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    Bistro SouthEast

    4.5 (283 reviews)
    Open • 11:00 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    BISTRO SOUTHEAST ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Bistro SouthEast

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    Lemongrass Beef Skewers
    sunny L.

    I stumbled upon this restaurant when I was looking for soft shell crab dishes. I walked in with a friend and we ordered soft shell buns, crab fried rice with soft shell crab, summer rolls, Asian slaw, and lemongrass beef skewers. The restaurant is small and you order at the counter but the staff are friendly and the service is quick. The restaurant didn't have AC or fans but other than that everything was great, and I would come back to try other items on the menu.

    Crab Fried Rice
    Julian L.

    A south street gem love the food n the people who make very nice family . Food is always consistent . I've had the whole menu never disappointed

    Spencer W.

    Friendly local spot that is good to-go. Cheap versions of Vietnamese food with some Americanized spins. Tried a good number of the items but have yet to had the soup

    Christina V.

    Needed a quick lunch in front of good Shepard rehab. This was quick, easy and delish! I didn't get to try their famous crab fried rice / only me eating but their banh mi was solid. I believe less than $10 and delish! Looks like a small mom and pop place. Definitely recommend trying if in area.

    Crab Fried Rice
    Jaz K.

    Some of the best Crab Fried Rice I've had in a very long time. I ordered it to go and it was still piping hot. The service is always amazing when I order. Definitely a favorite. Overall 8.7/10

    4 Spring Rolls
    Royce D.

    Excellent Vietnamese place that is worth the hype! Philly definitely has plenty of great Vietnamese options, but this one stands out in terms of taste and price. The curry tofu banh mi has an insanely flavorful aïoli with crispy and juicy tofu. The spring rolls and chicken rice plate were also very tasty. Indoor is clean and has a few tables for seating, and the service can be a bit slow if they are busy, but they are always extremely friendly.

    2 Summer Rolls
    Leena S.

    We had a hankering for Vietnamese, specifically for some Banh Mi's. I remembered I had bookmarked Bistro Southeast sometime ago, so we popped right in to place a take out order. The service and efficiency of our order was great. Note: They are not currently allowing indoor dining, I ordered the Curry Tofu Banh Mi and my husband got the Vietnamese BBQ Pork Banh Mi. The bread was basic and the pickled carrots could certainly use more pickling but overall I really enjoyed my Tofu Banh Mi. I also got an order of Summer Rolls. These were great with a generous portion of fillings rolled up within the thin rice paper. The accompanying dipping sauces of honey cilantro vinaigrette and house made hoisin sauce were tasty and flavorful.

    Crab fried rice topped with a soft shell crab (plated at home)
    Michelle T.

    I had a hankering for some seafood fried rice and therefore decided to order takeout for #YelpsBigNightOut. Super glad that I did! I ordered the Crab Fried Rice and some curry wings for delivery. My order arrived neatly packed. The whole fried soft shell crab was still crispy and the rice was quite warm, signaling that it was freshly made to order. The wings were also nice and crispy. I took one bite of my rice and instantly knew that I had made the right choice. Bold flavors, lumps of crab, crunchy texture. Overall, super happy that I ordered from Bistro Southeast My only downside (and the reason for the missing star) was that they did not clean the mustard goop out of the crab . I took one bite and . I grew up eating blue crabs and knew exactly what I had bitten into. Maybe some people like it but I never have. After scraping all of that out, I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of my meal.

    Bistro Southeast Salad With Shrimp
    Kyle C.

    If I had to eat at one restaurant for the rest of my life it would be here at Bistro South East. Okay maybe not eat inside the actual restaurant but I'd order takeout from here everyday for the rest of my life if I had a sugar-mama to bankroll me. The inside of the restaurant is on the small side and the interior is not super warm or welcoming. But I didn't come here to enjoy the ambiance. I came to eat delicious Asian food and crush vast amounts of seafood. My favorite item on the menu is the Bistro Southeast Salad with shrimp. Generally salads are something I force down because my doctor told me to do so. Here it is a menu item I truly enjoy. The salad has lots of random things like carrots and cucumbers that are dressed in some sort of Asian vinegar dressing that makes me feel healthy as a dew drop. I love the crab fried rice. They don't skimp on the crab, they even top it off with a soft shelled crab. Not too greasy. Not too salty. Perfectly peppered with seasoning. I got the seafood boil the first time I came here. I know it is a "seafood" boil but I could not get enough of the sausages! Next time i go for a seafood boil I'll probably order ten extra sausages. Generally I stick to the less messy menu offerings. Especially when ordering takeout. The food here is hands down the best food in grad hospital. But I will keep trying other restaurants in hopes of finding a new champion in the neighborhood.

