Vietnam Café Reviews

Background: On a return trip to West Philadelphia, we wanted to try something new. The Vietnam Cafe's Menu looked interesting so we gave it a try. Verdict: The Ginger Salmon With Baby Bok Choy Was Awesome! The chicken with rice noodles was way better than average. We'll probably come here again!

From the minute one walks through the door, and smells the spices from the kitchen, this simple, clean, restaurant transforms your eating experience. The service is impeccable and the meal ingredients are fresh, prepared with love, and nicely plated. I highly recommend the Salmon Chef Special! We look forward to returning.

Wonderful experience. Pork spring rolls delicious crispy and light. Pho with flank steak broth just right. Co-workers enjoyed the pork chops with vermicelli noodles. Everything cooked to perfection. All the portions were plentiful but not overwhelming. Will return with my husband for dinner soon

We visited this restaurant with some friends on a Friday evening. The wait was less than 5 min. We ordered sample appetizer for 2 which is big enough for 4 and is very delicious. Every dish we ordered was super yummy. The price for 4 entrees and 1 very large appetizer was about $72 + tip which is super cheap. This is a BYOB. Service was excellent. I would defiantly go there again soon.

First time at Vietnam Cafe and the food and service were both excellent, I will go back next time I am in Philly.

We were supposed to meet family at a brew house at the Firehouse, but when we arrived we were forced to sit outside on concrete in 86 degree sun, with no table umbrellas. So we drove 3 blocks to Baltimore and 47th in West Philadelphia to this lovely, cool and serene restaurant, with a big free parking lot in back (on 47th). The lovely wood-and-glass buiding was built like a solarioum with huge door-windows that hinged open, floating cool breezes in through tropical plants and natural wood. There were 5 of us plus a guide dog and we were seated in the next room. When I mentioned it was very warm, the host immediatley opened a wide window and soon we felt the same cool breezes. The food: my brother didn't think he would like Vietnamese food, but love their barbeque bowl with noodles. We all got a giant appetizer lazy-susan with fixings for summer rolls -- chicken, greens, small grape leaves rolled over meat--all we could wrap in paper-thin "crepes" to make our own summer rolls. My husband as usual, got something hot-spicy. Everybody but me ate and ate and still brought leftovers home for the next day. Everybody but me--I ate everything on my plate. Prices: we were being treated, but prices looked good. Many university students there, so I assume it was fair. Food was top quality. Service was friendly, helpful, speedy. I felt like we were in a forest summer house for slow and leisurely evening. (P.S. They have a liquor license.) I didn't think anyplace could equal our family favorite, Little Saigon in Upper Darby, but this has a whole different feel--like summertime eating outdoors, with screens. We'll go back soon. The 2 places are different, equally wonderful. Little Saigon is mom and pop, everything cooked to order, a small, quiet well lighted place Vietname Cafe is serene yet bustling, 2 large dining rooms with all the large doors and windows wide open, lots of people yet plenty of space between tables and good soundproofing, so it still felt quiet. Two winners.

I must admit, Vietnamese food is not my favorite cuisine. Compared to the variety of tastes and freshness of say Thai food, Vietnamese cuisine is bland, boring, and somewhat muddy. But, Vietnam Cafe in West Philadelphia takes Vietnamese food to a new low, and for quite a price. I've eaten here at least a half a dozen times, trying to find something to like. No luck. Each dish is as poor as the next and the tastes are just so remarkably similar. The curry is like eating powder and, please, enough of that same sweet syrup on everything. And then, the service at this place? First off, the hosts make you feel like it's your great fortune that they even let you in. Then, you could easily wait and wait and wait for each aspect of the meal. And all this at an outrageously over-priced level. Save your money and your taste buds for some place else, any where else.

I went to the Vietnam Cafe in a group of 4, I tried all our 4 meals and they were all absolutely delicious. The menu offers a lot of choice and there are a good selection of drinks, beers, cocktails, wine etc. The place itself is new and modern with a cool bar area and the staff were friendly and funny guys. Don't miss out on this place! I believe it closes quite early but this is due to the alcohol laws in Philadelphia.

My favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Philadelphia was always Vietnam Restaurant in Chinatown, but parking there is a mess. About five years ago, the owners of VR opened Vietnam Cafe in West Philly just a couple of blocks by my church. I have since moved on from that church to one closer to my home in DE, but I had a chance to go back to VC recently. Having only a few options for Vietnamese food in DE, VC delivers the huge upgrade from what I'm used to. The spring rolls are made with rice paper and perfectly deep fried. The summer rolls are made with steamed shrimp and they leave out the undesirable strip of light brown pork. And the bun (vermicelli noodles) are out of this world. Try the House Special Bun; which includes a spring roll and ample portions of grilled chicken, pork, and meatballs. Their pho isn't the best, but I go to other restaurants for that. It's a little pricey for Vietnamese; but since I'm only in the area once in a while anymore, it's worth paying a little more. And there is a parking lot, so you don't have to deal with the parking issues of their sister restaurant in Chinatown.

Refined, elegant food. I have not had Vietnamese food of this level on the east coast. I used to eat food this good with friends in San Francisco who prepared some of these dishes at home but it has been many years. This restaurant has a great atmosphere and is extremely comfortable whetervyiucare alone and want to eat and read a book or if you are hosting a family gathering or any other occasion. There is a selection of dishes for every type of diet preference. A great restaurant.

I usually get the same thing each time I visit--up to 4x per month. I think at this point, my 4 YO son could lead the way to this place, we go so often. I love the pho soup, the crispy spring rolls--thank goodness they have a vegetarian version! The shrimp tempura is awesome and my husband LOVES the claypot meals. Honestly, every meal I've ever had here has been awesome and the service is very efficient and friendly. The lemon cake is awesome!!

We were looking for a low key place after a tiring week. Most places in Philly are so loud, you can barely hear yourself! This place has a lovely ambience, prompt service and good food. We had garlic shrimp, wonton, noodle soup abd of course, the grilled shrimp. And, it's fairly decently priced.

I have been here at least 30 times. Most of the time ordering bbq platter. Did again. It was good. Friend ordered a soup which was lacking something.

It is always a pleasure to dine at a restaurant that serves food which I can't/don't cook: Vietnam Cafe is just the place. Delectable, nice portions with very attentive wait staff.

Often you return to a restaurant after a good experience and it just doesn't measure up. Not the case with the Vietnam Cafe. We had a very enjoyable dining experience. My son is allergic to fish and many sauces contain sardine oil. Lai could not have been more helfpul. We enjoyed the salt and pepper shrimp, tofu with rice noodles and basil chicken. We also had the rice paper garden spring rolls, which were great. They also make a great cosmo and the sake was good. We are fans. Overall, a very good dining experience near University City.

We hit this place several times a year when visiting my son in West Philadelphia. And we've never had a bad meal. The pho, and the rice noodle dishes are excellent. The restaurant is clean, nicely decorated, and the wait staff is efficient and usually friendly (some waiters can be a little brusque during the busy times but I believe that is due to the fast pace required to service a full restaurant). We ate "lunch" there recently at 3:00 p.m. on a Friday afternoon. We were half expecting that it wouldn't even be open at that time of day. They were, and they were happy to see us and we were surprised that so many other tables were occupied at such a strange hour.

I've eaten here many times and highly recommend it. The food is excellent. The service is good. The ambiance is delightful. It's a good choice for dates, friends, colleagues, families or groups. The bathroom is spacious and clean and has a diaper changing table. They serve alcohol.

People who rat on this place need to stop talking. The people who saw that there's "bad service" is because it's their fault they want stupid suggestions. If you want real Vietnamese food, go here. If not, go to McDonalds

Visiting from New York City, taken by Philly locals. Had delicious veggie spring rolls and then chicken crockpot--both very tasty and filling. Hint: put rice directly into hot bowl with chicken, rather than using small plate served with the chicken--becomes best chicken soup ever!

What a great experience. The food was excellent and the service was outstanding. I am gluten intolerant and my son is allergic to fish. Our server, Vu could not have been more helpful. He advised us on dishes and double checked a sauce and advised us that it contained a small amount of sardine. We ate a broken rice dish, corn meal encrusted tofu, sate chicken and clay pot chicken. We also had spring rolls wrapped in rice paper for an appetizer. I can't wait to go back.

Enjoyed the shrimp rolls, shrimp green papaya salad, curry shrimp, and salt and pepper shrimp. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. Atmosphere was pleasant and open, having enough space to breathe and speak.

This is an oasis in West Philly, bustling, quick, delicious food, with a bar. A favorite of ours for a quick and reasonably priced meal.

I went at the Vietnam Cafè on friday for dinner. We ordered 3 dishes to share: spring rolls with swrimp, really tasty, seafood noodles and vermicelli with fried swrimp!!! Healthy and good food! There are other many dishes that I want to try...I will come there for sure!

