Mot Hai Ba Reviews

I went last night with friends for dinner. We had heard amazing things and been wanting to try it out. We had to wait a few minutes - not long. Before reading you should note that I am not a huge fan of Vietnamese food - it's fine but not my favorite. Having said that, here are my main take-aways: Overpriced - the prices are not listed on the menu for a reason - I think entree's averaged about $30 for small-ish portions. Uncomfortable: The food may have been to-die-for but I was distracted because my back hurt so much from sitting on these small stools that didn't seem to be the appropriate height for the table. Amazing Papaya Salad: SO GOOD. But I wouldn't come here just for this. We also had the sizzling cakes (pretty good), the frog legs (I didn't care for them but my friend enjoyed them), the shaking beef with noodles (excellent but small) and the chicken wings (nothing special.) Also they only serve pineapple sake, no regular sake, so all the sake cocktails are super-fruity and sweet. With cheesy paper umbrellas in the drinks, which was in congruent with the restaurant's feel. If you are a fan of Vietnamese food it's worth a try.

This was my second visit; my daughter and I picked it for an early weekend dinner together. We did not have reservations but were welcomed at the start of service before it got busy. Our server did a great job guiding us through flavors, and when she described the quail as "summer in a bowl," I had to order it. She was right! We started with grilled duck hearts, also recommended, and they were wonderful, very tender and served on a layered bed of vegetables with a vinaigrette and garlic croutons, and a touch of mint. My daughter ordered the pork ribs on a bed of greens. We both savored every bite. I don't know if what we ordered was Vietnamese so much as inspired by Vietnamese flavors, but I am not a connoisseur, just someone who likes to explore lots of different Asian styles. The quail was superb, seasoned and grilled just right, with a bed of fresh corn, trumpeter mushrooms, and a savory broth. With one glass of wine each (the server helped select a delicious French rosé, a new favorite), the bill with tip came to close to $50 each. I did not expect it to be so expensive before I arrived because I'd been there for lunch with a very different menu, but I did not regret treating us to something unlike any flavors I'd cooked for myself or experienced elsewhere. The most inviting entrees ranged from about $25 to $35, and appetizers and small plates range from about $10 to $15. The proprietor came by to chat, and we were not rushed. Still, as others have noted, the very low, backless seats were not ideal for my personal comfort. I will be back, however, even if my chair does not have one.

We had the imperial rolls, whole fish, and the beef pho. The beef in the pho was better than average but the broth and herbs were bland. The imperial rolls were also bland, I couldn't tell that chicken or shrimp was in the roll at all. The whole fish was done very very well. I've not had fried fish that good before. $36 was a high price for a fried fish... but for this fish, I would've paid $75 for it alone. Overall, the cramped environment was hot and the waiters were sort of friendly. I won't be going back unless it is a to go whole fish order and at $36 for the small fish, that'll be few and far between.

The concept, the food, the place and the people. Nothing more than delicious! We tried three different meals and they were extremely exquisite. The attention was warm and courteous! We will go back soon and try something else! Thank you!!!

Was surprised by how much I enjoyed this place. It is a little different take on Vietnamese and I like it. The decor is funky and fun. Went for lunch, but looking forward to trying some of the interesting dishes for dinner.

I have to say we LOVE the food at this place. Great ingredients and great service by the wait staff. BUT while recently dining indoors (it was too cold to sit on the patio - that we LOVE) - we were inside being waited on by one of our sweetest, most favorite waitresses. My husband noticed one of the owners grab her by the arm, pull her aside and in front of the customers give her an awful tongue lashing. It went on and on - so long in fact that she never got to bring us our food, give us more to drink . . . another waitress looked after us. The owner took the waitress back in the kitchen area (where we could still see) and kept rudely berated and verbally attacking her. The waitress didn't break down in tears, but it ruined our dinner. My husband says he will never go there again. I may call in some of our favorite meals and take them home, but he doesn't want to take the chance of seeing that behavior ever again. The waitress was also very efficient, kind, helpful and sweet. I cannot condone a supervisor/owner humiliating their help in such a way. Through the grapevine I had heard this went on and not to support this place due to the rude owners, and now I've seen it myself.

This is a very small, nicely decorated restaurant located in the Lakewood district of Dallas. It has a very casual atmosphere with a small bar area. The dining area consists of a few communal tables (for six persons) with floral stools for lower than normal seating. There is also an outside patio which was not being used the night we dined due to rain. Service was very attentive and the ratio of diners to servers seemed like it was 2 to 1. The menu is rather small with several eclectic dishes - duck hearts? No thank you! My husband and I ordered a Wagyu Bao Bun special, which was delicious. The Blue Crab Salad with cucumbers, Shrimp & Pork Imperial Rolls and Chicken Pho were all very good. Portions were large and everything was nicely plated. Prices are a little high but we did enjoy each and every dish. This little hidden jewel is well-worth a visit when you are in the mood for something different.

We live close to Mot Hai Ba and it is one of our favorite restaurants. The space is adorable, and creatively decorated. The servers are professionals who have been in the business a long time and know exactly what they are doing. The FOOD is fab. Some of our favorites: green papaya salad which has jerky in it. The fresh crunch of the papaya and the chewy texture of the jerky is a wonderful combination. The garlic noodles and the shaking beef are to die for. A new menu item that we loved last night was roasted carrots. Those are going to be something we order every time we go. The barramundi is fantastic, wonderful fragrant sauce. We always order a sizzling cake as an appetizer. It comes with either shrimp or tofu. We like both, but prefer the shrimp. It's served steaming hot with large lettuce leaves and herbs. You wrap it up like a burrito and put the sauce on it before eating. It's sooooo good. The dish with duck hearts is on the list of 10 dishes that one must eat in Dallas. They now take reservations which we appreciate. ALL good:)

Super cozy for a date night or just want to hang out with friends. It’s a small space but got a good flow. The food is really great and, everything was so tasty. Will definitely be back again to try out the rest of the menu.

