Vietnamese food has always been my go-to when I'm feeling health-conscious and need something that won't make me question my life choices. And unlike most "healthy" food that tastes like cardboard and regret, the flavor here is actually the icing on the cake -- or in this case, the dipping sauce on the rice roll. This gem of a place specializes in Vietnamese cuisine, with their specialty being bánh cuốn -- delicate rice rolls stuffed with wood ear mushrooms and seasoned ground pork. As if that wasn't already enough to win you over, it comes loaded with bean sprouts, fresh veggies, shrimp fritters, and ham, creating a flavor profile so complex it makes you feel cultured just for eating it. I always go straight for the #1 Special and -- because I clearly have no self-restraint -- ask for extra rice sheets. Will it fill me up? Absolutely not. Will I leave deeply satisfied anyway? Every single time. It's the culinary equivalent of a great conversation: you don't know exactly what happened, but you feel better for having experienced it. The fact that this establishment is still standing after all these years is honestly a gift to humanity, and if you haven't been yet, that's a personal failing you should correct immediately. read more

CASH ONLY. This has been here for decades but never tried until today. Located in a grocery store plaza tucked away in a corner, truly a mom and pop shop. Walking in transport you the 90s, they're so good that they don't need don't need to renovate interior. They still have the mirrored wall with pink old school tables and chairs. Love that each table has a large pitcher of nuoc cham (fish sauce) if you dine in. 6. Banh Uot Tom Chay (Flour Sheet Roll w/ Ground Shrimp)- banh cuon was so silky and bouncy. Shrimp Tempura Sweet Potato is cripsy on the outside and soft and fluffy inside. Everything was soo good! 7. Banh Coun Nham Thit (Flour Sheet Roll w/ Ground Pork &Mushroom)- similar as #6 but with an extra oomph, ground pork was seasoned well and not dry at all. 1. Banh Coun Dac Biet Hai Nam (Combination Flour Sheet)- can't choose between #6 or #7, order this one instead. It's combination of both the ground shrimp banh cuon and the ground pork. Also loved this dish comes with both Shrimp Tempura w/ Green Bean and Shrimp Tempura Sweet Potato. Best of all worlds! 11. Banh Xeo -extremely crispy but not hard, surprisingly not greasy. Stuffed with well seasoned pork belly which was pretty tender. Shell of banh xeo had shrimp scattered throughout. read more

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This place has been around forever, just like its neighbor Dong Nguyen. I've been wanting to come here for a while and finally decided to after seeing Kristie Hang post about it. Ordered the mushroom and ground pork banh cuon and BBQ pork banh cuon. The mushroom and pork one was so nostalgic! They give you a literal pitcher of nuoc mam so you can drench it to your liking. I poured some on top of the banh cuon and it was oh so delicious! The bbq pork one looked like soondae wrapped with rice noodle and was a little firmer. Not bad but would prob choose their other options next time. Service was friendly and decor looked like it hasn't been updated since they've opened so you definitely go for the food and not the vibes. I would 100% go back for the mushroom and pork banh cuon and maybe even try their BBH or bun rieu! read more

Hai Nam Saigon - Vietnamese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Hai Nam Saigon is a true mom and pop, family owned gem. It's small and simple, nothing fancy or modern, but we're always able to get a table or only have a short wait. My parents have been coming here for over 15 years, and the food has stayed consistently great. The banh cuon and banh uot are some of the best around. The rice sheets are soft, thin, and delicate, the shrimp tempura has just the right amount of crisp, and the nuoc cham (fish dipping sauce) is perfectly balanced with the right saltiness. Prices are very reasonable compared to other places that charge more for presentation. What really sets this place apart is the heart. I love supporting family businesses, and it makes me so happy to see them still in business, especially during these hard times. The service is always kind and genuine. When they speak Vietnamese and call me "con," it truly feels like being treated like family. It's such a small thing, but it means a lot and feels very different from the usual transactional service elsewhere. There are many banh uot spots in the SGV, but this is the only place my mom & I will come to. PS, They don't list it on the menu, but I've ordered catering from here before and it was also great. Call and ask for the son. He's very helpful and happy to answer any questions. read more

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Been going here for 20 years plus, good comfort food. Thin banh cuon filled with meat and woodear mushroom, I get the combo and it comes the fried mung bean and a few pieces of shrimp fried with taro I think. Comes with cooked bean sprout and it's so good and comforting. Clean food, the fish sauce is good and not too garlicky. Support your small business! Located in the corner in the plaza where the 168 market and CVS is located. Good service and friendly. read more

