LUA - vietnamesische Küche in Essen

We've been here four times and we have to say, the food is excellent! Only the delicious sauces could be a little thicker. For everyone who wants to eat delicious Asian food, this is a secret tip!

Very tasty. Highly recommended. The interior design seems a bit lackluster, but the delicious food makes up for it. Prices are quite reasonable.

This restaurant is a true gem for lovers of Vietnamese cuisine!🇻🇳 My absolute favorite dish here is the Cary Tom with shrimp🍤 or Cary Tofu – a perfect combination of coconut milk, spicy lemongrass, fresh vegetables, and tender shrimp or tofu. Simply delicious!🍲 In addition to the soup, they also offer fantastic spring rolls, aromatic noodle and rice dishes, and delicious drinks that perfectly complement the meal.🍹 ☝🏻Important: The restaurant is almost always full, so reservations are recommended. Furthermore, they only accept cash payments. ⭐ Highly recommended for all fans of Asian cuisine!

Went there with not much time to spare. Although it was full, we got a seat and got beverages and food. All was served super fast. Food was superb!!

Truly irresistibly delicious! It's recommended to reserve a table on Sunday evenings, and for good reason! Five of us ordered different dishes and were all very impressed. For dessert, I recommend the mango lassi :) Sometimes you have to wait a bit for a waiter, but in the lovely atmosphere, it's not a bad idea to approach the evening a little more relaxed. All in all, very good, and I would eat here again!

Solid Vietnamese restaurant! The food could have been a little more aromatic, but it was still tasty and the atmosphere was nice too

After discovering the city of Essen, we stopped here to enjoy good Vietnamese cuisine again. We were not disappointed as the food was freshly prepared and well seasoned, simply very tasty. The service was attentive, courteous and friendly. The ambience conveyed the typical simple, modern flair that focused on the essentials. You'll be happy to come back here, even if you can only pay in cash!

Bad surf and turf, tasteless noodles. Other guest also not satisfied with pho. Said something about it. Tablemates had something better. Anyway, no success for me.

Good Vietnamese cuisine. Nice service 👍

The food was very clear and very heavy on oil. The service wasn't unfriendly. Comfortable is different.

The food is delicious, but can only be paid for in cash.

It was very busy and still they kept the service level high, worked hard and served great food for a good price.

Super authentic and delicious food Friendly service Spontaneously being there with 6 people on Sunday lunchtime wasn't a problem, but we were lucky because the food was really delicious

Very tasty and authentic food, prices were absolutely fair. Vegetarian selection available. The service was a bit chaotic but always friendly. We recommend a reservation.

Overall, the restaurant has a cool vibe and the food is awesome in my opinion. I have visited this restaurant in the summer and in the winter, but I think I'd restrict my visits to the warmer months. I find it sad that only cash payments are allowed.

It was very loud, no place to enjoy quiet. The food was not what I expected. People are just different in Vietnam.

Unfortunately, it is very loud there so that you can hardly have a conversation with the other person.

The food tasted good, especially the dumplings (Wantan Chay) were really delicious. The service could be a little more attentive.

Be careful when paying with cash. There is a risk of fraud here! Using sleight of hand, a paid €50 bill becomes a €10 bill. I was tricked by a young Vietnamese waitress (short, slim, glasses, long braid) last night, January 3rd, 2025.

Really delicious! Very authentic! Can be highly recommended. Unfortunately only cash payment.

Ahhhhhh simply delicious!!!!!!!

Nice atmosphere, and tasty food. Service very hasty and curt

The best Vietnamese in Essen! Incredibly fresh, delicious dishes. Generous portions and friendly service.

The food was very tasty! There is a large selection of dishes and also an extra range of vegan dishes. The restaurant is modern and cozy. Unfortunately, we always had to flag down the waitress, so everything took a little longer.

Very tasty food, fresh, good sauces, spontaneously had a table. Also full on Monday evenings!

Be ready to pay cash...no credit card accepted

What impresses here is the high quality and the fact that everything tastes like it's homemade. The highlight are the starters, be sure to try the wontons. Main courses are very noodle and soup-heavy. Service is not intrusive, very polite and a bit slow.

Price performance is right here, food was good, a bit too adapted therefore not 5 stars. The service was very busy and friendly.

The taste is more western and not so authentic. Also designed in a somewhat fancy, modern way. Quality is okay but I would have placed more emphasis on the taste.

