Really good - ordered the crispy tofu salad with various toppings for a filling, refreshing and scrumptious meal. You get a choice of different sauces to add as much or little to your bowl. I had tamarind and cilantro ginger.

If I were to make a suggestion, it would be to also offer a naked tofu option, but otherwise, it's a place you can go to repeatedly and feel healthy. Although I didn't try it, I noticed they offer an impossible meat option for another vegetarian option.

The place is super clean and the staff were really nice too. Definitely recommend!

The food here is fantastic! Bursting with flavor And everybody. Their bowls are very large and filling, plenty for two meals. I enjoyed their rice as well as their cauliflower rice or salad for lighter pace. They have a great variety meet, I enjoyed all of them as well. Plenty of toppings and sauces to choose from, a healthy and extremely satisfying meal. Service here is wonderful, they are so friendly and welcoming, highly recommended!

Ambiance: this modern vietnamese kitchen is conveniently located on Venice, and ample metered parking spots along the street, high top seating along the windows inside and few tables set up outside

Service: very fast and super friendly, patient with questions and provided useful suggestions

Food: build your own bowl is the most popular dish here, choose from base and protein, where you're allowed to do half and half, then add toppings and pick sauces
Half & Half Bowl - **** half garlic rice and half vermicelli noodles, half grilled pork and half grilled chicken, add cilantro, tomatoes, basil, jalapenos, cucumber sunomono, pickled cabbage, pickled carrots & daikon, sauced with cilantro ginger and honey sriracha, recommend for its variety fresh ingredients

Price: generous portions and decent prices, about $15 for a very fulfilling lunch meal

First time here, and I was very surprised about how much I enjoyed my meal!

I went on a afternoon which wasn't the best because there was a Farmers market going on so it was a bit hard to find parking, but i'm assuming without FM there's ample parking space.

Inside of the Resturant is very clean and kind of small if you're eating inside (but they have patio dinning in the back of the Resturant that is shared with 2 other small businesses)

The staff was really helpful, and when ordering my bowl she even add suggestions about swapping out the fish sauce that comes with the bowl for the 2 sauces I got(one was spicy and one was ginger, can't remember the names).

My bowl was SUPER fresh, and flavorful, and had a kick to it (I asked for all spicy additions). It was super filling and for $13 I could barely finish half which made perfect leftovers!

Also, the Thai Tea was super refreshing! Tasted pretty authentic!

Build your own bowl. Every time.
My favorite combination is either rice/salad or noodle/salad + half chicken half pork + everything in the garnish and veggie section + my Lai vinaigrette. The portion is great and usually becomes 2 meals for me.

When I'm feeling sassy, I get the Viet coffee because OMG they are STRONG. Do you want to really stay up all day? Get this coffee.

Service is top-notch! Seriously, this alone was 5 stars.

The food also was amazing. I got a bowl - you can mix and match bases so I did vermicelli and salad. For the protein, I did half pork, half crispy tofu. Both were superb and flavorful in different ways. The marinated cucumber is amazing and the most unique topping and they have so many options you can add to your bowl. The person helping me packed my bowl to the max - such a great value! And the quality is there too - everything was extremely fresh. The sauces I picked are my lai vinaigrette and the ginger cilantro sauce.

The store itself is small but they have a few tables out front and a back patio! I've been meaning to try this place for a while now, and it did not disappoint!

My Lai is a Modern Vietnamese spot - they have everything ready to go and which makes it a great spot to grab quick and tasty meal. There are parking meters all around the shop.

For the food: I loved their Build Your Own Bowl. I was given the option to have two meat and two sauces. My bowl had garlic rice, grilled pork & grilled chicken, pickled carrots & daikon, cucumber sunomono, tomatoes, bean sprouts, basil, mint, crushed peanuts, crispy garlic + peanut sauce & my lai vinaigrette. There was something slightly spicy in the bowl, so maybe I got some pickled onion & habanero. It's unlimited toppings, so it's easy to add them all. The bowl is a very generous portion - I easily had it for 3 meals (smallish meals), but still... what an incredible value and incredibly delicious. There's also a rewards program - sign me up! I'd have this over at Chipotle anytime.

Love the chicken rice and BYOB bowls - even the banh mis are tasty. Lots of flavors and seems healthy. The chicken rice bowl has garlic rice which is tasty, and you can add a variety of toppings to the bowls with your choice of protein, even can split half/half protein. The bowls are substantial too and you get a good amount. I do wish the fried pork egg rolls were bigger. The spring rolls are a better value. This place is on a periodic rotation for me!

I'm so happy this place is near me because I'm definitely going to come here more often for my Vietnamese fill.

I got a pork banh mi sandwich, an egg roll, and Vietnamese coffee.

Banh mi sandwich: So good. It was filled with condiments (cilantro, pickled vegetables, bbq pork, mayo sauce, etc). Enjoyed it a lot. 4/5

Egg roll: A classic-- hard to mess up! It was pretty small but crispy and flavorful, especially with the added sauce on the side. 4/5

Iced Vietnamese coffee: Very concentrated!! I actually forgot about my drink in my car for a couple of hours and the ice was half-melted and it was the perfect flavor. I will get this again. 5/5

Customer Service was a 5/5!!! So friendly and personable. Honestly, I wished I remembered their names but they bumped this from a 4/5 to a 5/5.

Parking is metered parking on the street. I didn't have trouble finding nearby parking.

If I could, I would eat this every day for lunch. Such a satisfying and yummy meal that you feel good about, not heavy and bloated at all. It's a very healthy meal with yummy flavors and very large portion size for the bowl. The sauces are light yet still flavorful and all gluten-free or vegan. Would definitely recommend building your own bowl.

The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. There is a patio in the back. Parking is metered parking. Could be hard to find during busy hours.

Best banh mi I've had in LA!
The bread is on point and the chicken tasted fresh. The toppings were fresh as well! They have a nice outdoor patio in the back. Get a nice Thai milk tea with this sandwich! Perfection!

-Food-
10/10!! You get so much for your money, especially with the BYO bowl! It's only $13 for a bowl that I can have for 2 meals. They are also super generous with their meat scoopings and let you have as many toppings as you'd like! It's just like a Vietnamese Chipotle!

