This was our second visit to this location of Ben Thanh. Our first visit was 10 or so years ago and we remembered enjoying it, so we thought we'd go back. Unfortunately, this visit to this location didn't live up to our expectations. We both ordered vermicelli dishes which arrived promptly after we ordered. They looked pretty on par with the vermicelli at the other Ben Thanh locations. We both had shrimp on a sugarcane and honestly it just tasted strange. This is something I order at least 3 times a month and have done for many years, so I know how it's supposed to taste. First of all, it was about 80% sugarcane and 20% shrimp, but it was very dry and hard. The flavour was very earthy and not at all shrimp-like. The meatballs were fine and the spring rolls tasted good although they were very oily. The grilled pork was also tasty but very dry and overcooked. We were both extremely surprised that there were no bean sprouts, no mint and no chopped peanuts. The decor was in need of an upgrade. The stairs down to the washroom and the whole downstairs was very dirty. The floor in the ladies' room was sticky. The vermicelli dishes were more than $10 each, which is very expensive compared to the many other Vietnamese restaurants we frequent regularly. And the food honestly wasn't nearly as good. Based on this visit, we won't be returning to Ben Thanh's London location. read more

See all

The food here is actually excellent. One bite of the fried wonton appetizer and you swear that the world is at peace. They also offer free parking, which is great for Donwtown London. The only really downside is the fact that the servers take a pretty long time to get to you and they rarely check back to see if you need anything else. With that being said, I come here at least once a week. I can't help it, I fall weak at even the whisper of Pho or a Vermicelli bowl, and they do a pretty great job at making it too. What I personally didn't like though was the Pad Thai. I may be alone on this one though, because I've seen several people order it here and no one seems to have a problem with it. I like my Pad Thai less sweet. That's ok though, I really love the Vietnamese food here. read more

I've been going to both locations for years and I'm so disappointed in the food quality in the last year. The pad Thai is dry and has hardly any flavour. Definitely not how it used to be. The green curry I think is good, but I've had better. The deep fried spring rolls, order 501, are the only thing I truly enjoy on the menu. The food is overpriced and definitely not worth the money. It's too bad but the place has gone downhill for sure. One star for the nostalgia and the spring rolls. read more

1st time to eat here and very impressed. Possibly one of the best in London. Spring rolls were crunchy, and delicious. The pho special was amazing. Tasty broth. Very proportionate soup to fillings. Pork chop on rice with egg was also delicious. Fresh cooked. Parking available Nice interior setting for a casual restaurant. Prices are fair and portions really generous. A few cons: Server didn't check on us. We had to call her across the room. (8pm Friday night, only 10% occupied) Payment by card you have to do at the front counter. THIS one was just shy of a 5star. Wish I can do 4.5 stars. Nonetheless, you have to try this place. read more

Ben Thanh Express - #101 pho special - Vietnamese Near Me - London, Ontario

Love at first bite! Best Pho spot in town thus far! We ordered the fried spring rolls to start - these were exceptionally yummy! Large portion, very tasty and extra crispy! Nom! My main course was pork chop on rice; also generous portion - 2 large pork chops with a side of runny egg for $1.50 - worth the add! HuzzBee got large pho soup (#101) well proportioned of meat fillings to noodle to soup. Price for everything was fair and service was OK. All was great except the washroom.... Kinda grimey lol but overall will be back for sure whenever I need a Vietnamese food fix! read more

Ben Thanh Express - Vietnamese Near Me - London, Ontario

Great selection of Vietnamese dishes. Really easy to order takeout and well -packaged. Love the pho there! Also great vermicelli noodles, BBQ Pork and fish sauce. read more

I used to love this restaurant but this visit was atrocious. Not only did the chef make a huge stink about making my fried rice milder he very visibly chewed out the server. She came back really shaken and quite. All I wanted was fried rice that I could eat - my mouth was on fire after two bites. I would suggest, if you need to come to this restaurant, then don't come on Saturday and Sunday when this chef works. read more

Good food and lots of variety. It may be overwhelming for some with such a large menu so take a minute to read it all over. I've been here many times and always enjoy it. read more

Ben Thanh Express - Seafood tom yum with vermicelli and vegetable spring rolls. - Vietnamese Near Me - London, Ontario