My favorite Vietnamese in town. The food is always on point and is prepared fresh and quickly 🤞 my all-time favorite dish is - 56 vegan curry & as dessert I always have to order the sessballs. 🫣 great authentic food, nice service and good prices. Not only locally but also as a delivery service via Wolt 😜

I have eaten there and I have also ordered home and I have loved both, I always order the duck with udon and curry and drink the peach iced tea! They are very nice too 💖

The staff is friendly and the food is very delicious! I love udon with curry and duck

Visually beautifully presented, good portions, tasty. Summer rolls with tamarind sauce were a hit.

Great shop with delicious dishes. Unfortunately, no card payment is possible there.

Food was really good and I found it quite authentic (I spent many months in Vietnam myself). Only bad thing is only cash payment - deduction in service

The food was simply fantastic! I was immediately impressed by the freshness of the ingredients. The Bun Bo Nam Bo in particular was a highlight – rich, aromatic and perfectly seasoned. The Vietnamese spring rolls were also a delight. The service was friendly and attentive. I will definitely come back and recommend Lua to anyone who loves Vietnamese cuisine or just wants to try something new. A real gem in the city!

Cozy restaurant, food came quickly and was very tasty. Even though I came alone and there was only one large table available, that wasn't a problem and I was served very nicely.

It was a tip, but now I really enjoy eating Vietnamese food there.

The staff is very friendly and the food is always delicious.

Really really tasty. Definitely make a reservation, the shop is very popular and not huge.

Today only 1 star for the hair in my Com Thi Suon Nuong, which might be better respected. And if someone tells me- “it can happen, we are only human”… No! It can't happen and better care should be taken. When I cook, my hair is covered, my hands are washed after every task and I want to see the love for the food on the plate. Not a hair makes you lose your appetite. Cari Ga with breaded chicken strips Unfortunately also messed up. It was just rice with cream soup, even though I didn't order any soup. It wasn't fun to eat. I don't know that much about you. The pho broth with beef was delicious, as always. My dish was super tasty and 5 stars from me BUT a hair has no place in it. I am a regular customer and I will definitely give you another chance and hopefully it will be a 5-star dish again.

The food was very good (wok dish), the waiter was very friendly. When asked, he may have seemed a bit helpless due to language barriers. I didn't choose any toilets. There was no annoying music, we were able to have a good chat and overall it was a very nice atmosphere, even though the dining room itself is very small. Very well done! ATTENTION, only cash payment possible.

Best Vietnamese restaurant in the Ruhr area - today again the great bun bo with tofu and green tea

Good restaurant with delicious food at solid prices. Perfect for a break from shopping or eating after work.

Small, fine restaurant Sensational cuisine Great selection Good service

I was a guest in the restaurant last night and was lucky that there was still a place available for me. The drink and appetizer came relatively quickly and were good. The main course took a while to arrive but everything was ok. The main course was very tasty. The freshness of the taste is typical of the dish. This was there but could have been a bit more intense. Still very tasty 👍. I was very satisfied and would come again. Cash or Pay Pal only 🙏

Pho vegan is good and the ingredients are fresh, only the broth could be a little spicier. Unfortunately, the wok dishes are far too greasy and sometimes inedible. I reduced the review to one star because the last time we received the pho was completely drained. The Wolt driver then very rudely referred us to the restaurant. So we called them and received part of the order again. However, this had expired again and in our opinion it should have been a completely new delivery. The second Wolt driver then referred us back to the restaurant, albeit in a friendly manner. So we called them again and were promised a reimbursement of the costs. But we didn't receive these. Unfortunately, you have lost customers who previously ordered regularly from you, dear LUA team...

The best summer rolls (in my case with tofu) in the entire Ruhr area, consistently heavenly good. Absolute recommendation from me. The other dishes also taste fantastically good (I'm only familiar with the vegan versions), every time I visit. Authentic Vietnamese and not “Germanized” like many others. For those who are interested, a large vegetarian and vegan selection, but interesting and recommended for all diets. The price is in an acceptable range, neither particularly expensive nor noticeably cheap. The ambience is quiet and pleasant and at peak times, especially on weekends, it is better to reserve early or ask by phone whether there is still space. Personal assessment: always worth a visit.

I had a bad experience at this restaurant. The dining area was very stuffy, and it was uncomfortable to sit inside. There was no menu in English, and none of the waitresses could speak or explain the dishes in English. It made it really difficult to order. On top of that, they only accept cash, which was very inconvenient, and no one told us about this beforehand. Honestly, the best part of the meal was the white wine and mineral water — everything else was pretty disappointing. I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone who doesn't speak the local language or prefers to pay by card.

