For cuisine where freshness is chief

(Have you ever smelled dead coral reef?),

Vinh Hoa’s the king of oceanic things

Like Dungeness crab lotus leaf.

The atmosphere’s filled with the jive

Of bounty that’s still quite alive.

Lobster tanks brimming and fishes are swimming

To be lunch that costs just over five.

Fans of the General be damned;

And kung pao ought to be banned.

Heed the fried-sole call, eat it up, fins and all—

Don’t bother with meat from the land.

But not every dish hits the spot—

Black bean squid may be the worst of the lot;

The flavor has no power and you’ll be chewing for hours

(But the salt-toasted version is hot).

Slow service is part of the deal

When the prices are such a big steal.

The place isn’t purty, but it’s fine and not dirty,

And one hell of a fresh seafood meal.