-Service-
Perfect place to quickly get yummy food to-go! It's just like Chipotle where you come in and you pick the base, toppings, etc, and it's all made in front of you.

-Looks-
Super cute! The inside is very clean, and there's a pretty back patio with plants and pretty lights.

-Other-
There's street parking and a free CVS parking lot to park in!

I was so glad that I was invited to try a bowl from My Lai. The bowl easily fed my husband and myself and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.

I was offered the choice of pork, chicken or tofu, and I opted for chicken as my protein. I selected half garlic rice and half rice noodles for carbs, and then topped it off with generous salad greens and picked vegetables. Everything was delicious.

If they were closer, I'd definitely order a bowl from them at least once a week. The selections were fresh and I could barely make it home without wanting to taste it.

We lucked out with a metered parking space not far from the front of the restaurant on Venice Blvd.

Been wanting to eat here for a while now since it's pretty close to where I live. Also, because it's Viet food in an area where there are some but not a ton of Viet places.

It's located in an area where parking can be pretty scarce during busy hours. I happened to go the day there was a street flea market so I parked a few blocks away. Needed the exercise anyway haha.

Ordering is very similar to the fast casual model of Chipotle (pick a base and a protein and add toppings / sauces). Super quick and straightforward.

I ordered a bowl with chicken and garlic rice. For the toppings I got cilantro, pickled daikon/ carrots, cucumbers, crushed peanuts, and limes among a few other things. Basically what I consider to be quintessential Vietnamese flavors (at least in my opinion) and why I often compare Vietnamese and Mexican food (my two faves). You also get up to two sauces so I got the fish sauce and the cilantro/ ginger sauce.

The flavors where on point. The chicken was well seasoned and the garlic rice had amazing flavor. The toppings were generous and of course I squeezed the lime over the top and saved some til I was halfway done. All the veggies were super fresh and the bowl itself, as a finished product, was vibrant.

The Thai iced tea was pretty darn good too. In terms of pricing, it feels really fair, especially for what you get and being located in West LA. Heck, I couldn't even finish everything in one sitting so I had a small snack for later.

Definitely would go back to try some of the other proteins and/ or menu items, like the banh mi. Pretty curious of the spring rolls I have seen in some of the pics as well.

My Lai was definitely worth the hour drive lol Well it took us an hour to get here due to traffic. It was a nice chilly night we came, I do wish we came earlier in the day because there is no indoor seating and we sat in the patio out back. But, unfortunately the heating lamps weren't turned on so we were freezing our butts off.

But, the warm food made it bearable and we still managed to enjoy our food. I really enjoyed my chicken bowl and choose EVERY TOPPING! Minus the habanero relish they had. Thankfully one of the employees told me it was very spicey and if I was sure that, that's what I wanted lol I'm like No thanks.

I also chose the beyond egg roll. I wish that it was a little bigger because it was tiny lol I had to share it too, with the bf. He chose to get a pork Bahn Mi. He said he appreciated the portions because they do not skimp you on anything. I like how people were relating it to a chipotle style type of place. In a way yes lol because you really are building your own dish. Love the selection of sauces and we got the house favorite but Vegan and we got the Miso sauce. Also, the egg roll came with the sweet and sour and it was really good and not too thick.

I appreciate the staff, they were really welcoming and helped me out because I had some questions. For drinks we got the Mint jasmine tea. I wish it was a little sweeter but I get a lot of tea isn't supposed to be sweet. Also, we were already leaving and I read they had Vietnamese coffee!!!!! DAMMMIT!! I was so upset lol.

It was easy to find and luckily we found parking right in the front. I do recommend to come during the say especially right now. It gets cold early and we wish it was warmer out so we could of enjoyed sitting outside.

We agreed we would return if we are ever in the area and would recommend to our friends.

A delicious fast casual modern Asian spot in Venice for takeout or dining inside or their back patio! They have the most delicious bowls and sides. Everything was so packed with flavor and comes with yummy side sauces.

I recommend the Mama Mais Chicken & Garlic Rice Bowl and the Bomb Banh Mi with pork. So delicious and great portions

I came here for a YEE and was blown away because I didn't even know there was a Vietnamese restaurant here!

Parking was a little challenging, but I was able to find street parking down the block.

I had a build your own pork bowl and an order of pork spring rolls. Both were generous portions! I will admit, I've never tasted Vietnamese food as fresh as today! The flavors, sauces (cilantro ginger, YUM), and meat blended well together.

I really enjoyed the Chipotle-style ordering, where you can choose what you want in your bowl. I basically put everything in, lol, but it was SO GOOD.

I can't wait to come back to try a banh mi or another bowl 🙂

Please open a location in downtown LA!

This place is fantastic! When you walk in it smells so fresh and delicious it blows my mind! Not only does it smell great but it's super clean and the employees are nice. Not only are the employees nice but they are quick. Not only are they quick the food is reasonably priced! Not only is it reasonable the food is freaking delicious!!! Not only delicious but seems homemade.

Ok enough of the not onlys... seriously it is my favorite chicken Bahn mi sandwich. The bread is soft with the right amount of flake, the chicken is soft and tasty, the veggies are fresh and the sauce is perfect! I love them... at $10 for a large delicious sandwich, I think it's a great deal!

The eggs rolls seem homemade since there is no mush in the center, just flavor! The spring rolls taste fresh and I don't usually like spring rolls but I'd eat these.

This place is really good and I highly recommended trying them and especially the bomb chicken Bahn mi sandwich!

Grabbed a Vietnamese Iced Coffee from My Lai on Saturday evening. For those who like a sweet drink and are looking for a slightly different coffee experience, this is a spot to check out.

Quality: My Lai was my introduction to Vietnamese Iced Coffee and I am all in on it. A sweeter coffee using condensed milk, it enhances the flavor profile in a way I loved. I did not order any food but based on the food display and how it smelled, it is worth a visit for a full meal and coffee.
Quantity: One size only, which was small.
Value: $4 for a Vietnamese Iced Coffee.
Ambiance: My Lai is a Vietnamese spot not far from Venice Beach. They have a fast-casual setup, with build your own bowls. A few bar seats inside, but most of the seating is in the back garden patio. Simple and stylish decor.
Crowd: A few people grabbing food-to-go.
Service: Quick service set-up.
Parking: Paid street parking.

