On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Vietnamese, Asian Fusion [Edit]
Neighborhood: First HillMon-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Loading...
Great service to be sure, very average food based on what I had for lunch. Reasonable prices for what you get.
BBQ pork bahn mi was pretty bland, but on a great big crusty bread. I wish they cut the cucumber into thin strips, that to me, are more appetizing than thick, slimy slabs. I resuscitated this sandwich with a 20mL bolus of chili paste. I also had the tofu spring roll which was pretty average but had a tasty dipping sauce with plenty of peanut crumbles.
One last thing- the fish tank could really use a plecostomus.....just sayin'.
People thought this was:
Ballet may look horrible from the out side, but oh man are they good. They have a great vegetarian selection.
The pricing is very affordable, since everything you order you could share the portions are huge.
The have these wonderful spring rolls that are in a raw uncooked dough, and filled with cabbage and prawns or shrimp. They are a meal on their own. You get 2 and they are at least 7inches long and 3-4 diameter. I really thought one day they would fade away, I am so happy they have not.
Uh?
I had Ballet recommended to me by a few people, none of whom I respect anymore and all of whom I have punched in the face. I suspect the chow mein was made by taking a large, stale cracker and giving it a perm, because what I had was not food. After four bites (yes, four), we paid and left.
The next time I want to go to Ballet, I'll probably just peel something off of the wall - wallpaper, boards, dead bugs... it's irrelevant - cover it in the signature Ballet Water Sauce, and then beat myself in the face with a hammer.
People thought this was:
Hey, it's open late, right next to all the bars where I frequent. Quick, table service. I've had the teriyaki and the pad thai - nothing to write home about, but it gets the job done.
People thought this was:
I'm starting to think I don't actually LIKE pad thai, as lately I'm almost always disappointed. But besides being just... not good, it was also the weirdest pad thai I've ever had.
First of all, the noodles were noodle-colored. Not the orangey brown I'm used to. The taste reflects it-- not enough sauce!
But wait, they serve it with a side of peanut sauce? Whaaat.
After dousing my noodles in that, it tasted like I was eating a plate of peanuts. I like peanut sauce and all, but I don't like my choice here-- overly peanutty pad thai or no flavor pad thai.
Maybe I'll try something else some day. Maybe nooottttt....
Two stars because the service was quick & friendly.
People thought this was:
Oh. My. God.
I don't know what I ate (or at least tried to). I know what I ordered, but what was put in front of me was nowhere near what it was supposed to be.
Coconut milk soup. Easy, right? I've been making it since I was a teenager, and I grew up in Alaska where ethnic food barely exists. At least when I make it it's more than edible- you might even be able to call it GOOD.
What I got at Ballet was a huge bowl full of light pink goo that tasted like old fish sauce with a touch of lemon and fake meat that could have passed for cat food. Why was it pink? Was was it gelatinous? It seriously looked like a bowl full of bloody pus. I know that sounds disgusting- but that's exactly what it was. I ate two bites before realizing if I forced down anymore I would be sick.
Regardless- I spent the rest of the night with my stomach in knots, cursing my bad decision.
What exactly DID I eat?
People thought this was:
Love this place! Used to work around the corner and would eat here regularly. The food is decent and the prices reasonable. Sometimes I really crave the chicken curry with peanuts.
The staff is super friendly and consistent. It's a solid meal, one I look forward to having many more times.
People thought this was:
My friend had the Pad Thai, which looked a little bizarre (he said it was good though)... but the veggie fried rice is the BOMB! Lots of veggies and not too oily or salty. Fast and friendly service, and the price is very reasonable (less than 7 bucks). Seems like they have quite a bit of veggie options too. Haven't tried their other dishes, but I'm definitely biking back here :)
Defintely a cool place to check out for vietnamese/thai food! Prices are really good and the food is definitely worthwhile! The mock chicken curry and the phad thai are hands down my favorites there!
Don't go there if you are trying to impress someone, cause the decor is definitely not going to cut it. You go there to grab a quick bite or to simply go and get decent food with friends.
Worth checking out if you are in the mood for some good quality asian food on capitol hill!
People thought this was:
Decent, cheap, and fast, with plenty of veggie options. For those reasons I kept going back as a broke high school/community college student. Now in my wise old grad school years, I care more for the cleanliness and culinary style of a place. Ballet is a bit lacking on both counts.
People thought this was:
I went back today after a nearly 2 year hiatus. I have a friend who works nearby who loves it, mostly because she is a regular...but I have to say I have had better vermicelli bowls elsewhere.
I don't expect much from a place like this, but the fish tank definitely creeped me out. And the bathroom.
It wasn't bad, just have had better. The server was nice, food was fast & fresh.
