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Vegan
Delivery
Take-out
Asian
Catering
Vietnamese
Fully vegan Vietnamese cuisine. Makes its own mock meats. Basic decor. Cards accepted over 15 dollars. Reported fully vegan September 2022. Open Mon-Sun 10:00am-8:00pm.
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- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 13 Nov 2024 by geometric-noise
Update business info
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79 Reviews
First Review by infinitriet
Shmoopsify
Points +183
Will definitely be back - Edit
Haven’t been to Van Hanh in over 3 years and I’m not really sure why. And now I’m mad I haven’t cuz we went yesterday and it was just as good as I remember. We had the Buddha Bowl, Curry and a Banh Mi. All of it was so good. The Buddha Bowl was filling but light and refreshing. The curry was flavorful, smelled awesome too! The ban mi was great too.
Read morePros: Quality food
Cons: Prices went up since Covid, but WHO’s haven’tWHO’s
Guest
dm210126
Points +123
Delicious! - Edit
Just moved into the neighborhood so I thought I'd give this restaurant a try. I love being able to order anything off the menu! Ordered the Hue Spicy Soup. It just might be my new addiction. So tasty with just the right level of spice. Looking forward to my next visit!
Read morePros: Delicious food , Nice people , Convenient location
Guest
Spoon
Points +426
My Fav PDX restaurant 🤤 - Edit
Editing my previous review to say. Wow. I love this place! Everything I've had so far is super authentic & delicious. It's like I'm eating home cooked vietnamese food but vegan & I should know as half my family is vietnamese. The Buddha Bowl is my favorite. I've been like 6 times now & it's my fav PDX restaurant. 😻💕
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-11-28
Pros: Vegetarian , Affordable, Good parking
Guest
ChloeCisneros
Points +79
Always delicious! - Edit
I eat here very frequently, it never gets old. I love their orange “chicken”.
Read moreGuest
LorraineGadsden
Points +7778
Delicious - Edit
My family and I stopped by for lunch, and it was absolutely delicious. We ordered pho, curry soup, spicy soup, a pork dish, spring rolls, and fish cakes. The soups were perfect for a rainy day, loaded with meat substitutes and fresh veggies. The pork dish was crispy, and my boyfriend said he would drive to Portland (we are from Seattle) just to have it again. The overall vibe was comforting, the person working was friendly, and the interior was a warm place to eat. Highly recommend giving this place a try! #Veganuary
Read moreGuest
notamandolin
Points +219
I love it - Edit
I stop here as often as possible. I've liked everything I've had - the buddha bowl with tofu, the papaya salad, tofu banh mi, steam bun, and almond cookies. Plus I got to have a thai tea for the first time since going dairyless 15+ years ago, which was an extra special treat.
Read morePros: Food is great, Staff is friendly, Parking is easy
Guest
OperationChowhound
Points +12690
Bland Broccoli Beef - Edit
I ordered Spring Rolls and Broccoli Beef. The Spring Rolls include lettuce, jicama, carrot, and a side of peanut sauce. I tasted cilantro (which I dislike), but it's not included in the ingredients on the website. I didn't like the flavor of the peanut sauce. The Broccoli Beef had little sauce or flavor. It includes white rice, with no option for brown. The entire meal was overpriced and underwhelming.
Read morePros: quick service, big portions
Cons: overpriced
Guest
mchg
Points +111
Friendly and delicious - Edit
Their papaya salad is so fresh and amazing!
Read moreGuest
coleweso123
Points +136
Great vegan food!! - Edit
Lady that helped us said that everything on the menu is vegan even though the sign says vegetarian. The lemongrass chicken is an absolute must try. It is so delicious and has the crispy skin that i think is made with rice paper. Blown away. The dumplings and egg rolls were good also. I wasn't a huge fan of the house special but everything else was S-tier.
