Slightly upscale excellently prepared Viet Cuisine served with polish all in a clean, casual, pleasant upbeat environment. Backstory: Ben Tre on Ocean Ave is the latest new location for this family run mini-chain of high quality Vietnamese eateries served by the team that brought us instagram-worthy Gao Viet and earlier Ben Tre locations in South SF and Millbrae. Fun Fact: This particular location on Ocean Avenue used to be the location of US Bank. Look over by the bar, and you can see the big walk-in safe stiil! My first visit here was around noon on a Sunday. The place was close to packed with only two tables free, but no waiting. Predictably, it was a little bit loud inside - not too much, but I was quickly seated within moments. The menu here is fairly straightforward with the expected staple dishes that you anticipate - Pho', rice rolls, Rice Platters, Vermicelli, but also a full drinks menu and dessert too! #31 - Combo Vermicelli Rice Bowl For this visit, I chose the #31 Combo Vermicelli Bowl - BBQ Pork, Grilled Shrimp, Imperial Roll. After a few short minutes, my lunch arrived in a big bowl. Everything was super fresh, with each ingredient at the proper temperature, leading off six chunks of crunchy and warm deep fried imperial rolls (two whole rolls) and PERFECT grilled pork served on top of a cool bed of lettuce with rice vermicelli underneath. Everything in this dish could have been a total standout on its own, but I think the grilled pork was beyond perfect with just a tad of char around the edges and moist and tender througout without being too fatty. I can't say I've had better than this. Easy 5/5!! The other dishes I spied on neighboring tables looked great too, and my fellow diners heartily agreed without hesitation! Verdict: Oh YES, I can't wait to come back here! read more

See all

Food 4/5 Finally the long awaited SF location is now finally opened! We ordered a pork spring roll and a combo pho for two people. This location is more expensive than their Millbrae location but the portion size isn't any bigger. The spring rolls are very standard and nothing special. The pho broth does taste better than the millbrae location and the noodles were cooked to perfection. Service 4.5/5 Service was pretty standard but they are more attentive compared to other pho restaurants. Ambiance 5/5 You can definitely get a sense of Gao viet kitchen here with the decor and layout. Ambiance is great and is suitable for all party sizes. read more

Ben Tre - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Just tried the new Vietnamese restaurant that recently opened in the Lakeside District. We've been to their Millbrae location many times, so we're already familiar with the menu. The portions here are noticeably bigger compared to the Millbrae store, and the new location is much more spacious and nicely designed. Parking was also very easy, which is always a plus. The pork and steamed egg were absolutely delicious and stayed tender even after cooling down. The bun rieu was as good as usual. The fried quail was a little on the dry side, but the flavor was still very good. Overall, we had a great experience and will definitely be coming back again! read more

See all

Love the other locations ! Big plus that they have a full bar, my wife and I came for the soft opening and throughly enjoyed everything. Service was quick and on point, the restaurant had a more modern look than the other ones. Food was amazing as always. I got the beef stew which was tender and cut easily with a spoon, my wife went the the classic Pho which she says was nice hearty flavorful broth. read more

See all

Ben Tre is opening its third location in the Bay Area. Ben Tre is related to Goa Viet on Noriega so I'm excited to try out the food here. This one is located on 2650 Ocean Avenue, corner of Lagunitas Drive. Seems Ocean Avenue is beaming with new eateries lately. Metered parking available outside and free street parking on the side streets. They have an open kitchen and a full bar with counter seating to the right. They currently have a soft opening menu consisting of one page, on both sides and eventually they will have a full menu with more items to order. Look for items with the red heart, as they're Mr. Gao's favorites. So we ordered #15 the Combo Deluxe Pho with everything $22.95 and beef carpaccio $19.50. Both favorites were excellent and tasted really good. The only downside was the absence of basil and mint leaves for the pho. Apparently, they did not get delivery that day. Staff were friendly and welcoming. Will be back when they have more menu items. Overall, another great addition to the Ocean Avenue high street. A much welcomed Vietnamese restaurant that is lacking in the neighborhood. read more

