I heard that there's a debate in philly over who makes the best hun bo hue - cafe nhan or cafe diem. So I had to try this tiny mom-and-son spot in south philly, and ordered their $19 bun bo hue. The broth had a serious spicy kick with strong lemongrass and shrimp paste flavors -- it was funky and savory in the best way. If you're not a spice person, fair warning, it holds quiteee a punch. The meat portions were also generous -- beef brisket, pig's feet, and pig's blood cubes all included. The pig's feet especially stood out, and reminded me of my mom's cooking. I'm not a huge fan of pigs blood myself, so I can't speak on that. The restaurant itself is small and no-frills -- total hole-in-the-wall vibes, as you can tell from the menu. Service was friendly and food came out fast. Exactly what you want from a spot like this. Would come back to try other things on the menu. I believe they do close at 7pm, so come early to grab a seat! read more

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I have yet to eat any GOOD Vietnamese, or Asian food, for that matter in Philly. Cafe Nhan gives me some hope. I ordered their Bun Bo Hue, the spicy beef noodle soup. It contained the majority of the toppings (tender beef, pork blood, sliced beef, pork roll and pig feet. Broth needed more depth and spice and the key herbs like banana blossom, shredded cabbage and mints were notably absent. The shaken beef was decent. Portions were a bit small and could have benefited from a bit more veggies like sliced tomatoes. Flavorwise the meat had good marinade and could use garlic and more onions. Though not perfect, I dis have a sense of stomach satisfaction conpared to the couple of places I ate earlier in Chinatown. Prob the better Viet I have had in town in a while. read more

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Trời ơi, nóng quá! Of all the places where I've tried Bun Bo Hue (BBH), Cafe Nhan is my favorite by a wide margin. Both their đặc biệt and standard versions are better than any other bowl of BBH I've ever tried. This includes many of the top reviewed spots in San Jose, Orange County, Houston, Chicago, and Philadelphia (including that other really good spot on Washington ave). Service: Friendly and fast Ambiance: Compact but comfortable A top 3 Philly restaurant as far as I'm concerned. read more

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It was a rainy cold gray day in March. Pho sounded like just a thing to beat the weather. So the three of us all went for Pho at café nhan. I had the beef, and my two companions both picked the beef short ribs. The bowls were just massive. This is probably the biggest bowl of Pho I have ever ordered. There was a very reasonable amount of meat and vegetables. The amount of noodles was way more than generous. We agreed the broth was flavorful and possibly the best part of the pho. I was the only one who managed to come close to finishing my bowl. My companions boxed their leftovers and left happy and full with enough leftovers for a substantial dinner. We showed up at about 1 PM on a weekday. The tables were less than full. Although the server requested that we be seated at a table for four and leave the table for six for other potential customers. We all thought that was probably just wishful thinking given the time and the weather. Service was attentive and quick. At this time of day, the cafe was quiet. The prices were very reasonable, given the large and generous portions. read more

Cafe Nhan - Front desk. - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Food is excellent. Not many places served good bun bo hue. So, it is nice to have restaurant that offer other than the traditional pho. I also enjoyed the bun rieu, especially the crab meatball. The pho dat biet, I ordered it for my daughters. It is the traditional pho. It is nothing special. I probably prefer this from other pho places since it is pricier here. Fried wonton and summer rolls are ok. I didnt have any, my daughters finished them all. We also ordered Vietnamese coffee, excellent, and the yogurt drink (okay). Conclusion: will be back for the bun ho hue and bun rieu read more

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The people was kind but the food was not good or cheap The food was very expensive for it being something i would not buy anymore it was horrible food read more

We trekked all the way out there from the heart of city center in philly. The restaurant is small, maybe 8 tables or so? Depending on how many parties are there. We put in the orders for pho and they came out pretty quickly. I got the pho dac biet (basically pho with everything in it, brisket , meatballs, tripe, etc). The broth was delicious, clear and clean. There was no residue and was amazing. The meats inside were great. The noodles were a little bit more chewy than I am used to, but still tasted great. My hubby got the bun bo hue, which is supposed to be a specialty. He loved it. I was not too much a fan because it is spicy and because they use white round noodles instead of the traditional pho noodles. read more

