Rice Paper, Phoenix

Brick walls, sleek wood tables and curved white chairs might seem like they belong more in a wine bar, but the hip décor found at Rice Paper is just part of the appeal. This contemporary salute to Vietnamese food works with visuals a lot, using chefs that like to arrange the food just so, vertically stacking the spring rolls to showcase the colorful ingredients peeking through the translucent rice paper, such as tuna, jicama, avocado, mango, vermicelli, lettuce and cucumbers dipped with miso ginger sauce. Vegetarians are well-kept, with rolls stuffed in tofu, asparagus, jalapenos, crispy rice and jicama with Sriracha and peanut hoisin sauce, while meat eaters work through braised pork and quail eggs served in a hot clay pot with steamed rice. This low-slung, sunny bungalow space also puts out a popular pho dish, and offers a full bar for casual drinks.