Huge diverse menu, maybe I just need to try some other dishes.
People thought this was:
I used to live nearby this restaurant and went there all the time. The curry tofu with brown rice is to die for. I actually haven't been in quite a while...I think I may need to re-acquaint myself sometime very soon.
They used to have faux meats (beef and chicken) that you could sub in most dishes...hope they still do that.
People thought this was:
When it comes to most of the restaurants I enjoy, the service is as important as the food. Ballet is the exception. Ballet is special because part of the reason why I like it is that they give you your food and then get out of your way until you want to give them money.
I ate here at least once a week when I was going to college at Central, and almost always ordered the exact same thing... I can't remember what it was called, but it was chicken in a yellow curry sauce. Perhaps Yellow Chicken Curry? Boy, I'm sure helpful. Either way, it was tasty. (No matter what it was called.)
At the bottom of it all, Ballet is cheap. It's reliable. If you're on a budget, it's a way to break up the seemingly endless days of pho and PBJ. But in its own special way, Ballet is slightly terrifying - at least from what I've seen of the kitchen. There's a reason I haven't been back since I graduated.
People thought this was:
Random, random, random... but I like it. Quick friendly service, clean bare restaurant (stark cafeteria style) and a fish tank. It is around the corner from a gas station and just off the main drag. I never would have stopped here on my own but was meeting a friend for lunch. My friend recommended the phad thai. There was a variety of Asian dishes- but nothing jumped out at me. I was reluctant to order curry or something even bordering on complex so after being told that Ballet was "the best phad thai" he had ever had I decided to challenge his assertion.
Ballet's phad thai with tofu was amazing. I would come back for the dish. No ketchup taste, crispy tofu, great flavor, and good portion size. I am told that the chicken is tasty as well. There three stars what what I expected three stars to be. You have to know that the last phad thai I had was pretty gross. I resisted ordering it ever since. I tend to do curries or sushi.
I like knowing that this place is available when I am wandering Capital Hill and in need of a great lunch or fast take out.
People thought this was:
Loved the fresh spring rolls. They had to have been about a foot long and were only about $1.50 each. So good, even though I felt awkward eating them.
The steamed dumplings were fine. The pork humbow, scary. I think they use actual sausage links, instead of ground pork. All I know is the pork resembled a human thumb. Another odd detail: a whole hard-boiled egg atop the thumb.
I'll go back for the spring rolls and to try other dishes. I think the place has potential...even though one Yelper warned me it was "super disgusting". I guess I have low standards.
People thought this was:
Everything is beautiful at the ballet....
I like the production "A Chorus Line," but I like Ballet even better. Meeting a friend for lunch, we stepped out of the rain and into the warmth of this wonderful Vietnamese restaurant. We maneuvered our way around the busy room, past happy soup-slurping, broccoli-crunching, tea-sipping customers, to the last empty table.
My friend ordered the teriyaki stir fry with tofu and brown rice, and I ordered veggie pho with tofu. Than Brothers, look out! My $5.95 bowl came with broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, bean sprouts, lots of tofu strips, tons of rice noodles, and a great broth. The bad person I am, I was too busy thinking about my lunch to ask my friend how well she liked her food. Considering she dines (sups?) at Ballet on a regular basis, and orders the same dish with each visit, I think I'm safe saying she is a big fan.
Ballet offers an interesting highlight among a few of its menu items: fake meat. I may dare myself to try it the next time I'm in Ballet. While I miss the Than Bros. famous cream puff, the next time I'm in the mood for Veggie pho, I'll be singing that line from the musical:
"Everything is beautiful at the Ballet...."
People thought this was:
I really wanted to like this place...OK not really I didn't even know I was going here until I was on my way to Capitol Hill to meet other yelpers.
From the outside it looks like it belongs in the ID not on Capitol Hill, and from the inside it sends off the same vibe. I went with the pork rice vermicelli with three stars, their highest, and it wasn't very spicy to me but thankfully they had some chili sauce on the table for me to kick it up a notch. I didn't mind my vermicelli it was good though I've had better the steamed buns were kind of scary I'm glad I didn't order one because I'm not a fan of fingers or things that look like fingers. The huge redeeming factor for this place is they had air conditioning on such a hot day it was nice to sit in there and stay cool while eating dinner.
People thought this was:
Ambiance: 0
Food: 10
Value: 10
Don't go to Ballet expecting a swanky dining area. It's not much to look at, but the food is fabulous and the prices? EVEN BETTER! I love their teriyaki tofu, and their default salad dressing (some sort of creamy mayonnaisey poppyseed something) is so yummy that I once brought in an old water bottle and asked them if they could fill it up with dressing for me to take home. Delicious, cheap, and quick. Who needs fancy atmosphere when you got that?!
