Wallingford Vietnamese Restaurant Eyes Multi-Neighborhood Expansion

Wallingford's grab-and-go Vietnamese restaurant Tigerly Ox is in construction mode with a new location at 22nd and Madison in the Central District. John Tran, who owns the restaurant with his wife Jodie, says they're hoping to roll out several of the casual eateries across multiple neighborhoods down the line.

Tigerly Ox's new location will be similar to the one in Wallingford, with a focus on fast-casual Vietnamese food made from family recipes. Expect the Central District location to have slightly more seating, with room for 15 to 20 people inside. Take-out will still be a big focus.

The menu will be largely the same as the one at the Wallingford location, which opened last June. Customers choose an entree base, with options including banh mi, vermicelli noodles, jasmine rice, or fresh salad. They then add a meat or tofu and other fillings to complete the meal. Tran says he's planning to add dessert as well as beer and wine to the new location's offerings; the Wallingford restaurant currently has neither.

Tran says Tigerly Ox's emphasis is on tasty, convenient, and well-balanced food that is both hearty and healthy. The Trans are also aspiring sommeliers, currently working their way through the Northwest Wine Academy at South Seattle Community College, so thoughtful wine pairings may be in the future, too.

Look for Tigerly Ox to open in the Central District in mid-June.