    Lemongrass Pork Belly Banh Mi

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    2 months ago

    Great food, great service. Definitely going back here for my Asian food. It's a cozy place with a good ambiance.

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    2 years ago

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    7 months ago

    One of my go-to spots for takeout. Always fresh, flavorful, fast, and great value overall.

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    4 months ago

    Good service, yummy food all the time. We've been so many times over the years and the quality has not waned at all.

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    1 year ago

    Pork Banh mi chefs kiss delicious! Women in the kitchen as badass and always friendly. Highly recommend their services and food!

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The crab fried rice is AMAZING!! Must have! The Thai sweet chili wings were definitely good too!

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Bistro SouthEast

    Is it byob?

    Yes

    How was the pho?

    Never had their pho but, I highly reccomend going to pho 20 for pho. It's literally the bomb!

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    Sampan - Hamachi Ceviche

    Sampan

    4.1(2.5k reviews)
    0.7 mi•Avenue of the Arts South
    •$$$

    Sampan is probably my favorite spot in Philly for happy hour. The restaurant itself has such a cool…read moreatmosphere, with dimly lit seating, two bars inside, and a back graffiti bar that has a completely different vibe with a more open and lively feel. I come here for happy hour every now and then because the prices are really great, and both the food and drinks are delicious. We started with the specialty cocktail and the Thai Punch, and both were really good. They had fruity undertones, and the alcohol wasn't overpowering at all -- I could easily have a few of these. For food, we got a few orders of the kung pao chicken wings. They were perfectly crispy with a really flavorful glaze. The portion size was also very generous, especially for the happy hour price. These are a great example of Asian-style fried chicken wings done right. I definitely want to come back and try their full dinner menu since I've only been here for happy hour so far. Luckily, it's not too far from where I live in the city, so I'll definitely be back!

    TLDR: mediocre food and dessert. You will be rushed out and treated like a nuisance. Go if you…read moredeliberately want a short basic, salty meal and don't mind feeling rushed. The details: This place is WAY overrated online. It's amazing what a little publicity can do for a place... Honestly, I wish I had something good to say about it, but all I can say is that a couple of the dishes (mushroom shumai and salmon skewers) were just "okay". The fried items (spicy chicken bao, cauliflower) were greasy and tasted half burnt; they were clearly fried in old grease, which leaves burnt crumbs on the batter and also doesn't drain from the food as well. The short rib dumplings were salty and the meat was overcooked and mushy. Besides the poor quality food, I strongly disliked that (at a regular table with a dinner reservation) they asked for a card up front to "open a tab". Really?? That seems so weird and tacky. Very few people "dine and dash", so what would be the reason behind this? It felt especially "interesting" given the diversity of the patrons, if you get my drift. I've never been to a restaurant that does that, unless you're at the bar. Speaking of the bar...FYI They only honor the happy hour menu at the bar. The last thing I'll say is this isn't a place where you can eat comfortably and relax socially. They are literally at your table every 5-10 mins trying to get you out. It's sort of "tapas" style but they don't allow you to finish a bite before they bring the next item. We felt like we had to rush to taste everything before it got cold. To top it off, we ordered the $56pp meal thing and the dessert was 4 tiny, tiny finger-sized ice cream cones. They brought them out without warning, so they were melting right away...again, forcing us to eat or lose out. And of course the waitress brought the check out shortly thereafter. When I made it clear that we wouldn't be rushed out, she kindly gave us more water. I questioned her about rushing us, and she said they "run a high volume model". Lol doesn't every restaurant want high volume (I.e., more money)? But at the expense of service? I guess they found the sweet spot of mediocrity and profit that keeps the doors open. Maybe 10 mins later, the manager came over and picked up drink glasses and asked us how things went (another "hurry up") signal. It was truly bizarre. Unfortunately, I didn't get to finish telling him how terrible the food was because he had a nose bleed and had to run off, and didn't return right away. We just left because it was no longer worth staying around somewhere that made it uncomfortable for us to have a leisurely dinner. I definitely would never go again. I didn't take any food pics because none of it was appealing enough to make me take my camera out, and again, we had to eat fast.

