Find me another spot willing to make their cha gio with rice paper. I can't think of a single one right now. Fried pork spring rolls are already a perfect food, and the traditional rice paper preparation - for that perfect 8-10 minutes when they come out piping hot before they become gummy - is more perfect than perfect. I'll be honest. I grew up going to the Lai family's rival restaurant, Vietnam Palace, right across the street from the OG Vietnam Restaurant. Apparently, it was even founded by a member of the Vietnam Restaurant kitchen who had a falling out with the Lai family. Vietnam Palace was my favorite restaurant for 20 years because of rice paper cha gio. And I've been mourning the lack of it in Philly for about as long. Here I am, a grown ass adult, having slept on a West Philly gem just because of old habits (I usually go to South Philly anymore for Viet), and my wife and I go in and order a spread. Nem nuong (grilled pork sausages), cha gio, and a shared bowl of pho bo kho (aromatic beef stew with rice noodles). The nem nuong is a generous portion and comes with rice papers, noodles, do chua (pickled carrot and daikon like in banh mi), mint, and hoisin peanut dipping sauce. You can make 5-6 grilled meatball summer rolls out of it. Or just 3 incredibly fat ones. The pho bo kho is a little more soupy than I like, but the flavor is spot on and the beef is melt in your mouth buttery, dripping with all the anise, achiote, lemongrass flavor as befits the stew. Oddly, no carrots in their preparation but whatever. It's great on a cold night. Finally, the cha gio is extra crispy, made of rice paper, and burn-your-mouth delicious, and come with a bunch of lettuce leaves, herbs, and pickles that seem to confuse anyone who isn't SE Asian and didn't know that you can lettuce wrap anything. This was an excellent three course meal for two that came out to about $50. So, beyond the impossibility of finding the rice paper cha gio, we now have prices that are stuck pre-pandemic. Nice. Trivia: Jeff Lurie's wife is part of the family that owns this place. I only mention it because GO BIRDS!!!!!!! read more

Got the house special vermicelli and papaya salad with beef jerky It came LOADED with meat. Theres a layer of meat, vermicelli, and some shredded cabbage & cucumber. The meat was mostly good. My favorite was the sausage. It was so flavorful and unique. The chicken was on the drier side and a little tough for me. I did get a rouge small bone in one of the pieces. The rest was also seasoned very well and had a touch of sweetness almost like a bulgogi, but more savory. The egg roll was also fried to perfection - crispy but not greasy. The papaya salad was good. I found nothing too special about it. The beef jerky was not dry or tough at all and I thought was the star of the salad Overall, I liked this place and would come back. The (red) meats definitely stand out and are stars here read more

Vietnam Café - House Special Vermicelli - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

At first glance, Vietnam Café appears to be vegan-friendly, with options like Crispy Veggie Spring Rolls and Tofu Vermicelli. However, closer questioning reveals an issue: their shared fryer. Because tofu and spring rolls are fried in the same oil as meat or seafood, cross-contamination is a major concern. The staff was incredibly patient in helping me look through the menu and identified two dishes they could safely veganize: the papaya salad and steamed bok choy. If you are comfortable with cross-contamination, there are more options available, but be sure to leave out the fish sauce. For what it's worth, Vietnam Café is widely regarded as one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in Philly, and the interior and ambiance certainly match its reputation. Just be prepared to be selective with your order. read more

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Good food here, fairly standard Vietnamese fare, but I believe pricier than I'm used to for this type of food. That said, the space is really nice, and service was on point. In fact, this might be the fanciest-looking Vietnamese restaurant I've seen - certainly the first one I recall ever seeing that has a bar! Went to lunch with a few friends here, and everything about the meal was good - server was attentive, food came out fairly quickly and was good quality. Admittedly, I can't recall much about what I got or specifics about the food, but overall good experience. read more

Very busy on a Wednesday night for dinner. Very nice interior and friendly staff. Was seated after a brief 5 minute wait. Food came out relatively quickly and was tasty. The whole menu was very overpriced though, relatively speaking for Philly. $20 for a com tam dish and $11 for cha gio is just robbery in this market. There are way too many other good Viet restaurants in Philly with fair pricing for me to come back here again. read more

