April 12, 2016 – Dinner at The District By Hannah An

I went to a very upscale event at Rolls Royce dealership in Beverly Hills a few weeks back and I met the lovely assistant of Hannah An, Essence, she set me up with my tasting.

The ambiance is opulent and very elegant, stylish with lots of attention to details. The lovely interiors are very sophisticated, they are modeled after themes that are Vietnamese, whatever they are you will be guaranteed to relax and feel very comforted. The stately lighting, plush white leather seating, and smooth weathered wooden tones, adds to your overall dining experience. Think colonial-era Vietnam with a heavy dose of rustic California. Kenneth Ussenko of KU Productions designed the space, in collaboration with Hannah An herself.

Here’s What I tried:

Craft Cocktails:

Hot Asian – Loft & Bear Vodka Infused with Lemongrass, Organic Vietnamese Chili Agave, Chili Tincture & Lime Zest. A little spicy but very drinkable, I loved this cocktail.

Love You Long Time – Loft & Bear Vodka Infused with Cucumber, Fresh Lime, Organic Agave, Cantaloupe & Cucumber. This one was truly my favorite, great cucumber and cantaloupe flavor.

The Guava Rita – Avion Tequila Blanco, Organic Guava Agave, Fresh Lime, Kaffir Lime Leaf Tincture & Kaffir Lime Leaf Salt. Their rendition of a margarita, and really terrific marriage of ingredients.

Qui Nhon Lychee Martini – Ketel One Vodka, Lychee Liqueur, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur & Marinated Lychees. This Martini is truly one of a kind. It is sweet but is a great light thirst quenching experience.

Starters:

Fresh Rice Paper Spring Rolls – Salmon & Vegetarian, Rice Noodles, Cucumbers, Pickled Daikon/Carrots & Tamarind Sauce. They served me 2 different rolls, one salmon and one vegetarian. Both were equally delicious with firm fresh vegetable and wonderful salmon.

Saigon Calamari – Szechuan Spice Mix, Frisee Salad & Ruby Cherry Pepperoncini. The calamari is cooked very tender and has such a great spice profile.

District Dumplings – Choice of Beef, Chicken or Veggie with Balsamic Reduction. I was served both beef and chicken, they were amazing.

Sandwiches & Flatbreads:

Banh Mi Sandwich – Beef, Chicken or Pork with Pickled Daikon/Carrots, Jalapeños, Pickled Red Onions, Cilantro, Cucumbers, Fresno Chili Aioli, Served on a French Baguette. This sandwich will perk up your taste bugs and give you some heat at the same time. The meat is really the star of this menu item.

District Flatbread –Duck Confit. This is a good flatbread if you like duck; the arugula adds a peppery note.

Sides:

Hannah’s Handmade Noodles – Homemade Panko, Frisee & Garlic-Lime Beurre. I have had her noodles before at events and this is really what your coming here for, they are astounding.

Ocean:

Canh Chua ~ Tamarind Black Cod – Pan-seared Black Cod, Grilled Pineapple, Tomato-Herb Broth, Bean Sprouts, & Seasonal Vegetables. The cod is light and flaky, the broth and vegetable are sensational.

Pho & Soup:

Hannah’s Pho Bo – Sliced Filet Mignon, Vietnamese Meatballs, Brisket, Rice Noodles, Scallions, Bean Sprouts, Sliced Red Onions, Ginger, Thai Basil, Cilantro & Lime. It is all about the broth, which will make you come back for more.

Dessert:

Tapioca with ice cream. Smooth, tantalizing texture, and the ice cream hits the spot, a great ending to an amazing dinner.

Hannah An helped her mother, Helene An with her Beverly Hills restaurant Crustacean. This is Hannah’s first restaurant on her own in the former Duplex space on West Third. Close to Robertson, this part of 3rd Street is becoming the new restaurant hot spot in West Hollywood.

The place was very busy, but General Manager Sam said it was a slow night. I would love to see it on a busy night, but in any case really worth a trip to this outstanding establishment.

I really can’t say anymore other then when you want truly delectable Asian / Vietnamese cuisine there is no better place in Los Angeles then The District, after all it is “The Culinary Answer to Happiness”.

Hours: Monday – Thursday 11:30 am to 10:00pm
Friday 11:30am to 11:00pm
Saturday Brunch 11am-4pm
Saturday Dinner 5:00pm to 11:00pm
Sunday Brunch 11am-4pm
Sunday Dinner 5pm-9pm
Happy Hour – Monday – Friday 3pm to 7pm

The District
8722 West 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
http://thedistrictbyha.com

Comments

This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *