I last posted about this place over a year ago, and just wanted to announce that they still rock! I have since learned that they make a banh mi sandwich and it is now my favorite thing to quickly pick up for lunch. I can't find these anywhere else in Santa Cruz, which amazes me. I'm so happy to find out banh mi exist somewhere in this county! Definitely worth a try, either with pork or chicken, pretty damn delicious. Only thing I must comment on that brings it down a star - as I have read other comments about the customer service and slight language/culture clash, I must agree that it is indeed true. Occasionally - not ALL the time. Everyone here is actually quite nice, it is just the language barrier that is tough to break through sometimes, I think. Otherwise, what I said in my previous review still holds true. I'm happy this little place is still around! read more

Best pho I have found in Santa Cruz. everything tastes fresh. I like their boba too. Easy location on 41st ave by Starbucks read more

Asian Express - Vietnamese Near Me - Capitola, California

Not bad! A mix of Asian styles on the menu. All of the food is good. They are lightning fast with the to go orders. In fact they finished three orders of Pho before I got to this point writing the review! A good place for Asian comfort food. read more

Asian Express - Vietnamese Near Me - Capitola, California

I have been coming here for a couple of years. The food use to be better, but the cockroach on the napkin dispenser just made me lose it. Hope they improve food quality and sanitation in the future. read more

Ok- so I'm from the South Bay originally & I was depressed at the lack of good Chinese, Vietnamese & Korean food in Santa Cruz County. We've good some pretty good Thai, but everything else is a little disappointing. Except for a couple finds- like Asian Express- mind you, I don't recommend the hot bar- for me its about the noodle soups.... particularly some of the off menu items like BBQ pork w/ wontons, I get it with rice vermicelli & its a little spicey, a little sour-- the took it off the main menu so don't be shy- ask & they'll make it. They also retired from the menu board- but will still make pho with duck- OMG!!! so rich & tastie. You can get egg noodles too... read more

Pretty good local spot for Vietnamese food. It's worth going to instead of driving to San Jose.

Kinda cool place. It's like a Thai, Vietnamese,Chinese fast food / dine in plus boba house all rolled into one. I went out there and order a dish I wasn't too sure about. Sounded good. Spicy beef noodle soup. It wasn't bad but it had some sort of lingering flavor that I couldn't pin point. I had also ordered beef steak and there were a few intestine looking pieces mixed in. I'm used to beef being like brownish lol and the beef in the soup was like whiteish light brown mixed with dark brown pieces. Have never seen this kind of beef before. Not sure if the dish was Thai or Vietnamese but I won't be ordering that again. I tried it and it was so so just not something I'm likely to continue to go back for. The boba was ok too. I had a green tea milk boba but again there was some lingering flavor I couldn't figure out. It was almost cilantro like. Don't know how else to describe it. read more

Asian Express - Green tea boba .... Pretty tasty!!! - Vietnamese Near Me - Capitola, California

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I keep trying to give this place another chance (since Santa Cruz is so limited in pho options) and I'm always disappointed. Today was my last time going. They skimp on pho portions, the spring rolls are pre-made and packaged and the peanut sauce is disgusting, and their chicken is tasteless and rubbery. The restaurant was empty, always a sign to run away, and all their staff was sitting at the table eating their own lunch while we ate ours. It's too bad they don't have any good competition in this town to close them down. read more

Apparently, there are only three places in Santa Cruz which serves Pho and other traditional Vietnamese foods. Despite some of the negative reviews, I'm glad that I got to give Asian Express a try. Perhaps there was a change in ownership, but I did NOT experience any of the troubling problems described in the negative reviews. This is a family owned restaurant, and they treated me very well. The soup portions are generous, and we loved the soups and spring rolls. Being from the NY area, I've been exposed to great Vietnamese food, and this place doesn't disappoint. I'll have to try the Vietnamese sandwiches the next time I'm in town. Overall, if you like Pho, this is a great place to get it in Santa Cruz. I haven't tried the other places which serve Vietnamese food here, but I was very pleased with our experience and plan to be back. read more

The most authentic and best tasting beef pho we've had in years. Not to mention the service, which was better than the great tasting pho.

Service at the counter was very friendly. Just came in to grab boba tea so the review is based only on service and to go drinks. Tea was good not too sweet! read more

Very delicious! The service was great as well. I get the chicken pad thai every time I go in! Would definitely recommend.

