Forty years is an impressive lifespan for a business. Sure, camels and koi fish usually reach their 40th. But restaurants? Almost unheard of. Unless, of course, you’re a city institution that’s been serving some of the best Vietnamese food since 1984. Vietnam Restaurant, tucked away on North 11th Street in Chinatown, is that institution. It runs a tight ship—everyone from solo diners to rowdy groups of friends are warmly welcomed and seated immediately, and steaming plates of food arrive within minutes. The wood-paneled dining room is cozy and casual, but works just as well for a midweek date night as it does dinner with your eight closest colleagues. The menu is huge, so whether you’re craving a grilled pork vermicelli bowl or tofu curry, you’ll find something you like (even if that means a Flaming Volcano or Suffering Bastard from Bar Saigon, the adjoining second floor bar). But the real reason Vietnam has gotten to its 4th decade is that—and we swear we’re not being dramatic when we say this—everything they serve is comforting and delicious. The pork claypot is unbelievably tender, and balances peppery heat with creamy coconut milk. The broken rice platters are piled with crisp, fresh vegetables and char-grilled meat or shrimp. And we’re thinking about tattooing “BBQ Platter” on our forearms (the accompanying crispy spring rolls are the best in the city). So head to Vietnam when you want to go all out during your lunch hour, have out-of-town visitors coming for the first time, or want to start the night with a flavorful noodle feast and end it with Polynesian cocktails. After a rhino’s lifetime of service, they’ve (nearly) perfected it all.