We came in with a large group and the service was good. There were a couple dietary restrictions at our table which were wide ranging and they were very accommodating. The prices are decent and the food is too. My beef in my pho was a bit chewy, even though I ordered it rare. Maybe it was cut just a bit too thick. Still, the flavour was good! read more

Here we are at another Ben thanh! I like the atmosphere, it's lively. The service was great well it was a little peculiar because the woman who had served us came back a little while and actually said good job to me when I had finished my whole plate of food. Which is quite funny because I've never had that before. But hey I'm all for doing jinga differently. Gave the woman 2 fives. A high five and a five dollar bill read more

If you like super spicy food, you will love their green curry. However, it was definitely too hot for me and couldn't finish it. The waitress warned me that it's spicy when I ordered it, but it was beyond my expectation. I wasn't a big fan of it's flavor either. The spring rolls are alright, but I didn't like the sauce very much. The service wasn't bad except for the waitress forgot to take an order from us for a while and we had to wait. The price is reasonable, but I don't know if I want to go back. read more

See all

It seems I am singlehandedly populating London with reviews. Seems that the site hasn't caught on here yet. Perhaps these will be useful to someone, though, if only out-of-town Yelpers who find themselves in (this) London for some reason. Ben Thanh has the best Vietnamese and Thai food you're going to find here. (Pad Thai on Richmond is as good for Thai, but much less selection and much more expensive.) I haven't had better anywhere, but then I haven't been to Thailand or Vietnam. Tom Yum soup is the best, equally good with shrimp or chicken. I usually follow that up with one of the vermicelli bowls - stick to the curry or BBQ pork, shrimp, spring roll type selections unless you know what you're doing. The one time I decided to try something new it was just god-awful. Not that it was poorly prepared, as far as I know, but it was just like slices of super-gelatinous Spam on top of my vermicelli. All the appetizers are great.. spring rolls, satay, etc... the fried wontons though are stuffed with cream cheese and occasionally what's clearly prev. frozen mixed vegetables. Still tasty, but kind of gross. Pho here is also popular and good, though not really my cup of tea (or, rather, soup). In general pretty much anything you could want from viet-thai cuisine is here, and good. You order by writing numbers down on a card. The servers then list your selections back to you, usually without even consulting the menu. Pretty impressive, considering there are at least 200 items on the thing. They have another location on Wellington which is closer to the 401, but which I haven't tried. One hopes the quality is similar, but knowing how these things work, who knows? read more

My favorite Viet Thai restaurant in London. To the point where their delivery guy knows my dog's name. This has to tell you how often I order, but loyalty has its perks. Because they know me I am usually bumped up on the delivery queue. The restaurant itself is frequently in my work lunch rotation. My favorite apps are the Spring rolls -- not for those afraid of the deep fryer-- but for the rest of us, something about that crispy wrapper combined with the dipping sauce is heaven! I also love the Tom Yum soup and the BBQ pork fresh rolls for apps. My usual mains are chicken pad Thai or rare beef Pho. Both have huge portions. The pad Thai keeps better for leftovers than the Pho. But if I'm seeking more freshness, The Pho comes with lots of extra basil and bean sprouts. And I'm in love with the fact that I can get coconut bubble tea to my front door! read more

This is the best spot for Vietnamese food in London! The prices are *very* reasonable, and the food is delicious. I make sure I come here every time I'm in London. It's savoury, flavourful, and fresh. Eat here!!! ^_^ If it's your first time, I would suggest you order the 303 (vermicelli noodles with spring rolls, bbq pork balls, and grilled pork) or the 101 (beef noodle pho with the works). I also really like the blended ice smoothies. They do take-out and delivery. The staff are really nice and friendly. It started out as a family operation and it still has that feeling. 57 York Street is the parent restaurant, the location on Wellington is the spin-off. Naturally this location looks a bit older, and it's smaller. I've been to both spots, the quality is equally good. read more

I am addicted to their Pho (the 101); it is the only dish I order. Their deep fried spring rolls are out of this world, just don't think too much about your waistline when you eat them. Reasonable prices, but service can be spotty during busy times. If you're looking for good 'value' Viet-Thai, this is your place. read more

The food is delicious and inexpensive, and while it does start to get noisy around 6pm, it's not overpowering. The pho is delicious, as are the curries (my favourite is the red curry), and I'm slowly working my way through the rest of their menu. It loses a star for the parking, because, as Janna said, it is extremely irritating to have to dash out into the cold to put the parking voucher on -- I understand /why/, but it doesn't make it any less irritating. The service is polite, efficient, quick and unobtrusive. The dishes are tasty, nicely presented, and they don't stint on the spicy. I really do love this place. read more

