Rise and Shine

A Full Look at Mission Cantina’s New Vietnamese Breakfast

Beats cereal.
Beats cereal. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz

Mission Cantina’s menu is constantly evolving: One year ago, when the restaurant first opened, Danny Bowien served soft-scrambled eggs with sea urchin, beef heart ceviche, and rotisserie chicken stuffed with rice, chorizo, and pecans. But despite the restaurant’s name, the gonzo-Mexican theme has slowly gone by the wayside, and, as of late, Bowien has focused more on Asian-inspired dishes. In fact, he recently launched a Vietnamese breakfast menu, available daily from 9 to 11 a.m., with à la carte items like lamb pho, duck porridge, and broken rice with lemongrass sausage.

It’s definitely worth waking up to try — and hey, there’s Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk. Take a look:

Heritage Beef Tartare with Vietnamese mint, pork cracklings, and sesame crackers.
Heritage Beef Tartare with Vietnamese mint, pork cracklings, and sesame crackers. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
Chicken Pho, Hanoi Style with fresh rice noodles and turtle-tower chili sauce.
Chicken Pho, Hanoi Style with fresh rice noodles and turtle-tower chili sauce. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
Lamb Pho, Saigon Style with rice noodles, herbs, and bean sprouts.
Lamb Pho, Saigon Style with rice noodles, herbs, and bean sprouts. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
Bo Kho: beef cheek and tendon stew, served with bread.
Bo Kho: beef cheek and tendon stew, served with bread. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
Duck Porridge with ginger sauce, salty peanuts, and fried shrimp toast.
Duck Porridge with ginger sauce, salty peanuts, and fried shrimp toast. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
Broken Rice with grilled lemongrass sausage, fried eggs, and pickles.
Broken Rice with grilled lemongrass sausage, fried eggs, and pickles. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
Two Fried Eggs on a Baguette with duck liver and maggi sauce.
Two Fried Eggs on a Baguette with duck liver and maggi sauce. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
Vietnamese coffee.
Vietnamese coffee. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz

Earlier: What to Eat at Mission Cantina, Officially Open Tonight

Mission Cantina’s Breakfast