Monkey Bridge Reviews

We were spending time in the city with a good friend and after a morning of paddling a rowboat on Lake Washington were famished. She recommended this place and we were glad she did. I had the Pork Baguette sandwich, like a Bahn Mi and it was large enough that I just ate half, consuming the other half later that day after a round of brewery hopping. Did I mention how good it tasted? My wife had the Monkey Bridge House Special Rice Noodle and it too was more than she could eat. If we lived in Seattle we'd be eating here on a regular basis.

After traipsing around Ballard it's good to get off Market or Ballard ave and stop in Monkey Bridge for some delicious and basic Vietnamese. My fave is the noodle bowl with tofu but the pho is good too-nice broth, mellow but satisfying. Everything you want from a Vietnamese restaurant with a nice atmosphere and clean, pretty surroundings.

We tried the new Monkey Bridge in Pioneer Square. We arrived around 11:40 am, hoping to beat the lunch crowd. The restaurant was not crowded, but they seemed to be doing a lot of take out orders. We ordered dishes with brown rice. The lunch was supposed to be accompanied by soup. After almost 40 minutes of waiting - no soup and no lunch. The waiter came by at that point and asked us again what we had ordered. We were then brought our lunch with a massive pile of white rice. There was virtually no flavor and tasted like packaged steamed vegetables accompanied by packaged tofu. As we were checking out, we were asked how everything was. When I expressed my dismay and frustrations, there was no acknowledgement, just the screen flipped over for a tip and payment of the bill. Too bad, as I work on the same street and was excited to see this restaurant open. But in my books, this is not good food - seems pre-packaged and simply heated up and put on the plates. Accompany that with terrible service and this is a one and done experience.

Its sits on a corner acting not so wonderful, but inside its humble facade is the best food! I had the pork sandwich which was so outstanding. Not fatty, just tasty! Wish I could get another one! I would stop here on a return visit to Seattle!

We got take out from here for the family. Frankly the pho was disappointing. My pho had really bland chicken broth, no flavor. And there were HUGE pieces of bok choy. The pieces were way too big to eat easily, and it was almost like it was bok choy pho. There was very little meat or shrimp. Not good. The other members of my family were happier with their meals. The coconut curry crepe was good. It was expensive for what you got. I don't recommend.

My favorite Vietnamese place in Seattle . Clean and friendly environment plus food is fantastic and not overpriced like most places here. I could easily go every week :)

We had the most delicious first visit to Monkey Bridge today. We were seated immediately and the food came so quickly! We had noodle dumpling soup and a pork binh....the flavors were so delicious and unusual. We will be back.

One of the best Vietnamese restaurants in the city. Everything I've tried here is good - the Pho, the sandwiches, and the Bun rice noodle dishes - but the best dish is the beef with rhubarb. Epic.

While staying in a Ballard vacation rental, my son (who lives in Greenwood) took me here for lunch. We shared an order of shrimp salad rolls that were served with a tasty plum sauce. Very light, crunchy, and refreshing. My son had a huge bowl of Beef Pho. He loved it. The portion was so large that he took half of it home. I had a Pork Baguette. It came with a cup of tasty soup. I ate half the sandwich and gave my son the other half to take home. I will definitely return on my next trip!

My husband has been here several times as it is not far from where he works, and he always gets the vegetarian (tofu) pho, which has a nice flavor. There are several other tempting soups on the menu, but I was in the mood for a sandwich, so I got the vegetarian, which also had tofu, veggies, & plenty of cilantro. Although it was busy, the service was okay & we left satisfied.

We loved this restaurant. Everything we had was fresh and delicious. We are not from Seattle so I do not know how Monkey Bridge stands up to the other higher rated Vietnamese restaurants, but I was absolutely bowled over by the flavors of this lovely little restaurants pho. My only complaint what that the female server was a bit rude. She stood over our table while I was still finishing my dinner. She tried to take away my bowl 4 times before I finally let her. However, even the lack of good manners does not tempt me to give this little gem anything less than 5 stars. I should say that we had two servers and the man that was serving us was great!

Lovely neighbourhood Vietnamese with nice soup. Staff are friendly and service is fast. Good value too.

I can't believe I lived in Ballard for seven years and it took me at least two before I tried this place out. I like everything I had here, my favorite dish is the La Lot Beef noodles. The food tastes great and, for a change, is not one of those greasy messes you find at a lot of Asian restaurants. Prices are reasonable and I've had good service even on the busiest nights when they have a line at the door.

Monkey Bridge is always a go-to lunch spot in Ballard. The service is fast, the portions are a perfect size, and price is very reasonable. We can usually get out for under $15 for the two of us. I'm fond of the pork baguette, but if they have the Vietnamese pot roast on special, order that. It's very rich, but worth trying at least once. The vegetable salad rolls are good, too. I think the Pho is the only meal I've had there that was not as good as I expected.

