Ha's Snack Bar

Behind fogged-up windows and billowing white curtains on the Lower East Side, Ha’s Snack Bar creates an atmosphere that feels like being invited to the kind of dinner party you wish happened more often. This intimate Vietnamese wine bar from the team behind the beloved Ha’s Dac Biet pop-up packs serious culinary ambition into a space so cozy you might find yourself sharing a stool with a stranger who becomes a friend by dessert.

The ever-changing chalkboard menu means you’ll never have quite the same experience twice, but the kitchen’s signature style remains constant: dishes that seem deceptively simple until that first bite reveals layers of punchy, complex flavors. Nearly everything gets a brain-tickling dose of fish sauce or a jolt of bird’s eye chili. The snails swimming in tamarind butter are legendary, their earthy sweetness harmonizing with crusty baguette. Any dish built on their impossibly flaky pastry—like the black pudding tartlet with kumquats—is guaranteed to be memorable.

The open kitchen barely fits two chefs, and the dining room feels more like a cozy walk-in closet than a restaurant. But that’s part of the magic. Candlelight and paper lanterns cast a flattering glow while you work through an eclectic wine list, lingering longer than you planned. Even familiar items like oysters or French onion soup get transformed here—the onion soup arrives cilantro-forward and refreshingly light, reimagined with a pho-like broth.

Whether you’re on a date you hope goes well or dining solo at the bar, Ha’s rewards adventurous eaters who trust the kitchen. Order the raw fish special, whatever it may be that night. Save room for dessert—all of them, if you can. The line snaking down Broome Street exists for good reason, and even those who normally avoid waits should consider joining it.