Kim’s Noodle in Monona was reborn as Viet Bistro in Downtown Madison, in the space once home to a Blockbuster. You’re going to find the same menu (it says “Kim’s Noodle” on it) and essentially the same interior, which is why I’m surprised to hear people say the new version is worse than the former–folks, it’s the SAME restaurant!

I ordered a cross section of items that represent the various components of the huge menu. From the appetizer section, the shrimp and pork salad caught my attention. The vegetables were fresh and crunchy, and the Vietnamese dressing was a creamy delight. The shrimp ($7.50) was halved lengthwise, making it appear that there was more shrimp than there really was. This is a good appetizer to share among 2-3 people.

I’m a big fan of pho, and I did enjoy the one served with brisket and flank ($8.75 regular size, $11.75 large), despite several things. First, the brisket was missing. Second, the accompaniments were essentially just a pile of onions and scallions–no basil, bean sprouts, lime or jalapeno. Still, the broth (strong in chicken flavor) and the flank (tender) saved the dish.

Among the 11 stir fried noodles options, I settled on the beef chow mein ($9.95). I appreciated the ample, flavorful beef, but the noodles were slightly undercooked (meaning, a bit tough). I think next time I’ll order either chow fun (thick rice noodle) or pad thai (rick stick noodle).

The menu continues on, and thus does this review. The pork brochettes sandwich ($5.25) is a tasty variation of a banh mi, with chopped pork instead of sliced pork and no jalapenos. I would definitely order this again.

Finally, just for the heck of it, I got the chicken fried rice ($7.75, $9.75). I admit I had low expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised. This dish had a great fried flavor without being too greasy. Also, I liked that the rice wasn’t drowning in scallions, like how other restaurants make it.

Viet Bistro is open every day for lunch, dinner and carryout.