Le Colonial Restaurant is a Chicago icon. Established in 1996, this elegant French-Vietnamese venue was a fixture for over twenty years in the center of Chicago’s famed Gold Coast neighborhood on Rush Street. At the time, the restaurant occupied a two-story vintage rowhouse. In early 2019, the well-known dining spot was relocated. But this was not a move across town or into a completely different city. Instead, Le Colonial shuffled over to a location just a few steps away on East Oak Street. We will explore why the business moved from one longtime location to another one nearby as well as take a closer look at the menu to determine why this has become such a favorite spot for Vietnamese food in Chicago’s frantic food services industry that keeps changing and growing.
From Rush Street to East Oak Street
If you were fortunate enough to have visited Le Colonial at least once in their home of over 22 years on Rush Street, you probably remember the cozy seating found on the second floor. Well, the East Oak Street location has many of the elements you will recall from Rush Street, minus the cozy second floor. But you will see a floor that features decorative tiles created by the very same artisans who put their touches all over the decor of Le Colonial’s first Chicago home. Why did they move in the first place? Co-owner of Le Colonial, Joe King explains that it essentially came down to financial considerations because the Rush Street location “was simply becoming too expensive to sustain.” He adds, “Staying would have meant paying triple the restaurant’s former rent.” So to be able to relocate within a stone’s throw of where everyone remembers Le Colonial being, King pulled off his own impossible mission. He also said at the time of the move that the East Oak Street location “presents a good opportunity to refresh both the decor and the food.”
Speaking Of The Food…
When Le Colonial first opened, it was ahead of the curve. Few downtown restaurants were serving Vietnamese plates. According to the restaurant’s national culinary director, Nicole Routhier, “Now it’s a big trend…everyone has Vietnamese flavors and banh mi on their menus.” So the focus on the food from Day One was to stay away from creating “fusion” versions of Vietnamese foods to fit the palates of diners in the 1990s. Instead, Routhier assisted in designing a menu that was steeped in her family roots. She grew up in Vietnam and is half-Vietnamese and half-French so the dishes she influenced had this cultural mix she was familiar with but with an added upscale approach. The final result is a menu that covers everything from small to large plates and includes a few side dishes, too.
Let’s Look At The Menu
Expect to find meat sources ranging from shrimp, salmon, and pork to chicken and beef. Add a healthy helping of vegetables, noodles, rice, and sauces and you’ll have an idea of what awaits you at Le Colonial. Picks from the all-day menu include Cha Gio / Crispy Shrimp and Pork rolls which include Gulf shrimp, pork, Asian mushrooms, mint, cilantro, and chill lime dipping sauce. There’s Pho Bo / Hanoi Beef Noodle Soup which comes with seasoned oxtail broth, rice noodles, scallions, bean sprouts, cilantro, and beef tenderloin slices. For larger appetites, you could order Ga Xao Xa Ot / Spicy Chicken Stir-Fry which includes Miller Farms chicken breast, turmeric, lemongrass, jalapeño, green beans, shiitake mushrooms, and Thai basil. Or you could select the Banh Xao which comes complete with wide rice noodles, bean sprouts, soy sauce, and your choice of chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu. Getting hungry yet?
By The Way, This Is Anything But Fast Food
Sure, the 1920s colonial flavor to the decor and menu is a bit unusual for celebration, but it also gives this venue the uniqueness it carries from the look and feel of everything one experiences once inside of the building. Executive chef and business partner Quoc Luong points out that the attention to detail extends from the front door to the kitchen and beyond. He is very proud of one menu item in particular – the Cha Gio / Crispy Spring Rolls with Shrimp and Pork. Luong says it has to do with the time that goes into preparing that meal. “Original, authentic cha bio is wrapped in rice paper, but it’s very time-consuming.” He adds, “So most restaurants don’t have the labor, and they don’t do it.” As Routhier adds, “Asian cuisine, in general, requires a lot of prep. It’s very labor-intensive. If anything, our food should be more expensive.” Again, that’s because Le Colonial is not a fast-food restaurant.
What Others Have To Say
Here are a few comments posted online from reviewers who have been at Le Colonial in recent weeks. “This place was epic! The ambiance was so nice and very COVID friendly. The pho was delicious, the broth was on point. Their Vietnamese iced coffee was the best I have ever had and highly recommend. The chicken dumplings were so good that I wish I had ordered two. The chicken stir fry was so fresh and very filling!” Another reviewer said, “Our experience at Le Colonial was nothing short of amazing. From the moment we walked in, the hostess made us feel so special. The best part of our whole experience was the amazingly flavored food. I highly recommend the Brussel sprouts, shrimp spring rolls, and chicken curry. 10/10 experience! Will definitely be back!” And one more online review that clearly states, “Le Colonial is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. I have had pork ribs, the pan-seared chicken dumplings, and the duck. 10/10 everything! The service is exceptional, and the ambiance – lovely!”
Summary
Located at 57 E. Oak Street, Chicago, Le Colonial Restaurant is open daily from 12 PM to 10 PM serving both lunch and dinner. If you have never tried Vietnamese food, and want to experience as authentic a meal as possible in Chicago, this is your place to visit. Not only will the service and decor impress you, but the menu is incredible as well. From a business meal or a casual dinner date to a family get-together (with proper social distancing), Le Colonial can accommodate your needs.
Le Colonial Restaurant is a Chicago icon. Established in 1996, this elegant French-Vietnamese venue was a fixture for over twenty years in the center of Chicago’s famed Gold Coast neighborhood on Rush Street. At the time, the restaurant occupied a two-story vintage rowhouse. In early 2019, the well-known dining spot was relocated. But this was not a move across town or into a completely different city. Instead, Le Colonial shuffled over to a location just a few steps away on East Oak Street. We will explore why the business moved from one longtime location to another one nearby as well as take a closer look at the menu to determine why this has become such a favorite spot for Vietnamese food in Chicago’s frantic food services industry that keeps changing and growing.
