Everything we tried was really good! Blue Monkey Cafe & Restaurant has a fun, casual atmosphere and…read morea nice variety of food. One of the coolest touches is the big blue monkey hanging from the ceiling, which definitely makes the place memorable and gives it some personality. Good food, fun decor, and a unique vibe. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area!

I think the meal I had here would have to be considered ~lifechanging~. This is one of my favorite…read morespots in San Jose and a place I love to take people from out of town. It's always a good sign of authentic Vietnamese food when I don't quite understand the full menu. I always get the A2 Bun Cha Ha Noi (small), which includes grilled pork, pork patties, some egg rolls, vermicelli, and lots of leafy greens. The small is more than enough for 2 people. It also comes with the whole rice paper wrap setup, where you can grab rice paper and efficiently dip it in water to soften it up. I love that the dipping sauce is in a giant bowl, composed of the classic fish sauce concoction with sugar and some garlic and optional chili. I could honestly drink the bowl of fish sauce if I'm being honest but I'm fortunately more civilized than that. Service is very quick. The food comes out fast and it's pretty efficient. At the end of the meal you go up to the counter to pay, and there's a small discount if you pay in cash.

banh cuon is one of my favorite Vietnamese dishes, and I've had a fair share in my lifetime, and…read morethis place has literally the BEST banh cuon I've ever had! Banh cuon Dac biet 1000/10 - it's freshly made you can just tell. It comes with the meat filled one and the shrimp one, and let me tell you, the rice flour roll itself is so flavorful, soft and silky. I've truly never had anything like it. They put a generous amount of meat inside this banh cuon and it complements so well with the fried shallots. Bun rieu 9/10 - the soup was so umami and flavorful, they included a big crab ball inside with tons of tofu and noodles, portions in this dish are generous as well. I think the main star dish here is the banh cuon though It only took me so long to try because every time I come, there's always a super long line but luckily today there was no wait! This place has been on my radar for 4 years! They also cater so if I ever just want to eat banh cuon in the comfort of my home I might just order a big platter to eat and share with my friends!

Came back after several years and unfortunately this didn't hit the same as I remembered…read more Since my original review, I've gone back to Vietnam and apparently made bánh cuốn my unofficial research project. Between Saigon and Hanoi, I went on a full-blown bánh cuốn quest, trying different spots almost daily. Street stalls, little hole-in-the-wall shops, famous spots--you name it. At some point I stopped being a tourist and became a rice-roll inspector. So yeah... my standards are unfortunately very high now. The best bánh cuốn I had in Vietnam was paper thin and almost translucent, with this delicate chew that somehow breaks apart and melts in your mouth. That's the texture I'm chasing. Coming back here, the rice sheets were noticeably thicker and didn't have that same delicate texture. They also weren't as fresh and warm as I remembered, which makes a huge difference with bánh cuốn. This is one of those dishes that's at its best when the sheets are freshly steamed and hit your table warm. The meat filling was also underwhelming and not nearly as flavorful or savory as another bánh cuốn spot I've had in San Jose. With a dish this simple, there's nowhere to hide--the rice sheet, filling, freshness and nước mám chấm (fish sauce) all have to work together. It's certainly not bad, and I can understand why people enjoy it. But after eating my way through Saigon and Hanoi in pursuit of the perfect bánh cuốn, this one is kinda meh for me now. My old review gave this place 4 stars. Vietnam ruined me.

This Vietnamese restaurant has been around for decades and has been a family staple for us for…read moreyears. We've probably eaten here 50+ times with family and friends, and one thing I can say is that they are 100% consistent. We've never had a bad meal here. There's a great variety of Vietnamese dishes, so everyone can usually find something they like. The chả cá (fish) is one of their popular dishes and a favorite. They also have good chicken phở, broken rice, vermicelli noodles, spring rolls, roll-your-own options, and plenty of soups beyond phở. You can order individual dishes or share family-style, which makes it especially easy when coming with a group. It's very casual, family-friendly, quick, and straightforward--nothing fancy and probably not where I'd choose for a date night. But for a dependable meal with family or friends, it's a great spot. Kids like it, parents like it, and my mom likes it--which says a lot coming from an older Vietnamese person who knows her Vietnamese food! The staff is always efficient and nice, and after all these years, the food remains consistently good. The biggest downside is parking. The entire shopping center has become so busy with restaurants that finding a spot can be overwhelming, especially during peak hours. Also, keep in mind they do not take credit cards. Bring cash, or you can pay electronically through options such as Zelle/Venmo. Overall, this is one of those longtime neighborhood restaurants we keep coming back to because we know exactly what we're going to get: good Vietnamese food, plenty of choices, friendly service, and consistency.

We tried this local viet place on Sunday and to our surprise it was amazing food with a quick…read moreservice! Only thing to note - it's cash only!! In $64, we got: - fish entree serves 2 - 5/5 - it comes with thin vermicelli noodles, healthy herb leaves and lettuce and fish sauce base. It was so so good :) If u like rice paper with it, its $3 extra - shrimp roll appetizer - 5/5 - tender, perfectly crispy and freshly deep fried. Paired well with the hot sauce and sriracha - viet iced coffee with condensed milk - 3/5 - it was strong and less condensed milk than i liked. I will try avocado smoothie next time - strawberry smoothie without boba - 3-5 - too sweet and huge portion Loved the hot sauce/ spice rack they had on each table as it had so many options to enhance the flavor. Definitely coming back to try their pho and loved the fish entree. The fish entree is $10 cheaper on Wednesdays as advertised outside on the door.