You know how nowadays we're all influenced by Instagram on where to eat? Hai Nam Saigon is definitely one of those IG-famous spots, so we were curious and decided to try it out. We ordered the bánh cuốn and bánh xèo, two Vietnamese classics. The bánh xèo was actually pretty good: nice crispy skin and a generous portion. But the bánh cuốn didn't live up to the Instagram hype at all. The skin was thick, not the delicate silky kind you expect, and the filling (for both dishes) was mostly veggies. The environment also wasn't the best for enjoying a meal. Overall, not really impressed and we won't be returning. read more

Hai Nam Saigon - Banh cuon - Vietnamese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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Delicious banh cuon that my family has enjoyed for decades! I grew up eating here so it's very nostalgic whenever I get to come here. The banh cuon itself has a bouncy texture. The fried mung bean is crunchy on the outside and beans in the middle which soak up the fish sauce perfectly. The fried yams have a super crispy shrimp on top. Ample parking, service is very fast. And ambiance is casual. read more

Very small hole in the wall place. Very few tables for seating as well. I would either order the number 5 or number 6 depending how I feel. I will always ask for extra cucumbers and cha lua, that's just me tho. Very simple meal and tastes clean. Big portions btw. If you want simple eating but very comfortable and easy. This the place :) read more

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Food taste wonderful! I love the Banh Xeo and highly recommend it if you want authentic Vietnamese food!

The banh cuon with the shrimp cracker cake is so delicious. You get a lot of food for a single order for to-go. Everything tastes delicious. The shrimp is crispy but full of flavor. The banh cuon had a lot of flavor and it's not sticky. It's possibly one of the better places I've had so far. They give you enough fish sauce. Honestly, you could probably order one and share between two people. For to-go orders, feel free to call ahead of time to order so you can just pick it up. It's ready pretty quick. read more

Hai Nam Saigon - Vietnamese Near Me - Alhambra, California

The food was delicious--everything was incredibly fresh. I look forward to returning again when I have the chance.

I was at the nearby CVS and needed to kill 30 minutes for my prescription to be ready so I stopped by this restaurant to eat lunch. I was greeted immediately by a staff and got seated right away. I looked at the menu and ordered the #14 dry noodles. The noodles here were really flavorful and the food came out pretty fast too. This is a true hole in the wall for authentic Vietnamese food and I believe it's family owned so I recommend trying this place out. Note: it's CASH ONLY Parking: plenty of plaza parking read more

Hai Nam Saigon - #14 - Vietnamese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Tons of free parking in plaza. Located tucked away in the back, next to 168 market. Used to come here as a child when it was a different restaurant and played on the coin operated rides right outside, so it brings back memories to visit this site. Cash only!!! I don't usually carry cash with me so not very convenient. But because of this, their prices are still reasonable and not ridiculously high due to inflation. Food is pretty decent. They specialize in banh uot, banh cuon, banh canh, bun and hu tieu. I like banh cuon nhan thit and bun rieu. The bun Bo hue is ok only. read more

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The place is a great spot for banh cuon, though the portion sizes are small. It's a good idea to order an appetizer or side dish. They only accept cash and are located right next to 168 Market, with ample parking available. The workers are sweet and friendly. Would def come back! read more

Hai Nam Saigon - 7. Banh cuon - Vietnamese Near Me - Alhambra, California

The 5 stars is based entirely on this place being my childhood go-to restaurant. I only ever get the Banh Cuon Thit Nuong and, to me, it is phenomenal. I've been coming to this restaurant since I was 6 yrs old and this restaurant hasn't changed at all. I think they've only changed their chairs once in the last 27 years I've been coming here. I remember their rice flour recipe having changed once as well. But everything else seems to be the same - I'm talking about the tiny TV atop the fridge that belts out Vietnamese tunes, the sticky pink-ish tables, down to the glass jars full of fish sauce. Literally, a time capsule of a restaurant. I'm not going to lie, if I came in here as a first time customer, I'd give this restaurant a 2-star review because it's not exactly the most appealing or comfortable place to be. During the summer, they rarely turn on the AC...as a matter of fact, when I was a kid, I don't even think they had an AC unit! And, their hours have been drastically altered, which started maybe 10 years ago? Their hours just kept decreasing and decreasing and made even less due to the pandemic. With all that said, I still love this place and hope it continues to be that hole-in-the-wall mom-n-pop shop that I love. When I stop by, I always get 2 orders of Banh Cuon Thit Nuong and keep it all to myself! It's delicious and offers the right texture. They've also got their sauce down to a science! Just unchanged and untouched. read more

