Lau Vietnamese Pho is a relative newcomer to the dining community in St. James, having just opened their doors for business a mere two months ago. However, the eatery – specializing in the popular soup dish Pho, from which it partially derives its name – is already packing in customers who seemingly can't get enough.

Lau owner Jackie Li boasts a wealth of experience in the restaurant industry, having worked in it for at least 20 years before striking out on her own this year and opening not just one, but two of her very own establishments; the other being Ruby Crab in Bethpage, which specializes in a variety of seafood dishes.

“I really felt like it was time to open up my own restaurant instead of working for someone else or partnering with an individual, because everyone has their own idea of how to do things, and I wanted to do things my way,” Jackie said. “I wanted an opportunity to apply everything I've learned from the restaurant business over the past two decades and to open my own place where I am running every aspect of it. It's very exciting, and the response so far has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Lau, whose dining room can accommodate up to 93 customers at any given time, specializes in Vietnamese food, with a special emphasis upon the dish known as Pho, which has only just recently begun to grow in popularity as more and more people discover this interesting and tasty take on soup.

Pho is a sumptuous dish that consists of broth, rice, noodles, herbs, and meat – typically beef or chicken – and is a popular food in Vietnam, where it is considered the national dish and served and homes and restaurants across the country; in fact, December 12 has been officially declared "Day of Pho” there since 2017.

Of course, Pho isn’t the only thing on the menu at Lau; the menu also features a combination of rice, meat and poultry with plenty of vegetables, nuts and herbs, making the food exotic and full of character. In addition, Jackie notes that the cuisine adheres to authentic Vietnamese recipes and as a result the menu is very healthy…in addition to being just plain old delicious.

“At Lau, the food has a very well-feeling, refreshing quality, and there are a lot of dairy-free and vegan options as well,” she said. “The menu at Lau is very good for people who are focused on healthy eating, while not sacrificing taste. Everything comes together here to create an unforgettable meal, and I encourage everyone to come down and give it a try.”

Despite already owning one restaurant, Jackie said that she is enjoying the challenge of expanding her culinary empire, and being a big fan of Vietnamese food herself, she said it's her goal to establish Pho on Long Island and to grow its presence in the diets of its residents.

After many years working for others in the food industry, Jackie said that finally having her own restaurants where she could do things her own way and add her unique spin on the proceedings has been a fantastic experience, and she's looking forward to growing her two establishments over the years to come while sending her customers away full and happy.

“So far, so good. I've really been enjoying having my own restaurants, and it's been great dealing with the customers and becoming friends with them,” she said. “I'm looking forward to growing these relationships and welcoming more and more people to try the quality food at Lau for many years to come.”

To find out more about Lau Vietnamese Pho, check out their menu, or make reservations, please call 631-250-9026 or visit their website at https://www.lauvietnamesepho.com.