See all

Went to Ben Tre for their soft opening on a Thursday afternoon for lunch. Arrived around 1 pm and was seated right away, and the food came out in about 10 minutes. Ordered the Garlic Noodles Combo with BBQ Pork and Chicken, along with an Imperial Roll. Portions were very generous--easily enough to share. The BBQ pork and chicken were tender and lightly seasoned, and the imperial roll was crisp and not greasy. I did wish the garlic noodles had a stronger garlic flavor, as they felt a bit light for my taste. The decor and lighting are thoughtfully done, and the addition of a bar area where food can also be ordered is a nice touch. Since the space used to be a bank, it's great that they preserved the original vault, which creates a unique focal point at the bar. The restaurant is also decorated with personal photos, which adds a warm and welcoming feel. Parking is fairly easy with street parking available, and it's also accessible by public transportation. Overall, the ambiance stands out as a highlight--well designed and inviting. read more

See all

Overall, ambience was good. It was spacious, bright, and clean. The menu was similar to the other locations, pricing was higher than I remembered, but pretty typical for San Francisco. We got the spring roll, the chicken wings, papaya salad, a beef pho. I accidentally ordered the wrong spring roll (beef instead of shrimp) and they were super nice to change it for me, as my dad does not eat beef. Everything was tasty and on par with their other locations. The cost came to about $87 for three people so pretty reasonable. Parking was free as near residential. There is also plenty of meter parking on ocean. If you want boba, or pick up pastry for afternoon tea, just down or across the street. Happy to see more restaurants opening on ocean. Will return. read more

See all

4.5 STARS GLOW UP! A nip, tuck, and a BBL, if we're talking size. Soft opening this week: Ben Tre's third Bay Area location. In 2008, Bên Tre (family-owned), began as a small hole-in-the-wall spot and they've since grown to a mini Bay Area resto empire alongside their bougie sister resto, Gao Viet Kitchen. This location is niiiiicccce (took over U.S. Bank) and a huge upgrade from their OG location next to Mom's Tofu in SSF. Soft opening promo: FREE autographed bottle of Mr. Gao Fish Sauce (17.6 oz) for the first 200 tables. As of 2:30 pm-ish, I was told they have a good amount left. M E N U Large Southern Viet menu with nearly 80 items, even a vegetarian section. However, for the soft opening, it's a limited one pager. Expect SF pricing. IMO, they're best known for their bánh xèo (crepe), gà quay (five-spice chicken), bún bò huế (spicy beef noodle soup), bún riêu (tomato crab noodle soup), and garlic noodles. FULL BAR. F O O D * Bún Thịt Tôm Chả Giò: Vermicelli Noodles w/ grilled pork, shrimp, imperial roll ($22.95) - Request less noodle, more salad - Add bì, shredded pork skin (+$?) My Ben Tre go-to, this was perfect in this unusual warm weather we're having - it hits all the flavors and textures. Warm, tender pork and firm, smoky charred shrimp paired with chewy rice noodles and a crisp, refreshing mix of iceberg lettuce, cucumbers, bean sprouts, and herbs. The savory imperial rolls add an extra layer of crunch, while the shredded pork skin gives a gelatinous chew. The accompanying nước chấm runs on the sweeter side. S E R V I C E Warm and friendly. It's day one so food does take awhile to come out. A M B I A N C E Trendy and spacious (similar to Gao) with family pics adorning the walls. There's about 25 tables. Love that they kept the vault from the bank. Bar area has TVs to watch the game. Overall, it's great to see Ben Tre make its way into the city. We used to visit their SSF regularly for nearly a decade, but over time the food became very inconsistent. Hoping they can maintain better consistency at their new spot! read more

