Every so often, a new restaurant comes along, and suddenly it’s hard to remember what the Palm Beach County food scene was like without it. That’s certainly the case with Inch & Ounces, a fast-casual, Vietnamese street food-inspired concept by the team behind Anzo and The Chickpea. Inch & Ounces debuted this summer on Clematis Street.
“I’m a big fan of Vietnamese cuisine, and after we moved and renamed The Chickpea to Anzo, we had the old Chickpea space available, so we decided to build a new concept,” shares owner Ferdin Saleh.
“So far, everyone seems to love Inch & Ounces, and so do we. We’ve had a great start and lots of support, and it reminds me of how our journey started with The Chickpea and Anzo.”
Inch & Ounces has been so well-received that Saleh hopes to open more locations next year.
“We built the menu to be simple and straightforward. I worked very closely with chef Antoine, who has French-Vietnamese origins, over several months—this included a lot of traveling to decide exactly what we wanted to serve on the menu,” Saleh says.
Diners can choose from a variety of noodle soups—formally known as pho, pronounced “fuh”—as well as banh mi, vermicelli salads and fresh rolls. There’s also a wide selection of gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian-friendly options.
Coconut curry pho is the most popular dish, though Saleh recommends first-timers start with the lemongrass chicken banh mi.
“There’s umami from our house-made hoisin aioli; savory, sweet and saltiness from the lemongrass marinade; crunch and acid from pickles; and then top that off with some cucumber and jalapeños, with a good amount of fresh cilantro,” he says. “If you want to take it to the next level, add a fried egg or avocado. It’s one of the most balanced and delicious sandwiches ever.”
The Vietnamese iced coffee—a super-strong brew thickened and sweetened by condensed milk—is another must-try.
Healthy and satisfying, Vietnamese cuisine has a year-round appeal: cool, clear rice paper-wrapped rolls are refreshing on a hot summer afternoon, but during a chilly spell, nothing’s more comforting than an oversized bowl of steaming pho.
As for the name? “Everything we serve on the menu is measured in inches or ounces,” Saleh explains.
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