Cafe Nhan - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Came here for the wings and they did not disappoint. Nicely battered We got the bbq spare ribs and it was more charred and dry, but still flavorful. It could use more sauce. read more

Cafe Nhan - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Restaurant was busy as always but we were still seated quickly. Place gives a very cozy vibe. Great place to hang with friends and or family. My usual go to is Bun Ca Riga (chicken curry) but was feeling adventurous so I ordered Hu Tieu / Mi Bo Hue. The meal mixed with the house special chili sauce was fantastic. The broth was very savory and refreshing. The brisket melted in my mouth. Loved every bite! read more

Cafe Nhan - Ban mi ca ri ga - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Wow!! This spot was delicious, provided great portion sizes, and was fast! The restaurant is quaint and fits a handful of tables, but it has a homey feel. The pho I got was very good! I wouldn't say it is my favorite pho spot ever (which is actually out in the suburbs) but it is my favorite of the three places I've tried in the city. read more

Cafe Nhan - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Rainy day calls for noodle soups, though we would have eaten here either way! We came under the recommendation of a friend, who is our resident pho expert. We found parking a couple blocks away. They were already busy at 10:30AM (they open at 10AM!), and they were packed when we left. They have about 10 small tables. The service is very friendly and quick. I thought we ordered the Goi Cuon Nem Nuong (Fermented Pork Summer Roll), but it looks like we got the Goi Cuon Thit Nuong (Marinated Pork Summer Roll), as it had fish sauce instead of the peanut sauce (did not notice it at the time). Either way, it held together well. There is a good balance of the ingredients, and the fish sauce amped up the flavor. Bun Bo Hue Dac Biet had such good flavor. It had the right amount of spice and lemongrass flavor. I love the clear bowls. The blood cubes were the perfect texture. The assortment of meats were well cooked and generously portioned. The noodles were very filling! We got an order of the Bun Bo Hue to go, and it was packaged well (cardboard on the bottom to help balance the containers. The soup was in a separate container from the noodles & toppings). It survived the long journey home and heated up well. I will definitely be back if I'm in the area! read more

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This spot was recommended to me by a server in a high-end restaurant. The place is small, maybe 6 to 10 tables and the service was fast. I came here for lunch on a Monday afternoon and got the bun bo hue. It was spicy, well seasoned, and the meats were excellent. The broth was sooo good! The sliced pork roll was seasoned perfectly and the pig's feet if you like that kind of thing was very very tender. The spice level in the soup was just right and it comes with the side of sprouts, basil leaves, and lime like you see with pho. I certainly want to come back and maybe I will try their pho or bahn mi sandwich. Looking forward to it. read more

Friendly service. Quiet and relaxing atmosphere. Wishing the hours would extend to 8 pm instead of 7 pm closing time. Food is good and great spot in South Philly. read more

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Cafe Nhan is a small, cozy restaurant best known for its Bun Bo Hue and pho. I found it to be noodle-forward and of large portions. --- I dined at Cafe Nhan on a weekday for dinner as a small party of two. We were seated immediately. As individuals with allergies, we had a good laugh when we saw the windows wide open on the cool, breezy day. Note should be taken if you also have allergies that all the windows may be open to enjoy a nice day. As we made the trek for their oxtail pho listed on their website, it was a bit of a letdown when we were informed upon seating that the website was very old and had not been updated in years (since they lost access). So, I'd rely on other reviews for their most up-to-date menu and pricing. Instead, we ordered the Nhan's Wings, Com Thit Nuong (marinated grilled pork over rice), and Pho Dac Biet. We found everything was definitely made fresh, and everything came out PIPING hot. The wings had good texture and weren't too dry, but we wished there was more seasoning. We added eggs on top of the marinated grilled pork pieces over rice. This dish was pretty good (if not too sweet), but the eggs were well-done and not runny at all. The pho had very few pieces of meat (only 1-2 pieces of each different type of meat) but there was a ginormous portion of noodles. It is definitely a good pick for anyone craving a very noodle-forward dish, and the broth was very beefy. Overall, all portion sizes were rather large and we finished our entrees but had to take our wings home, so one entree per person seems to be the right size. Our service was very quick and fast, and they checked up on us often. They try their best to accommodate any food allergies. They also take credit card, but cash is preferred. We enjoyed our meal at Cafe Nhan and only learned later they are known for their Bun Hue. We would definitely go back to try it. read more