See all

Ever since I noticed the name was hung on the building I kept my eye out for the restaurant opening. Tonight the three of us arrived around 5:15pm Friday. We had a pick of tables. Currently it's a limited menu due to the soft opening. Ordered- * hubby got the combo pho which he always order at any pho place. * daughter & I both had the combo vermicelli- grilled pork, shrimp & imperial rolls. We both had leftovers. One of the best imperial rolls I've had. Good balance of protein to carbs. Service was attentive and food was great. The restaurant lacks window treatments so there's a lot of glare as the windows face west. And when the sun shines in...Maybe they should consider installing some blinds. We'll come back after the soft opening. There's metered parking and neighborhood parking available. read more

See all

We love Ben Tre, and we frequent the Millbrae location often. Mr wanted to try the new location in San Francisco right on Ocean Ave. Parking can be hit or miss. This used to be an old bank and they made it work. Love love love the open concept kitchen. Very bright and spacious. Love the windows along the wall. It's still in its "soft opening" stage and the menu isn't very vast like the other locations but we were easily able to find what we like. Mr went with the shaking beef and upgraded to the garlic noodles. D2 got the Pho Tai and was so excited. She's rather a purist with her pho and doesn't like too many things in it, as long as there's cilantro and bean sprouts on that "condiments plate" she's a happy camper. I got the combo vermicelli bowl and it was everything I always get. Everything was delicious as always. Wait staff is on point. And nice to see the owner cooking and checking quality control before leaving the kitchen. read more

See all

Ambience 5/5 Plenty of parking around the area, they are both metered, but free after a certain timeframe in the evening. The front door is very easy to find and walk. It has a clean and modern field. The dining area is on the left-hand side and the bar is right. Really cool cause that's the first time I've seen a dedicated bar area in a Vietnamese food restaurant, Service 5/5 Was impeccable! Everyone was super attentive and friendly. You could tell that everyone supports one another and helps each other out. Food 4/5 Overall, really good, but a little bit stiffer than other places I've been to. The garlic needles with two proteins was so worth it.... The needles were semi-al dente and not mushy, had pieces of garlic, and it was really flavorful. A reasonable amount of noodles, along with a side of cabbage with pickled vegetables on top. I would 100% get this again. We also got the four which overall was really high-quality. And it was a very protein packed. I just felt like this soup had a little bit less depth of flavor (maybe less spices? compared to others I've tried. Overall, a really great experience! Will definitely be back for the garlic noodles and try some rice plate plates read more

See all

Randomly saw Ben tre on ocean!! Cold day had to get some pho. Pretty good bun bo hue. Comes with tendon beef flank and forgot the last meat lol. Our server was nice and staff was friendly. Really clean inside too definitely check it out if you don't want to go south sf! read more

See all

I've been waiting for this for over a year I think. I live nearby and when I saw the permit application go up I was stoked. The wait was worth it. The place was packed, busiest spot I've ever seen on a Tuesday afternoon in the area. I've eaten at the other Ben Tre locations but this place is a few notches up. A full bar is a great touch too. I ordered the BBQ combo with an imperial roll, showed up fast and was delicious as is expected. I will be back for Pho when its a little colder out read more

See all

I was so excited to hear that they were opening a Ben Tre on Ocean ave. I use to go to their South San Francisco location a few times a week for years since their BBH and Bun rieu is one of my favorites near SF. The first week of opening it was quite packed and my fanily and I waited about 20 minutes for a table, but we came back recently and there was no wait. Bun Bo Hue (1/5) when I eat noodle soup, I expect my soup to be piping hot, but the few times I've been to this location, the soup has always been close to room temperature. The meat is decent here but the broth lacks flavor compared to their other locations. Really disappointing. Bun Rieu (2/5) Again, soup was not hot enough and their Bun rieu here is sweeter than the other locations. Pork chop rice plate (5/5) The only thing I truly like from here. The pork chop is fatty and tender. The meatloaf is flavorful. Only thing I will ever come back here for. This location has a lot of potential and hopefully their noodle soups can step it up. read more

Ben Tre is a neighborhood gem -- so glad it's close to home! I've loved eating at Ben Tre for years, and this new location is gorgeous. Easy street parking in the residential area, which is a huge plus in SF. We grabbed seats at the bar to escape the dinner rush. My go-to beef ball pho was perfect as always -- rich broth, tender meat, comforting. Service at the bar was exceptional. The bartender was knowledgeable, attentive, and really personable. Gave great drink recommendations and made the whole experience feel welcoming. read more