Hai Nam Saigon - Banh cuon thit nuong - Vietnamese Near Me - Alhambra, California

I have recently been craving banh cuon and stumbled across this mom and pop shop. We went with the #2 and #7, which were both exceptionally tasty and generous portion of. The #9 is super delicious and comes with greens (lettuce, mints) to make a wrap. Highly recommend and will definitely be back! read more

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I was craving bahn cuon while in the SGV and this place was recommended to me by a friend. I really miss Bahn Cuon Tay Ho that was on Valley, but it closed years ago. The food and presentation was just so nice and plentiful when it came to the fillings in the noodle wrap. Also their soups were so fresh. Hai Nam hit the spot but I just wished there was more... more filling, more to it. I might be back, when the craving hits again. (feel free to forward me recommendations) read more

Hai Nam Saigon - Craving it today. Banh Cuon. - Vietnamese Near Me - Alhambra, California

*** NOTE *** No dine-in as of yet (5/7/21). You can either order in person or phone in order for pickup. They are closed on Thursday. I have always ordered the special because that's my favorite. Lots of flavors and fills me up and not too heavy on the greasy side. It's like having a big snack...hahaha read more

Hai Nam Saigon - Vietnamese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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Yelp says the business is open until 6:30 on Sunday. We drove all the way here and they were closed at 5. Horrible

Very delicious meals . I love them , will come back again . Curry gravy is nice too , steamed chicken got salad n dressing n with different kinds of sauces . Spring roll is also nice , I didn't take pic of it . The service is good too. Got heater outside sitting so not that cold for me . read more

Hai Nam Saigon - Chicken curry - Vietnamese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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We were trying to grab a quick lunch at Dong Nguyen before taking Miss A over to a friend's house, but didn't realize it's takeout only so we came here to Hai Nam Saigon instead. The name is kind of funny because I normally get hai nan chicken next door? Anyhow I ended up getting bun rieu, tasty and light broth. Friendly and quick service. But CASH ONLY eek Egg rolls were really good so I might go back. read more

Overall - 4 starts. Good food, generous portions, friendly staff, hole in the wall. *cash only Ordering - called in our take out order and arrived rather quickly so had to wait 5ish minutes. Service - 4 stars - no issues here. Guy who took our order was friendly. Covid precautions were taken. Food - 3.5 stars #1 - rice noodle with a bunch of fried stuff - solid 3.5 stars. All the fried toppers were bomb but the rice noodle itself was thicker than I would have liked. I prefer the rice noodle that's super thin and soft. Vietnamese Crepe - 4 stars. This was still SUPER crispy when I got home so bonus points. You get 2 medium size crepes plus a bunch of vegetables with each order. The crepe was super crispy and the filling was perfectly tender. Amazing! read more

Hai Nam Saigon - Vietnamese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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You want authentic banh cuon? This is the spot! Satisfied every time I get cravings for banh cuon. Their fish sauce is amazing when you add some chili paste and pour it all over the banh cuon + bean sprouts/ cucumbers. The rice noodle is stuffed w/ a good amount of meat which is perfect. Customer service is great here, owners are super friendly. It is a cash only spot so bring cash & the price is cheaper than Tay Ho and tastes way better. Def recommend this spot. read more

I first tried this place thanks to a friend whose roommate is Vietnamese and ordered for us over the phone. I'm not exactly sure what he ordered but my guess is the banh cuon flour sheet roll #1? I love that it features a variety of items, flavors and textures. There's the rice flour sheet roll, shrimp tempura, sliced pork loaf, fried bean cake, veggies (sprouts and cucumbers), and nuoc cham sauce to dip or pour over everything. It's the perfect meal on a plate (or in our case, takeout box)! Just wish it was closer! read more

