Greater Burlington has at least 10 Vietnamese restaurants. Currently, this abundance doesn’t extend far outside the city’s environs, but that’s changing. On February 27, Annam Restaurant, the first Vietnamese spot in St. Albans, opened its doors. “Most of our customers love Vietnamese food but had to travel at least 30 minutes to get it,” says server Kim Le, sister of owner Duc Le.

The Les, who are new to the restaurant business, recommend the unique Shrimp on Sugar Cane, a dish of shrimp paste wrapped in dry tofu and cooked on a sugar-cane skewer, then served over vermicelli. There’s Vietnamese-style marinated salmon or tilapia, too.

Annam also has bubble tea in flavors such as mango, latte and bright purple taro. The refreshing sips are popular, Kim claims. “Customers like it,” she says. “We just have to get them used to the black tapioca balls.”