One of those new places is Maxim. Set in a typically forlorn strip center along North 19th Avenue, this storefront isn't going to wow anyone with atmosphere or view. But if that were your aim, you'd be picnicking on Squaw Peak. Vietnamese food is strikingly different from the cuisine of its Asian neighbors. Chinese dishes are more sophisticated and complex.
Thai food packs lots of chile heat and relies on exotic spices.
You won't find much evidence of Japanese delicacy or artistry. And the one-two punch of soy and garlic, the foundation of Korean cuisine, is almost totally absent. What you will find are clean, light, straightforward flavors and an emphasis on greenery. Almost every dish comes with a pile of mint, cilantro and lettuce. And almost every dish comes with the national condiment, nuoc mam, a salty, fermented fish sauce that's worth getting used to.