne — a locally owned, sit-down restaurant that’s casual enough for a pop-in but also stylish enough for an occasion. Yes, it’s in a strip mall between a Five Guys and a Potbelly, but the dining room is contemporary, upbeat and restful. The soundtrack is muted and runs to light jazz.
Vietnamese dishes have been in short supply on the east side for a long time, so Viet Town is a welcome addition. The menu is divided into noodle soup (pho), vermicelli ( bún), rice plates (cơm), Vietnamese sandwiches, and “specialties.” Pho fans (and there are plenty of them here bent over their soup bowls) will find multiple varieties, with the menu favoring beef in many cuts (with one chicken option), but Viet Town puts its best foot forward with its banh mi…