Great for a fast pick-me-up meal especially if you are craving Viet and is around the area! The staff was friendly and the food came out so swiftly as well. If you don't know what to get, you can't go wrong with a banh mi! Byo bowl with fish sauce is also really savory

It surprising how such a small little shop could be so great! They have an outdoor patio in the back to dine in. We came for dinner this past weekend. Service was pretty efficient and the staff was very friendly. We got one banh mi, one crispy tofu build a bowl, and one chicken builds a bowl. They're super generous with the portion size and sauces. This was a very large meal for sure! Veggies and meat were all fresh. Highly recommend and will be returning here! Will need to try the drinks next time.
For sauces, I recommend: peanut sauce and my lai vinaigrette

We recently discovered this local eatery and loving it. It's a fast casual Vietnamese restaurant with fresh and well seasoned proteins & ingredients. My Lai is also very generous with their portions of the food.

We usually order build your own bowl and customize it to our liking. We like the pork & chicken as it's very moist. For the beef is a bit heavier seasoning than what I preferred. Though it's tender. For the vegetarian version, Tofu is crispy & plenty of it. The additional fresh toppings are fun add-ons, not to mention the fun sauces to explore.

The only thing I would recommend is perhaps hiring another staff to take the phone order. During busy hours, it's hard to place the orders as the phone recording is not taking any orders.

My Lai is now one of our favorite go-to places! Highly recommended.

Got the impossible egg rolls, veggie bowl, and fried tofu cubes. Everything was decent and healthy, it was a nice light meal and I would definitely come back for something quick and healthy next time. The impossible egg rolls were okay but the only filling was the "meat" so it was boring. Tofu cubes were fried really nicely and the sauce was yummy, we ended up also just mixing the sauce and tofu into our veggie bowl

This was a delicious fast casual Vietnamese place that I didn't expect much from but really ended up liking. My Lai is a very casual, order first and pay at the counter sort of place. From the street entrance, it looks just like a takeout place, with not much space for indoor seating, and a few tables and chairs outside by the front entrance.
However, they have a back patio area that gets a lot of suns. After ordering we took seats here and had a pleasant lunch.
They had bowl options that are made by them, such as the Chau's Chicken Salad. My husband got one of these, while I ended up deciding on a custom bowl for myself. The ingredients were fresh and the food was flavorsome and delicious. I'd definitely come back here for a casual meal or if I need something relatively healthy and quick for takeout.

I got the bowl with vermicelli noodles, half chicken & half pork, all the toppings except tomatoes and red cabbage. The toppings all tasted very fresh. The honey sriracha sauce was more spicy and less sweet but still yummy. The peanut sauce had the perfect mix of nutty and creamy, not too viscous. I really enjoyed the crunchy toppings as they were a bit more unique and tasted great. The pork was well caramelized, and the chicken was juicy and not dry at all. Overall, a very filling and tasty meal!

Went by My Lai as I was craving some banh mi so picked up some pork banh mi's. It's a cute, nicely renovated interior and there's some outdoor seating as well. You can do either banh mi or bowls here ($14 and $15 respectively).

The pork banh mi was sizable and flavorful. The bread had a nice crunch and texture. The pork was really flavorful and the jalapenos definitely pack a punch here. I got some sweet chili sauce with my egg roll, which was decent, but would recommend getting some to pair with your banh mi as the sweetness helps cut through the pork sauce well. All in all, it was pretty filling and tasty.

Street metered parking around the block.

Great fast-casual Vietnamese spot! The veggies are all super fresh and vibrant. The meat in the banh mi is tender, juicy and super flavorful.

I am so grateful that I got the BYOB! Angie was a gem and she loaded it up with everything and more! I loved the garlic rice -- YOU NEED TO GET THAT AS YOUR BASE! YOUR TASTEBUDS WILL THANK YOU. I also got a mix of the pork and chicken since I wanted to try both. Angie was so kind to bring out freshly made chicken so it was still moist and tender! The pork and chicken were both seasoned extremely well, juicy, and had a rich, smoked flavor. Of both meat options, i liked the chicken the best! I loved that we could also add as many additional toppings so I got everything except the jalapeños and onions. The pickled carrots and red cabbage added vibrant colors to the bed of greens and cucumber salad. There were several different flavors and textures to experience -- from the sour pickled veggies, slightly spicy cucumber salad, refreshing burst of mint and basil, fresh crunch of the bean sprouts, and simple taste of the romaine salad. I also added on the sesame and fried garlic chips which elevated the flavor profile and aesthetics of my bowl even more! Since Angie generously added so much of each thing, I was shocked that the lid fit since there was quite literally a mountain of food! The bowl comes with a side of 2 sauces so I chose the miso sesame and the peanut sauce, both were incredible and paired well with all the different elements of my bowl.

Angie was so easy to talk to and extremely helpful. I cannot thank Angie enough for making my bowl both beautiful but also bountifully packed with all the best my bowl lasted enough for 4 meals! It is definitely worth it.

There is limited metered street parking in the front so make sure to come when it is not too busy so that you don't struggle to find parking! My Lai is a hidden gem and such a great find! I cannot wait to come back and try the Bahn mi next!

Upon arrival was greeted by my wonderful host Angie she was full of energy. And even though under pressure with all of the online orders and customers, she was very professional and informative on all of the products to choose from. Well I asked her to choose which items to go in my bowl, and wow it was match made in heaven...Loved every last bite of this bowl. Not sure or not if I would share this bowl with someone whom was really hungry because I know for a fact that they would not have given it back lol. This bowl was very filling and I still have enough for later. Angie thanks for being so patient with me and to your management, this woman is fit to be a supervisor she loves her job and I witnessed her interactions with the customer, everyone was treated as if they were V.I.P.

Basically a Vietnamese Chipotle!

Super favorable, extremely generous portions, and friendly service.

I had the bowl with garlic rice, cauliflower, chicken, assorted veggies, and the My Lai vinaigrette. Amazing! As I said, the portions are generous. I had leftovers for the next 2 meals. Also got the Thai iced tea. It was just right. Not overly sweet.

