This summer brought the opening of Mangosteen Bistro, a comfortable Vietnamese restaurant in Walnut Creek. Even in a place with lots of Vietnamese eateries, Mangosteen Bistro sets itself apart by being a bit more casual than the other restaurants. 

Look for rich noodle soups, rice or noodle plates, and a wide variety of starters that make a lovely meal when a few small plates are paired together. If you can’t decide on a starter, the sizzling crepes are a lovely marriage of smooth rice flour crepes with aromatic herbs and meaty pork and shrimp filling. The pho soup is a specialty of the house, and Mangosteen Bistro prepares five different beef options with everything from brisket to meatballs. Plus, the prices at Mangosteen Bistro are all very reasonable, with the most expensive entrée on the menu being the caramelized sweet and salty fish for just $15. 

Find Mangosteen Bistro in the old Kanishkas Gastropub location on Bonanza Street. They are open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Tuesday.