Just visited for lunch and was pleasantly surprised. The Good 2 Go Taco Girls are now taking on Vietnamese... and succeeding for lunch in East Dallas. First----- TIP--- The tables are all communal ad low to the ground. If you have bad knees, sit at the bar for sure. I am 5 11 and had no problem at the tables. The design is neat, but tight. No wasted space here. It seemed smaller than York Street did. Once you sit down, you forget about that quickly. Lunch- We ordered salads and banh mi. Both dishes were excellent and the banh mi meat was cooked well. Great balance in the sandwich. Although we didn't drink, the wine list looked adequate and quite French. For drinks, we ordered cold green tea. Very light an close to water. Different, but refreshing. The service was fast and we were out in 30 minutes. The service was also tight.... so expect to be bumped a little when service comes by. No biggie, but expect it. Overall, I will be back and will be bringing friends. Congrats to the Girls and on to the new conquest!

and what is that elusive "more" ? First, we were visitors, so can't give you too many details about the rest of the week, but since we came on a weekend, reservations were definitely a must; not sure if they also seat people outside in the "tent", but the inside was definitely full. Seating is done family style at smaller tables, including with strangers, but this doesn't mean just one long table. No big deal: the tables are big enough so you don't feel like your one-night dining companions will be poaching your meal ! The menu is pretty extensive - for dinner, there were 8-10 starters and entrees, as well as 4-5 salads, accompaniments and desserts. There are quite a few imported beers as well as domestic craft brews. For four of us, we ordered a salad, starter, two entrees, rice and two desserts. We're not big eaters, so it was enough to finish without taking anything home, although we were still a bit peckish when we left ... The food was tasty; these days, I'm not sure any more what "authentic" cuisine is, as food evolves constantly, even in the country of origin. The ingredients tasted fresh and the flavors were harmonious; we enjoyed the blue crab salad, crispy rice cake, shaking beef and braised lamb neck along with the rice. For dessert, we had the donut holes and ice cream. The prices seem high to me, so hence the search for "something more". For example, the salad was $16, about the size of a small dinner salad. The entrees averaged about $30 each. Overall, the food was tasty; but the restaurant falls short of four stars due to the lack of the value component. I guess that as we try to rate according to tripadvisor categories, it has fine dining prices without the fine dining atmosphere. If you're on an expense account, then by all means, enjoy !!!

We ate an early dinner here for my birthday. Started with a really good white wine from Hungary. Appetizers were a delicious octopus dish with coconut water, and a vegetarian ravioli. Then on to main courses - Shaking Beef for my spouse and scallops for me. We shared (off menu) garlic noodles. All the sauces were magnificent. The best is that the restaurant was buzzy at 6:15. Amazing!!!

I very much enjoyed eating at Mot Hai Ba. It's a cute, small restaurant, and I strongly recommend reservations on weekend nights. We started with the shrimp cakes, which were 4 huge shrimp pancakes served with lettuce, cilantro, and basil leaves to make into wraps along with a yummy sauce. This is a messy dish, but the attentive server brought us hot damp towels to clean our hands as soon as we were clearly ready to move on to other parts of the meal. Do not get this appetizer unless it is a shared single dish for two people or you have four people to share as an appetizer; liked fried cakes everywhere, leftovers are not going to be desirable. For entrees, we had the banana flower salad and the caramel cod. The former was perfect for a hot summer night, very refreshing. It has plenty of chicken, so you don't have to worry about not getting enough protein. The caramel cod was my favorite, though. It was extremely delicious, and the baby bok choy were perfectly cooked. We had one cocktail, a sake, raspberry, basil and many other ingredient drink. I enjoyed it, but my companion did not. It was herbal and refreshing, but I didn't really taste basil or fruit. The service was always attentive, and the waitress was eager to help us understand the dishes. The one thing I would warn about is the seating. Other than the bar, it seemed like the seats were pretty much all ottomans. I was with someone who has back issues, and she was quite uncomfortable. In cooler weather, they have outdoor seating that does have backs. Anyway, a word to the wise.

We had three couples go for dinner. We sat at a community table with two other couples, which was really fun. They also have a great patio if the weather is nice. We ordered a few appetizers to share, then ordered family style to share as well. The shaker beef was amazing, as was the whole fish. The side noodles were also amazing. Get creative and try something new. You won't be disappointed. We had a great time and will definitely be going back.

I was recommended this spot by a coworker of mine and let’s just say my papaya salad was crunchier than usual. Upon inspection, I found a fungus-ridden toenail cradled in a piece of cilantro. DO NOT RECOMMEND!

One of the best meals I've eaten in Dallas. The servers are great, the drinks are amazing, and the food is sooooooo good. Highly recommend the banana flower salad and the halibut! Had a great time, looking forward to going again!

Came with friends and really enjoyed the experience, sharing food family style so we could enjoy tasting all the wonderful dishes. Loved all the flavors.

Very good food, nice atmosphere, group seating, so if you need privacy, this is not the place. We went thinking it was Vietnamese. Some dishes are similar but with a fusion twist. Very good for those who have not had Vietnamese food.

Tried this tiny Vietnamese spot in Lakewood and - WOW. Some of the best Pho I've ever ordered and my husband loved the special of the day.