Can't wait to come back and try the banh mi or a different variation on the bowl!

Easily customized, Vietnamese leaning bowls and banh mi's! I got the salad bowl, with tofu and all the veggie toppings. Dressing - I picked the My Lai fish sauce one and the ginger one. Ginger one was more creamy. The fish sauce one was more light, sweet and umami-tangy. I inhaled the whole thing and was feeling satisfied and healthy! The tofu serving was generous and filled me up!! YUM!

Note: they have a cute back patio so great to enjoy the fresh air and avoid covid.

Ordering starts right at the door. I feel like the signage inside could've been bigger and more clear, but the employee helping me was very helpful and quick. I got a tofu bowl with half garlic rice and half vermicelli noodle base, various greens, and miso sesame and tamarind vinaigrette for my sauces. It was delicious! I'm really into the sauces. Would definitely come back for a healthy casual lunch or dinner takeout, good price for the portion size. I heard there's outdoor seating in the back but didn't go check it out.

I've always loved the idea of building your own bowl and I'm glad they are expanding that concept throughout different cuisines. This place reminded me of a Vietnamese version of CAVA. Everything was so fresh and they really packed on the meats and toppings. So aesthetic and ~colorful~ you really do eat with your eyes. I would highly recommend if you are craving Asian/Vietnamese food in the area. Convenient, delicious, and fast.

love these bowls - my only complaint is I need chile, something spicy.

Otherwise, they are fantastic and filling bowls. They'd better be for almost $17! I usually get brown rice, full tofu, greens, and have now tried the peanut and marinade sauces. I definitely preferred the marinade because after a while the peanut sauce taste peaked and was bland.

I have yet to have tofu this crispy and love love love it. The lemons are also a good addition! I highly recommend trying, especially if you're a vegetarian bc it's so hard to find protein "fast food" that isn't icky and greasy. Will be coming back!

Each bowl is packed with LOTS of flavors... and veggies.

The pork & pork egg roll vermicelli salad had a good balance of noodles and salad but what I loved the most was how much they packed the bowl with veggies. If you're a huge fan of pickled toppings, then you will leave this store very happy. The pork is also tender and super flavorful which complimented the veggies as well.

I also love that you can choose two sauces with each bowl because I'm an indecisive person and can't make a choice to save my life. (Cilantro ginger was my favorite.) Overall happy with the food but it is a bit pricey.

I probably wouldn't find Mỹ Lai, an elevated fast-casual Vietnamese eatery located in Mar Vista, if it weren't for Yelp Elite Week. Its meaning is a Vietnamese mixed with American aka Ameriasian, the brainchild of husband & wife team, Shad & Traci Phan Davis); the concept is similar to the ubiquitous Chipotle, serving food in an assembly line format either in a bowl or sandwich form that's made fresh using the highest quality & organic ingredients while maintaining a minimal carbon footprint. Now that's the kind of business I love to support.

It's a simple 4-step process BYOB (i.e. bánh mì or bowl): 1) Base It (bánh mì, brown rice, cauliflower rice, garlic rice, salad, vermicelli noodles); 2) Meat It (crispy tofu, grilled chicken, grilled pork aka thịt nướng, Impossible meat, rockin' beef); 3) Top It (veggies: basil, bean sprouts, cilantro, cucumbers, jalapeños, lime, mint, pickled cabbage, pickled carrots & daikon, pickled onion & habanero, scallions, sunomono, tomatoes; crunchies: crispy onions, crispy garlic, crushed peanuts, toasted sesame seeds); 4) Sauce It (cilantro ginger, honey sriracha, miso sesame, Mỹ Lai vinaigrette, peanut sauce, sesame vinaigrette, tamarind vinaigrette, vegan Mỹ Lai vinaigrette).

I enjoyed my YEE bowl so much that I had to get one for my husband to enjoy, & created the BYOB (1/2 garlic rice, 1/2 vermicelli noodles, grilled pork, basil, bean sprouts, cilantro, cucumbers, jalapeños, lime, mint, pickled cabbage, pickled carrots & daikon, pickled onion & habanero, scallions, sunomono, tomatoes, crispy onions, crushed peanuts, toasted sesame seeds, cilantro ginger sauce) like mine. It was equally large in volume & weight!! It was so full that the lid kept popping off in the bag so I had to hold it underneath instead of the handles. o_O

It was still warm by the time I arrived home. TJ took one look & asked if it's meant to be shared, but I was still full from lunch. The ratio of protein:base & veggies were on point that he had a bite of everything from start to finish, initially he portioned about 1/2 the bowl to save for tomorrow, but it was too delish & tempting that he finished the bowl. LOL I had a couple of bites & found the garlic rice was cooked properly for his bowl whereas mine was slightly mushy; refer to Review #676. The pickled onions & habaneros' spiciness caused some minor hiccuping, his typical reaction to chili heat; luckily it subsided fairly quick so it wasn't so spicy that he couldn't manage. TJ agreed with my assessment that while the bowl was bountiful & absolutely delish (he loved the cilantro ginger dressing too), Mỹ Lai's flavors are somewhat shorted from the rich rice/vermicelli bowls of our fav mom & pop's in SGV.

There's limited indoor dining space, which is currently unavailable due to COVID-19, with options to sit outside (with 2 tables) by the entrance or behind the restaurant in a spacious yet picturesque patio dining. There's a gender neutral restroom on the right just before the exit to the backside patio dining.

There's plenty of metered parking along Venice Blvd. Sundays are free, & all other days are 25¢/15-mins.; watch for signs in the evening for free parking. Be sure to pay for parking since it's slightly confusing with a bike lane gap between the metered spot & meters.

Service was knowledgeable & friendly, Maria (manager) delivered a fantastic experience & a bombtastic bowl! If you're indecisive, ask for recommendations; their staff can make recommendations that will be most satisfying. 🙂 Price points are higher than normal but that's expected/on par for the westside, though the portion is pushing to an extra 1/2 - whole serving, so it's considered reasonable.