Ben Tre - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Came this past Sunday around 2:30pm, right before closing and it was super quiet. It was pretty nice inside, a very open concept and we were able to pick our table. We ordered a bbq plate with garlic noodles and a bun bo hue w only tai. It took them probably 5 minutes to bring the bun bo hue out, but they took it back. The waitress and waiter went back and forth a few times, but finally got it right. The bun bo hue was delicious, but I feel like the quality of the tai was inconsistent.. some tender some completely chewy. I would say it's definitely more pricey for pho, but I will be back. read more

Ben Tre - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

I couldn't wait to bring my parents to Ben Tre for traditional Vietnamese cuisine. This newly opened spot on Ocean Avenue, right by the Ingleside Terrace neighborhood in San Francisco where they live, felt like it was destined to be our place. Yes, the soft-opening menu was limited and that tempered the excitement a bit. But what wasn't limited? The customer service. The hospitality was next-level -- you could feel how badly they wanted every guest to leave happy. That kind of heart is rare, and it's the foundation legends are built on. The pho didn't land for me. The beef broth lacked the deep, soul-warming richness I was chasing, and the BBQ pork came out dry and salty instead of that caramelized, tender bite we know and love. My dad, though? Total win! He lit up when he saw Ben Tre had his favorite hot peppers. Sometimes that's all it takes. At this new location, Ben Tre hasn't yet matched the powerhouse quality we've come to expect from Ben Tre in South San Francisco or GAO in San Francisco and San Mateo. Those spots set the bar sky-high. I believe in this team. The hospitality is already five-star. If the kitchen can level up the flavors to match that service, this Ocean Avenue Ben Tre could become another win. We're rooting for them -- and we'll be back to support our beloved local Vietnamese restaurant as soon as the food quality rises to meet the promise. read more

See all

As a long time Ben Tre/Gao fan, I've been waiting for this place to open. The food exceeded our expectations. We ordered Imperial Rolls, Combo Pho, Combo Vermicelli, and Pork rice - everything was excellent. The imperial rolls were extremely crispy. The entrees were flavorful and very very good. Service was generally good but did not tell us about kids pho. We ordered an adult entree and would have gotten a kids if we knew. Price wise, it's noticeably higher than places like Kevin's or Perilla. Roughly $25 per entree plus additional for appetizers and drinks. Overall we had a great time and will be back read more

Im glad they have their combination appetizer. Service just keeps getting better. The place is packed with lunch goers. The place is lovely and clean read more

See all

date & time: thursday march 26, 2026 @ 1pm vibe: besties, couples & friend groups in lacy white tops, denim cut-offs & coach bags music: viet edm decor: bay window, bank vault & aesthetic interior service: nice & welcoming devour: papaya salad, pho, spice chicken w/ garlic noodles & che total: $86.88 read more

See all

Hidden gem for Vietnamese food in the area. The restaurant has a modern, clean vibe while still keeping that authentic feel. The flavors are on point -- everything tastes fresh, well-balanced, and not overly heavy. You can tell they use quality ingredients and take pride in how the dishes are prepared. The space is comfortable and nicely designed, making it a great spot whether you're grabbing a quick meal or hanging out with friends. Service was friendly and attentive, and overall the experience felt smooth from start to finish. Definitely a place I'd come back to again -- highly recommend if you're looking for solid Vietnamese food. read more

Very tasty, extremely fast, plenty of tables, nice staff, open late, nice vibes (hard to think if used to be a bank). Seems that pho costs more than it used to, but what doesn't? Thrilled to have them in the neighborhood. read more

Ben Tre's third location has opened up on Ocean Avenue. If you love their south city location, you can now have their family's pho at their new elevated restaurant. They have a full bar, two tvs, and the food is amazing! My favorite was the goi coun and beef pho. I'm excited for the bar as not many Vietnamese restaurants serve alcohol. read more