My husband and I went for Father’s Day dinner. We were very pleased. We ordered the appetizer sampler and chicken lemon grass soup for starters. Little did we know that it would be more than enough food for one meal. We had to take our entree home in To Go containers. Loved the atmosphere and service as well.

We are a group of old friends who were able to meet over Sunday lunch and chose The Vietnam Cafe because of its convenient location and the fact that several people in our party are vegetarians. Our meal consisted of appetizers and soup and we had enough to eat and were very satisfied. The appetizers (vermicelli rolls and fried tofu) were excellent and our soups were tasty and the portions very large. I have traveled to Vietnam and found the food at The Vietnam Cafe to be very authentic and as good as I had eaten in Ho Chi Minh City!

Pleasing decor, attentive wait staff, enjoyable seats by large open windows, wonderful menu selection. Free, large parking next door a plus. Very consistent quality.

This is a go-to place for a reliable delicious meal in West Philly. Bright festive decor and very attentive waitstaff. Full bar.

Without much deliberation, we chose the house special vermicelli bowl, which has grilled chicken, grilled steak, meatball, pork spring roll - every protein on the menu. Now I've tried vermicelli bowls at quite a few Vietnamese places, and found them all to be very long on vermicelli and short on meats. Not here! The bowl came with very generous amounts of all of the meats, and they were delicious! The grilled meats were especially delicious. The service was fast and friendly, and the dining room is attractive and professionally managed. The most enjoyable Vietnamese restaurant experience we've ever had!

So I went here for University Dining Days and the menu for the $15 dinner was great! We got an appetizer, entree and dessert and the portions were very large large and all tasty. The atmosphere is contemporary but a lil cramped- but not uncomfortably crowded even though all the tables were full. Its a great deal, especially because its byo (but they take credit cards). The service was a bit slow, but the waiters were all so nice and very funny. Try the spring rolls- they were my favorite!

Worth the Wait.....Received a gift and held it for almost six months before finally tasting the treats at Vietnam Cafe. What a treat and a delight. From the first sip to the last morsel we were very pleased. Our server changed a couple of times but one in particular got a chuckle out of me mishandling the chopsticks. A very peace inspiring atmosphere for dining and a great food experience.

I was extremely satisfied with the food and service and I'm thankful that my relative took me here during my recent visit. I had eaten at the original location a few times, many years ago and this place is where I discovered how much I like Vietnamese food. On this occasion I had soup, bok choi, spring rolls, and a fried rice dish. All items were of excellent quality of ingredients and supreme flavours. There was ample space for seating so it didn't feel crowded even though there were a lot of customers. I must make this a regular place to visit when I'm in the area.

In West Philly this is a sister restaurant to the one located for many years in Chinatown. It is moderately priced and there is more parking available. We preferred the original location as food seemed more authentic

I like some aspects of Vietnam Cafe. I really like the interior design, the fact that they have a bar, and some of the dishes on the menu are good. It's the type of place where you have to know what to order because not everything is good. But I had a crappy experience there with my birthday party when a group of friends and I showed up to have a birthday dinner. They don't have reservations there and I had looked into a private room - but since I contacted them 10 days in advance instead of two weeks, they said I didn't have the option to reserve a private room. 10 of us showed up initially, and we were seated at a table with exactly 10 seats and no space for more, despite the fact that we indicated we were going to be joined by a number of others. Shortly thereafter more friends showed up and there was no room for them at our table. They were asked to sit at another table. We had to make a total fuss which included having multiple people try to ask nicely (I finally lost my temper a little) to either have another table joined to ours or to be allowed to be seated in an adjoining room which was at that time empty but which would have accomodated our party. We were refused several times. Finally they agreed to join another table to ours which created a rather awkward configuration. Ultimately 20 people attended the dinner and that other room was never made available, we had to continue to crowd around those tables where there really wasn't enough room. I understand that we didn't create the best situation with a large party that didn't all arrive at once - HOWEVER - I felt the way we were treated was rude and inconsiderate. I feel like Vietnam Cafe is the kind of place where they make judgments about who to treat well, perhaps based on appearance or other factors, and disregard everyone else. My white male friend, for example, had his birthday party at Vietnam several weeks prior to mine and they agreed to seat his party in the room that they would not allow us to have. There are places you can go where you are made to feel special and this is not one of them. I'm not going to do them a favor by spending any more of my money there for a while - and I was a regular customer.