Mỹ Lai brings Vietnamese food to the American mainstream with delicious, generously topped bowls that will tickle your taste buds & eliminate any hunger pangs. Xin mời! =)

Recommended: BYOB (1/2 garlic rice, 1/2 vermicelli noodles, grilled pork, basil, bean sprouts, cilantro, cucumbers, jalapeños, lime, mint, pickled cabbage, pickled carrots & daikon, pickled onion & habanero, scallions, sunomono, tomatoes, crispy onions, crushed peanuts, toasted sesame seeds, cilantro ginger sauce); the cilantro ginger sauce is a must!

My work caters from them every so often. I never been in their restaurant. Just knew them from work. I either choose the chicken or tofu bowl. The veggies are fresh and delicious! I know a rotten veggie if I see one - I could pick rotten veggies out just by my nose. None of that here. I hope to stop by their restaurant or order delivery some time - would love to support them!

I was hanging with a friend and we wanted food (what else is new). Since I don't know the area, I relied on her for the good stuff. Vietnamese was brought up, and I'm only familiar with it though AnQi. After looking at the menu, I passed but found myself curious a couple of days later.

Kind of glad I didn't order that first night; quite a bit was missing from the main menu on the delivery apps compared to the official website. Since I was being lazy for once, I went with Postmates (where the prices were more here) but I stuck with the garlic rice and spring rolls with chicken.

Where I was staying was fairly close to Venice Blvd. so this didn't take too long to receive. I forgot I preferred egg rolls to spring rolls, but I was able to get through 1.5 of the two they provide, and enjoyed what I could. However, this garlic rice was delicious! Different than AnQi, but the same flavor where the garlic isn't overwhelming, and the taste does not stay with you hours after which I prefer. They also give you very large portions of their food where I wasn't able to finish either.

Their packaging for takeaway was perfect; the spring rolls had peanut sauce and crushed peanuts separately, with a little packet of what I believe was hot sauce. The spring rolls were rather messy, or I'm a slob, but I was alone at the time.

I enjoyed this so much I went in person on Sunday to try one of the build your own bowls. The online ordering sites won't let me bypass the meat option, so I was glad to be able to do so in person. I had to wait since they were a little backed up but this was not an issue. A nice girl finally was able to help, so I went with garlic rice as a base (of course) with a small addition of salad, basil, minimal mint, cucumber sunomono, and toasted sesame seeds while choosing peanut sauce as my 'dressing.'

Man this was good! I almost doubled up the rice but figured the salad would make me feel healthy. I would probably add tomatoes next time while getting crushed peanuts over toasted sesame seeds and cilantro over basil, but what I had this evening was fantastic. There were a couple of onions but they were easy to remove.

I've been back a few times since, and I have nothing but good things to say about the food and the service I've experienced in person. So glad I live closer to My Lai!

Excellent fast-casual Vietnamese joint! Discovered this place via Yelp. A great option for inexpensive but tasty Bahn mi and rice bowls. Though I will say that there was one time when the food was too salty so TBD on the consistency of their quality. For now, it's a solid 4-star rating from me.

Big food portions, delicious, & just like chipotle. The pork was super tasty and they had many different topping options. Will be adding this spot to the food rotation!

My Lai Vietnamese Kitchen is everything you could want and more! I couldn't decide between the between the Bahn-Mi or the bowl, so I asked the person attending me to surprise me and I got the bowl. Needless to say, it was a great choice! The bowl is perfect for sharing as it can easily feed two people. If you get the bowl I highly suggest getting the garlic fried rice it's SOO good! If I went back for the Bahn-Mi I would definitely get a side order of just the garlic fried rice. I love that My Lai has a variety of topping choices to choose from if you're getting a bowl. You can think of it like a Vietnamese Chipotle- but better! Every single topping was fresh, and the environment + cleanliness of the place was great. They have a nice outdoor patio where you can sit and enjoy your food. The person helping me was Christian and he was super helpful, attentive, and quick. Also, the Thai Iced tea here is to die for! I'm very picky when it comes to Thai iced teas, but My Lai did not disappoint. They have an awesome and tasty selection of sauces to choose from- I would recommend the cilantro ginger and the sweet chili sauce as well.

SO delicious and love how many different modular options they have - including cauliflower rice as a base! The pork is SO good, and make sure you try the my lai sauce. The peanut sauce is thick and delicious too - both are the owner's mother's special recipe. Can't recommend this place enough!

Here at @themylaikitchen they allow you to BYOB! Not exactly what you may want to think, but it's more like Build Your Own Bowl of amazing modern Vietnamese cuisine with American flare. This concept is similar to other places that allows you to build your own dish, but here they have simplified it to a whole new level of Base It, Meat It, Top It, and Sauce It!

Base It: I got half yummy garlic rice and a variety of greens salad. Meat It: I got a super generous amount of yummy grilled chicken and flavorful pork. Top It: I wanted it all, from bean sprouts, cucumber sunomono, pickled cabbage, tomatoes, pickled carrots & daikon, scallions, cilantro, jalapeño, mint, crispy onion, crispy garlic, crushed peanuts, toasted sesame seeds, and lastly, pickled onion & habanero, on the side since it was super spicy. Sauce It: I got the sweet and savory My Lai Vinaigrette and the oh so creamy good Cilantro Ginger.

Well, let me tell you the last category should be Eat It because it was so dang good I finished the whole bowl in one sitting! I was stuffed but in a happy full way! The whole experience was happy... from the wonderful customer service to admiring the beautiful bowl creation, to eating outside in their cute patio with great company, and most importantly enjoying such a refreshingly delicious meal! Can't wait to BYOB again!

OMG, I'm SO INTO THESE BOWLS!!!! First of all, the garlic rice...amazing. Topped with chicken, veggies, and the delicious peanut sauce, I'm in heaven.

Here's what we ordered
Pork & Pork Eggroll Vermicelli Salad
Mama Mai's Chicken & Garlic Rice
Bomb Banh Mi
Egg Rolls
Tofu Bites
Vietnamese Coffee
Thai Iced Tea
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happy Monday foodie fam! Let's kick off the week with delicious flavors from my latest finds in LA. Check out the My Lai Kitchen for modern & fusion takes on Vietnamese cuisine. You'll find your favorite dishes like bún thịt nớng & bánh mì. We recommend the Pork & Pork Eggroll Vermicelli Salad, aka bún thịt nớng, & the tofu bites with their yummy green sauce.

