ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT:
Friday, January 3, 2014 • tacomaweekly.com • Section B • Page 3
ORANGE DOOR VIETNAMESE CUISINE By Sean Contris scontris@tacomaweekly.com
A
t the very edge of Pacific Avenue, across from Fireman’s Park, sits a lovely rectangular building with an eye-grabbing orange door. Now, I imagine not many people are going for a walk downtown these days – with all the construction and massive, mountainous hills, downtown Tacoma is becoming less and less pedestrian friendly. So I wouldn’t blame you if you told me that you have never laid eyes on this building before, but I’ll tell you why this odd building will become one of your favorite places in the entire city. The Orange Door is perhaps the most authentic Vietnamese dining experience that Tacoma has to offer. Owned by Toan Pham, the Orange Door has been open for a little over two and a half years and will be celebrating its third year in business come next June. The key staff of the Orange Door consists of primary cook Noi Phongsy (or as many have come to call her, Momma), fellow cook and artist Jefferson Wright, and, of course, owner and host Toan Pham. Each member of the staff is unique and fascinating in their own ways. Momma may be one of the most entertaining people that I have ever met at a restaurant and she is a woman that you simply have to meet for yourself. The Orange Door serves traditional Vietnamese cuisine made with passion and heart by the two incredibly gifted cooks. In the words of Wright, a family member would make this authentic Vietnamese food, before microwaves and before quickly made meals. This is food that feels meticulously crafted by family members that you would see for special occasions or on the weekend at a celebration. The restaurant uses only the freshest ingredients when preparing meals and the taste is all the more astonishing for it. Seriously, comparing this place to any run of the mill Vietnamese restaurants is simply unfair; it’s like comparing The Godfather to Micky Blue Eyes. The Orange Door menu makes the rounds of varied and unique dishes, including a large list of pho options, and if you are willing to trust me here, I can tell you that the fresh, never frozen, handmade dumplings are nothing short of a mini miracle. In addition to a lengthy menu that begs to be explored, the Orange Door is the one and only Vietnamese restaurant in all of Tacoma with a full service bar, and with closing hours of 3 a.m. I can promise you are going to want to spend a lot of time here. And really, where else can you go to satisfy that 1:00 a.m. craving for pho? Sean Contris is a student at Tacoma Community College. Oftentimes he comes too close to embodying the classical, and oftentimes stereotypical, persona of a young male writer. Sean enjoys listening to a wide range of music and locking himself in his room to read sad Russian novels. Also, be sure and check out his “Band of the Week” features at www.TacomaWeekly.com (type “Band of the Week” in the search field).
ORANGE DOOR VIETNAMESE CUISINE 701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, WA 98402 Mon.-Thurs.: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday & Saturday: 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. PHOTO BY SETH WHEELER
GOOD EATS. Orange Door owner Toan Pham (right), primary cook Noi “Momma” Phongsy (middle) and fellow cook and artist Jefferson Wright (left) create out of this world Vietnamese cuisine.
Custom Hair for Custom People
Only A Couple Cottages Left! From $1,995 p er Month*
Shannon Streich Karen Zadow Trisha Dawkins Ashley McMahan 253.224.1331 253.640.5847 253.797.6497 253.970.1972
WE SPECIALIZE IN CUTTING AND STYLING NATURALLY CURLY HAIR
The New Cottages at Merrill Gardens Feature:
Visit us online: www.hairmuse.com
• Independent living for those 62+
• Stainless steel appliances
• Gated community
• Master suite with patio
• Two bedrooms, two baths
• On-site restaurant
• Two-car garage
• On-site fitness facility
• Granite countertops
• Concierge, housekeeping and
• Hardwood floors
With 20 years of experience in the industry, your next salon experince at Hair Muse will be one set apart from the rest. Our focus at Hair Muse is LISTENING to YOUR wants and needs. Any stylist can give you what “looks best” for your features but if you can’t duplicate the look it is a failure. We take the time to teach you how to blowdry and style your hair to achieve consistent results at home. Now that’s a Win Win!
Schedule your appointment today: 253.572.4885
19 Tacoma Ave N • Tacoma, WA 98403
transportation services available
BUSINESS FURNITURE INC “Washington’s Largest Selection of New & Used Office Furniture”
Secure your cottage by January 15, 2014 at $1,995 per month!*
We only have a couple cottages left! Contact us today to take advantage of this limited opportunity.
MAIN STORE: 3802 S. Cedar Tacoma Near The Mall SOUTHCENTER: 770 Andover Park East
(253) 292-3874 merrillgardens.com
100,000 Sq. Ft. of NEW & USED Office Furniture 3ALES s $ESIGN s )NSTALLATION We Buy Used /FlCE &URNITURE
(253) 292-3874 or tacoma@merrillgardens.com
7290 Rosemount Circle Tacoma, WA 98465
TACOMA 253.627.8633 SOUTHCENTER 206.575.1919
Lic #BH 2134 *Ask for details. Limited time offer.
www.actionbusfurniture.com Now 2 Locations To Better Serve You!