Read moreGuest
DianaDīlee
Points +179
Papaya Salad is Delicious - Edit
Loved the papaya salad and greatly appreciated substitution of tofu for broccoli since I have a soy allergy. Also allergic to carrots so they kept those out. I had the mung bean crepe. It was fried with oil and would have much preferred a very light sauté to taste more of the beans and natural flavor. But all in all I recommend this place. I didn’t find any ingredient that is not vegan and asked them. The previous owner did not know the meaning of vegan. It should be re-classified as vegan.
Read moreGuest
AmberPollard
Points +577
My new go to! - Edit
And the whole family agreed it was some of the best food we’d ever had!
Read moreGuest
GyanS
Points +100
Great vegan food! - Edit
Enjoyed stop over to grab lunch on way to Seattle. A must visit Asian vegan food restaurant!
Read morePros: Tasty hot and sour sop!, Very clean and friendly inside, Reasonable price
Guest
pagebypage
Points +57
Better than it looks on the outside - Edit
Let me say first, it was quite easy to order online. Most Vietnamese places have both vegetarian and meat options, but most of them here on the eastside make it really hard to order online. This place was easy.
Read moreWe ordered the Banh Xeo crepe which was excellent. Also the Buddha dish. I decided to add in the "vegan meat." It's a yuba with a delicious crispy coating. We will definitely be ordering again.
Pros: vegan meat, crepe (banh xeo)
Cons: crepe lettuce was a bit small
Guest
shoskote
Points +127
Amazing little spot in Portland - Edit
Dumplings with mung beans were great! Buddha bowl also highly recommended! Spring rolls with jicama added a different touch. Pad Thai was great as well. Hostess was very welcoming. Outdoor seating is available.
Read moreGuest
Aniseed
Points +5323
Yummy vegan Viet cuisine - Edit
Really delicious Vietnamese cuisine, loved the E2 vegan crab noodle soup, dumplings and taro drink. When we went it wasnt open for indoor dining but there's picnic tables outside. Very friendly staff and good food!
Read moreVanHanh
Thank you very much for your feedback, please visit us at www.VanHanh.us
Read moreGuest
RamonaAlvarez
Points +18
Mediocre - Edit
My fried rice was dry and without seasoning. Egg rolls were good. Thank goodness I ordered sweet and sour sauce. Not so happy with my order. Won't order from here again.
Read morePros: Egg rolls
Cons: Fried rice
Guest
theplantbasedsoul
Points +658
Food is 👌🏼 - Edit
Have been going here for years— one my of my family’s favorite Portland spots. Given the situation of Covid19, we ordered take out— still delicious!
Read morePros: Good price, Extensive menu
Guest
helvegen
Points +44
Great and affordable - Edit
This place may be a little out of the way for some but is definitely worth the trip. The restaurant is run by Buddhists and from what our server told us all of the dishes are vegan. I think they may offer dairy milk for their Thai tea but thats the only thing not vegan here. They recently remodeled and changed up their menu. Our server was super nice and helpful and the portions were huge for only paying $10 for an entree. Go check it out!
Read morePros: Super affordable/large portions, good service, newly remodeled interior
Guest
VanHanh
Points +135
Open Monday-Sunday 10am-9pm - Edit
New menu and just remodel
Read moreGuest
ledruide
Points +71
A Must Whenever We're in Portland - Edit
We eat here every time we visit Portland, which is at least three times a year. If I didn't live 700 miles away I'd eat here every week. Yes, it's heavy on the faux meats, but I didn't go vegan because I didn't like meat. (I went vegan because I didn't want to be a barbarian any more.)
Read moreThe creativity that these folks put into their food blows my mind. For instance, the "house special" (#43) consists of layered gluten, bean curd, tapioca, and taro that is superbly seasoned with a mix of savory and slightly sweet flavors. The "meat" layer is delightfully chewy, while the "fat" more less melts in your mouth (even though I'm sure it's fat-free, or close to it). The "spicy spare ribs" (#31) are rolls of gluten, sliced and sauteed (I think) with, again, beautifully balanced spices.
And if you don't like mock meats there are plenty of other options, including soups and noodles. Yes, the managing nun is taciturn by western standards, but when she's a little less busy she is happy to talk to you -- especially if she recognizes you -- and her smile really lights up the room.