They recently brought back Pho. That's gonna be what we wanna try on our second visit.

stay hungry & eat deliciously. Always!
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I just ordered lunch from here and was THOROUGHLY satisfied in every way. I made my own chicken bowl w/ half salad and half brown rice, topped it with a bunch of veggies and got it with the vinaigrette. It was SO good! Everything was really fresh and the portion was really generous for the price.

A friend got the chicken and garlic rice and we shared the grilled pork spring rolls. Both were really yummy as well.

This place is definitely being added to our lunch rotation. It's healthy, delicious and reasonably priced.

Stopped by today to redeem my Yelp elite free bowl/banh mi and was pleasantly surprised!! It is such a treat finding good ethnic food on the Westside. My chicken banh mi was super flavorful, packed with a bunch of toppings and decent sized, the bread was also delicious. I also got the impossible egg roll, both tasted great! The inside is very clean and organized, and you're paying a reasonable amount for the food too. I'm glad I found this spot through Yelp, and will definitely be back!

The moment you walk in, you can smell greatness. The bowls are made fresh and are outstanding. For those that are vegetarian, the tofu is made to order! It is deep-fried in canola oil. My boyfriend loved the chicken from there. I highly recommend the cilantro ginger dressing- it was so good! Also, all the crunchy toppings are great too. We will definitely be made! It makes for an incredible on-the-road meal too! 5 STARS WITHOUT ANY DOUBT!

I love Vietnamese food so it was only natural for me to sign up for this. I ordered the Chicken Bahn Mi and it was delicious. I was surprised at how big it was and don't think I've seen or had a Bahn Mi like it. It was really good and to my surprise, the jalapeños on it added an extra kick that I wasn't expecting. The sandwich also had cilantro, picked carrots, Vietnamese Mayo, some soy sauce, daikon, and of course chicken. The egg roll that it came with was also delicious as well. They are kind of small but rich in flavor. The service was great and Maria and the others were very helpful. The thing I liked the most was the cleanliness of the store. It was small but still, get spacious. I really liked the seating set up inside and how it seemed cozy and compact. I was really intrigued by the bowl so I ordered one the day after I went on door dash! That too was just as amazing as the sandwich. I will be visiting again soon!

Love these BYOB types of places. My Lai brings a new type of cuisine that I've personally never seen anywhere else, Vietnamese-American. I think it's a good introduction for people that have never had Asian flavors before. The garlic rice is well seasoned and hits the spot every time. The crispy tofu, although not always consistent, is a must-try. They offer a variety of colorful veggies (and sauces!) for a very well-rounded meal.

My Lai is the Chipotle of Vietnamese food, but with a fashionable touch. The ingredients are really fresh, and you have all the real good Vietnamese sauces you can add to your bowl. They also sell Banh Mi here too. It is great to see some decent Vietnamese food in this area, and I didn't have any when I lived here before.

I am so glad I discovered this Vietnamese spot because WOW I was seriously blown away and can honestly say I had the tastiest bowl of my life from this restaurant. First, I would like to give a shout out to Angie because she was AWESOME and so informative, helpful, friendly, and kind. She explained everything, gave recommendations, and made the whole entire experience absolutely wonderful. This restaurant is located on Venice Blvd with plenty of street parking available. I opted to try the BYO bowl as you have a choice of a base, meat, two sauces, & UNLIMITED toppings (this is awesome as so many places have a limit to toppings). I got the noodles, cauliflower rice, half pork & half chicken, and all the toppings! The portion size is huge and I was able to take some back home to enjoy for a later time. The best part about these bowls are how FRESH and DELICIOUS the ingredients are. It really doesn't get any better than this spot. Also, the sauces are unbelievable! I believe some are homemade (including the peanut sauce which was my favorite). I also ordered a side of the homemade shrimp & tapioca chips that come with a sauce, and it was the PERFECT side to enjoy with the bowl and extremely flavorful, fresh, and crispy - I recommend trying them when you come. They have an outdoor patio area in the back that is really nice with heating lamps available. I love love love this spot so much and will be coming back to try the other menu items. If you have not tried this spot, you are missing out!

The serving size is generous and the food is good. But I do have to say that there was something inside that made my eyes water. My lunch partners were experiencing the same. We sat outside in the back and there were too many flies. We ended up sitting in the front (outside).

This is one of our go-to spots in Mar Vista. Great flavors and combinations. I'm a sucker for the Mama's Chicken bowl. The garlic rice and grilled chicken with the pickled veggies *chefs kiss*.

Highly recommended and always a must-have when friends and family are in town.

It's definitely the "chipotle" version of Vietnamese food. The flavors are there, and the house sauce is legit (I think it's called the My Lai sauce). And of course, it's not meant to be authentic Vietnamese, it's fusion. So I won't compare it to the 626 or 714. I just don't love the "build a bowl" concept. I'd rather trust the chef and pick off their menu. At the end of the day, still better than most of the places in the neighborhood. I hope they stay put.

I'm always skeptical of Vietnamese restaurants that are modernized, but I'm glad I tried My Lai out! It was a build your own bowl type of station, I made my own bowl with garlic rice and grilled pork. Although the bowl wasn't super authentic, there were many authentic flavors that shown through and overall it was a super tasty meal.

They have seating in the back if you want to eat there or it's perfect as a to-go meal. Employees there were super friendly and helpful, they also packed the bowl which was awesome.

Food was good and affordable, I definitely would return to try their other items.

This place is amazing for vegetarians and vegans! The Build Your Own Bowl was absolutely delicious. The crispy tofu was crunchy and flavorful, the veggies were so fresh, and the sauces (especially the peanut sauce) were to die for. It was a huge portion that easily lasted me two meals. I will be back!!

Byo Bowl 10/10

So delicious. Super friendly staff, a good portion for dinner, and just so delicious. Will be back very soon!

My Lai Kitchen in Mar Vista puts a Vietnamese twist on the build-your-own bowl concept. This fast casual restaurant on Venice Blvd. features bowls ($13) and banh mis ($10), along with salads, spring rolls and egg rolls. You choose a base (garlic rice, brown rice, vermicelli noodles or salad), a protein (pork, chicken or tofu, extra charge for beef or vegan Impossible pork), toppings (like sunomono cucumbers, pickled cabbage and crispy garlic) and then a sauce. It's the Vietnamese answer to Chipotle.