Folks, this is pretty bad. Had the pho, which was bland, and the spring rolls, which were super greasy. The pho wasn't even pho - just noodle in soup. The broth wasn't even the right kind. Anyone who thinks this is how Vietnamese food should taste is truly mistaken. I may be spoiled because I live in Toronto and typically grab really amazing Vietnamese food from North York there, but I am hoping I can find a decent Vietnamese spot in London soon. read more

Unlike other Asian cuisines, Thai travels well, so we order take-out from Ben Thanh at least as often as we eat at the restaurant. Delivery fees are determined by address. The décor at this location is fine (they renovated a few years ago), but no one goes here for the stunning views, either within or without the restaurant. Neither the restaurant nor the washrooms are accessible for handicapped patrons. There are booths and tables. The White Oaks location is a little nicer inside. Parking: do be sure to pick up a dashboard pass as soon as you enter the restaurant, lest you get a parking violation notice. There are usually sufficient free spaces at night, but not necessarily at lunch. Menu: loads of choices for everyone, including vegetarian and gluten-free. Faves include the pork vermicelli bowl ($8), cashew chicken ($10), various curries and the cyclone roll appetizer ($6), but everything is good. Those who judge Thai restos by the Pad Thai will not be disappointed. The fruit shakes are very popular. Service: the staff appear to be mostly student-types, so you're not getting professional servers, but it's not an issue. Food comes quickly, and the orders are correct, even with larger groups. They always remember to ask whether separate cheques are required which is nice considering what a pain it is for them to execute. Reservations: if you are in a group, it's a good idea to call ahead even if you are only giving them short notice of your arrival. Diners may also want to make a reservation if special arrangements are a requirement, such as a booth. Expect consistently solid food at reasonable prices. read more

This used to be a good place to eat but I just had the worst Pho I've ever had in my life from here. I got it to go (work across the street) and when I arrived in my office, I opened the containers to pure disappointment. There were thick slabs of brisket that were raw (will come back to) and gluey noodles. The broth is watered down, cold and tasteless. When I made a bowl, the broth was so cool it couldn't cook the beef so I ended up throwing it all out. The only reason I'm giving 2 stars is that the spring roll was good. read more

Best pho in London! I come from the GTA, so I am used to having a wide selection of Vietnamese restaurants to choose from. When I got to London however, I missed the taste of a hearty bowl of pho. I always go for the House Special Noodle Soup when I come to Ben Thanh and it never seems to disappoint. The service is courteous and the food is always served hot. The beef broth is delicious and flavourful and I would definitely say that this is the best pho that London has to offer!! read more

I tried this restaurant since moving to London from a city with a lot of choices for asian food. I can't say I was at all impressed.. When I first walked in I noticed it wasn't very busy, with a 1:3 customer to waiter ratio. I must have stood at the entrance for a few minutes with no real direction or any hint of a place to stand and order take out. Some of the staff looked at me but no one approached me. After a few minutes of standing there(in front of a sign that asks patrons to stand there and wait to be seated) , a waiter from the back of the room asked me if I wanted anything. I advised him I was like to place an order for take out, he sighed, and slowly walked over. I ordered the Thai Red Curry Chicken, and was given the option to add Rice/noodles, I choice the rice (I don't know what the add-on cost was as the staff taking my order didn't know..). After a 20 minute wait I was given my food, and promptly left. It was not a very welcoming experience for a first time. The food was not a redemption by any meals. I'm not even quite sure what I was given. I took out the package at home and say it was a small bowl filled with a sweet smelling sauce and floating bits of what might have been burnt vegetables. I still wanted to give it a try and appearances can be deceiving. It tasted like water logged mango with a strange chili sauce. I still have no idea what the slimy pieces of "fruit" were, or why the why the dish would have any.. I did manage to find four tiny pieces of somehow-dry chicken at the bottom though. The rice, while being under cooked, worked well as a sponge to absorb that awful sauce, so money well spent there. I'll definitely NOT be attempting any other adventures on their menu, one was quite enough. read more

I found this restaurant on my Find Me Gluten Free app while on my way to Toronto. The food is amazing with a huge menu and they were super accommodating for my GF needs. I highly recommend it. They have another location on Wellington in London. read more

