DiDi

The main selling point of DiDi—a Vietnamese restaurant from TikTok chef Tue Ngyuen and the Delilah team—is that it's almost always bumping. This sexy West Hollywood spot practically functions as a church for people who want to dress up, drink coconut-washed rum, and take camera-flash photos with tiger-embossed napkins. It’s the best choice if you’re looking for a clubby restaurant in the neighborhood, and one of the few Vietnamese spots in town where you won’t look out of place wearing six-inch heels. The front dining room has the mood lighting and lo-fi Drake melodies necessary for an intimate dinner date, but the upstairs loft in the back, lined with banquettes and a proper DJ booth, is much clubbier. 

photo credit: Cara Harman

photo credit: Cara Harman

photo credit: Cara Harman

photo credit: Cara Harman

photo credit: Cara Harman

DiDi is right on the edge of the clubstaurant spectrum, leaning more toward an actual restaurant. So naturally, it’s not our first-choice dining destination for impeccable Vietnamese food. But you’ll be so busy schmoozing, you might forget about the uneven dishes, at least temporarily. DiDi’s appetizers, like golden brown chicken wings and crunchy shrimp toast filled with juicy pâté, are excellent. But, like a mediocre movie with a great opening scene, there are more misses as you move through the entrees. The whole fried snapper is one. We love the crunchy texture of the skin, but the meat turns soggy in seconds due to the overwhelming pool of sweet chili sauce it's served in. The wagyu beef pho is another. It smells like it’s been simmering all night long, but the bland broth says otherwise (making the $65 price tag feel like a shocker). Save for the crispy Hainan chicken, we’d suggest skipping DiDi’s entrees altogether and building a meal out of snacks like sesame noodles and tiger prawns.

If you’re looking for a big night out at a spot where a scene is the top priority, DiDi is the place to do it. The low-lit, bi-level space has plenty of crescent booths for big groups, the R&B playlist is cranked up to a confident house party volume, and the Vietnamese menu is far more interesting (and for the most part, much better) than the clubstaurant competition. Plus, unlike other tough-to-book hot spots in the area, DiDi always holds space for walk-ins (even on weekends). Just limit your expectations for a full-on dinner here—it’s best suited for a drinks-and-light-bite scenario.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Cara Harman

Cocktails

You can have a great night without ordering food, but you can’t miss out on the cocktails. They all feature refreshing and fun ingredients like coconut puree and grass jelly, and—fair warning— lean toward the sweet side. If that’s not your jam, though, the bartenders can also nail a dry martini.

photo credit: Cara Harman

Shrimp Toast

These little rectangles of sesame-topped toast with sweet chili sauce are phenomenal, from the mayo-slicked shrimp paste filling to the buttery crispness of the fried milk bread. Consider this a mandatory appetizer for the table after your round of cocktails arrives.

photo credit: Cara Harman

Chicken Wings

While these wings would be delicious naked, the sticky fish sauce glaze adds a pleasant punch of briny flavor and acts as an adhesive for the little bits of smoked chilis.

photo credit: Cara Harman

Honey Glazed Tiger Prawns

If it weren’t for the shrimp tails, it'd be tempting to pop these sticky-sweet prawns in your mouth and munch on them like popcorn. You only get four per order, so you might as well order two rounds from the jump.

photo credit: Cara Harman

Cold Sesame Noodles

Not the best sesame cold noodles we’ve eaten, but a much-needed creamy, cool down from the fried appetizers that should start a meal here.

photo credit: Cara Harman

Whole Fried Snapper

Our least favorite entree. Its crispy skin quickly becomes soggy after it hits the table and the chili sauce overwhelms the flavor of the fish.

photo credit: DiDi

Crispy Hainan Chicken

The one exception to our “skip the entrees'' rule. You’ll get several plump cuts of chicken with golden brown skin that's crispy without a slick of grease. Use the bright red sweet chili sauce on the side liberally.

photo credit: Cara Harman

Kevin's Pho

At $65, this dish is the most expensive thing on DiDi's menu, but sadly it’s not worth the splurge. Although it comes with three types of beef (wagyu, short rib, and bone marrow), it’s surprisingly bland. Serving the broth in this little teapot is fun, though.