This is true Vietnamese food--not what most people think of after having dined at Americanized Vietnamese restaurants. We've been several times for lunch and last night for dinner. We've never been disappointed. The flavors are spot on--clean, crisp and just the right amount of spice. The Dungeness crab for dinner was amazing. It was served on top of thin rice noodles with bok choy. The imperial rolls and green papaya and beef salad were also very good. The beef was good quality and very tasty with just a little spice. They make their own version of siracha sauce which is a bit hot for me. The other half, however, loves siracha on just about anything and he says it's fantastic and has more heat that the store bought version. Very laid back atmosphere and a good wait staff who understand the food they are serving. Nice selection of Asian beers as well. All wines are French. It's small so plan ahead or go at a non-peak time.

This little hidden gem was just that; a hidden gem of goodness!! The presentations of the meals we chose was simply creative and impressive. A great option of wines are available and the staff has a solid knowledge of wines to help pair properly with a chosen meal. The only disappointing item was the dessert, which were donut holes served with ice cream. The donuts were quite dry and lacked flavor. Give this spot a try and I believe you will be pleasantly surprised.

Mot Hai Ba is hands down one of the best restaurants in Dallas. It all starts with Peja, the chef owner. He is not only an incredibly talented chef but also a very personable and warm personality. His dishes are creative, visually appealing and incredibly flavorful. My family and I dine at the Victory Park location once or twice a week. Peja always makes a point to come over and greet us. He has assimilated an attentive staff and friendly sommelier team. Lorenzo is a gem. In a city that is blessed with fabulous restaurants, Mot Hai Ba shines and sets itself apart with its inventive fusion cuisine, warm yet elegant dining space and friendly staff. Highest recommendation.

This is a great intimate restaurant -had dinner at Mot Hai Ba 6 times. Tried a different entree and appetizer each time. Every single plate was just perfect -ingredients are fresh and dishes are superbly balanced. The wine selection is excellent and wines are fairly priced.

Had dinner last night. Very busy but great service. The cucumber salad was fresh and delicious with a light dressing with a kick. The branzino was the best I have had -- with a light glaze. Flash fried okra was fantastic -- thin batter; no grease. Bathrooms are small but well designed. Noise level is moderate, even when full.

Across the street from a gas station and tucked in behind an auto repair shop is this outstanding example of Vietnamese delights. The service is wonderful with people offering great tips and explaining things to us first time visitors. The flavors were deep and everything we tried was outstanding.

I had the imperial rolls for starter, which was very good. The entire was a bit disappointing. The Lamb was too thick so was undercooked and didn't taste very good. Also, lots of grossly bits inside of it. The garlic noodles were a bit too oily, mushrooms good. The presentation was really pretty and the atmosphere is great. However, the food is so massively overpriced that I have to give it a low rating

My husband and I visited Dallas and Fort Worth this week and had been having Vietnamese dinner every night at different restaurants. We went to this restaurant for it was rated one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in Dallas. It's such a disappointment! This is the WORST Vietnamese food I had ever tasted in my life, because the vegetarian broth was dark and tasted like SALT + Water. The vegetable was tasteless except the tofu. My husband ordered beef PHO. Although the beef was chunky, it was bland. Also, we were shocked to see fried dough served with PHO. It is definitely NOT authentic Vietnamese food. The only good thing is that they give a lot of herb. And the décor of the restaurant was nice. If you want authentic Vietnamese food, try somewhere else. Whoever has given a high rating for this restaurant, he or she probably has never tasted authentic Vietnamese food. I would NOT recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves Vietnamese food.

This delightful gem has a cozy dining area inside, with few seats at the bar and a few larger-sized family-style or large group tables inside. Weather-permitting, the patio outside is also inviting. Start off with a craft beer (they have an interesting list), glass of wine from the so-so list or one of their house mixed drinks - the pineapple-infused sake made at the bar and used in some of their drinks looked awesome! Don't miss the green-rice encrusted fried shrimp as an appetizer. Amazing! Some of the best fried shrimp ever! Their menu changes periodically, so if you see the barrimundi with grilled bok choi available as a main course, get it! Bit of advice: either order take-out or make a reservation, especially if you are dining on the weekend. I was looking for an early dinner and had remembered this place recommended by some foodie friends. I was lucky and was seated right away, but after I had been there a few minutes, there was a line at the door. The price is a little more than your typical Vietnamese restaurant, because this is not your typical standard Vietnamese place. If you want a noodle bowl with mung bean sprouts, lettuce, carrot. scallions and your choice of beef/chicken/shrimp drowned with fish sauce, don't come to Mot Hai Ba - go to your standard Chinese-fortune-cookie-cutter neighborhood Vietnamese hangout. If you want an experience that stands out from the rest, this is your place for Vietnamese.

I've had dinner here before, and it was very nice, but my family came here for their Mother's Day brunch, and it was outstanding! We started with their pandan biscuits. These are green biscuits, made that color by some herb, but they don't taste herby or Asian. They are delicious biscuits, but two cost $10, which seems like a lot. You can easily split the biscuits so an order serves 4 people as a starter, and the caramel whipped butter is a luxurious accompaniment. One of our mains was the Bah xoe trung, which was not like anything we would have imagined. It was an eggy, airy "cake" with wonderful accompaniments and sauce with which you make lettuce wraps. Messy, but worth it. The mung bean pancakes were also not like any scallion, shrimp or oyster pancakes I've ever had at a Malaysian, Chinese or Thai restaurant, although the gribiche sauce would be familiar to anyone who's had it at a French or French influenced meal. These pancakes were filling and delicious. The Banh bao were wonderful dumplings with a sauce that couldn't be better. Finally, we had the chao, a Vietnamese rice porridge that is the essence of truly tasty comfort food. We enjoyed our drinks, especially the Vietnamese Toddy ice coffee. The Son La cocktail was pleasant, but not that unusual. The mimosas were exactly as you would expect at a nice brunch. We ate outside, where fans kept the air blowing and the temperature pleasant under shade. Our waitress was informative, pleasant, and there when we needed something - just what I want in restaurant service.