This locations loses a star due to the annoying location of the bathrooms and the parking problem. You need a parking voucher or else you have to pay for parking, and that means you have to go back out to your car before being seated. While this isn't really awful, it's mildly annoying when you've just run out of the snow/sleet/rain and want nothing more than to sit down and warm up! The food here is quite good, but bear in mind I tend to order the same things (tofu fresh rolls, beef basil stir-fry, and sometimes the pad thai). The smoothies and bubble tea are phenomenal - something worth trying at least a few times. The best aspects of this place are the great service (always quick and friendly) and their ability to turn over orders quickly. Even when it's busy this place keeps on top of things. read more

Ben Thanh is one of my go to restaurants when dining in London. I used to go there a lot when I lived there, and I still enjoy going! The pad thai is some of the best, but their vermicelli bowls are pretty amazing too. The prices are very decent, and the staff are really great In this visit we had the pad thai, spring rolls, and beef with noodles. I can't remember what that one was called. The spring rolls are always nice and crispy and we ordered an extra order because they were so good. The pad thai was excellent and I really enjoyed the beef dish. I was debating whether or not to order a curry dish because their curry dishes are pretty amazing as well. Great visit, and can't wait to return. read more

Ben Thanh Express - pad thai - Vietnamese Near Me - London, Ontario

See all

Our benchmark for pho. Glad they opened a second location a few years ago. Their 1st location usually had line ups. Descent bubble tea too! read more

Fantastic food terrible service. I asked my waitress about a billing concern. Besides being scarce and generally impatient our server was needlessly rude. Menu states $9.95 for 2oz smoothie and was billed $13.85. When I brought that up she became confrontational, almost irate. Seriously put a damper on the experience. I just paid and left because I didn't want to deal with her. read more

I ordered from here because of the really good reviews on the pho. I'm really sorry, but I was relatively disappointed. The meat had a lot of fat, I couldn't eat a lot of it. It wasn't just fat bits in the meat, it was just chunks of fat (at times). I was REALLY craving pho, and this let me down. The broth was good, and the noodles were fine, but there wasn't much other than fatty meat and the broth. I will say, I'm a spring roll addict, and these were amazing. read more

Ben Thanh Express - Fat chunks in my soup. (London, York St. location) - Vietnamese Near Me - London, Ontario

We were on the road and hungry. Worth getting off the highway for this gem of a restaurant! Food was great, service excellent, and I plan to visit again. This location is not wheelchair friendly (steps!). My tummy said "yum"! Will try location on wellington next time, because closer to the 401. read more

Mediocrity at its best. Fresh rolls were all noodle no herbs and a teensy amount of meat. Basil pad Thai tasted dry and re-heated. Chili beef had low quality tasteless beef with an overly sweet chili sauce and mushy vegetables. read more

I HATED MY MEAL I GOT A PHO SOUP WORSE mistake to order here, was SUPER COLD I ordered a side of spring rolls they are my favourite thing to order from here, when I first came I had to wait 10 mins or so to be seated even KNOW there was only one couple sitting at a table there were no staff out Also when I first came in I had apple juice that I had just bought at the store right next door I just took off my coat about 2 seconds, after the waitress said to me "no outside drinks you need to put that in your bag" I just literally sat down and she said that to me... The only thing I like to order there is there spring rolls but they are quite pricey... around 7-8$ for 2 read more

The only thing stopping Ben Thanh from getting 4 stars is the overly salty pho broth and cold spring rolls. Now that might seem like a lot to be upset about. But most pho broths are a bit on the salty side, so I can't really fault them for that. However, it's never it would be nice to start a trend of balance and flavourful pho broths. I ordered 110 Pho with brisket, tendon and tripe. The tripe and brisket were cooked perfectly, while the tendon was a little too chewy for my taste. The spring rolls were a little cold and soggy, however that did not stop the taro and pork filling from shinning through. I will definitely be going back...as I usually have weekly pho cravings. Hopefully the springs rolls will be fresh and hot next time. read more

