Cha Pa's

A few of my coworkers and I decided to head out for lunch one day. We were celebrating the self-termination of one of our friend's job. He hated it and moved onto something better. Yay! So I suggested Vietnamese to change things up a bit. We all arrived to a fairly busy room but luckily we made reservations.

After a quick look over the menu, and assisting some newbies, we ordered. I had the Special Pho ($9) which is a soupy rice noodle dish with round steak, well done flank, brisket, soft tendon, and bible tripe. The soup was fragrant and cloudy which is the way I prefer it. The beef was just okay. Not the best quality. The noodles were chewy and springy. I enjoyed this.

The usual garnishes came with the pho which are bean sprouts, thai basil, and citrus. However, I was also given a plate of sauces, a lemon instead of a lime, and jalapenos.

To try more dishes, I split the Traditional Banh Mi ($7 - lunch special only) with my friend. This sandwich came with pate, roast pork, and pickled vegetables. They were pretty heavy with the vegetables and light on the meat. I wish it was a little more balanced.

One of my friends also got the Grilled Pork Vermicelli Noodle Bowl ($8 - lunch special) and enjoyed it very much.

Overall, I thought the food tasted good. Obviously it's not the best I've had and the prices are higher than normal but the location is very close to Midtown. Even with a mishap with my InBundles coupon not being accepted for lunch specials (neither InBundles or the restaurant clarified this prior to the meal. They have since resolved the issue.) I would definitely go back and try the other dishes. It's a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

Cha Pa's
314 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 956-9300
chapasnyc.com