More Than a Meal: How Evie’s Vietnamese Kitchen is Setting a New Standard for Cultural Cuisine
Photo submitted by Dong.
By: Ava Hiemenz, Abbie Dong, Lauren Houts, and Kirstyn Biggar
When stepping into the restaurant, the aroma of warm seasoning and delicious pho fills the air. Soft, inviting amber lighting fills the dining room, with thoughtful cultural decorations filling the space from wall decor to woven lamp shades displayed over the wooden tables. The manager at Evie’s Vietnamese Kitchen, Hiedi Honkamp, attests to this by explaining her personal admiration for her restaurant.
“I definitely love the vibe that we bring. I don’t think there are a lot of restaurants like this.”
To truly take in this special restaurant, we went beyond a quick meal. We completely engrossed ourselves in the atmosphere, savoring a wide variety of their Vietnamese menu, reviewing the customer service and food, and sitting down with the manager.
Evie’s Vietnamese Kitchen is more than just outstanding traditional cuisine. It’s truly an authentic experience, combining excellent hospitality with piquancy in every dish. Honkamp described Vietnamese cuisine as “a combination between Chinese and Thai food.” Paired with delicious food options, the gentle ambience of the restaurant allows customers to completely relax, and the dining experience resembles a comforting living room. Finally, it is clear that the employees strive to make every diner feel welcomed through their warm service. “I think our staff is very friendly. Everyone has been working here for a while,” Honkamp explains.
The restaurant, founded in 2019, serves traditional Vietnamese cuisine and is run by a family from Vietnam. They moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin and opened “Evie’s,” named after their now nine-year-old daughter. There aren’t many establishments in the area that offer the same type of cuisine, and “they wanted to bring a little bit of home with them.”
We experienced the dedication first hand with our waitress, who went above and beyond when a large group of twelve customers arrived right after us. Rather than letting us wait, she came over to our table and explained how she wanted to prioritize our order before the kitchen became backed up with the large party. This caliber of thoughtful and proactive service is rare, and made us feel heartily embraced. There is also a huge commitment to the efficiency of the kitchen, as our meals arrived perfectly hot and prepared in under ten minutes. Honkamp explains that “everything is made to order and fresh, exactly how the customer wants it.” This kind of seamless and acute service ensures that time spent there is stress-free and displays the core hospitality of the restaurant.
The true main event, of course, was the delectable Vietnamese food. Every dish sampled was executed impeccably, and displayed the establishment’s attentiveness to genuine Vietnamese flavors. From the several options of their specialty pho, comprised of rich, warm, and flavorful broth with a meat or protein of your choice, to the thick and sweet orange chicken paired with a creamy fruit sauce and a variety of vegetables, there are certainly no lack of options on the extensive menu. Their delicious Boba drinks come in assorted flavors from plain milk tea to fruit options, and to spice things up, they have a large selection of seasonal options. The waiters and chefs are beyond accommodating, as Honkamp says, “We are able to customize to the customers needs, for preference or allergies.” The outstanding prices top it all off, with every item being affordable and reasonably priced. “We want them to feel like they spent their money on something that was worth it and that they would come back for.”
Evie’s Vietnamese Kitchen is a true gem, as it is more than just the best Vietnamese food in the area; it offers a genuine feeling of belonging and warmth to all who step through the door, unlike any other. Honkamp illustrates that the meaning behind the restaurant was to “Bring a piece of home and comfort for all of the employees.” Not only did they succeed in this factor, Evie’s Vietnamese Kitchen is a true home for all who step through the doors. For anyone seeking a truly special and cozy dining experience, it is a must-visit.