I read about this place in D Magazine on the Best of Dallas. When a girlfriend and I drove up we were a little unsure as the place is small and located on a side street (drove past it at first). We went in and the decor was really cute, but if you are really tall you may have issues as the seating is really low and no back rests. My friend ordered the chicken Pho soup, and was in heaven. I ordered the Thit Heo Bam xao (kind of like a fried rice but not fried), it was very good. For dessert we had these type of donuts and ice cream that was really good too. I can see why D Magazine listed it as the best of!

Our group of friends love this restaurant. It has a European feel, not the typical Dallas vibe, in a very small cozy restaurant. We have had the absolute pleasure of having Wendy as our waitress each time, she does a lovely job of explaining and recommending dishes and wine. We order family style, several appetizers and entrees to share, it works and you get to try the various dishes. The papaya salad, blue crab salad and sizzling cakes are our traditional starters along with any specials. We have tried just about everything and ALL GOOD. The clay pot chicken, flash fried whole fish, shaking beef, fried okra, vegetable curry and lobster special were are choices this last outing. A must is the garlic noodles. They have a great beer and wine selection + special cocktails. We had a vegetarian, gluten free friend in our party and she was accommodated nicely. The desserts are not stellar but with so much fabulous food choices for dinner you go home quite happy.

We were excited to come to visit to Mot Hai Ba because our future son-in-law and daughter loved it. It is a very small restaurant but has nice ambience. Service is friendly and very attention. The water refills were fantastic and probably more timely than any other restaurant I’ve ever been to. Food was very good, but pretty expensive for what we ordered. We started with the off-menu special stuffed pepper appetizer, which was very good but not spicy as we had expected. I probably wouldn’t order it again. The Banh Bao was delicious and the best appetizer we had. Or entrées, we all shared and enjoyed. We ordered the Vietnamese chicken, Sakura Pork Rib, and Bronzino. All were small portions, but very good. Highly recommended. Everything was great until we got the bill. I politely asked the waitress if it was correct she was charging me two dollars for two cubes of ice. She said yes and no all restaurants do that. I responded with no they don’t, as I have been to restaurants all over the US on the world and only found this dumb practice happening one other time (Suggestion: price it into the drink!). I find it ridiculous to be charged for a big cube of ice; especially when the waitress suggested it in this case, with no mention of an upcharge.. Well I was gonna let it go, but the manager came over and said she heard that I was concerned about the bill and the charge for the cubes of ice. I said well, now that you asked yes I was. I went on to say that I found it ridiculous that they were charging me two dollars for ice on a $320 bill. Most managers would have just apologized and taken the two dollars off the bill at that point but she decided to argue with me and attempt to justify the charge and prove my view incorrect. She first told me that they had to purchase the ice. I didn’t say it but don’t restaurants have to purchase all their ingredients? She finally went on to say that the reason for the charge was really because there was more bourbon associated with the big cube. I said OK, but it didn’t seem like any more bourbon than I have normally had at other restaurants or bars with a cube, and aren’t they required to pour a specific amount of bourbon by law? What does the size of the cube have to do with it? I guess she’s saying it up but ordered it with the smaller ice cubes they wouldn’t put as much bourbon in it? In any event I felt like the excuses were coming by the minute and I decided just to move on. All that for two dollars? Given the prices of everything else, I think there was clearly more than two dollars profit in the evening and so they could’ve easily still profited by removing the ice charge. I hope it was worth it. A great evening from our side was left with a bad taste by this discussion about the bill.

Lovely small, almost hidden restaurant in the east Dallas area of Lakewood. Local chefs who changed their direction (the right direction!). Specializing in North Vietnamese cuisine. The waitstaff at dinner was outstanding. Very accommodating and helpful with suggestions. The dinner portions are a nice size. The appetizers can be shared. The sizzling cake with shrimp, scallion was delicious. It is a very thin crepe with all the goodies inside. You wrap it up in a large lettuce leaf with your choice of herbs (lemongrass, cilantro). Dip it in some wonderful fish sauce. This can be ordered with tofu, mushroom for a vegan variety. Entrees -- Marinated crab legs was very good as were the he chargrilled prawns. Served with either noodle or rice and nice green vegetables, i.e. leeks. Nice variety of entrees - it's hard to choose! Nice selection of wines and desserts. The atmosphere was quite nice. Very sleek. Mostly low tables with comfortable padded stools. Very interesting lighting -- towards the back of the restaurant are a grouping of lamps hung upside down. Adds to the character of the restaurant. Outside seating is available. Can get crowed on weekends. Weeknights are not as busy.

Based upon a recommendation, we tried Mot Hai Ba on Lewis St. The restaurant itself is nice despite being located in an empty lot behind a Sinclair gas station. If you have eaten in Dallas, you will understand that "outdoor dining" usually means you face a parking lot or the street. Same can be said for this restaurant's outdoor dining. However, with COVID restrictions, we were seated inside at a low table on seats that resembled hassocks. Not uncomfortable, but a little difficult for older patrons. Our wait staff was very pleasant and very knowledgeable of the menu. We followed her recommendations as we have not experienced much in the way of Vietnamese food. I will say that having dined here that the food is more Asian fusion with some Vietnamese options on the menu. Prices seemed high but the plate presentation was done nicely. We ordered te fired avocado salads (excellent) and a couple of the entrees to share; the Rock Fish and the Sakura Pork Ribs. We had to return the fish as it was basically raw on the inside. We can eat ahi tuna raw and sushi, but not a filet of fish. It was returned properly done. The ribs were meaty with some fat, but very tasty.

