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La Dong’s New Cocktail Menu Blends Spirits and Symbolism
July 5, 2025, 3:22.43 pm ET

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Photos: La Đồng

In a city where cocktail menus tend to blend into one another, La Đồng located at 11 E 17th near Union Square breaks the mold with something unapologetically personal—and spiritually rooted. The Michelin Guide–recognized Vietnamese restaurant, already beloved for its lush colonial setting and deeply regional dishes, has launched a new cocktail program called “Liquor Luck.”

It's not just a clever name: the seven-cocktail lineup draws on Vietnamese numerology, cultural storytelling, and rare Southeast Asian ingredients, making it one of the most distinct and compelling drink menus in New York City right now.

Beverage Director Jaru Jaruthiphayakhantha’s new cocktail menu at La Đồng goes big on flavor without losing finesse. The Mam Tom is smoky, savory, and bold—mixing mezcal, coconut, pineapple, and lemongrass with a hit of shrimp paste and fish sauce. The Chom Chom is softer and more floral, with vodka, rambutan, and sake vermouth in the mix. And the La Dong, the house special, blends rum, roasted banana leaf, macadamia, and reposado for something rich, nutty, and tropical.

La Đồng isn’t just about cocktails—it’s also the only spot in NYC serving fresh Bia Hơi, a crisp, unfiltered Vietnamese lager brewed daily with Kings County Brewers Collective. It’s made to pair with standout small plates like Chạo Tôm, shrimp paste molded around sugarcane and served with fresh herbs and plum sauce. Another must: the sizzling Bánh Xèo, a turmeric crêpe stuffed with shrimp, pork sausage, bean sprouts, and radish, ready to be wrapped in greens and dunked in nước chấm.

The entire experience is a journey—one that traverses the flavors of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta while pulling in the energy of New York. As the restaurant puts it, “Hospitality is our currency,” and it shows in every plate, every pour, every poetic touch. Whether you’re there for a bold shrimp-paste cocktail or just an ice-cold Bia Hơi and crepe on a hot night, La Đồng is offering more than just a meal—it’s offering a portal.


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