Chopstix
1988 Fremont Blvd., Seaside
(831) 899-2622
1244 Munras Ave., Monterey
(831) 372-2622
The best way to approach a meal at Chopstix is to start small and heavy (popcorn chicken, fish balls, or calamari) and roll from there (spring, summer or egg). Then the choosing gets tough. The wide assortment of noodle soups are ever-popular and superbly satisfying, but the other entree options are hard to resist and showcase the full range of Vietnamese flavors and style. There’s dry noodle dishes like BBQ pork and shrimp, lemongrass chicken or beef, and the always succulent char-grilled meatballs. And there are the rice plates, where the proteins get star, sticky sauce treatment: You can’t go wrong with the shaken beef, chicken wings (lemongrass or mandarin), or barbecue (chicken or pork chops). Another thing you can’t do: leave hungry. It’s not possible.