Hai Nam Saigon - Vietnamese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Found in the very corner of the plaza, it's a tiny restaurant where if you want to go to the bathroom, you have to walk through the kitchen. If you're looking for a spot clean restaurant with a modern outlook, this....probably isn't what you're looking for. In terms of food, the quality and the taste of the dish was good. I ordered #36 which was BBQ pork, shredded pork, and meatloaf on rice. The BBQ pork meat was tender and savory, and the shredded pork complemented it with its texture and flavors. The dish was $8.95 which isnt too bad for the portion size they give you! Overall, it was pretty good! read more

Hai Nam Saigon - BBQ Pork, Shredded Pork, Meatloaf - Vietnamese Near Me - Alhambra, California

They are known for their banh cuon and banh uot here. Out of all places this is still hands down the best. I always get #7 since I like the meat and mushrooms inside the rice roll. And their fried shrimp cake thing is soooo good. read more

Been coming here since I was a kid. Love this place. I always get the #2 and then order whatever other dish I'm in the mood for. All staff members are wearing masks while handling food and cooking. read more

Hai Nam Saigon - Vietnamese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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It was easy to order over the phone. I told the staff my ETA and they had it ready by the time I came to pick up. They're cash only, so I had to go to the ATM from the CVS place next door but that was fine (I should know since I'm Asian)! I got 2 orders of "banh ut dac biet" which is a traditional Vietnamese dish that is steamed and rolled crepe topped with herbs, fried shallots, and steamed pork slices. It comes with a fish sauce that ties it all together, and reminds me of childhood because this is what my mom used to often make in the mornings for me. My only complaint is that I wished the portions were bigger as I was expecting more since the word "dac biet" means special. Maybe I'm just greedy lol! read more

Very hard to find Banh Cuon anywhere but SGV and Westminster. I drove here from Northridge. This place was awesome. They finally allow inside dining. The nuoc mam was very good. It didn't taste fishy. There's a citrus element in the ingredients that makes it sweet and savory. The portion was large so I barely finished it. read more

Don't know why the low reviews, everything is good here, friendly service, highly recommend, the food is great.

Super secret hidden gem. Great vietnamese noodle spot. Items not on your average pho menu. Great value for the quality and super fast preparation. Cash only. read more

Stumbled across this hole-in-the-wall upon realizing there was no dine-in at Dong Nguyen next door. Had never been to DN either but was more familiar with what to expect. This place has an abbreviated menu due to the pandemic (i.e., no pho) but it was a warm day out so the bun, which is almost like a "bowl" at Chipotle, seemed to call to me. The bun came with vegetables on the bottom, some rice noodles and grilled shrimp and pork. Dress it up with the sauce they generously leave on the table and it made for a terrific lunch. We also had the house specialty--the flour sheet. Frankly, it seemed a lot like the Chinese 豬腸粉， which is basically rice noodles rolled and filled with meats such as pork, beef and shrimp. (Its unsavory nickname is "pig intestine rolls" because of its pliability and appearance.) So the Vietnamese flour sheets here are similar, except they were filled with mushroom and, again with that yellowish, sweetish sauce, made for a nice snack (or meal). It's topped with Nam Hai's version of shrimp tempura, which isn't exactly fluffy tempura batter but it was still nice. This place only accepts cash and, yes, the staff seemed to mostly speak Vietnamese (an exception being one young man who was a greeter). That being said, there are photos outside and you can point to them and use as reference. There may even be a more user-friendly menu with pics as well. I was curious as to whether they make their own flour sheets in the back but couldn't ask anyone. My suspicion is yes as it's all very fresh. It was a nice little discovery for us and might come back when or if the craving for flour sheets strikes. read more

Hai Nam Saigon - Flour sheet #1 with patè, shrimp tempura and a garnish of vegetables and herbs (bean sprouts and mint) - Vietnamese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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Came here because my usually restaurant next door was closed. Dong Nguyen family restaurant. I ordered the snail bun rieu, it was delicious. Surprised they offer snails to make my soup more of a fishy smell . 10$ . Soup base was more of a salty taste If you like it. Came with some lettuce and bean sprouts. Reason why I minus 2 stars . I was dinning alone and without asking me , they had another single person dinning sit in my same table. It was awkward at first, sitting next to someone you don't know and very close eating face to face . They didn't even bother to clean up her portion , Till I left. Looking at someone leftover while you are eating is disturbing. Food is great but dont expect any good customer service . Be prepare for any awkward unexpected moments since it's an Asian place. read more