Haven't been here in years and decided to check it out again. Everything was delicious!…read more Wait was ~30 minutes with 13 parties ahead of us. Not too bad. The waitresses are very efficient here. Very no frills service Appetizers: Both the banh beo and banh it ram were so good. The fish sauce given was relatively light and swet. The pork skin on the banh beo was chef's kiss. So crunchy and paired well with the rice cakes. The banh it ram was amazing. I love the shrimp filling and the contrast with the crunchy rice dumpling under. Main: The bun bo hue was FLAVORFUL. It genuinely did not need additional sauce. My only critique was I wish it was hotter because all the vegetables cooled down my broth a bit. The meat and noodles were generous. I could barely finish this without help. Overall, hits the spot.

My go-to spot for all the central Vietnamese foods…read more 1. I love the appetizer selection at Hue, especially the banh beo, banh bot loc, and the banh ram it. These my are go to each visit. They come out almost immediately after ordering and are the perfect items to whet your appetite. 2. I appreciate that the banh bot loc comes unwrapped and with some fried pork skins. The banh ram it is always crispy and chewy. You get a lot of fish sauce with the appetizers as well. Hue's version is on the sweeter side and is very drinkable. 3. The bun bo hue is very standard and comes with a lot of toppings. Next time I want to try the mi quang and banh xeo!

No place has seen me more hungover than Bun Bo Hue An Nam. After a night out, or whenever I'm…read morecraving something comforting, this is always my go-to spot. I usually order their Bun Bo Hue in a large size so I can enjoy some at the restaurant and still have leftovers to take home later. Service is always quick--you get seated right away, and someone usually takes your order within a minute or two. The food comes out fast, hot, and fresh every time. No matter what time of day I visit, there are always people eating here, which speaks for itself. The broth is incredibly flavorful while still being light and aromatic. Combined with the variety of toppings and fresh vegetables, it's hard not to dig in the moment it hits the table (as you can probably tell from the photo, lol). The restaurant has plenty of seating, making it a great place to bring family and friends. When you're finished eating, you simply walk up to the counter, tell them your table number, and pay. Just keep in mind that they only accept cash or debit cards. If you're looking for a comforting bowl of Bun Bo Hue, especially on a rough morning after a night out, this is definitely the place to go. I will always come back here.

Bun Bo Hue An Nam seemed to be a popular spot for bún bò Huế in San Jose, so I was excited to try…read moreit. Unfortunately, the service was not very welcoming--the staff came across as blunt, impatient, and at times rude--but I could have overlooked that if the food had fully lived up to the hype. The broth made a good first impression and clearly included many of the right spices, although it was also quite salty. As I got further into the bowl, however, the flavor started to feel flat and lacked the rich, slow-simmered depth I expect from a restaurant that specializes in this dish. It tasted more heavily seasoned than deeply developed, so experienced bún bò Huế fans may find it underwhelming. The meat was also not as tender as I would have liked, and the congealed blood--usually my favorite part--was overcooked and dry rather than smooth and tender. The visible holes suggested it may have been cooked too quickly at too high a temperature. Overall, the meal was decent and had some good flavors, but the broth, meat, and service did not meet my expectations. I can understand why it is popular, but I would probably try another bún bò Huế spot next time.

Our sever, Any, was very attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. We will be back…read more Thank you!

Amy is one of the best waitress. She recommend good food to the customers …read more I had Phở and my son had Cơm bò lúc lắc and they both delicous. I need more lemon, jalapanor, hoisin souce... And Amy was going back to serve us with a speed of light and a smile on her face. I would like to rate food @ Phở Hà Nội 5 stars and Amy 10 plus for her services.

I have to come back here another time! I'm told that this restaurant used to be smaller and that…read morethey've expanded. The bahn cuon here is really good -- the rice noodle is so fresh and soft and chewy. This was my favorite and the variety was so appreciated as well! It's also surprisingly filling and I would definitely get this next time I'm here. The fish sauce was also delicious as well. (this is in reference to the dish Banh Cuon Tay Ho Dac Biet) Bahn Beo were good sizes and nicely steamed. I wish there was a bit more sauce because I was running out at the end. Toppings are appropriately sized as well Personal take, I didn't really enjoy the fried pork rind topping as much and would have liked more shrimp, but once again, personal preference. I didn't quite enjoy the Hu Tieu, but my friend liked the soup! It's a little too plain for me. I do love the feeling and texture of eating thick, round rice noodles. The banh xeo that came on the side was hard to crunch through, I felt like it was probably sitting on the side for a while. Vibes were nice -- there's a call button to ask for service. Menu has a lot of items as well (e.g. pho, rice plates, etc), so there's something for everyone if you come with a big group! Our server was also really attentive and sweet -- he came by and asked if we wanted additional dishes/bowls since we were sharing food!

Love Tay Ho and this location! I ordered a catering order over the phone with their location a week…read moreor so in advance, and they were easily able to take my order and it was fresh/ready the day of pick-up. I ordered their egg rolls and banh beo for catering which came with lots of fresh herbs/lettuce, fish sauce, and other toppings. Pricing was very affordable as well for the quality. I have also frequently gone into their store to enjoy a nice plate of com tam or bun thit nuong which has always been great. They provide their nuoc mam/fish sauce on the table and always are attentive. Restaurant is large and can accommodate a bunch of tables. Parking is also on a big plaza so didn't have trouble parking.

Great food and service! Best pad Thai in the area for a pho place! Would definitely come back.read more

Crispy Chow Fun was amazing! Service was quick. The staff is nice. Love the ambiance. The crowd was…read morelight. Their green Thai iced tea was pretty good.