When you are racing two other parties for the precious few seats available at opening, you have the first hint. This restaurant, in an unremarkable location, seems to have inherited the outstanding cooking vibe from its predecessor there, York Street. Great food, professional service, can't wait to go back.

Ate her for dinner in a party of seven. Shared entrees including shaking beef, braised oxtail, steamed whole fish. Accompanied by a couple of bottles of rose. As appetizers we had green fried rice shrimp with a spicy mayo, charred green beans, and the blue crab salad. All delicious.

Attractive restaurant albeit very small. Only complaint here is the table & chair height. Very low and therefore uncomfortable. Wait staff knowledgeable although can have some lapse of attention. Now the food. Pho is the best I've been served. Salads delicious, appetizers interesting and generous. Entrees also beautifully done with an interesting selection. Strongly suggest reservations.

different,have yet to hear rap music at a Vietnamese restaurant menu was a little limited but after asking was told they had pho some different items and menu not as extensive as I am used to can be pricey small so reservations are wise

This is an expensive Vietnamese restaurant hidden on a side-street on the east side of Dallas. It is small with relatively little seating. The portions are generous and the food (both ingredients and preparation) are excellent. It is rather expensive, though. ie - an appetizer + two entrees for dinner with no drinks easily hits $80. While the food was tasty, I'm not sure it's quite tasty enough to warrant the price.

Had lunch there yesterday. The special was great. Flank steak very tender, perfectly cooked, affordable. I had the bbq chicken bahn mi sandwich. Wonderful. Service was great too. Problem: flies are aggressive on the patio. I would not sit outside again.

Had dinner here last night by myself. It's easy to find but on a side street. It's small and cozy and communal style seating. Great beers and wines. Had the chicken appies and imperial rolls. Delicious. Had the beef pho and it was amazing too. Will definitely return.

So happy we came here based on a flattering recent local review. We started with beers and a pineapple sake, all per suggestions from our helpful waitress. We had 3 appetizers...the banana flower salad, grilled, skewered duck heart salad and the fried tofu wrapped delights. All were very shareable, which is what we did for the entire meal. My favorite where m entree was the clay cooked barramundi, with its delicious caramel-infused sauce.The vegetable curry looked beautiful with all the good things in there. AND the HEB with the fresh corn was superb. The beef dish was ok but our friends ordered the meet well cooked and it killed it. Get the panna cotta with the quenelle of raspberry sorbet. The other dessert came was also very good. This is a wonderful tiny gem and keep your eyes and ears open for a new sister place coming soon.

If you want to be super pretentious about eating northern Vietnamese food, this is the place for you! It definitely was not the place for me, though. A friend of mine took me here because he heard a lot of good things about it. I was born in south Vietnam so already I'm curious as to what qualifies as "northern" Vietnamese food. I was also a little surprised because it was listed as a more high-end restaurant... Umm... What? The restaurant is this tiny place that's very dim-lit. They do have an outside patio that seemed very inviting. The seating is communal so if you're there on a busy night, be prepared to share a table with strangers. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. ;-) Their menu is inconsistent in a lot of ways. Firstly, I believe they change their menu on a regular basis. Reviews recommended getting pho. That wasn't on my menu nor was it a special that the waitress recited to me. I overheard that they cook their pho broth for 48 hours so if they're out, you're out of luck. Fine with me. I respect their integrity of not serving food that they haven't made to the best of their ability. Here's the thing about their menu... Some of the items were in Vietnamese with correct accents, some were listed in Vietnamese without accents (sometimes that changes the word entirely) and then there are the foods listed that are entirely in English. Can you pick a language? I can read Viet but... What about the people who can't? We ended up ordering the Imperial Rolls, Banh Xeo Tom, and Shaken Beef. I liked the rolls. The Banh Xeo was somewhat burnt so I wasn't impressed with that, especially for the price of $12. My mom can make those at home and sell them for $1 and make a killing. $12 for this burnt thing? Reeaally? Then we get the shaken beef (and paid $3 for an accompaniment of noodles although they brought us rice) which was $36 by the way... Okay, I've ordered shaken beef almost anytime I go to a Vietnamese restaurant. It always comes with rice and it was never $40! So okay... I'm hoping this is the best shaken beef I've ever had... You know what I got for $36? 6 pieces of meat... Sure, it was better than the shaken beef I've had at a lower end restaurant but certainly not life-changing and definitely not for $36. Lame. If you want good Vietnamese food, there's so many other places that provide it without this high of a price tag. I would only recommend this place if you have a ton of money you want to throw away.

This was my first time to eat Vietnamese food. I was with a group of seven. We ate family style sharing all dishes. My host ordered all the food. Many of the dishes were quite good. The swordfish belly and the spring rolls were very good.

Go off the map and try something new. In Dallas, it’s easy to get hooked on places you visit frequently. The food here is different, the drinks are good but unique, and it’s truly off the beaten path. This neighborhood often feels overlooked and seriously under-hyped. Highly recommend.

We kind of stumbled on Mot Hai Ba (1,2,3) by accident, and I'm certainly glad we did. It's not your typical Americanized Viet-Cuisine, in that they aren't trying to appeal to the white-bread masses. They seem to be trying to stay true to the flavors and preparations of real Vietnamese cooking. My partner and I tried them out first by ordering our standard measuring stick for Vietnamese Restaurants : Com Bo Luc Lac (Shaken Beef) and Pho. In our experience if they can't do these two dishes well, then it's a lost cause. Both were surprisingly good and very true to tradition. The portions were large and the flavors were bold without being overpowering. In fact, we liked it enough to go back the next day to try out their lunch menu. When I saw Banh-Mi sandwiches on the menu, I knew I was in for a treat. They were very true to what they should be. The bread is what makes or breaks a banh-mi sandwich and they got this right. (Lets hope they never try to cut costs by using different bread as other restaurants in the area have). Although the vietnamese pickle could have been a little more pungent for me, I know that most people don't like them quite as strong as I do. All in all we really like the restaurant and have been back a couple times. While it's not "Fine Dining", and the restaurant is quite small (seats about 30) it's a great alternative for something different.