First of all, I am claustrophobic so I always ask for a big table next to the window. In this case, they agreed immediately. Then they have one guy who is constantly giving glasses of water with ice to their guests, really delightful! After some minutes, at my left, there was a family celebrating their father birthday. The brought balloons, free cake and friendly staff to sing. Gorgeous! And finally but not less important, the food, I have tried Thai and Vietnamese food in Europe and Asia, this is over the average. Fresh shrimps and reasonable portions. This is a must in Phili.

Sunday, April 6 2008 - Vietnam Cafe - West Philly Myself and my husband were shouted out of the restaurant by one of the waiters. We asked for a table for four and told the waiter that another couple would be joining us in a few minutes. The restaurant policy, a waiter informed us, was that a party could be accommodated at the table only if everybody from that party was present, and we had to wait in the waiting area till the couple arrived. We thougth it was a strange policy as the restaurant was half-empty, 6-7 tables were empty and in total there were no more than 15 customers inside. We sat down but is was cold in the waiting are so I approached the waiter and insisted to let us to sit at a table while waiting. Asked him to make an exception and explained that it was cold in the waiting area. Another waiter approached and allowed us to sit emphasizing that he could not join the tables till the other couple arrived. We said it was fine (they tables were separated from each other just by few inches so it did not matter). We sat down and the first waiter started arguing with us. I got very annoyed, stood up and told him not to argue with me. Oh boy! He went ballistic! Started shouting like a crazy, unstable person. I have never seen such an unprofessional employee. But I guess if he allowed himself to be so rude with a customer is because the management / owner is not up to the job. Avoid this place!

The restaurant has a great atmosphere and I am always able to find free street parking, but it may depend on the time of day that one visits. Also, there is a parking lot behind the restaurant, but not sure how available parking is in the lot. I had the tofu dish that was very good and the tofu curry was firm. Also, I had the fried spring rolls that were very good. Also, the BBQ platter was good, but the stuffed grape leaves was not desired by all at the table; I liked it, but it may be an acquired taste. The service is very nice and friendly. Food comes out fast. I did see that a full bar area was available, but I did not partake in any alcoholic beverages; just had water. This is a good place for groups or a nice couples or friends stop that is located right off of 47th & Baltimore Ave.

This place was good - enjoyed the atmosphere, the service, the food, everything. I think the neighborhood really could use a place like this.

A friend and I had a late small lunch. We ordered spring rolls which were crispy and delicious. Next we ordered Pho soups. They arrived fragrant, wonderfully warm, full of chicken and vegetables one with noodles one without as ordered. They were both yummy and welcome on a chilly spring day. The service was prompt and professional. Dining is quiet so conversation was easy. I will be happy to make this restaurant on my return visit list and recommend it highly to others.

We had read the great reviews on Trip Advisor & decided to drive there for lunch. There were 4 of us going for the first time. What a surprise....beautiful interior and terrific service. We shared vegetarian spring rolls and crispy spring rolls. I had Seafood Noodle Soup, the others had Grilled Shrimp Vermicelli, Grilled Chicken Vermicelli and Duck. Everything was fresh and delicious. We would definitely visit again.

Try the bbq platter and you wont be sorry. Also love the salt peppper shrimp and the salt pepper calamari.

I went with a group of friends on a not so busy evening. They refused to seat us until the entire party was there. I can understand if you expect to be very crowded, but there were plenty of open tables. The food was fine. There is much better vietnamese food along Washington ave. Service was pleasant, but not wonderful. Some of the dishes were messed up. It was a lovely evening, with good company. The food is fine, and not terribly expensive. They do have a parking lot and take credit cards.

If you enjoy Asian flavors stop by Vietnam Cafe in University City. Fresh and flavorful. Great staff and bright, colorful atmosphere. Enjoy!

This restaurant is one of our favorite local hangouts. We go there frequently for our usual Vietnamese dishes and also use it for take-out. Family owned restaurant that also have a fine grocery store and grilled fish cafe next door.

My wife and I found this place a couple of blocks away from where we were staying and I'm glad we did! The restaurant was great. Liked sitting next to the open windows. The food was excellent, very tasty. The service was really good as well. Wish we had stayed longer in Philly just to eat here again.

This restaurant is on the outer edges of Chinatown. The food was amazing. The restaurant itself feels like it is about serious eating. The prices were reasonable and the portions were amazing.

Took my daughter to lunch. Great vegetarian options for her. Wonderful meats for me. Welcomed warmly and sat at a nice table. Also off street parking is a plus. Staff was all very friendly. Food was excellent. Can't find any better Vietnamese food in my travels as an airline pilot.