People thought this was:
SO GOOD!
The price is perfect, the food is delicious, and the people are great... It doesn't take long for the waitstaff to learn your name and your order. And the pho gives every place in a 5 mile radius a run for its money!GO TO BALLET!!!
Only downer?... Closed on Sundays.
People thought this was:
Slightly institutional on the inside, but who cares when you work in a hospital anyway?
Lunch prices are fair, and the food is great. Lightning fast service! I had the charbroiled beef and eggroll vermicelli bun bowl and it was very nice. I asked the server which was better, pork or beef? And she kindly steered me in the right direction. The beef tastes strangely like the teriyaki beef from Nasai... BOMB!
They have an extensive menu, including some iffy-looking items: faux meat pho? I don't know about you, but I'm steering clear of that stuff.
The tofu curry rocks.
They have excellent vegan options. Almost half the menu is vegan.
Check it.
People thought this was:
Ballet is a dive restaurant. It's clean enough to eat in but nothing is pretty inside except for maybe the big fish tank that hides the fact that there's tons of seating in here. It's cool though, gives it character.
I had the curry tofu which seemed sort of like a yellow curry without potatoes. While there was a nice bit of vegetarian and vegan options I would have liked more vegetarian curry options. I think there were two and the others amounted to shrimp or chicken curry. Having fallen in love with curry since I moved to the PNW, perhaps I'm just spoiled by Araya's.
Service was prompt and kept coming back for more orders as friends came and left to sit with us. Food came up pretty quick too.
Definitely will eat again here again, just not a favorite yet with all the alternatives.
People thought this was:
Ballet kicks ASS. The other reviewers are right about the atmosphere, in that there is absolutely none, but the charming and attentive waitstaff more than make up for it. And in my very humble opinion, the flavor of the pho outdoes Than Brothers' - I'm sorry, yes, I really think so.
Don't forget to try the crab wontons. More ass-kicking there. Ditto for the egg rolls. Greasy, hot, and fantastic.
People thought this was:
Pretty decent. I've had the pho once, but I am still a devoted Than Brothers patron. I enjoyed the lemongrass chicken, but it's all pretty bland.
Good place if you are in a hurry and not wanting to spend a lot of money. I would not seek it out, though.
After reading high praises about Ballet I went there with a friend on a night that I was looking for something different at a place I've never been to.
The food was mediocre. I had soup, my friend had some noodle dish. My soup was really oily (and I know some soups are supposed to be oily, but this was beyond) Although, it had more shrimps in it tham I could count! She ordered a noodle dish, and that too was pretty greasy and overcooked.
I did however like the inside of the place. It made me feel like I was in the Intl. District. It didn't feel sterile but it was clean - just like the I.D.! The service was kind of like I was hanging out at someones house (which I really like), and to be honest - I am going back again. I always give a place 2 tries, because for all I know, it could have been an off night. Which, being in the service industry myself I know is bound to happen.
More to come...
People thought this was:
This place is slightly cafeteria-esque but I didn't care, the food was so out of this world excellent. I haven't had good pho since eating at Ballet.
Please deliver to the Bay Area.
I miss you.
You know I did love Ballet Pho until I went to Than Brothers (and if you argue that MSG is a traditional flavoring used in asian cooking to increase flavor without adding salt, a little of it did not kill citizens in countries that have been using it for years {The History of Salt}). I know it is a Pan-Asian restaurante, but it seems that when one tries to do many things it succeeds in doing them all okay, but none excellent. So, my verdict Ballet is good, and has a very good easily accessible location, but too many options to be that amazing.
Update from a Thai friend: They make their Pad Thai with Ketchup (really?!)
People thought this was:
I love this place! Super fast service and awesome food. The Curry Beef is the best I've ever had.
Another Vietnamese Restaurant in the Broadway area. They need to keep the restroom clean. OMG!
People thought this was:
I really enjoyed this place...I did not have the pho but I had teriyaki tofu and broccoli(can't really mess that up). They were really nice and changed my order to how I liked it. Good service, good people. I do think it felt a bit like a cafeteria--but thats okay--it was still cool.
People thought this was:
I should have read Ariel's review a little closer ...especially the part about "don't expect a swanky dining area." This place is one step away from a walk up and order from the menu above your head place. I ordered rice vermicelli thinking it was the thin silver noodles (my mistake) and though it was good and the chicken was delicious, it was a little spicy for a two stars (maybe they made mine 3 instead of Mitzie's which she said wasn't spicy enough). I'm tempted to throw in another star because they serve beer...but nah. Overall, fine but not great.