I have seen dairy milk in the refrigerator, but I am pretty certain it is only used to make chai. I can't say why they use it, and I'm willing to overlook that little foible for all the positive karmic energy otherwise manifested there. This place is one of the true gems of Portland's robust vegan dining scene.
Updated from previous review on 2020-02-22
Pros: Creative flavors and textures, great karma, great prices
Cons: Somewhat dingy (sit outside or take out), too far from my home.
ledruide
Oops, my "dingy" comment is based on my last visit in September. From the newer pix here I'd say the interior has been significantly upgraded. I'll see it for myself in a couple of days.
Read moreGuest
AlliaDianeRose
Points +163
Great One of a kind food - Edit
I was pleasantly surprised. Great customer service and the whole place is update and painted! Tried Egg rolls, Spring rolls and the Papaya Salad. They even gave me a little sample of the House Special which is a mock fried pork. Everything was delicious (Posted Pictures of all three!) Springs rolls are great and a healthy alternative to the Egg Rolls which we deep fried and absolutely delicious. The Papaya Salad was a huge portion and tasted amazing. It's now tied with Kati Thai in my top two favorite Papaya salads. Not saying it's better but different, much more for your buck and still delicious with a mock meat as well. The mock meat on top of the Papaya salad is a soy based meat alternative that is layered with green onions. It was different but tasted great together. They have spicy soups, orange chicken, and all kinds of other foods that I'm excited to go back and try ❤️
Read moreBACK STORY OF VAN HANH:
Originally the lady monk who owns and runs it came to US with other women and a male monk. The place was originally a temple but the male monk left and she had nothing and was about to lose this place Which is also her home. Her one skill was cooking so she started making food and gradually opened it as restaurant. From this she was eventually able to buy the building, then a car. She helps support a local Temple and sends money to orphan kids in Vietnam. Now she is getting older and has pain in her knees and can’t stand up cooking all day so is training younger female monk to help. This guy is helping them out by fixing up the restaurant.
Pros: All Vegan with lots of options, Good prices, Good Portions
Cons: Closed Tuesdays
VanHanh
it opens Monday-Sunday 10am-9pm now, also available online order services from Uber Eats, DoorDash, Postmate...
Read moreGuest
mykohl
Points +40
Awesome food! - Edit
Wonderful little gem of a place, with an almost overwhelming variety of vegan food, all of it done-up right. The vegan bao buns are just absolutely crazy-good. Best of all, it's super cheap!
Read moreGuest
JustusPost
Points +72
Delicious Vegan Food! - Edit
Order by number - Small, local shop with house made vegan food, moc meats, opersted by compassionate people; Buddhist nuns sharing their mostly traditional Vietnamese cuisine. Wide range of options from soups to savory moc meat
Read morePros: Almost everything is vegan. Not corporate
Cons: Not much English, best to order by number
Guest
roya_PDX
Points +66
Best vegan restaurant in Portland--not typical! - Edit
I am a vegan in Portland and this is my favorite restaurant in the city. It is also the top choice of several of my friends (both vegan and non-vegan, and both local and visiting). I even have two friends who make dedicated trips here every time they are in town! Van Hanh is a very special place. For one, the food is incredible, and extremely well priced for a) the quality and b) the portion sizes (you can always count on taking home leftovers). For another, everything is cooked and served by Buddhist nuns, with all proceeds from the restaurant benefiting their nearby temple. Yes, some dishes are mock-meat heavy, but the nun who cooks makes almost all of these mock meats from scratch (try the "House Special" for something out of this world!). Every dish I have tried here is either excellent or very good, and I've tried nearly every item on the menu, delighted always by the inventiveness and variety in the dishes, and the generosity of the staff. Personal favorites include the Flat Noodles, Sushi Rolls, House Special, Spicy Spare Ribs, Papaya Salad, Kung Pao Chicken (better than the mixed mock meat version), and Curried Vegetable. For those who are expecting typical (read: Western/American) service "standards" or predictable and popular Asian food fare on the menu, you will be disappointed. The staff are generally quiet, do not speak very much English, and service is slower than a typical US restaurant. This is in large part because only one or two people work at a time, with one of them cooking everything from scratch. It is recommended that you either make the time that the food and overall experience deserve or call in for take out (and plan to wait for a bit for that, too). I would also mention that for those who live far from its location (just east of SE 82nd Ave on SE Division), it is well worth the car/transit/bike ride! I have always seen and met such a wonderfully diverse mix of customers at Van Hanh--from a number of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, including many Vietnamese--that shows how the food and atmosphere are appreciated by many. I have been here multiple times a month since I moved to Portland several years ago and have no plans of stopping. I hope others read this and give the restaurant a chance, so as to discover the many ways in which is it is delicious, affordable, and unique! A Portland gem, especially recommended for those who want to experience another side of Portland food options and culture--locals and travelers alike!