Pretty good for the Santa Cruz/Capitola area for pho and the other noodle dishes (dry/soup). Better than having to drive all the way to San Jose. It's a bit pricey for the size, but then again, there's nowhere else to get better pho unless you drive to SanJo. And the chinese food is cheap, but you get what you pay for. Not that great. read more

I usually have a good experience from this place. I order the #10 chicken soup and it's great! The reasons I'm giving this place 2 stars: the meat in the entree was minimal vs. veggies-- sparse, my husband feels like customer service could have been better. Lastly, the restroom had flies in the trash bin. I will not return. read more

Quick pho review: Pro: The broth was very delicious. I would order it to-go in a cup and drink it with a straw. Con: The rice vermicelli was a bit chewy. Wished it was cooked a bit longer. In conclusion: If I still went to UCSC, I would come here to fix my pho craving. read more

I always hit up this place for strawberry iced tea, pad thai, and spring rolls. I also come here when I need a quick fix or take out for the road/school/home. Two thumps up! read more

I decided to get the bo kho with noodles and my cousin got the pho. The employees are really nice. The bo kho tasted about 98% like my mom's, which I liked. The soup was just a little bit thick but it was still yummy. The thick consistency made it looks bloated but that's OK. My cousin said the pho tasted different than the pho she usually eats, but not a bad kind of different. She said there weren't enough noodles either. They have a clean bathroom. Sometimes there wouldn't be enough tables for customers since some would just sit there and talk after eating. Prices are reasonable too. read more

Asian Express - Bo kho. I added basil that came with the pho that my cousin ordered. - Vietnamese Near Me - Capitola, California

Best Asian food you are going to get in the Cruz

We wanted Asian food so we stopped at this place from off of the freeway. We got the vermicelli bowls, pho, boba and pot stickers. The vermicelli bowls were bomb! Good portion and a variety of food in one bowl. Healthier option and big enough for kids to share. The chicken pho was so good that we bought some of the chicken stock to bring home. Our kids loved it! The strawberry milk tea with boba was a hit with our daughter. We asked for no caffeine and they were able to do that for us. The only thing we didn't care for were the pot stickers. They were very thick and doughy. The taste was okay, but just not what our family is used to. We would definitely come here again just for their vermicelli bowls. read more

I love that they are open again. I went to pick up some food today it was kind of busy but o don't mind waiting the foods always flavorful and tasty! Love the bahn mi sandwiches. The curry is great and the vermicelli noodle bowl is a favorite. The pho is always great. read more

I had a terrible experience here. I will never go back. I ordered the chicken pad Thai and asked for them to make it with rice instead of noodles and they said okay. I get home to realize they made it with noodles so I called them and brought it back. I came back and they told me they do not make it with rice and I told them I was sorry but that was what I was told. They were very rude and told me this was a one time thing that they would change my order even though it was their mistake in the first place. I wish I could give 0 stars. I have never been treated that badly by a restaurant owner. Terrible customer service and the food they made me after was still terrible. read more

Wow now this is what i call REAL asian food that id usually have to drive all the way to san jose for. See the first bowl? Thats real sweet and sour for my egg rolls its a sweet and sour BROTH no red dye or refined sugar corn syrup round here and the second bowl? The best teriayki/onion/chicken broth in town omg we needed this! Dont be fooled by their name they really need to take out the express part of their name because they make everything fresh and from scratch right in front of you and they all actuallly cook with fresh gloves on thank you so much clean and couteous!!!! And yes for you express type americanized asian food lovers they also have the sweet and sour / kun pow or whatever staples but please guys order the authentic part pf the menu.... u wont be disappointed ...... by the register the have a longer menu then what is shown yes!!! And thank you!!!! Finally a place by the mall that is actually nutritious and good who would have though aka its next to starbucks on the corner in the citi bank parking lot!!! A must!!!! read more

Asian Express - Grilled/bbq chicken with rice and eggs rolls yahummmm! - Vietnamese Near Me - Capitola, California

If you're hankerin' for some pho and you live in Santa Cruz Co., this is a good choice. They could use a little more vegetables and meat for how much they charge, but it's good. I would stick to the rare beef bowl or the other beef bowl. I tried the spicy seafood bowl and had wished I just got the damn beef bowl. The spicy seafood bowl looks good in the picture on their menu, but it consists of too many of those rubbery coagulated fish ball/cake things. Kinda gross, while the beef bowls don't disappoint unless you get too many pieces of grissle, which has happened once. All in all it's not bad and I do enjoy the vegetarian egg rolls that have shiitake inside with my beef pho. read more

I recommend their Pho. I think it is the best around Santa Cruz country. Might not be as good as in San Jose but you don't need to drive across the mountain. They serve very big portion of Pho and the price is very cheap. The staff is very friendly. So I will go back there and eat again .. read more

I've been here a couple of times, the first time I came here, they give an amazing service and food. But overtime, the front desk cashiers are becoming even more rude every time I visit. First, the cashier didn't offer me a receipt, and she was giving me attitude. Then, the meat wasn't packaged right so the blood leaked out of the package into the noodles. And there's just too many onions. The food was ok. After I saw the blood, the food was not very appetizing to eat. read more

Asian Express - Vietnamese Near Me - Capitola, California

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Best Pho ever. I'm always searching for a really good seafood soup and their spicy seafood pho is exactly what im looking for. The fresh vegetable ingredients make the soups incredibly flavorful. And there is just enough spice to loosen your sinuses and deliver just the right amount of flavor. Even the basic menu items like the orange chicken and chow mein are super good! read more

This definitely is one of the hidden gems of quick Asian food. Fair prices and lots of food.