People thought this was:
Yesterday I was feeling gloomy, but I needed some hot soup in my belly. I walked in & was greeted with the smile that I've come to expect from this place. They know what I want, I don't even need to order! My hot bowl of tofu sate hit the spot. My belly was warm and happy. Do you need a warm belly? Then go to Ballet. Your belly will smile when you leave
People thought this was:
weird. i must have gone there on a bad night. several friends had suggested ballet before. so, when i had some out of town guests and i decided to take them there.
between the three of us sharing appetizers, they only gave us one small plate, which led to a dirty table for them to clean up. the teenage waitress was more interested in texting than helping us and it took forever to get our tab. it was not a busy night.the lighting was horrible and the whole vibe made me feel like i was in a homeless drop in center. the food was good though. will probably not return unless someone else suggests it.
People thought this was:
This place has great inexpensive food, and friendly staff. I regularly go here to dine in or take out and have not been dissappointed yet. The dining area is nothing fancy, but that is easily overlooked when you are hungry and aren't looking to spend a lot of money.
People thought this was:
I've been to Ballet once and I was rather disappointed after all the good reviews it got.
Ballet has a sort of pan-Asian menu and I think that put me off a bit; if I want Thai food I'll go to a Thai place, and if I want Vietnamese food, I'll go to a Vietnamese restaurant. I had pho and my friend had a Thai-style yellow curry.
The pho was okay, but there are nicer pho places nearby on Broadway, and of course in the International district. The yellow curry was not good. You can get better Thai food at the Thai restaurant near Pine and Harvard.
Ballet! This became a stomping ground for me and my fellow classmates while we attended Gary Manuel Aveda Institute. 2-3 times a week we would traipse over and treat ourselves to a feast. I would always order one or two fresh spring rolls with just pork and the pho tai (small) and it would fill me up. It was nice, they learned to remember our names and even my order and always had a pleasant attitude. And they always gave us a free fortune cookie when paying :)Not a fancy restaurant at all, plain and simple. I kind of wish they would either clean or take away the nasty fish tank in the front though. I know, I know...who cares about the fish..but they're these huge, gross orange fish that are just...ugly. And the tank is green with algae too, so I avoid looking at it while eating! I wish I were over in that area more so I would have an excuse to fill myself up with a nice bowl of pho. And maybe, just maybe, someone will get rid of those fish one day.
People thought this was:
I have been a customer of Ballet since around 1991, when REI was still up the street and the comet had graffitti on the side. 3 ownerships since, ballet has evolved into a pan-asain lunch and dinner spot with good service, quick to -go orders, and good veggie options. they have teriyaki, pad thai, and pho. raves about the pho come with the disclaimer: not as good as than bros- well do you know why? the answer is NO MSG. .than bros, and every other pho joint in town except ballet uses MSG, and, well it just doesnt taste right without it. instead, try the SATE -- trust me on this one-- its a coconutty, creamy noodle soup with peanuts, beansprouts, big wedges of fresh tomato, and tofu or whatever. very satisfying. also try veggie humbau !
Everyone I work with loves this restaurant and I can see why. Take in or out, the food is fabulous, especially the PHO!! Ballet takes a twist on Pho that few restaurants dare to--vegetarian meet! Try the Ballet Combo for tasty fake beef and fake meetballs, or just try the broccoli and tofu Pho. It's delicious here; almost as good as Than Brothers, but no cream puff!
I love, love, love this place! Yummy, cheap and quick! My favorite is the chicken curry - sometimes I get a craving for this that just has to be satisfied and can't be taken care of anywhere else! They have great options for meat lovers and vegetarians alike! If only they were open a bit later for those late night cravings!
People thought this was:
l have resided most of my life in southern California. i have had Pho in LA a few times and was never really all that impressed. my friend from Seattle always wanted to eat it and i just didn't get it....until my recent visit to Seattle for the first time. i was blown away...the pho is soo different and delicious. first off, it's all about the broth! In LA i basically had to put every condiment from the table in my soup just to get some flavor....OH not here, to mess with the broth would be a cardinal sin. perfect untouched, OK well maybe a little extra hot sauce. now i am addicted to pho and it sux here in LA :(
i was instructed to go to than brothers, but was not able to make it there, seems like some of the reviews I've read say it's better..
we took our pho to go cuz we had a train to catch...but even to go it was d'lish and everything i needed was included in the to go package, even the mini hot sauce in ketchup like packages!!! very nice!
People thought this was:
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
Category: Vietnamese
Neighborhood: International District
Category: Vietnamese
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
Category: Vietnamese
Neighborhood: Lake City
Category: Vietnamese
Neighborhood: Pioneer Square
Category: Chinese
Places I've been to get my Pho and Vietnamese fix…
As an awesome, flavourful, and healthy noodle…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
A list of ethnic food places I have tried. Still…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
