Square Lotus

Bellevue is home to endless chain restaurants and few good independent ones. This Vietnamese restaurant has a huge and wonderfully varied menu with dozens of vegetarian options in addition to a full menu suited to omnivores. The food here is consistently delicious, well-prepared, inventive and satisfying. Many of the vegetarian dishes are built around meat analogs, i.e., fake meat made from veggie sources; the variety of textures and flavors is excellent. Sauces are flavorful without being too salty or overbearing, which lets the freshness and subtlety of the other ingredients shine. The vegetarian cashew “chicken” and barbecued “pork” skewers are favorites. The menu goes beyond traditional Vietnamese dishes to incorporate dishes from other Asian countries as well, such as pad thai and some Chinese-style dishes. Service is friendly and attentive without being intrusive. The atmosphere is pretty without being stuffy. What a wonderful find.

This place has a separate vegetarian menu to go along with their standard menu. Want to try vegetarian Pho? They’ve got it. It’s pretty good. Although I’m sure a real Pho lover would completely dismiss it. My coworker liked his chicken something-or-other. Considering how close it is to work, I guess I’ll be going back.