Very high quality and delicious food. Lots of veggie dishes.

This place is absolute magic. Very generous portion sizes too!

Unfortunately the dishes are served lukewarm

The employees are very friendly, the restaurant itself is rather small but comfortably furnished. The food was good and fresh. Both the summer rolls and the main courses impressed us. The kumquat iced tea is also delicious. Fair prices. Overall a recommendation.

A great Vietnamese restaurant with authentic dishes and a warm atmosphere. The food is fresh, aromatic and simply delicious - from the spring rolls to the noodle dishes, everything is excellently prepared. Particularly noteworthy is the friendly service: always friendly, attentive and helpful. You immediately feel at home here. A real insider tip for everyone who loves Vietnamese food!

Food great, service very friendly. This has become our favorite place for lunch!

Very tasty, good selection, good quality of food, hot and fresh. Come again.

Delicious food, large portions. “Udon Xau mit panierten Hänchen” is highly recommended. Too bad you could only pay in cash. At one point the whole place was blue with smoke. Other than that, a delicious meal, no complaints!

Everything tasted very delicious!! We also had appetizers. Ambience and service also great!!

really delicious food! I'm totally thrilled!

All around pleasant, friendly & delicious! Diverse Vietnamese cuisine, also a very large vegan selection - this is obviously important too. Great!

Simply perfect! The pho with beef balls was absolutely amazing—rich, flavorful broth with tender beef balls that made every bite a delight. The balance of flavors was spot-on, making it one of the best pho experiences I've had. The service was exactly what I hoped for—attentive, friendly, and efficient. LUA Vietnamese Restaurant truly delivers on both taste and hospitality. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an authentic and satisfying Vietnamese meal!

The shop had been recommended to me several times in Essen, so I gave it a try. The food was very good, price performance was okay. What I didn't like was the ambience. Although it is beautifully and authentically decorated, it is very noisy as the small shop is quite full of tables. The service didn't convince me either. Very long waiting times and you were sometimes forgotten. There is no card payment here, so before paying I had to go to the savings bank around the corner to organize cash while my companion held the fort. Given the prices, in my opinion you can't assume that guests will have enough cash with them. You have to expect 20-30€ per person here.

Ordered M07, supposedly with lemongrass. The rice was cooked and dry (which is normal and a good thing), but with dry vegetables on the plate, without any sauce. No lemongrass in sight. Brought this to the waiter's attention, but he clearly didn't care.

Very tasty and authentic Vietnamese

In short, the food is incredibly delicious. In any case, you will be full. You should plan around €25 with a drink and a summer roll. The food could be a little spicier, especially the curry, otherwise I absolutely recommend it

Delicious food in a surprisingly nice atmosphere.

There was a lot and very tasty. We had summer roll with shrimp, pho and bun bo nambo. We were satisfied.

Good food but... no card payment accepted makes the whole thing unpalatable for me in 2024! never again

The food was good and the service was friendly. Unfortunately, the good impression was spoiled when it came to paying. Only cash is accepted! The only indication of this is a small sign on the door. This was not mentioned on the website, on Goggle or in the reservation confirmation. Therefore there are only two stars. Because which guest likes to run to the ATM after eating to be able to pay his bill? This is no longer up to date.

Ordered spring rolls, summer rolls, mango salad and two soups. Everything was fresh and good.

Very authentic food and taste, definitely recommend

Good spring and summer rolls. Mango salad was excelent

I stopped in here late on a Sunday evening after work. The service was very friendly and I was seated straight away. The menu offers a wide variety of dishes, in the end I chose coconut soup with shrimp and summer rolls with salmon. The coconut soup was tasty, but lacked a certain something to round it out. The portion was also larger than usual at Viernamesen. The summer rolls were also quite okay, but the salmon was fried a bit dry. However, the sauce was very good. Only cash payments are accepted here, which I didn't notice - either I missed the relevant signs/instructions or there are none. In the latter case it would be nice to add some. All in all a nice visit.