My ABSOLUTE favorite place for banh cuon! Their banh cuon Hai Nam is soooo good. They gave plain or with neat inside and cones with fried tempura like shrimp, bean cake and vegetables. I go almost every other week. The restaurant itself is very small and casual with less than 10 tables. This seems to be a family business so they are pretty easy going and service is pretty quick. . I usually order Togo and I get my food within 10 mins of ordering. I would hate for them to go away so definitely encourage more people to try them out! read more

Hands down best Bunh Cuon in SGV. I love #7 because it comes with mushroom and pork rolls and one shrimp tempura! $12 with tax (cash only). Almost like a fast food joint that you can sit down at! $1 for ice tea read more

The banh uot dac biet was a small portion...the banh uot was all rolled into one huge roll and then cut into pieces. I've never had it served like this before. The fried sweet potato and the other green/mung bean thing (sorry, idk the name of it!) on top was NOT fresh at all. It tasted like it was reheated. The whole plate tasted like that actually. Sad! However, the banh xeo was freshly made and crispy on the outside. There was plenty of bean sprout, pork, shrimp, and green bean filling. Well, it was mostly bean sprouts but that's the norm. They didn't provide a lot of lettuce, so use wisely. This place is located in the same plaza as 168 market and CVS. It's in the corner next to the T-Mobile store. My mom and I came here because our favorite banh uot restaurant (Tay Ho in SG) closed down :( read more

Hai Nam Saigon - Banh xeo - Vietnamese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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This is the only place in LA/SGV that has banh cuon!!! NOOOO...what happen to banh cuon tay ho?! too bad they closed down.. anyways this can still hit the spot of craving when you want some banh cuon. it's a small hole in the wall authentic vietnamese restaurant that is located in the 168 supermarket and CVS. I didn't have a menu with me and thank goodness there's photos on yelp to help me choose! I ordered the #7 to go. Banh cuon with the fried sweet potato fries and slices of the vietnamese pork meat. When I brought it back to work, I opened the box thinking its going to be a decent portion and It ws only half the box!!! Only 2 rolls of banh cuon and the other half is the bean sprouts and veggies bag with the fish sauce. It was topped with about 4 slices of the fried sweet potato shrimp fries. Pretty disappointed in the portion of this place. But it was cheaper about $5 something mayne even 6 but the other banh cuon place top this so much more! The banh cuon was so thin, the meat was so little. I don't know if I will come back to this place...maybe if I really really want some banh cuon bad i will have to, But i will have to travel to OC to get it...Its so far though.. read more

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I'm so glad I found this place. It's a hole in the wall/ mom and pop place that serves simple but good food. No fanfare, just authentic banh cuon/banh uot. We got #1, 1a and 7. They were all delicious. Banh canh soup was clear and has this good but simple flavor instead of overwhelming or plain. Definitely recommended this place. read more

Hai Nam Saigon - Banh uot, banh cuon (3 different dishes with different stuffings) - Vietnamese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Good banh cuon and banh xeo. The rice noodles don't fall apart and hold the filling very well. Each order comes with the crispy shrimp and potato cakes as well as slices of cha. #7 is the way to go. Another person got #1 but felt there was way too much rice noodle in comparison to the shrimp filling. The banh xeo is crispy on the outside and filled with bean sprouts and small pieces of pork and shrimp. Definitely on the lighter side in terms of how fried it is. Each order has 2 banh xeos and comes with enough lettuce (although the pieces could be bigger), pickled daikon and carrots, and a generous helping of fresh herbs. read more

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This place is in the very corner of the plaza, kind of hidden, but it's right next to the 168 Market. I've been here a few times before, but a long time ago. But nothing inside has changed really. The menus are kind of hard to interpret if you aren't familiar with the food-- especially with the banh cuon because even I wasn't sure exactly what the difference was between numbers like 1/1a, etc. The food is decent. I ordered 1a and realized it is the one with plain rice flour rolls. It's not the one that has the meat/shredded dried shrimp in it, if you know what I mean. I should've taken a picture of Number 1 to compare. The food was decent. Other than the fact that I realized the one I wanted was not the one I ordered, it was just a minor difference. My order came with all the toppings it was suppose to come with. I wished they put more veggies on the plate. The fish sauce could've been better. It was somewhat bland for my taste. This is probably the closest banh cuon place in the 626 area because one closed down in recent years. I think it did the job though! read more

Hai Nam Saigon - Item 1A on their menu! - Vietnamese Near Me - Alhambra, California