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Cafe Nhan is an instant favorite!!! The Bún riêu was flavorful with good crab meatballs and fresh vermicelli noodles. Overall it met and exceeded Thuy's standard. "It's always difficult to find a good bowl of Bún riêu."... mission accomplished. The Bún bò Huế was simply the main attraction that will keep me driving back to South Philly for years to come. The savory broth was a great mixture of spicy and a hint of sweet from the lemongrass. The beef was both moist and tender throughout every bite. The noodles tasted freshly made and a good mixture of meat to noodle ratio. Hands down Top 3 Bún bò Huế I've every tasted, including my mother-in-laws The atmosphere is small and quaint. Great for a small gathering with friends/family. South Philly parking is always scarce but in the middle of the day there were several spots. After work hours, it may be challenging to find a good parking spot. This is more reason to stop by during lunch or the weekend. read more

This small South Philly spot has become my new favorite for comfort Vietnamese food! I visited an hour before closing on a weekday as a party of two, and it was still fully packed with other hungry, yet satisfied tables. We sampled different items from the menu, all of which were very affordable. The Dac Biet bahn mi was a big hit, with its fatty pork and delicious pickled veggies on the traditional baguette roll. We also ordered a chicken one to go that was good, but the pork reigns supreme. The pho was also very filling, and came in a large broth well worth its serving size. What pleasantly surprised me most, however, were the chicken wings that were incredibly flavorful, fried to a great crisp, and its crunch being a wonderful complement as we finished the soup. Service was also excellent, and it was clear that regular visitors were treated like family in the small, but mighty restaurant. We received our food quickly, and were frequently checked in on during the meal. A definite visit for fans of Vietnamese cuisine, and I will certainly be back to keep trying more. read more

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My experience with Vietnamese food has primarily been with pho and Bahn mi, but this spot changed that for me. I saw bun rieu on the menu and was so intrigued by the description I had to try and I'm so happy I did. The soup was super hearty and packed with flavor. I loved the crab meatballs as well. Will definitely be on the lookout for this in the future. Service was fast and super friendly. The spots pretty small, so not much seating. read more

Cafe Nhan - Bun Rieu - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Really good place for bun Bo hue! The broth is really an explosion of flavor with the spice! The portion is quite big with lots of meat. I just wish the noodles were less stiff, and the onions sliced thinner. The service is very fast and the staff are very pleasant. Parking is a little difficult and the space is a bit small but the wait is not long. Would definitely come back for their bun Bo! read more

Cafe Nhan - Bun Bo Hue - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Small but mighty! This place has DELICIOUS food that definitely hits the spot if you are craving Vietnamese food. All dishes came out quickly and were freshly made. For sure this place is worth a return trip! read more

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Cafe Nhạn is a simple restaurant for comfort Vietnamese meals. While the space is rather small inside, the servers are very friendly and the service is quick. The food is all made hot and fresh! I ordered their Bun Bo Hue and split the Nhạn's Wings. Their Bun Bo Hue is very hearty; they do not skimp on noodles and meat, unlike other Vietnamese restaurants I have been to. The soup was good, but it did not wow me (probably because I am used to the broth that my mother makes). This dish was spicier than other bun bo hues I have had, and I consider myself a person who has good spice tolerance. It was not extremely spicy, but for people with lower spice tolerances, just be wary. I split Nhạn's Wings with a friend and they were really yummy. There did not seem to be a special spice or seasoning on the wings, other than maybe some salt and pepper. However, the wings were very crispy and the meat was super juicy, so that was really good. Overall, Cafe Nhạn is a good spot to stop at in South Philly if you are looking for some good Vietnamese food. read more