The ingredients are fresh and seem pretty healthy, and the servings are hearty, especially when compared to a poke bowl at the same price point. The garlic rice, which is their most popular base, is a solid choice and is totally worth the carb splurge (and bad breath).

You can order online for pickup, with delivery also available through the usual third parties. Street parking is available. When outdoor dining returns, there's a nice patio space in the back to enjoy your meal.

We are obsessed with My Lai. This woman-owned business did it right! Awesome bowls with keto and vegan options, their banh mi sandwich is so delicious (and fair warning, it's HUGE).
We were late to the party discovering this gem and now go 1-2x each week. As I said, obsessed. Their Thai tea isn't anything super special but definitely worth getting if you're a fan of Thai tea anyway and want a lighter, sweet treat as an end cap to your meal.

I'm surprised at how good my bowl was. Every time I see a Chipotle/casual poke style setup I always assume it'll be mid, but my BBQ pork bowl was delicious. For the 14 dollars, I got a very large serving of meat, veggies, and grains. The garlic rice is super and not mushy, the BBQ pork is perfectly charred and tender, and the assortment of veggies (pickled banh mi carrots/daikon, pickled cabbage mint, cucumber, tomato, sprouts, etc.) added a lot of great color and flavor. I really enjoyed the variety of sauces (I got the tamarind dressing) like the cilantro ginger and tamarind dressing (they were so good that I made crispy tofu the day after and used my leftover sauce lol). The 14 dollars is pretty reasonable IMO since I had enough food for two meals.

This is the best Vietnamese food I've ever had. I got the Pork Eggroll Vermicelli Salad and it was excellent. So fresh and a generous portion. Everything was cooked perfectly and the flavors were delicious. I will definitely be back.

Unassuming spot with absolutely delicious Vietnamese-American bowls.

I've been to My Lai three times and it always hits! There is usually a small line but I've never waited longer than 5 mins to get my order in.

I've always gotten the Byo Bowl with pork, which is perfectly marinated, but my vegetarian friends rave about the crispy tofu as well. You can taste the freshness of all the toppings and ingredients. Any combo will be good! If you can take spice and sourness, I particularly love the pickled onion and habanero relish.

There is ample seating in a cute little patio behind the place. It's modeled like a Chipotle, where you get to choose all the ingredients and toppings at the counter and pick up and pay in the end! It's self-service after that. Street parking is available.

Also fun fact: My Lai doesn't refer to the massacre, but rather is a term for the Vietnamese mixed American baby that this restaurant is to the owners!

My Lai is the best concept for some authentic and fast Vietnamese food in LA! You can either build your own bowl or banh mi, or you can order from their set menu! The name translates to Vietnamese American and I definitely appreciate the vision. Parking can be kind of rough but I parked in the lot across the street.

I ordered their set menu items: Mama Mai's Chicken Garlic Rice, Pork Banh Mi, Pork Eggroll Vermicelli Salad, Chicken Spring Rolls, and Tofu Bites! The garlic rice was so flavorful, and the banh mi was MASSIVE and also super loaded with meat and delicious! A surprising one was the tofu bites - I don't know what it was, but they were soo addicting!! I really liked how there were a lot of sauces to choose from and I can't wait to build my own bowl next time!

Service was also great even though it's self-service and also there are tables in front as well as in back.

Chicken Garlic Rice $13/Banh Mi $10/Pork Eggroll Vermicelli Salad $15/Spring Rolls $6/Tofu Bites $6

The banh mi from mai lai are huge! I was interested in trying this place because they allow you to build your own bowls and banh mi. I was overall really happy with my food.

The coat of a banh mi is around $10, so a bit more expensive than your average banh mi. However, they use larger bread and they allow you to stuff the sandwich with so many fillings that it's worth it. I tried both the pork meat and the beef meat and found both to be yummy. For my pork sandwich, I asked for almost all the toppings: pickled veggies crunchy garlic and crunchy onions, mint, green onions, and more! It was delicious and lasted me a couple of meals. If I am ever in Culver City again and looking for a quick place to eat, I'll consider coming here again.

This was my first time at My Lai and was definitely not disappointed. I ordered Mama Mai's Chicken and rice. The chicken was moist and flavorful. The veggies were fresh and the portion was huge. I will definitely be back here to try the other dishes they have. They also offer made-to-order bowls in which you pick out all the ingredients. Lastly, the staff was super friendly. I highly recommend My Lai!

I had a not so great experience with ordering food via Uber Eats. Truthfully, I never did get my food. What I did get was resilience of a small business owner who seeks to make things right.

All I was trying to do was get food for my pregnant wife before she had to go work. Long story short, the app accepted my order even though it should not have. I got to the location and was not able to pick up my food. I was extremely upset that my wife did not have food for herself. She works the night shift at a local hospital in the ICU and is pregnant.

The owner of the restaurant called me within the hour. She apologize profusely and offered to personally drop off food for my wife at the hospital. That says a lot in my book. As she said that, I could not be upset. You have someone who cares about their business and the quality of their service. I wish this place all the best and cannot wait to try their food...for real this time.

The banh mi is so good. Super tasty, high quality, packed with veggies and meat. I just wished that I could somehow order it without Mayo from delivery apps, otherwise I'd get food here all the time.

I want to start off by thanking Manager Julia Cante. She is extremely kind, sweet, helpful, and accommodating. It would be great if the management of My Lai can recognize and acknowledge her in some way. It's because of people like her that make customers want to come!

The staff I've experienced is extremely kind as well.

The food is good too- neat, healthy, tasty, & colorful. Looking forward to coming again.

Awesome neighborhood spot for banh mi! I got the pork banh mi and it was delicious. My husband got the chicken - also good. The bread is really perfect for me cus I prefer it not to be so hard that it cuts the roof of my mouth and not too thick that I'm full of carbs. They definitely LOAD on the meat! I could barely finish the sandwich in its entirety. I watched them make it and saw that they mix Maggi and mayo! I am mind-blown - I need to do that at home! That sauce plus all the veggies and jalapenos make the sandwich so delicious. I also got the salted plum soda - yum! A fave Viet drink of mine. I'll definitely be back to try the bowls!