“Tasteless” is the first thing that goes through your mind with the first bite. Before our take-out last night, my only other trip to the Monkey Bridge was over 2 years ago. It was raining and I didn’t feel like going any further – so I figured I’d give these guys another go. Maybe my memory had been unfair? Nope. I decided to try something that I’ve never ordered anywhere – the pork and egg stew. Listed for almost $15 and with a claim on the menu that it’s “GOOD!”, I couldn’t resist. The soup was maybe 2.5 cups total and came with boned pork that’s overly fatty and under seasoned in a broth that was “kind of gross” (says my husband, who will eat anything. I do mean ANYTHING). The boiled egg in the soup wasn’t bad. Everything else was sub-par; the chicken was dry and overcooked, the steamed vegetables were literally just steamed frozen vegetables (no salt, even?), some grit-esque/chicken broth side came with the order and both the consistency and flavor were simply confusing. Really, the only item that had any flavor to speak of was the sweet chile sauce. In the end we had to season our own meal… Thank you Sriracha for saving this nasty, cheap meal. All for a grand total of $26 before tip for 2 items that we tossed before finishing. Pass right over the Monkey Bridge to the next place down the street, downpour or not.

The atmosphere is warm and friendly. The decor is lovely. All of the servers are excellent. They are not overbearing but always available and meet your needs immediately with a smile on their faces. The food is to die for. I love #17. I have never been dissappointed with anything that I have ordered. They have a very cozy bar area also. Even their restroom is beautiful.

I've eaten here several times and always enjoyed their food, authentic taste and good variety of dishes. Service has always been good, food quality excellent and it is a nice small space. All of the noodle bowls I have tried have been great save a little pricey, that is why I give it 4 stars instead of 5, you can find good noodle bowls for half the price elsewhere in Seattle. That said, I still come back and will continue to do so, really good food.

the food was so flavorful and the preparation was spot on. the service was very gracious and the menu was fairly extensive. it as a great lunch spot.

We wandered in based off trip advisor reviews. When looking at the menu I narrowed it down to a couple of things and then asked the waiter for recommendations. He recommended the lemongrass beef noodle dish. I was not disappointed! It was absolutely delicious! I wished I lived closer so I could come back for another meal.

Easily overlooked on a corner of Ballard's Market Street, eating at The Monkey Bridge is not to be missed. Unlike the usual "pho restaurants" this one exudes charm and warmth besides an extensive menu. Choose noodle or rice "creations," soups, salads, or my favorite, the chicken baguette served with a cup of rice soup. Each entree is presented beautifully and is satisfyingly seasoned and delicious. Many for a price of a fast-food combo, but this is "cuisine." The menu's the same for dinner as lunch so I opt for the lesser lunch price. Arrive early or you may wait to be seated in this tastefully decorated Vietnamese atmosphere. A lovely server will serve you promptly. Within the surroundings you'll notice the bamboo water fountain, chopsticks and for fall, a pumpkin carved with a monkey face. Also, you'll likely discover the mystery behind the name Monkey Bridge. Guests I took there for lunch commented, "We'll be back." So will I.

I have come here twice with the aim to order Pho but everything looks so good I decided to try the Pork Vietnamese Sandwich, which was the best I have ever had and I have had many, and came back to try the Monkey Bridge House Special Rice Noodle Bowl which was fantastic. Add to this a great pot of Jasmin Tea and a wait staff who are friendly, courteous and blazing fast and this is my new "go to" restaurant. Prices are low but for this quality I would be willing to pay more.

A small little Vietnamese restaurant on market that should not be missed! The service was good, the food very flavorful and also a great place to pickup to go food if you want to enjoy an evening in. The portions are good and everything we have tried thus far is very good.

The Monkey Bridge offers a diverse menu that goes above and beyond the typical Vietnamese restaurants in Ballard. My friend loves the Pho - the vegetarian option has lots of veggies! My favorite is the garlic tofu - I have never before tasted tofu this good. There are plenty of meat options on the menu, too. Prices for dinner are quite reasonable at ~$6 for the Pho and $8-9 for other entrees. The space is small but the service is attentive and prompt. Plenty of parking in the area. Go to this restaurant for an excellent, low-cost meal!

I am a big fan of the Bahn Mi sandwich. The one they serve here is ok. Nothing out of ordinary. Infact, the veggies they put in can be more finely chopped than what they do. Overall, a good place for daily lunch

If your looking for a great meal stop by the Monkey Bridge. The food is fresh and the staff is wonderful. The meals are priced responsible and the portions are large

Very fast service and interesting menu. I had a prawn boil and fried tofu, arrived rapidly, hot and tasty! Excellent location downtown and recommended.

Monkey Bridge has never let me down. Consistently delicious noodles, bahn mi sandwiches and more. I normally order the #20, Monkey Bridge Noodle Special, but have experimented quite a bit. Sit down and relax in the cozy ambiance the owners have created or get it to go. You can't go wrong.