This is a fun, quirky place! We joined our cool friends to try it out for a Friday night dinner. Be flexible--no reservations. Also, it's next to a field, and if you sit out on the porch, be prepared to share some quality time with the flies. Inside is comfortable, if rustic, and if your party does not number six, be prepared to make new friends. The food is great, and I thought very reasonable. We started by sharing a bunch of platters. The lettuce wraps (shrimp or mushroom, with herbs) were a bit messy but very good. The green papaya beef salad was also nicely seasoned and very flavorful. We tried different entrees, all excellent. I had the chicken, which was grilled deliciously and served over rice noodles. A grilled beef dish, served similarly was also excellent. My spouse had the grilled fish, and she said she enjoyed it a lot. Try the funky specialty drinks, as well as the $2(!!!) Nude Beach Summer Wheat beer--no better deal. We skipped dessert (get the pie across the street at The Mecca!). Our bill was also very reasonable, and the servers were cheerful and very helpful. I would certainly go back.

This is a hidden gem in the Dallas area. Small (you absolutely need to make a reservation), intimate and dishes that you must not miss. Visited here on a Tuesday evening - restaurant was full. We started with the Bánh Bao (steamed buns filled brisket) and some squash blooms filled with pork and onion. Both were amazingly delicious. Main's were Shaking Beef, Day Boat Scallops and Chicken curry with a side of garlic noodles. Once again all dishes were a hit for everyone at the table! The beef was cooked to perfection and sat atop a beautiful soy sauce with charred tomatoes and pickled red onions. The scallops were perfectly seared and the accompanying Texas Corn Chowder was wonderful. The chicken was perfectly tender with a delicate curry sauce and roasted beet slaw. Service was perfect too - water glasses filled when needed, drinks and food arriving quickly but never rushed. Whether you like to eat food that you will never be able to recreate in your own kitchen or whether you just value quality seasonal ingredients that are enhanced by superior cooking technique this is the place to eat in Dallas!

Authentic north Vietnamese style food restaurant not owned by Asians. Most expensive Vietnamese food in the city. Non Asian wait staff slowly deliver your food with usual lower Greenville type arrogance. While I thought their fatty versions of Vietnamese food were very authentic I can't afford to eat here when I can go to the Asian areas of the city and pay less than 1/3 of what they charge.

There were four of us that went to Mot Hai Ba on New Year's Eve for dinner. We all loved our food. Two had the salmon, one the pork and one the chicken, they were all exceptional. We will definitely come here again when we are in the Dallas area.

I am a big fan of these Chefs - and they are very good friends of a friend of mine, so I was very excited to hear about their new concept. This just blew me away. These ladies are behind Go To Go Taco - which deserves it's own amazing review. So amazing that this is in my neighborhood and thrilled that it was as amazing as I heard that it was. This location has never been able to keep anything going, which is a shame because it's a great spot - very quaint. The way a good restaurant should be. This place blew my expectations away. I have had Vietnamese in several different cities - and well- This is the BEST. It is always busy when I drive by and so glad we went in for lunch today. There are gluten free options and vegetarian options which make me very happy to have the GF available. I really was craving Phò and was very excited it was on the lunch menu. I ordered the chicken - which I will be back to try the Beef. Absolutely- THE best phò I have ever had. I am a huge fan of this delicious bowl of noodles and amazed at the depth of flavor it had. Sometimes phò just hasn't cooked long enough to taste like anything. This was perfect without adding any herbs/lime/peppers. Of course I added everything they gave me but it was fantastic by itself. The place was packed for lunch but definitely worth squeezing in where you can find a spot. If you like Vietnamese - this is the spot. The other dishes I saw at lunch looked amazing and now I want to go back and get the cabbage salad and more phò! Huge bowl- so be prepared to have leftovers for dinner. Won't disappoint. Definitely check this place out. So excited to have this so close. They will be getting a lot of my business. Especially when I need that phò fix!!

We had heard about this new restaurant featuring North Vietnamese Cuisine and took our niece one Thursday evening around 7 and the place was busy but we got a table. Most all of the tables are community seating and we had a couple with a 3 or 4 month old baby adjacent to us. Not my type of seating but the food was supposed to be good so we powered through. We started with Duck Hearts and Shrimp and Pork Imperial Rolls. The duck was very tender and mixed nicely with the green papaya salad. The rolls were not what I expected,not your normal light wrapping. These we much more dense and flavorful with a tangy dipping sauce. The Shaking Beef was delicious and extremely tender, I don't know if it was filet but tasted as tender. The soy vinaigrette, tomato, red onion and watercress paired beautifully with the beef. The Stuffed Leek with Thai style rice and crab was a huge hit and one of the most affordable items on the dinner menu. Pho was not on the menu although it's supposed to be served Tuesday thru Thursday and it was Thursday. Perhaps they were out as I understand it's supposed to be one of the best in the city. There is a nice selection of French wine and many craft beers available. A small patio out front is also an option for seating if it's not too hot. We'll be back soon during the week to try the Pho.

My husband and I dined here because I had read rave reviews. I figured it would be good, but I was truly blown away by each and every dish. The ceviche was truly perfect and endlessly flavorful. We also had some sort of Peach and Pork entree that was to die for. The garlic noodles are a must with every spread. I can’t recommend this place highly enough!