We came for lunch on a weekday without having reserved a table. When we arrived we had to wait quite a long time to ask the waitress if there were any seats left. Although there were 2-3 tables available inside that just hadn't been cleared yet, the waitress told us that all the tables were reserved, so we decided to sit outside. The waitress neither brought us the menu nor paid us any attention. We went in ourselves to get the menu and place the order. Then it started to rain and we asked if she could clear the tables inside for us so we could sit inside. Only then was she ready to clear the tables. While we were waiting for our food, many guests wanted to come in to eat, but the waitress kept telling them that there were no seats available, even though there were still many tables available. We finished eating at 2:30 p.m. and the restaurant closed at 3:00 p.m., but we didn't see a single guest who had a reservation and came to eat. A real shame for a restaurant with a nice atmosphere and good food, but very poor service that shows no respect for the customers. Unfortunately I cannot recommend this restaurant. Sorry!

Great taste experience, fresh and authentic. Repeat factor 100%…Thanks!

Very authentic Vietnamese food! Very big portions

For me it is the best restaurant in Essen. If anyone knows how they do Cari Ga (personal recommendation no. 260) please let me know :D

Good Vietnamese food place. Recommended and better than the restaurants in the area, but you cannot pay by card and for those of us who come from outside it is a chore. Also if you order something close to closing time they may not serve it to you.

Duck in coconut sauce was great, but contrary to the description, not spicy. Reservation is worth it as it is very popular and a small restaurant. Dogs welcome. Friendly service. No card payment. The dishcloth to wipe the table could have smelled better.

Real insider tip, super tasty ✌🏻.

We loved our Udon noodle dishes. Fantastic food, and lovely restaurant. We will definitely be back for more!

Price and quality ratio is top! You get a lot of food and it is super tasty!

Good portions, tasty food, restaurant is recommended, located in the center of Essen.

Very good restaurant. Delicious food and a kind waiter :)

DELICIOUS food and fantastic service. Highly recommended!! Top quality and a top price! We had a great time here with 11 people!

We visited the LUA on a weekend evening with four adults. The food was fantastic and a great new experience for us. The ambience is appealing and stylish. The only and biggest point of criticism is the service: We would have liked to order drinks or a dessert, but unfortunately the service was too busy. A reservation is recommended. Cash only. We'll definitely come again.

Preface: only accepts cash payment Cozy place with phenomenal food. Starters, mains and desserts are all smash hits here. The only trouble is that I couldn't try every single thing on the menu. Strong recommendations are to get the shared starters platter and absolutely try the udon noodles as a main. They would be perfect in and of itself without any veggies or protein added. Parking nearby is perfectly valid as it's free after 20:00 during weekdays 10/10 but make sure you have cash ready as the nearby ATMs close at 22:00

Quiet, cozy atmosphere, friendly service and fair prices. Newcomers to Vietnamese cuisine are reliably helped to choose something suitable. Top 👍🌻

Located in the center of Essen, have been there several times, delicious food, sufficient portions, price-quality is perfectly fine. Be sure to reserve in advance and pay in cash. Great 👍

Very rich. I haven't been to Vietnam but the food is very good. Delicious nem rolls.

Looks like a student bar from the 90s. The service is very polite and friendly. But the food. MEGA. Delicious. Have been there several times now and have been thrilled every time. Keep it up and don't change anything ❤️

Super friendly staff and good food, thank you for the great evening 😊

The two of us spontaneously got a place on a Friday after consulting by phone. However, I would always advise booking in advance for popular dates. The service was extremely nice, even on the phone and took us straight to the table. We also received our tickets directly. The selection was really large and varied. There is something for everyone. Both the starters and main courses were beautifully prepared and presented. When it came to the main course, I initially thought it would be a little, but it was actually a lot. I didn't finish my portion. Everything tasted really good. The service was always attentive and very accommodating. Questions could be answered, which made the choice of food much easier. All in all, a clear recommendation. Small note: no card payment possible.

Very nicely decorated, cozy atmosphere, the service was nice, the food was served quickly and the prices were ok. Come back

We spontaneously looked for an address for a “PHO” and came across the “LUA”. It was very busy and required a reservation. After asking kindly we were given a place :-) The PHO became “UDON noodles” for me, so my partner stayed with the PHO… and what can I say…. BOTH WAS TOP - Therefore a clear recommendation, especially if you can't / don't want to go to Düsseldorf, where there is already a very high selection and quality when it comes to ASIA food. So…thumbs up!

Food was OK. Location of the restaurant and ambience not so good.

my absolute favorite restaurant!

Really tasty was very satisfied, small but as they say so beautiful,, small but nice,,

#41 (Salmon with rice and a fresh salad) was an absolute delight. I have never thought to get salmon in a vietnamese restaurant but it felt so right, I think I'll have to come back just for the sauce in the salmon bowl!

Very good Vietnamese food. Reservations recommended.