The restaurant was small, clean, out of the way. Common Vietnamese decor. I had the Chicken Baguette sandwich, which was very good. I would recommend this restaurant to friends.

Went to lunch here on a suggestion from a friend. It did not disappoint! The lemongrass dishes were excellent and the prices were very reasonable. If in the Ballard area of Seattle try it for lunch or dinner. Recommended!

This is one of those rare settings where the food is fresh, tasty and well prepared as well as very reasonable and authentic and the service is blazing fast and courteous. Have been here twice with the intention of getting Pho but ended up getting a Vietnamese Pork sandwich with a pot of Jasmin Tea, both were excellent and the second time we tried their Monkey Bridge House Special Rice Noodle. So good I felt like I needed a nap afterwards. Cannot say enough about the service, friendly, fast and efficient. This place rocks!

Located a few blocks east of the heart of Ballard, this small restaurant offers standard fare, well prepared. The menu offers a variety of noodle dishes, curries and seafood. Flavors are tastey, but lack emphasis, often leaving you wanting a bit more zest. One appetizer, three entrees, two drinks and one iced tea add put $56 + tip.

Came here for dinner twice during our stay in Seattle. The noodle dishes are great but the stir fries are average. The place closes early though, 8:30 pm

This small, quiet restaurant has a homey feel to it, and the food is yummy, portions very large and filling, and yummy food. Service is quick even when they're busy. It's an easy place to go as a solo eater (which is how I usually go there) and not feel conspicuous, also a good place for families with kids. Vietnamese done with a delicate touch.

Out of sight! Beautiful venue. Tasty food. Good prices.

I rarely write negative reviews on restaurants, as I come from a family who owns one. But I will make an exception with this one. People who consider opening a new restaurant should ask themselves a very simple question: do I want to make a difference in the restaurant scene of my city, or am I simply going for the money? I'm not sure the owners have asked themselves this question, even though it is quite obvious they're going for the money. The result is unusual mix of kitschy decoration and unremarkable food. It wasn't cheap either, we ended up paying $35 per person (entree and a glass of wine for each + one salad and a couple of appetizer dishes that we shared). I won't be going back to the Monkey Bridge. "Tamarind Tree" is way better...

Each time, of several, I've walked in for lunch and waited maybe ten minutes. The plated meals are quite good, not spectacular but good enough every time to make me return. The banh mi is above average in either pork or chicken. A friend who doesn't necessarily like Asian food enjoyed the pho.

I have never had a bad experience here. The sandwiches are superb and portions are generous even for lunch size. The dinner menu offers a wide selection including the good old standby pho, as well as a variety of rice dishes. This is not a fancy place but it consistently delivers good Vietnamese food with an amazing speed. The wait staff is very attentive and polite. The prices are very competitive; overall, a good neighorhood restaurant.

I just tried one thing so feel weird writing a review but it was so good I'm going to anyway. Let me start with the fact that on a Monday afternoon it was full...a good sign in a restaurant crowded community! Every meal I saw looked like maybe I should order that too! I stuck to my Mango Salad and was very happy I had!

A number of us visited this restaurant for lunch. I ordered a vegetarian curry. It was not bad but the curry lacked some flavor and was not spicy. Better were some beef and noodle dishes which I sampled. The beef was thinly cut and marinated and there were a fair amount of thinly sliced raw vegetables in the bowl. Most interesting was a rhubarb beef. The rhubarb was rather crisp and the overall flavor different from what I expected. Despite telling our waiter that we would be sharing the dishes, we were not provided with any serving implements and were left to dig in to the dishes with our chopsticks. I would say that prices were a little on the high side for lunch, and I suspect more so for dinner. If it was possible to do so, I would give this restaurant 3.5 stars.

We were in the area and decided to do a lunch take out from here and another restaurant (Sunny Teriyaki which is also reviewed). I ordered the large tofu pho in veg broth and a black bean tofu. There is no seating set up due to the pandemic so I came back after about 15 mins and my food was ready to go. $24 (including tip) for the 2 dishes which was very worth it. My older son loves pho so he had zero complaints about having it for lunch. He said it was delicious and filling. The black bean tofu is not a dish I see often in Vietnamese restaurants which is why I wanted to try it. It was a little different from the typical dishes I usually get (lemongrass, ginger, garlic) and we all enjoyed it. I was a little surprised that the restaurant did not offer any fried rice so I had to go to another restaurant to get my younger son's favorite food. Food and prices were great. We will gladly come back to have more.

We have eaten here many times, and the food is always delicious and reasonably priced. The noodle bowls are my favorite, with a great variety to choose from. The restaurant is very clean (including a spotlessl bathroom) and nicely decorated. One of my favorite restaurants in Seattle !!

It was delicious. I didn't venture far from my comfort zone but the beef baguette and the pork egg rolls were fantastic!!