We use to frequent this place a lot, multiple times a week. Haven't been in a while as there are other places closer to us. A new location just opened in North London (wonderland/fanshawe) so we thought we would give it a go. Went two separate times, both experiences were hugely disappointing. Pad Thai was like ketchup, so not like pad Thai at all. Ordered vermicelli with spring rolls, pork balls and BBQ pork (#303), BBQ pork was not fresh and tasted off. Ordered Special Pho with no tripe, came with extra tripe. Ordered Vietnamese yellow curry on rice noodles. The curry was tasteless and not enough of it so super dry, had to send it back as it was not a edible. Owner was working but didn't come over even after our disastrous meal. Had to chase down our waitress in three separate occasions. All and all a horrendous experiences. Learned our lesson and not going back!! read more

Aside from the fast service, the pho is among the best I've had. Cheap price, large quantities, and good taste has me returning over and over again. Also of note is the free parking they offer downtown which is always a bonus. read more

Ol' Faithful. I live right across from it so this is my default when I'm too lazy to cook, which is often. My go-to favourites are the wonton soup, crispy spring rolls, and either form of pad thai (basil or regular). Their hearty dishes will hit the spot with some very good flavour & enough spice to tickle without being obnoxious! read more

Love this place. I always get the 508 fresh beef rolls and 510 deep fried wontons stuffed with cream cheese

The customer service is awful, and the food is even worse. I'm usually a forgiving person with reviews. Sometimes it's a busy night at the establishment, sometimes things just don't go your way. But this is simply pure unprofessional behaviour. I have been to this location four times. Every time the group I've went with/ordered with has left almost empty handed. (NOTE: I never arranged this, it was simply coincidence that I keep ending here). Whether that is because we didn't get our food, or if it's because the order was mixed up, or (believe it or not) it was because "nobody took our order" to begin with... Yes. This was a situation at one point. Our order had already been taken, and we even received a bill at the end to prove it-when we said we were just going to leave (and charge us for the drinks). I would suggest this is a one-time thing because it was so poorly handled, but when I mentioned this series of events to a colleague, she said the same thing had happened to her AS WELL AS people she knows. If there's any sort of takeaway from this it's that the orders get mixed up all the time, and that every time the customer service is without a doubt the worst thing someone can experience. Every. Single. Time. I will never waste my time with this place, or its rude staff again and I would not urge anyone to do so either. read more

Ben Thanh is a inexpensive place to eat and the food is prett good too. I have been there on multiple occasions, mostly with a group of friends. The food is served really quickly, so if you want to grab a quick lunch or dinner, its the place to go. The portion size is decent. Overall, its a good gathering place! read more

Absolutely divine. Side note: Seems we're all food critics today. Gotta love that. One of the reasons I stopped in the first place were the, wait for it, YELP reviews. I am a PHO friend, but decided to go out for something a little different this time. Normally I would choose off the menu and not from a suggested course. However, at the last second I ordered a 5 course meal and chose the following: Tom Yum Soup with Shrimp Fresh Shrimp Roll Stir fried tenderloin beef with asparagus Coconut rice Lychee fruit on ice The soup had the right feel for spicy and sweet. Plus it wasn't so piping hot it could not be enjoyed immediately. The fresh shrimp roll - spot on with peanut sauce done right. Melt in your mouth. The stir fried beef seemed infused with spices although they probably simply layered it on. The vegetables seemed fresh. Could have been frozen. Didn't matter. They were crisp and delicious. The coconut rice was super. Not too much coconut flavor. Just enough to cool the dish appropriately. Very nice. Lychee fruit was presented in a way I'd never experienced. A green seaweed looking condiment that I was told was gelatin. Crushed ice with a pink coloring to give it character. And 3 nice size lychee fruit floating in the sugary mix. Great way to end a stellar meal. I will definitely return when I get back that way. read more

The food tends to be quite bland, and the customer service isn't what it used to be. I can never get delivery from them anymore because (and I know this sounds insensitive) it's too much of a struggle. With the language barrier, I don't think I've been on, placed my order, and hung up in under 15 minutes. On top of this, they're incredibly rude, don't listen (and then blame you for not "mentioning" something-which isn't true) and when I tried to get them to take back my vegetarian dish because they accidentally put pork in it, they told me I didn't "understand" what I ordered. read more

Ordered the pad Thai, Singapore noodles and pho. The pho was decent. However the disappointment is with the pad Thai, it was pretty much noodles and premade pad Thai sauce. Read pad Thai is not red. Plus here were hardly any peanuts or vegetables. The Singapore noodles also had no vegetables mixed with it. Seems they are cheap with fresh ingredients which make the biggest difference. read more