    Photos
    Sampan - Kitchen/bar table

    Kitchen/bar table

    Sampan - Kobe Beef

    Kobe Beef

    Sampan - The perfect way to start your meal: crisp, flavorful spring rolls and a bright lime sauce that brings the whole thing to life! ⁠

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    The perfect way to start your meal: crisp, flavorful spring rolls and a bright lime sauce that brings the whole thing to life! ⁠

    Double Knot - Scallop

    Double Knot

    4.3(1.6k reviews)
    0.7 mi•Avenue of the Arts South
    •$$

    Amazing food. Must try the edamame dumplings trust me. Everything was amazing. Shiatsu peppers were…read morevery tasty but wish it came with more of the spicy mayo. Cheesesteak bao was a bit out of place, but it is philly so gotta have it. wagyu soup dumplings were phenomenal. cod fried rice was great and their house made soy sauce was so gentle and tasty. Lovely service. Our waitress explained everything clearly and helped us pick when we couldn't decide. We sat downstairs and it was a tad bit TOO dark. I was nervous walking down there because I could not see and worried of missing a step. Other tables were using flashlights to read the menu which was valid. It was a comfy and sexy ambiance but the lighting could've been brighter and kept the same atmosphere. But I would definitely still choose to sit down there rather than any other seating options.

    Double Knot is a vibe! I've visited twice and both times were great experiences. Located in the…read moreheart of Philly, on a strip with other restaurants, Double Knot is one of the "go-to" spots. It's two levels, with the lower level being more intimate. I dined on the bottom level both times. First, if you're dining on the lower level, take out your glasses. It's dimly lit...but dimly like on overdose. I had to turn on my flashlight to properly read the menu! I've tried several items -- gyoza, sushi, sashimi, oysters, and sea bass fried rice. I can't say any item was subpar. Service, on both occasions, was excellent. Overall, a really good time! Definitely try for yourself. Cheers!

    Photos
    Double Knot - Inside bar area

    Inside bar area

    Double Knot - Robatayaki Skewers

    Robatayaki Skewers

    Double Knot - Inside

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    Inside

    Southgate

    Southgate

    4.2(415 reviews)
    0.1 mi•Rittenhouse Square
    •$$

    Went for the Sunday happy hour which starts at 2pm. It wasn't crowded at all. Their happy hour…read moremenus were extensive. Lots of great options. The Korean fried chicken was so good!!

    My girlfriend and I came to SouthGate to watch the World Cup Final while enjoying their happy hour…read morefood and drinks. The restaurant has a great atmosphere and is set up nicely, making it a fun place to catch a game. Overall, we had a great experience, with the service being the standout. Overall Ratings Atmosphere - 5/5 Service - 5/5 Food - 4/5 Parking - Street Parking Atmosphere - The restaurant has a modern and inviting atmosphere with plenty of seating. It's a great spot to watch sporting events, and the energy during the World Cup Final made the experience even more enjoyable. Service - Our two servers were absolutely amazing. They were personable, friendly, attentive, and genuinely made us feel welcome. They checked on us regularly without being overbearing and were happy to answer our questions. Their excellent service really elevated the entire experience. What We Ordered - -SouthGate Citywide - Good. A refreshing drink that paired well with the food. -$1 Wings - Excellent value. The wings were crispy, cooked consistently, and had great flavor. We tried both the soy and spicy sauces, and both were delicious. -Sotteok-Sotteok - Unfortunately, this was the only disappointing item. The rice cakes were noticeably undercooked, and the Japanese sausages tasted like standard store bought varieties. Considering the wait time and the price, this dish didn't live up to expectations. Final Thoughts - While one of the food items missed the mark, everything else about the experience was excellent. The atmosphere was fun, the wings were a great value, and the service was outstanding. Honestly, just the interactions we had with our servers alone would be enough reason for me to come back. I'd happily return for the drinks, the wings, and to try more of the menu.

    Photos
    Southgate - Bar

    Bar

    Southgate
    Southgate - Dining room

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    Dining room

    Bistro SouthEast - asianfusion - Updated October 2026

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