Cafe Nhan - Nhạn's Wings - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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A very cute little place to eat. Space is small but clean. The chai tea tasted very good. Service was excellent. My son had soup and he enjoyed it very much. I had roasted pork , egg roll, veggies over noodles. Tasted excellent ! The frien chicken is to die for. I highly recommend the wings. Very tasty and crispy with so much flavors read more

Small shop and very friendly staff. It smells really good the moment you walk in. We ordered a Vietnamese iced coffee, summer rolls, beef pho, banh mi and a bun bo hue with as little spice as possible. We just can't handle spice like that which is very tragic. The iced coffee was so good and strong. My husband really enjoyed the banh mi and had to hold himself back from eating it all so that I could try it to. The bread was crispy and there was ample filling. The pho broth was nice and beefy and warming. It did feel fatty after drinking so much of it towards the end but that happens with beef broth. The bun bo hue was too spicy for me but still delicious! I really enjoyed the pork blood cubes and it's hard to find in a lot of restaurants so that made me really happy. Summer rolls were stuffed and very yummy. We ordered too much and had to take it to go. Overall highly recommend coming to Cafe Nhan and checking out their food! Super friendly staff and delicious food! read more

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I remembered this place used to have pretty good bún bò huế, but now I feel it's bit bland. The phở is good, however too much fat, from both the broth and the brisket. The grilled meat roll is good, but the peanut sauce (not pictured) is watered down a bit too much. I like the flan with the berries jam! Great service, food comes out very fast, and price is affordable read more

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Amazing food, very friendly service, closes at 7pm and last call for orders is 6:30pm read more

Cafe Nhan - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The bun bo hue here was awesome. Really deep flavor and noodles are bouncy. The pho broth is deep, didn't like the noodles. Bun bo hue is better. read more

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I came here for their bun bo hue and it was delicious! It's definitely on the spicy side, but the broth was flavorful and they pack the bowl with meat - a few pieces were a little tough but this was a great option for a cold winter day. Would definitely recommend! read more

Cafe Nhan - bun bo hue - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This place is casual but great. If I lived nearby I would probably come here very often, but it's a place that I would not make a drive just to get food here. Everything we ordered was tasty but the banh mi was a little bit dry overall. The highlight was the Bun Bo Hue - packed with flavor and so hearty on a cold winter day. They were very nice to also accommodate your spice levels for the soup if you can't do too spicy. read more

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So happy to have tried this place. Definitely a gem. Love the homey feel inside. The staff is very attentive and friendly. We came at a perfect time b/c it got packed and there was a wait about 10 minutes after we were seated. We started with the Goi Cuon and ordered the appetizer special. Some type of honey ribs. The roll was good but I didn't taste any pork in it. Our entrees came out next. I ordered the Pho Tom which was perfect. The shrimp weren't over cooked. The broth was lovely and light. The other entree was Pho Nam. A little more hearty and more flavorful than mine. It was delicious as well. The ribs came out last. They were okay. They could have used more flavor but happy to try them nonetheless. Can't wait to make another trip to this Pho gem. read more

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Came here from NYC with my husband for the bun rieu here and it's legit! The bun rieu was so amazing and really hit the spot. We ate at a bunch of viet restaurants in Philly on our trip here but this place was the best. Worth the trip even if the neighborhood is kinda ghetto. read more

Really awesome bun bo hue for Philly. It's super deep, and def better than the pho. Get the bun no hue read more

Cafe Nhan - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Good spicy pho, service was good, ambience wasn't the greatest but it's good enough for a comfort meal

Best pho and BBH in Philly. Nothing more needs to be said. Go here ASAP and you won't regret it. read more

Cafe Nhan - Pho Tai - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Absolutely great service and tasty food. The short rib was the most tender I have ever had. Been trying to make my short ribs this tender and still can't. Prices as of 5/26/25 are perfect. Menus attached. Did I mention the short rib pho?! Devine!!! read more