Read morePros: All vegan (maybe minor exceptions?), Unique/delicious/cheap food experience, Affordable prices help Buddhist temple
Cons: Sometimes service (but worth it!!!)
Guest
jtyburski
Points +1696
Delicious Vietnamese - Edit
Van Hahn is located in the bottom floor of a house converted over to a restaurant use. I’ve read elsewhere that it’s staffed by nuns who run it to support their spiritual endeavors.
Read moreIt’s fairly small and the staff is really just one or two women who are running around between the front and back to serve and prepare the food. However, the food is very well made and very affordable for the pricing. It’s not all strictly Vietnamese (some dishes are Thai or pan-Asian), but the spicing and heat is definitely more in line with Vietnamese style dishes.
Pros: Decent assortment of Vietnamese and pan-Asian
Cons: Can get busy, with longer wait times
Guest
GlicMathan
Points +274
There is LOVE infused in the food! - Edit
I can't say enough great things about this incredible vegan dining experience. The owner is a Buddhist sister and prepares everything from the love in her heart. Seriously!
Read moreThis is Vietnamese style food. The Kung Pao sauce is Vietnamese style -- spicy and delicious. If you don't like hot chilies, you should go with dishes that have the Saigon sauce. If you like chilies, you will not likely find the Kung Pao sauce too hot.
Everything is made from scratch. I’m not a big fan of mock meats at other restaurants as they taste so processed. I order tofu almost always on auto pilot. By contrast, the mock meats at Van Hahn are, in my opinion, about as good as they get. And I’ve eaten at many vegan restaurants from coast to coast and abroad.
Everything she makes is fresh and not overdone. I get tired of other Asian restaurants that over use sugar and salt (and sometimes MSG). Not at Van Hahn. Like the owner/chef herself, the food is in balanced harmony.
The fact so many of her customers are Vietnamese is a testament to how great the food is. It's nice to see multi generational families and other sisters from her temple eating there. I always feel like I’m transported into another dimension every time I visit. With all the vegan restaurants in Portland that I also like, I go to Van Hahn mostly when visiting -- sometimes eating dinner there and going back the next day for lunch.
Last but not least, this restaurant is NON PROFIT! All the money you spend here goes to the Buddhist temple. I can't recall any other non profit vegan restaurant where your money goes directly towards promoting health, compassion and non violence.
I hope others will support this business. The owner only has one day off a week and works very hard. I hope others at the temple and community will try to help her out as they can. It's a lot of work making everything herself from scratch.
If you are the only people there, you can count on quick service. If you see it's busy, expect to wait a little while as she only has two hands! FYI, the owner's English is somewhat limited (by her own admission) so please keep this in mind. Please don't think she's being rude when she probably doesn't understand what you're saying. I find it helpful to point at the items we want.
Pros: Tasty, healthy food!, Generous, loving portions!, Generous, loving owner/chef!
Cons: None whatsoever!
Guest
Aredwolf
Points +16
Mostly Vegan - Edit
Mostly Vegan. However the Thai tea and coffees are made with dairy milk.
Read moreCons: Dairy milk is used in the drinks
Guest
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