Ate lunch here today and enjoyed the food. As my title indicates, I'm new to Vietnamese cuisine. I found the food tasty, but hey I'm a round-eye and have yet to try a Vietnamese restaurant in the Asian parts of town. It's a SMALL restaurant. And the seating is on these round stools without any back, so if you're expecting a relaxing comfortable dining experience this ain't it. We did look at the dinner menu and I agree with others describing the cost for dinner as very expensive.

Nice covered patio, cozy interior, small convivial bar at the front door. Very understated, casual but tasteful decoration and vibe. Now to the food. Menu is limited, and this place is Vietnamese inspired, not classic or even typical Vietnamese restaurant menu. But everything we had was fabulous and the sauces were distinctive. We had: three appetizers, sizzling rice cake with shrimp and greens, fried oysters, and squash blossoms tempura with pork and potato stuffing (see, not pure Vietnamese!) But the flavors were all good. I especially liked wrapping a large lettuce leaf around the rice cake, adding some basil or mint, dripping the clear dipping sauce inside, and then eating it like a lettuce taco. Wonderful flavor. And I don't like squash blossoms as much as my wife but the tempura was great. I might double the order next time and skip the entree, but we did have the cod entree and it was excellent, a bowl with a nice piece of fish, vegetables, and a tasty broth. The wine list was all French and reasonably priced. We talked to strangers at the bar and saw people we knew; the patio was filled with families with young children and couples on dates.. Just a wonderful experience. Our server was very helpful and we will be back as soon as we can.

I went here with a group of friends and we dined tapas style passing our plates around and we couldn't decide what dish was better than the next. I took my daughter back there the following week and she fell in love with it. The only draw back is that it is tiny. So call ahead, they take reservations.

The food was excellent. With no knowledge of Vietnamese cuisine, I relied on the wait staff for suggestions. They were knowledgeable helpful and courteous. The atmosphere was lively as the placed with packed. We will certainly make it one of our go to places when in Dallas.

“If you love something, set it free” – Dick Cheney. I love Mot Hai Ba, and I didn’t want to tell anyone about it because I wanted it all for myself. It’s time to share this gem with the city. Outstanding Vietnamese food, without a doubt the best in Dallas. A word of caution, if you like trendy Vietnamese food then this might be a bit of a stretch for you. Pho, is only served Tuesday – Thursday for dinner (I assume because it takes so long to make the broth from scratch). Standouts are the green papaya salad, and the cucumber salad. Make sure to try duck meatballs, and the Bun Cha Hanoi; and if you know what’s good for you you’ll save room for “doughnut holes”.

Overpriced food and a chef who needs to learn from true vietnamese. There are many better restaurants in Dallas

This place is mere minutes from my house and I just now found out about it. We started with cocktails (the old fashioned is tasty and LARGE), moved on to the stuffed squash blossoms, and then had the banana leaf wrapped fish. My wife had the green curry chicken (awesome). The best thing on the menu is the garlic noodles. A must eat! Things to note: Make a reservation. This place is overpriced.

This hidden spot in Lakewood was a great delight. Add the French wine and you have a perfect combination. Service was top notch and pares the wines on recommendation. I can see myself in the fall sitting on the patio with a big plate of something I would mispronounce but enjoy none the less.

I've been a big fan of the chefs since good to go tacos (and its predecessor at the Green Spot). These ladies have done some interesting twists on various foods (tacos at Good to Go, burgers at Goodfriend, and of course, Acme), coming up with some interesting variations. Maybe we came too early in the restaurant's life - I just don't see the twist that makes this really interesting. Instead, the food is an ok Vietnamese place - good enough but standard Vietnamese dishes. However, the price point is pretty high for what the food is - if I want standard Vietnamese, I'll go to other neighborhood dives for a lot less. I'm hopeful that this restaurant will grow a bit - I'll come back in a month or two to see if my opinion has changed. I have a lot of faith in the chefs.

Mot Hai Ba in Dallas is a cozy, intimate Vietnamese restaurant that offers a modern twist on traditional dishes. The ambiance is warm and inviting, making it an ideal spot for date nights or quiet dinners. Signature dishes like garlic noodles and bánh bao are standouts, and the menu features a variety of flavorful options crafted with fresh ingredients. The restaurant has received accolades for its exceptional service and culinary creativity, earning a spot in the MICHELIN Guide's Bib Gourmand category for its quality and value. If you're looking for a unique and satisfying dining experience in Dallas, Mot Hai Ba is a must-visit.

Horrible restaurant. Please don’t come here to joid your meals. They even don’t know how to cook vietnamese foods.

Expensive for very small portions. Scallops and Halibut entrees were tasty, but not filling. Our waiter Steve was very attentive and nice. Street parking and cramped interior. Not a good value, so will not return!

GREAT food. GREAT service. GREAT seating arrangements. We had such a great meal. We ordered every appetizer and shared so we could soak up (literally and figuratively) every yummy morsel. We did not have one bad dish. We came because we saw a show that talked about teh Sizzlingly Cake. It is like a quesadilla shape filled with shrimp and veggies and you wrap it in lettuce, mint and basil and dip it in sauce. Really yummy and filled with soooo much flavor. The dumplings were super yummy and the garlic yumminess they poured on it, i wish we could have taken some home! The squash blossoms were delicious and came three to an order. Good mix of flavor with chicken. The only negative thing is it was sooooooo hot. They have a little air conditioner and no circulation. It was very very hot and not fun to eat when you are sweating :(

Disappointed. Food was ok. Service great. Time from order to table was 45 minutes! Better food around.

Small place but really good food. Started out with green rice fried shrimp and shrimp/pork rolls. Both very good but the shrimp was fantastic. Followed with stuffed leek (crab and veggies) and a lamb strip served on mung bean curd and cucumbers. I could do without the mung beans but the lamb was very good and the leek was piled with fried shallots. Dessert was donut holes rolled in star anise sugar with ice cream and coffee for dipping. A small but all French wine list at reasonable prices.