Ben Tre - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Was excited to see this spot open up in the neighborhood we've definitely been needing a pho place nearby! That said, the pricing feels a bit tough to justify right now. Bowls are around $22.95, but the portions are on the smaller side not quite what you'd expect for that price, especially if you're used to those big, hearty pho servings. We tried the pho dac biet, pho tai, bun rieu (very good) and bun bo hue. The pho Flavors were good and alittle greasy. This is still their soft opening, so there may be some kinks to work out. Just hoping to see portions (or pricing) adjust a bit to match expectations, because it would be great to have a good neighborhood spot do well here! read more

See all

I love this restaurant. The servers were all really friendly and fun. The bartenders were personal and sweet and very well trained.. but the food and the drinks speak for themselves. I will come here anytime I am in the neighborhood. read more

See all

To start off, parking is plentiful. The road adjacent has plenty of 1 hour street parking. I came on a Thursday night, it was busy and we had to wait a few minutes for a table as the restaurant was packed. The restaurant itself has a very interesting layout in my opinion, the tables are extremely close to one another and it doesn't feel like an intimate dining experience. When we were seated, we were not asked if we wanted anything to drink, but only if we needed help with the menu. Long story short, our waiter disappeared, I had to order with a different waiter and ask for water again only for it to be forgotten, then I had to raise my hand again and a different waiter helped me again also. To the food, the nem nuong cuon/ grilled pork spring rolls were alright. Traditionally they come with a sauce known as tương nem nướng but it didn't, it was peanut sauce. I'm not sure who this restaurant is for, but peanut sauce does not go well with it at all. The rice paper was not soaked in water long enough making the roll way too chewy. I'm not sure what the carrot is for either as it adds no value to the dish. The next dishes were the pho and catfish clay pot. I will definitely say the pho broth was very flavorful and I really appreciated the great noodle to meat ratio. The broth had lots of depth and I can tell it was cooked to perfection. The catfish in clay pot was also flavored well. Unfortunately there were bones, it would be great to let each party know there are bones in the dish because personally bones in my fish while eating out is not something I enjoy doing, nor many of our friends who joined us. Overall the dining experience was mediocre, considering it was such a small space, I basically had to shout across the table in order for anyone to hear me. The service was very slow too, nobody came by to ask how the food was, ask to refill our water, we had to raise our hand every time. Overall, I would not come back here again unless my friends want to come back. If anything my rating should be 2 stars +1 for pho and +1 for the catfish. read more

See all

This place was packed at 6pm even it is on a weeknight. We had a party of 10, so it was good that we had reservations. We requested to sit near the bar area where it would be quieter when we made the reservations. Unfortunately, due to the lack of communication between the staff, we were placed at the back corner where all the noise would be bouncing off. The waiter apologized and offered to reduce the cork fee to $10 (regularly $25). it was hard for us to have conversations because the place was quite noisy. The food was tasty with adequate portions. There weren't much services after the food was delivered. read more

They served good portions and the drinks were delicious. Service was a bit slow and inattentive. read more

See all

Parking right next to Ben Tre is usually full. You can usually find parking up the block. I've been to all the other Ben Tre's and expected exactly the same thing. How is it possible that I find this better? It has a nice char and it's such a great added flavor. I got the bbq beef and pork, mom got the pork chops and chicken. We shared our meats and all 4 were delicious. I never minded driving to their other locations but now I have one much closer to home. The other locations are family run and you can see mama working st the South San Francisco location, they're always busy so they're constantly in motion, always doing something. This one is busy and the people are friendly. This location also seems bigger. read more

See all

Wth! This place is so freakin' good. I grew up in San Jose and have pretty high standards for viet food and have been looking for good viet food in SF (also non existent). I never like the other Ben Tre locations, but gave this location a try since we live on Ocean. We've now been there twice and all the dishes we've gotten have been stellar. - Ben Tre Spring Roll - Combo Pho - Combo Vermicelli Bowl - Bun Bo Hue - Bun Rieu - Mama's Famous Che Needless to say, we will be back and SOOOO happy to have this witin walking distance of our place. read more