Vietnam Café - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Food was delicious. It's a comforting Vietnamese spot with a modern twist. Not like the usual places like Chinatown or Washington Ave. Service was great and staff was very friendly. read more

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I wasn't expecting the place to be so open and airy when I walked in. It was beautiful and I knew right away that I was going to have a great experience. The staff was friendly. Service was amazing and the food was simply outstanding. I don't think I would change a thing. I'll be back. Oh, and did I mention that the price is fair. Right on point with quality. Perfect 10 read more

Vietnam Café - A classic, throwback Zombie. - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I love it here. This place is so clean, fresh, and everything is great; the food is delicious. The drinks are wonderful. The people are very nice, and the service is good. It's spacious, and the whole ambiance is really nice, elegant, and very welcoming. Everything is tasty and freshly made. 10000/10 its Me & my Daughter my favorite spot. read more

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Stopped by here as was intrigued by the exterior and Est 1984. The ambiance and service is wonderful and the food delicious. We got a small Bun Bo Hue, a sizzling beef and a the Vietnamese ravioli. Among these, the ravioli was my favorite but all three dishes were excellent. I loved the interior design, it has the charm and grandeur of the old school Asian American restaurants that you may find in Manhattan or Philadelphia. read more

Vietnam Café - Bun Bo Hue - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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It's a fine spot for takeout and hit the spot delivering exactly what we'd expect for takeout. The meatball rolls were actually pretty delightful and a nice deviation from our usual order of a spring roll. The pork vermicelli and ha noi fried rice were both fine. For what they were they were a bit on the expensive side but the portions are hefty which helps. read more

This West Philly restaurant was a go-to when I used to be around this area. The location has good service, and a low key nice decor inside. The service is pretty quick overall. My most distinct memories of this place are the revolutionary crispy spring rolls. I don't know if I'll ever have spring rolls as great anywhere else. They're large, crispy, flavorful, juicy, and just everything I ever wanted in a spring roll. Because of that, they are served not only as an appetizer, but you can enjoy them over some cold vermicelli noodles with a light sauce, a delightful meal. The tofu curry is also decent, though definitely on the milder side, and a bit more on the watery side. I am vegetarian, but I have also heard the pho here is good! read more

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The lot right next door was great for parking. All and all the food was great and would say the one fish curry stole the show. The tempora shrimp was good too! read more

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Decent food and friendly service in a nice, spacious restaurant setting. I honestly had higher hopes for the food (maybe too high), but maybe we ordered the wrong things? My stewed beef noodle soup was good but the noodles were slightly overcooked. I like that they had small and large size options for the noodle soups, and a small was plenty for me. The crispy vegetarian spring rolls were wonderfully crisp, but a tiny bit bland, except that the sauce they came with was super salty and not the flavor profile I expected (still decent, though, just had to dip carefully--maybe they have a different sauce for vegetarian vs not?). My husband's fried tofu vermicelli bowl was fine, kinda basic and a bit light on the veggies. I'd be happy to go back and try other things, but probably only if I'm in the area already. read more

Vietnam Café - Beef Stewed Beef Noodle Soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Love the decorations at the restaurant! A decent crowd on Friday night, it was about 15 mins wait for the table, but you can always grab a drink at the bar while you are waiting. Thy got a pretty big menu, I am sure you can always find something you like, the menu is also available online. Service was quick and friendly, it was a pretty satisfying portion for the food, the spring rolls were tasty and cut up in proper size. The broth of the noodles soup was flavorful. Also highly recommend their salt and pepper shrimp, simply delicious. read more

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Probably the best Vietnamese restaurant in Philly. Had the Bun Cha Ha Noi and it was of the same quality of those served in Little Saigon, CA. The price was more affordable compared to other Vietnamese restaurants, which is surprising given how exquisite the decor of the restaurant is. Also, there is a wider selection relative to other places. Service was excellent. All the servers were friendly and attentive to all our needs. Would recommend to anyone interested in trying Authentic Vietnamese cuisine. read more