I was very hesitant to say the least about going here as I have been digging deep into Vietnamese and other Asian foods for many years now. Used to fall into Kim Sons in Houston as far back as the mid 80's. My idea of a Vietnamese restaurant was not in a mostly round eye neighborhood and owned by round eye proprietors. I was a vocal skeptic. But I have to say I was more than pleasantly surprised by the quality and the authenticity of the food here. Very well done and at a level of execution that is a little higher than most typical pho houses around town. You do pay for it though as it is two to three times more expensive than most Vietnamese places in town. The menu is also very limited so there aren't 15 different types of rolls like you might find at Saigon Block nor are soups offered for dinner. We had a duck breast dish that was great, the clay pot chicken was truly flawless and the other sides were good accept the baby bok choy was over cooked for our liking. The rolls we had were great and all of the lettuce and cucumber were fresh and green. Sauces were perfect. They have a very well thought out and reasonable wine list. All French and all excellently selected. One of the best small lists I have ever seen in Dallas. Nice job on that. We picked a wonderful rose from the Aix area of Provence. Super light pale in color and possibly one of the best rose selections I have had in the US. I can't tell you how much we loved it and for about $35.00 it was absolutely spot on. It worked perfect with the meal. I still will throw down at First Chinese BBQ in Richardson with a big group of friends drinking BYOB wines and eating like kings for about $20 a head and will still fall into Bistro B but I think there is room for this spot in our Asian rotation. To my surprise they really did a good job on this place.

Creative dishes in a rustic setting: some good, some average and some bad. Loved the potato crusted halibut (perfectly cooked over lovely pea puree), crispy rice cake with shrimps (great texture although not pretty looking) and shaking beef (wonderful flavor). Swiss chard tempura was so-so: filling was rough and lacked flavors. Here were the bads: poached beets and whipped bule cheese just did not work together; black bass was overwhelmingly spicy, and fish had no texture; and tiramisu tasted like chocolate mousse without coffee/espresso kick. Ordered a bottle of the best French burgundy on the wine list, but they did not have it, Instead, our waiter recommended a Serbia red; what, a Serbia red to substitute a French premier cru burgundy?! They had trouble keeping up with service: waited 25 minutes for cocktails and 35 minutes for starters. By the way, they added $9.95 to the bill for credit card charge that we were never told of.

A unique dining experience great for enjoying your company. Food & drinks were fabulous. Service amazing. Very strongly recommend the experience. We will most definitely be back. Our group of five ate family style sharing everything.

Banh Mi not Bahn Mi, ok Peja Krstic ? please respect our coutry's cuisine !....if not, don't do it....

We learned about this little gem through a Leslie Brenner review in the DMN. Although I don't often agree with her (I've been to a number of her highly regarded places and found them just OK), she was spot on with Mot Hai Ba. Just a tiny little (nothing fancy) spot with seating for fewer than 20 (just a guess - haven't actually counted the seats), you wouldn't expect it to be so wonderful. Lunch is a bit more relaxed than dinner and features different menu items, but both lunch and dinner have items that border on the sublime. Pork belly - different than most (thinner and more bacon-like) but absolutely full of flavor and lavishly tucked into a broth that is amazing. The crab salad with supremes of lime is fresh and light and perfect for a hot TX evening. Tried to get it at lunch a few times, but wasn't available. Great food, nice wine list and friendly/helpful staff make this a charming date night destination. One note; tried the anise doughnut dessert and it was just OK. I'd pass on that one next time. Everything else we've had there has been spot on and delicious though.

I’ve always enjoyed this place. Great elevated Thai.. but not pretentious. The place is not really larger so don’t be shocked if you end up sharing a table with other guests.

After years in Lakewood, we finally visited and thoroughly enjoyed this hidden east Dallas gem! From the wine selection, appetizers and the entrees, every choice scored a solid 10 on a ten point scale. Our appetizers included the grilled octopus and Banh Bao. Entrees were scallops, beef pork ribs, shaking beef and sides garlic noodles and garlic vermicelli. Delicious!

Got in to this very in-demand restaurant a few weeks ago and now understand why it is in such high demand. The food was amazing - extremely creative blends of spices and other ingredients made the meals unique and delicious. The setting and communal tables were very interesting and made this experience even better.

This is an upscale restaurant that is a real addition to the usual range of choices when in the mood for Vietnamese. The restaurant itself is hard to find on the outside (look for Texaco and it is located in the back) and small inside, rather cozy. But the ambience is relaxed sophistication and is quiet even when full so conversation is easy. The menu is not limited to the usual suspects but rather holds some surprises. For starters the wife started with duck hearts and loved them ($10). I even tried one and although they are not my cup of tea, they were not bad and tasted like steak. I had the Imperial rolls, not sure what was inside but they were very tasty ($12). They are like egg rolls but fatter. For entrees the wife had oxtail and it was fabulous flavor and the meat was melt in your mouth ($26). I had the Shaking beef, tenderloin in a spectacular sauce ($36). It was nothing short of phenomenal. You would not go wrong with either of these choices. Our portions did not look big but we were both stuffed and could not eat desert. My one quibble about the meat is that I asked for medium and some pieces were closer to medium rare, but they were tender and so incredibly flavorful that I did not mind. Service was professional, helpful, and efficient. The restaurant is not inexpensive, but if you are in the mood for upscale sophisticated Vietnamese, this is your place. The place take reservations and you may want to make one since the restaurant is quite small and there was a line on our way out. Be ready to share a table with strangers, although not in an obtrusive way.