Found a new favorite "build a bowl" spot.
Came across this gem while browsing yelp for lunch.
Built my own bowl with chicken and basically threw everything they had in it.
A friend ordered the same and chicken spring rolls.
The bowl was beautifully made and tasted amazing and fresh.
The spring rolls were great and so were all the dressing provided with our food.
I'll definitely come back to try other items on their menu!

Super delicious and fresh! There was no line when we went in and we moved through pretty quickly. I also got the plum soda which unfortunately i do not recommend at all.. but the food was very good and i will definitely return.

Think Chipotle, but Vietnamese food. I was very impressed with this meal. I have been wanting to stop by, and was not disappointed. I ordered a bowl w/ tofu and all the fixings! The pickled cucumbers and carrots//daikon were so flavorful..I didn't even need the dressing. There were so many dressing to choose from, it was hard to pick. I went with the miso sesame, but again the bowl did not require it! The rice was another stand out, be sure to get a scoop! My friends ordered the beef and they both commented it exceeded their expectations. I can't wait to come back for another delicious meal! Be sure to stop by and support local businesses.

I will be here VERY often! It was so much, it was all delicious and perfect. I literally could not have asked for more. Cauliflower rice was a HUGE plus for me. The pork and beef were both great. All of the sauces I tried were spot on. I don't really know what to say other than go get it!

I recently moved to the area and have been looking for yummy eateries. THIS PLACE is definitely on my go-to list now! The food is super delicious! My partner made his own bowl and I got Mama Mai's Chicken & Garlic Rice. Holy moly! The portions are huge (definitely get what you paid for) and the food is so fresh! I'm happy that I tried this place out because I will be coming back very often here!

Hello Yelpers!

I hope your day is going well.

I wanted to share my thoughts on My Lai in Mar Vista. Since I'm teleworking I decided to take a little break between Zoom meetings by taking myself to lunch. I headed to My Lai to try them out which I'm happy that I did. I ordered the chicken banh mi sandwich which was one of my Off the Menu Club options I upgraded to the pork egg rolls and drink all were amazing. Great flavors and protein sizes (if you're into size) were on point.

If you want to dine there they have a backyard area and also two tables out front for you to enjoy your food or you can take it out of course.

I decided to enjoy my lunch there, which felt good too.

I will say my only issue was how seemingly disorganized or overwhelmed they seemed today, again this was my first time here so maybe it was an off day. With that aside, I will be back to try the bowls next time.

Enjoy!

Newer business with an awesome taste of flavor. The sauces are to die for here (House, Peanut, Sriracha are my faves) . Every food item I've tried has been very delicious but the most refreshing thing would have to be the root beer here. I strongly recommend the Garlic rice, BYO bowl, Spring Rolls, and the root beer of course. Their cookies too are so very good. They even have a back patio if you wanted to sit and relax to eat. The worker helping me with my order was Angie was she was so very sweet and friendly.

Perfect spot to grab a quick lunch. It's my go-to Vietnamese restaurant when I'm craving a good bowl. I love their crispy tofu and also the impossible meat! Favorite sauces: honey sriracha, my lai vinaigrette, and cilantro ginger.

Finally tried the banh mi and wow it is packed full with so much good flavor. I really don't think you could go wrong with anything you order here.

The only thing I've noticed lately is a lack of consistency with their meat. It makes me really sad to say. I always get the pork and am used to some char, but have been getting burnt pieces of meat lately so I've had to pick through. Regardless, I'll be back!

This spot has healthy and delicious Vietnamese food! My wife and I had the Mama Mia's Garlic Chicken and Rice dish which was $13. All the vegetables were delicious, the chicken was tender and flavorful and the garlic rice was a game-changer. If you add the sauce that is given it adds even more flavor to the vegetables. You can tell they use all fresh vegetables (cucumbers, carrots, cilantro, vibrantly purple radish) in this dish. If you want a more modern take on Vietnamese food without the Pho option then come by! I would probably try to build my own bowl next time!

We also shared the Pork spring rolls which costs $7 and you get two per order. It tasted different than what you would normally find at a conventional Vietnamese restaurant. And the peanut sauce was different as well. The sauce was creamy and you could add grounded peanuts if you want more of a crunch.

How often do you have an idea of exactly what you want something to taste like from a restaurant you've never been to and it becomes the fulfillment of your one taste desire?

This happened to me tonight with the BYO bowl.
Am I overstating things? No. I'm pregnant and food is everything. And this BYO Bowl was delightful. I highly recommend it.

Soooo good and the ladies working there hustle to get you your food quick! We stumbled in there late one night with a pregnancy craving and got it again for lunch the next day. The husband got a bowl this time around and loved his beef & pork combo. We also got a thai iced tea and Vietnamese coffee. Super quick and helpful service.

My fav neighborhood spot. Delicious food and quick service. Love their beef salad. I recommend it

Delicious! I came for a banh mi but ended up ordering the grilled pork BYOB with half vermicelli and garlic rice and most of the veggies toppings. So glad I changed my mind upon arriving (although I'm sure the banh mi is good too). Everything was fresh and favorable. Can't wait to come back and try other menu items!

Wow. My Lai simply does not miss. I have put so many friends onto this place after going with a Venice local.

I first want to mention the design of the place: My lai is set up in a kind of deli fashion-- the staff build your meal right in front of you. The interior design is clean and sharp, everything is white and glass. If you walk to the back there is a quaint outdoor seating area with a nice breeze and trees all around.

The staff are very helpful and accommodating, I've never been given any kind of attitude or backtalk (even if I'm asking a lot of questions). I also haven't experienced a line of over two parties. And even if there was, the workers are very efficient and people are served quickly.

Now to the food, I have never had someone disappointed with their food at My Lai. Personally, I get the spring rolls with tofu--indisputably the best I've ever had. But I've also tried the bowls which are immaculate and my meat-eater friends love the bahn mi and different meat options. The sauce selection is to die for! You really can't go wrong with anything here, so just go. 10/10 would recommend to a friend and to a stranger! This is a must if you're in LA in my opinion (especially if you're vegetarian and craving Vietnamese food)!!