Just wanted to update my previous 2020 review that said how much I love their chicken pho (pho ga) but it wasn't on their ToastTab or online menu. It is now! A bowl is $12.69 for take-out, and they package the soup separately from the noodles/basil/beansprouts. The order is always ready for me when I order for take-out, which I do regularly at least once every 2-4 weeks or so. The broth is good, and it certainly hits the spot when I don't want to travel to Washington Ave for pho. I also enjoy their tofu pho as well. Great local spot, always friendly service from their employees. I recommend this spot and have been going for over a decade at this point! read more

I've visited twice and will keep coming back. Everything I've tried has been delicious and seems made with TLC. I found plenty of free parking. Beautiful atmosphere. Friendly staff. Excellent variety on the food & drink menu. read more

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Best Vietnamese food I've ever had. I live an hour and a half away and make the drive here gladly. The place is nice inside, clean and the service is great too. Everything is good here, never had a bad meal. read more

Came back ten years later and sadly, it was not as good as I remembered but still decent! I wouldn't recommend the seafood noodle soup (the veggies/toppings were all previously frozen) but the beef pho and the fried pork spring rolls were good! read more

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Beef pho is consistently excellent and served quickly in giant and affordable portions. Photo speaks for itself. read more

Vietnam Café - Beef Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Flavor galore! After a few take out/ delivery orders of Vietnam cafe, I finally took the plunge and dined in for lunch. The ambiance is traditional with nice floor to ceiling windows and a view of the bamboo stalks they planted outside; very much of a vibe. The menu is plentiful and there are options for all sorts of food/dietary restrictions ( vegan/vegetarian/pescatarian). Between my table, we had a small wonton noodle soup, lemon grass pork chops and the crispy duck. My personal favorite was the pork chops, which were very reminiscent of short ribs. Also tasted the Vietnamese coffee but got the condensed milk on the side. Thick and sweet, yum yum! read more

Vietnam Café - Crispy Duck - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Its costly, but the food taste good, and is fresh. They should fill those to go containers more for the money.

Always delicious. Nice atmosphere. Friendly service. Large venue - usually don't need a reservation, but sometimes closed for holidays or other events. Prices good. Very large menu. I love the spring roll dishes, the curry chicken, soups. read more

This spot never disappoints! Sat and Pepper Squid - My favorite dish. I like the chewiness of the squid and the pepper seasoning as well as the crispy noodles on the bottom. Bo Bun Hue - Great broth and flavorful meat. Crispy Beef Rolls - Feel like you can never go wrong with these. They come pre-cut and I love them with the dipping sauce. Lemongrass Chicken - Chicken stir-fried with bell peppers and onions. This was enough for a 3 person lunch and we left feeling stuffed. This is my favorite spot for Vietnamese food in West Philly. read more

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My favorite for Vietnamese in West Philly! The food is so fresh and delicious with plentiful serving sizes for reasonable prices. Delivery is always super fast. I highly recommend the shrimp rolls along with the squid vermicelli. The soups are amazing and super cozy as well. read more

Vietnam Café - Shrimp Rolls (2) and Veigge Noodle Soup (Hu Tieu Cai Thap Cam) - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Delicious food and also way fast and attentive service! Some of my favorites on the menu are the spring rolls, chicken lemongrass soup, and pork broken rice. Yum! read more

Good food friendly staff. I'll definitely go there again. I had the shrimp fried rice and the crispy veggie egg rolls they were good good flavor read more

Wonderful, delicious pho and friendly service. I ordered the beef pho and it was delectible. My boyfriend got a curry dish here that I took some bites from and it was also very tasty. It's got a cozy, friendly ambiance with a lot of space. read more

Cool spot! Very nice owners it's family owned. Foods delicious as well! The decor and interior is very elegant. Definitely a spot to visit for quality Vietnamese cuisine! I ordered pho and shrimp basil and enjoyed it! read more

Vietnam Café - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

this place is great! SO looking forward to trying more things on the menu. Felt that it was expansive enough without being too overwhelming. The lemongrass chicken was sooo good and loved the flavors. The shrimp rolls were good, I wasnt blown away but I'm also not complaining! They were the standard traditional shrimp rolls. Papaya salad was also super light and refreshing. The place also has a full drinks menu that sounded amazing, will have to try next time. Definitely not a hole in the wall or super upscale- somewhere in the middle. there were families and people eating alone. Theres a place for everyone here. Super kind staff and great service. Wish it had more of a home/ family restaurant kind of feel but I guess that makes this place more versatile for different occasions read more

