Isolated from other restaurants and in between a cluster of Reston condominiums lies a hidden treasure trove of mouthwatering Vietnamese food that’s called Lantern House Kitchen & Bar. 

The 7-month old eatery serves up traditional Vietnamese and Asian dishes, with their main goal being to introduce Americans to the unique and delectable flavors of Vietnamese cuisine. 

My dad is half Vietnamese, and the way that we’ve connected with our culture would be monthly outings to pho restaurants to feast on our favorite comfort food. On a Friday night after a long day of school and track, nothing could make my empty stomach happier than getting in the car and my dad greeting me with, “We’re trying out a new Vietnamese restaurant!” Thankfully for my stomach, Lantern House was only a seven minute drive away from South Lakes. 

Upon entering, we were surrounded by colorful lanterns lining the ceilings along with pinterest-worthy decorations that adorned the walls. We were greeted by friendly waiter and manager Tran, who seated us and explained all of the unique dishes that Lantern House offered. 

Though we usually resort to ordering pho, my dad and I decided to switch it up after Tran described the exciting menu. We ordered a plethora of dishes, including Golden Spring Rolls, Shaking Beef, Traditional Caramelized Fish, and the Viet Crispy/Pan Noodle. 

First to arrive, the Golden Spring Rolls came out piping hot on a bed of lettuce, accompanied by a dish of tangy sauce. The spring rolls were satisfyingly crispy, with a filling packed with savory flavor. The meat was peppery and perfectly cooked.

After devouring the two rolls, we were excited for what was to come. To our delight, a sizzling pan of Shaking Beef was delivered to our table soon after. The marinade and sauce was slightly sweet and tangy with a kick of ginger, and the beef was cooked to the perfect texture. 

Soon to follow was the Viet Crispy/Pan Noodle with seafood. The crunchy noodles were a unique and enjoyable bite, and the sesame-based sauce paired nicely with the well-cooked vegetables and shrimp. I also enjoyed the squid, a delicious bite that wasn’t too chewy. 

The grand finale of our meal was the Traditional Caramelized Fish. It came to our table bubbling wildly in a hotpot, and was my favorite dish of the day. The flaky and tender fish melted in my mouth, and tasted sweet with a kick at the end. According to Tran, Lantern House is one of two restaurants in Northern Virginia that serves this traditional dish. 

Throughout our dining experience, we were served with excellent customer service. Tran explained how customer service is one of Lantern House’s top priorities.

“The way we serve customers is different from other Vietnamese restaurants where you just get your food and that’s it. Here, we try to bring a more welcoming environment and we explain why the food is special and different from other places. We educate others about traditional Vietnamese food: where it comes from, how we make it, what’s inside of it,” she said.

My key takeaway from my delightful dining experience at Lantern House was the strong emphasis on traditional Vietnamese cuisine. I am so grateful to have learned more about my culture through enjoying a variety of different dishes.

“[Our main influence for our cuisine] is Vietnamese, so that we can introduce Americans to try our food and learn more about our culture. For example, this year we celebrated the Vietnamese New Year at our restaurant,” Tran said. 

Tran explained that though the restaurant gets a lot of traffic from residents in the surrounding condominiums, she wishes that people outside of the immediate area knew about Lantern House.

“I wish we had more customers. We just opened here and wished that more people knew about us and would like to know more about Vietnamese food. It’s kind of hard because the taste of Vietnamese food differs from that of American food; it could be more salty, or spicy [than what people are used to], and we hope that people try something new and love what we’re serving. We hope that more people will discover our restaurant and know that we are here, because in this area, outside of the surrounding condominiums, no one really knows that we are here,” she said.

If you want to give deliciously authentic Vietnamese food a try, Lantern House Kitchen & Bar is the place to go!