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I have been going to Cafe Nhan for years and have always enjoyed my meal here. There's only a few places in Philly that specialize in bún bò Huế and there are some things that make Cafe Nhan stand out. The đặc biệt option contains pork blood (a must) and they also have shrimp paste and chili sauce on the side if you want to add any. I love adding both as a salty and spicy girl, although the bbh is great as is. Service is good, although I find that appetizers usually come out after the main meal which doesn't bother me, but might bother someone else. Currently, this is my go-to bbh restaurant. This is a super casual restaurant with friendly staff. read more

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The best bun bo hue in philly!!! If you love spice and pho, but don't know what bun bo hue is, look it up! It's life changing. After discovering my new fav noodle soup, i've been on a mission to find the best in philly, and this place can't be beat. Their meat is so fresh and the broth makes your tastebuds do cartwheels. Even though the broth is great on its own, their chili oil takes it to another level. Their banh mi is also p darn good, and their lemon drink is super refreshing even in the winter. But forreal, you can't leave here without getting the bun bo hue. read more

Cafe Nhan serves the best Pho and Bun Bo Hue (bbh) in Philly. I usually come for the bbh and it never disappoint! The broth is rich and flavorful with a spicy (but not overly spicy) kick. If you've never had bbh, you're missing out. You definitely have to try it out if you like pho and spicy foods. Other recommendations are the Ca Ri Ga (chicken curry) and Com Ga Roti (roasted chicken and rice) are also incredibly tasty and gives me that comforting homemade feel. read more

My absolute go to in Philly for amazing bun bo hue. The flavor is perfection - I usually get it mild spicy because I'm pretty sure my mouth would be numb if I had it with no adjustments. Even with it being mild, I am suffering (though it is totally an active choice and worth it to eat that dish). I could usually use more napkins than they give you (again, because I am typically suffering from the spice), but the servers have always been super accommodating when I ask for more. All in all, definitely worth checking out - decent space, amazing food, friendly staff, and clean bathroom. read more

Cafe Nhan - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I've heard many recommendations about Cafe Nhan from friends. At first impression, the place is very clean and small seating around 10 parties. The server was very friendly and fast. Ordered two noodle dishes along with a summer roll and the total came out to be $40 excluding tax. The bun bo hue soup broth felt like it was missing something. For the other noodle dish, there were too many noodles that we didn't end up finishing it. Additionally, the summer roll was packed with noodles that it canceled out all the flavors of the herbs and meat filling. read more

Cafe Nhan - Bun Bo Hue - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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We were craving phở and wanted to mix it up (we, like most Philadelphians, have our favorite spots for Vietnamese noodle soups), so we finally took ourselves to West Passyunk Avenue to try Café Nhạn. Never mind its impeccable service (ready with menu guidance, as requested) and (relatively easy) street parking in the early evening on a Friday, we were impressed by the flavor packed into the Cha Gio (mixture of minced shrimp and pork rolled in spring roll paper and deep fried) and the variety of bánh mì, rice dishes, phở, and more on the menu. Both the Phở Dac Biet (beef based soup with sliced round-eye steak, beef brisket, beef meatballs, and tendon) and the Phở Dau Hu (tofu with phở broth) had great depth of flavor. When they learned we liked our food with some zing, we were given house-made hot pepper sauce, which really packed a punch! We noticed a few diners were greeted as regulars: like them, we intend to return! read more

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This place exceeded my expectations as I'm spoiled by amazing Vietnamese food in the Bay Area. BBH is my usual order at any Vietnamese restaurant because I like to see how it compares to one of my favorite spots. Surprisingly, this place is pretty high on the list for me and is even better than some back home. I ordered the BBH with pork blood and it was flavorful and had a kick to it! I find it rare now a days because most places don't spice theirs as much but this definitely has the spice. Meat was very tender and juicy. Wish they added more cha Lau ( Vietnamese sausage). My bowl did have quite a bit of just fatty pieces instead of meat, but overall no complaints as everything else was up to par. Service was quick and it's a nice cozy little restaurant. Will definitely be back when I'm in Philly again read more

Cafe Nhan - Bun Bo Hue Dac Biet - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania