Kinhdo Restaurant - Uptown

I like to see what other people are saying so I often read local food blogs, reviews, etc. Nothing compares to actually experiencing the place for yourself, but I was interesting in what people thought of Kinhdo. I’m personally torn. It was a decent experience, the atmosphere is pretty low key for Uptown, but not bad and the food was somewhere in the middle.

I’ve noticed that, more so than most restaurants, the quality of Kinhdo is highly debated via the internet world. Some say “Best PAD THAI in MINNESOTA!!!”, it’s “An Unassuming Secret”, and “Best Asian in Minnesota”. Other are not so impressed. I would probably put myself more so on the not so impressed side, but then again I could be wrong…wouldn’t be the first time.

Kinhdo is technically a Vietnamese restaurant but, like most Asian restaurant in the Midwest, serves dishes from other regions. Kinhdo has been around for awhile at the same location, so it must have a decent following. They do to-go as well as dine in. Their dining room is nothing much to look at, but the food prices and quality make the ambiance not much of an issue if you’re just looking to grub.

The biggest problem I have with Kinhdo is overall restaurant quality. It is in close proximity to Eat Street and the center of Uptown, so there are lots of choices. While I may not discourage you from going to Kinhdo if you really wanted to, I might suggest some other places first. Eat Street is filled with Vietnamese restaurants which are also very affordable. Quang’s, Pho79 and Pho Tau Bay are just a few options that I enjoy more than Kinhdo. I also have a soft spot for the Saigon on 30th and Lyndale. Their old location (which is now close, boo) on Grand Ave was my favorite place to go for Vietnamese food.

It seems that in the end Kinhdo will continue to have a loyal following. If you’re looking for a place to impress someone Kinhdo might not be the place. If you’re looking for a cheap meal and you’re not watching your weight go for Kinhdo. For me, I will probably stick to my personal favorites and not be back to Kinhdo anytime soon.

The food was very good, as was the service. There are many vegetarian and vegan options. I definitely recommend any dish with mock duck, as it was very good. I didn’t really care for the spring rolls (tofu), as the casing (rice paper) tasted a bit rubbery, and the inside not very flavorful. The entrees are great though. There are a lot of good restaurants in Uptown, but don’t make the mistake of overlooking this one.

I am always surprised at how even Uptown, of all places, has so few options for on-the-go vegans. Still, I dare you to try Kinhdo’s mock duck and tell me that vegans are deprived! Working in Uptown, Kinhdo’s diverse carry out menu – including many different vegan options – and their amazing and affordable lunch specials have become a staple of mine. Additionally, even their “lunch special” portions are large enough to have you covered for both lunch AND dinner. I’d recommend the mock duck with vegetables, also known as “Lunch Special Number 20.” For $2.00 they’ll throw in some of tofu! Wash it all down with a fortune cookie; but don’t forget, you have to eat the fortune if you want it to come true!

My only complaint? I could do without the styrofoam containers.

Again, I apologize for the title. It’s almost involuntary, I swear…