Great vibes and good service. Price is a bit pricey compared to other pho place, but it is acceptable in SF area. Pho- soup based is rich and less salty. It's great location for family and big group of people to find parking in busy sf area. read more

I stopped by Ben Tre Restaurant on Ocean Ave after a business appointment in the area, and it was a fantastic find. The space is newly opened and has a great energy, making it a perfect spot for a satisfying meal. We started with the Ben Tre Appetizer Plate, which was a highlights reel of textures, from the fresh shrimp spring rolls to the perfectly crispy egg rolls and savory skewers. For the main, the 5 Spice Chicken with Rice was excellent; the chicken was incredibly flavorful and tender with a perfectly browned skin, served alongside a fresh salad that cut through the richness beautifully. We also couldn't resist a bowl of their beef pho, which featured a deeply aromatic broth and high-quality cuts of meat. Between the friendly service and the authentic flavors, this has easily become a new favorite in San Francisco. read more

See all

Good pho however for the price point and serving size, I would say it's over priced. Knowing that it's near sf state, Lowell and other schools... it may be more convenient however it's not really serving the community due to that price point. For a bowl a pho to come out to $28/30 it's really money grabbing. I get it, everything is high right now but really not friendly to school students. read more

Came by for lunch. They just opened 2 weeks earlier. Been waiting for a long time since I love the food at their two other locations. Still with soft opening menu with new items added daily. Plenty of street paid parking and a paid parking lot across the street. Space feels airy and bright. I know this place is going to be packed. Food is great authentic Vietnamese food portions are large. Service is friendly and attentive. Mr Gao working hard in the kitchen. read more

See all

Very busy but once seated, great Pho, papaya salad and great service! Great addition to Lakeshore neighborhood eateries.

Delicious food and a lovely atmosphere! My date and really enjoyed having a nice place to talk. You know it's loud in the mall, but this was perfect. We devoured the Fresh Spring Roll and the Pho Risotto, yum! They eve put the chilies on the side for. Scrumptious food and great service, definitely a good place to try. read more

Between just ok and good. I had the combo beef pho. The soup was flavorful and the beef was good but just ordinary, nothing special. The noodles themselves were the standard dried ones. I really prefer the fresh noodles and maybe spoiled now. I try to only go to fresh noodle pho places. For some reason, it just wasn't as satisfying as pho should be. In comparison to Gao Viet (on Irving) and Pho Huong Viet (on Geary), this place is just ok. My wife had the five spice chicken and pho. The chicken looked really good, hot, crispy, juicy. Decent but not special. read more

Five stars, great everything, get this, get it often! Very nice, new, and comfortable inside! Watch how they make the Pho broth in the Pho Vault observation window. read more

Ben Tre - The Pho Vault Observation window - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Insane- I ordered two Vietnamese coffees each about $7 (then added a tip). I asked for no ice on one of the drinks. For the one that I asked for no ice on they filled it only 65%. !Like this is supposed to be a nice restaurant why are you penny pinching? It's insane to pay for a $7 coffee and they fill it only right above half way. I've included a picture below. Guess the economy is really that bad .... Disappointing read more

Ben Tre - Vietnamese Coffee - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

We went to try this new location and i am impressed: Food, since they have limited menu, (it was their 2nd day of operation), comparing to the Millbrae or SSF locations, the food we had is comparable or better. Our fav.. always have been the Pho and the soup was just right, not salty but just the way we liked it. Fried chicken was good, but there's no sauce that came with it.. which, is fine. It was good, and the presentation was great. Service: Waitress was great, she came twice to ask how are we doing, and if we need anything. Very courteous and professional. Ambiance: Since it was lunch time and there's quite a bit of people, (i think it was full), we have to wait for 5 minutes to sit us down. They have a waiting seat inside the restaurant, which helps with the elements if you are outside waiting. Chair was soft and comfortable, and really we love it. read more

Ben Tre - Chicken wings - Vietnamese Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all