Love their pho and boba. Order fresh, the lunch hot plates aren't very good. They take a super long time to make the boba so wouldn't usually go there just for that, I've called ahead and still had to wait 15 minutes for just 1 boba drink. But they have the best pho around read more

I came in to Asian Express close to when it closed and the service was horrible, did not understand my order and acted mad that I was there. The food was okay but I guess you get what you pay for! read more

Yummy spring rolls and pork banh mi. My companion had the spicy seafood pho and enjoyed it. I was worried that I would not find a casual Vietnamese restaurant in Santa Cruz. Worries gone! read more

I love this place. Some of the best pho and wonton soup I've ever had. Friendly service and good lunch specials for when you don't want soup. The broth of the pho is great and the steak is really tender. Really nice on rainy days or when you are recovering from a cold, this soup has healed me no lie! Don't be swayed by negative reviews. This place is worth it. read more

The food was fresh. The wait time wasn't long. It was about 10-15 min wait. The orange chicken was just a little on the sweet side but still good. The fry rice was deliciously fresh. The pho broth, I would rate it a 3 Star. I did not see any fish sauce on the tables. The chicken basil was encase in batter making it a little thick to enjoy. The water was self serve and the cups were kid's size up so you will have to refill yourself. Aside from self serving yourself the food was good. I would go back. read more

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I like their pho. The vermicelli with barbequed pork and shrimp is very tasty. I dont bother with the pre cooked items on the counter. Certainly you can get tastier Vietnamese food in San Jose, but San Jose has 200,000 Vietnamese people . For Capitola this place is good . The restaurant is clean and the staff are friendly. read more

Not happy. The first time I tried this place, the food wasn't bad but their beverage menu is misleading. There is a list of Boba teas and a list of "Classic" teas. I ordered a classic Thai tea, which came full of Boba which I can't stand. Waste of $. I decided to give it a second chance and came back a few weeks later. This time I ordered the same vegetarian dish as last time, to-go. I get home and find that they mistakenly made my dish with meat instead of tofu. Extremely disappointing and another big waste of $. Do not recommend. Not reliable service. read more

This is our favorite pho place in town. The food is delicious and the service is fairly fast as well. I'd definitely recommend trying #10 and #12!!! 10/10 restaurant:)) read more

This is my first time and my last trying Pho Tai with meatballs (#8 on the menu) at this place. I don't know what they put in the soup but the aroma stank so bad, like rotten meat or unclean raw ox tail of some sort. I had to separate the noodles from the soup and ate them only with the bean sprouts and mint leaves on the side. The rest of the broth and meat I threw away. I complained the shitty smell to two lady workers there. One was Chinese and the other Vietnamese, both of whom were callous and completely insensitive to the issue. The Chinese lady even said that's how Pho is supposed to smell. So pathetic! This place is a disgrace to Vietnamese cuisine. Please don't eat Pho there! read more

Wow. This place needs a better name and more credit. By far one of the best banh mi sandwiches I've ever tried. And I've been to Vietnam. They are not stingy with their portions. And they put pate in their pricked pork sandwiches. Five stars. The summer rolls are also delicious. Fresh. The rice paper they make the rolls with is chewy with just the right consistency. read more

Santa Cruz county, the home of mediocre food (other than great Taquerias), now has a spot that makes decent Bánh Mì. Warm crunchy rolls, cilantro, sliced fresh jalapeño, marinated carrots and daikon, good bbq pork. Large and satisfying and completely enjoyable, even if there are only two meat options (pork, chicken). I can't vouch for anything else on the menu, but if you're done with tacos for a while, try these sandwiches. read more

This place is surprisingly good. My favorite dish is the vermicelli with grilled pork. I also like the pho with rare steak. When you order the pho for takeaway, they pack it up nicely in separate containers to assemble at home so nothing gets soggy. They also sell the young coconut juice with pulp in a can, that I like. I stop by pretty much any time I'm in Capitola for something! read more

it's pretty tasty and quite authentic! Large portion beef noodle soup, and fresh non-fry spring roll. It feels so good to warm up in cold weather with big bowel of soup. Their grilled chicken with vermicelli is delicious! It goes perfectly with Thai tea. Yum~ read more