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An absolute fave for me. I've been here a total of 3 times now, and I have never been disappointed. The pho broth is very clean and warm! Their vermicelli noodles are delicious, and their meat is juicy and charred just right. I got their bbq platter and it was perfect portions to share amongst 4 people with two pho dishes and a vermicelli dish. Also, the store interior is beautiful with colorful lamps hung on the ceiling and beautiful decorations throughout the restaurant. The bathroom is also very clean. Also, there are free parking spaces available in their lot behind the store. All in all, I highly recommend Vietnam Cafe, and I will definitely be back. read more

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My friends raved about this place, but really it was just okay. I found the service very good, but I didn't like the way our food turned out. My Duck Noodle Soup had colossal pieces of duck bones in it and huge vegetable chunks making for an extremely awkward eating experience. Not a terrible place overall, but I won't be returning. read more

I come here often for the Pork/Shrimp Rolls (they don't call them summer rolls on the menu). One order is certainly enough for a quick lunch. Not a ton of Pho options but the options they do have are pretty tasty. Was surprised at the chicken papaya salad- there wasn't much to it. Food is prepared quickly, but I don't think I've ever been here and not had to get up and ask for the check. Not the biggest deal! Staff is friendly, and the vibes are warm & comfortable! read more

OMG I'm going back! Nestled away behind 47th & Baltimore Ave. is a Vietnamese restaurant that has great food. They are only open from 11:30 am - 8:00pm, but trust, the wait is worth it. Healthy portions will greet you and the prices will not hurt your wallet. Also, it is not too spicy, for the timid palette. Definitely going back to check out the lunch menu. By the way, they have parking and they do take out. read more

Vietnam Café - A spicy fried chicken dish - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Great atmosphere! My wife, son and I all were satisfied. Absolutely worth a visit! The staff was in no hurry to move us on. read more

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Vietnam café. Whenever trying a new pho restaurant you always need to try the soup first as that sets the tone for the whole meal. This soup definitely passed the test. It was rich and flavorful, but also light at the same time. I also had the spring rolls which was lightly crispy and delicious. The wait staff was very attentive and make sure we were taken care of. The whole experience was great and I left a happy camper! read more

Vietnam Café - Pho Tai - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Nice place to get Viet food in west philly. The restaurant itself is quite big so I have never had to wait to be seated. The ambiance of the place is quite nice too. It's a nice walk from Penn's campus when you want to relax and grab some yummy food. Every time I have come here, I've gotten the beef pho and spring rolls. Those two items alone are so good that I never got the chance to explore other dishes. Would definitely recommend those two items! read more

Vietnam Café - beef pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Solid spot for pho! Super quick service too! This restaurant is huge and has tons of seating so you'll never have to wait to be seated. The food came out pretty quickly after we ordered. I got the beef pho, which was warm and a good portion. I do wish it had more meat though. My friend got a vermicelli bowl with mixed meats and his dish had a fair amount of protein in it. read more

This is our 5th time coming here. I remember the food taste better before. The experience today is rather so-so. Ordered beef brisket noddle soup, shrimp roll, and Saigon noodles. The beef broth is too watery not much flavor. The shrimp roll tastes great just like previous visits. I like how they put basil leaves in them which gives that distinct taste/smell. Highly recommend!! Service today is bad, waiter just came to take the order and never came back. Had to go ask someone for check. I would give the food a 3.5 star based on past experiences. But because of the fact that this place has a FREE public parking lot, I am giving it a 4 star. read more

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Came in on a weekday evening around dinner time. The place was pleasantly quiet, and maybe about 50% full. It was raining quite a bit, so I'm not sure if they're busier under normal circumstances. We were immediately seated when we came. All of our food came out very fast. We got the house special vermicelli and the pork vermicelli, as well as a side of bok choy. The side of bok choy was quite large and easy to share. Each vermicelli bowl was also quite large. Simple, great flavor, and lots of food. I ended up wishing I had got the special instead of the pork bowl. The variety and amount of meat, plus the spring roll in the special looked so appetizing. read more