From pho to rice bowls to noodles - this place has something for everyone. Even my picky 6 yr old loves it here

My sister and I enjoyed the pho at the cafe. It was fresh and savory. I also enjoyed the fried shrimp. Service was efficient and friendly. I look forward to going back

This place is run by people who do not understand service or simply do no care. To serve a customer requires not only to be efficient but also to accommodate those small requests that make for a general pleasant eating experience. Just as the reviewer above was treated badly because she requested consideration when she was cold, so were my daughter and I. It starts when on the menu, not very prominently, they notify you that there is a minimum consumption of ten dollars a person. There are numerous dishes on the menu below that price, but obviously if you are not hungry, they do not want to serve you. The just do not want to be bothered. I ordered a dish that included noodles with a fried spring roll. While the spring roll was good, the bed of noodles on which it was served was totally cold, which in turn made the rest of the dish just as disagreeable. My daughter ordered a dish of shrimp served similarly, and her noodles were also cold. We agreed that while the flavors were good the dishes were mediocre as served. My daughter wanted dessert. So she ordered a taro root with coconut milk concoction that was indeed delicious. But as she could not finish it because she was no longer hungry, I asked the owner for a small container so we could carry it out. He got visibly disturbed and told me that the restaurant does not sell desserts to go. Well. I proceeded to remind him that we ordered the dish to eat it in the restaurant, not to take out, and that only because we could not finish it we wanted the leftovers to go. The gentleman got even more angry and rushed to retrieve a menu with the apparent reason to show me that they do not sell desserts to go, as if that were the issue. At that point my daughter, more mature that both the owner and I, got up and told me that she did not want the dessert that badly, that it was not worth it. So we left, sans the dessert but six dollars richer from the tip I did not leave. Philadelphia has tons of great restaurants, and dozens of Vietnamese restaurants that do not skimp on gracious service. Why anyone would want to patronize this place is beyond me.

Everyone is so friendly and the food is AMAZING!!! My husband and I eat here at least 3 times a month!!

First time going was for lunch while working in the area. Good experience. I had the Claypot. Good sauce and fish tasted fresh and was cooked well. Saw a lot of interesting things on the menu that I wanted to try, so I'll be back.

I have previously only been here in a small group of two to six and have found their food consistently excellent. Therefore, we booked this place for a group of 30 and couldn’t believe how accommodating they were. The final number that we gave them was fairly close to the deadline which surprised us and was extremely helpful since we couldn’t fix our numbers long in advance. We were in a small room off to the side which really suited our needs. The food was ready and hot right on time, with good options to choose from for the buffet, which we had chosen previously, and plenty of it. Instead of bringing out all of it at once, they cooked about half of it, brought it out, and then replenished which meant that the food was very fresh. They also had a screen that came down behind where the buffet was set up so that showing our video and PowerPoint worked very well. The prices were more than fair, reasonable for what we received. When we found their music distracting to our presentation, they immediately fixed the problem, and every time the lights needed to be dimmed for the presentation, we only had to give a signal. The restaurant was spotless and the staff unobtrusively helpful. The food was delicious. I would highly recommend this place for a rehearsal dinner, a work event, or a reunion of friends and family.

After travels in Vietnam, I find most overseas disappointing. But this attractive place is the best without a 12 hour flight. The setting was more spacious and upscale than most competitors, although not ornate. Shrimp rolls were superb. I had high quality beef steak slices for the first time ever in any Oriental restaurant. A chicken dish pleased my wife. The price was moderate. A trolley stop is less than one block away.

Among the three of us, we ordered the seafood noodle soup, crispy park spring roll vermicelli and the pork chops. We also had an order of the shrimp and pork spring rolls. We all enjoyed everything we ordered. Great service and good food. Nice spacious restaurant. We will be back.

Enjoyed a wonderful evening with another couple at Vietnam Cafe. Prompt, courteous service. Delicious appetizers we had grape leaves, crispy pork roll, and crispy vegetarian roll. Actually, we were full by the time dinner arrived. Portions are generous. Unlike some other Asian restaurants, the entrees have distinctly different tastes. Two of us had vermicelli. My husband had duck noodle soup. My niece/friend had broken rice. We all enjoyed our food. No bad choices. The decor, food, and service make this place a winner. Looking forward to the next time...

Three words: Duck Noodle Soup!! Hot, flavorful and full of duck...exactly what one would want on a cold night. In fact, my soup was so delicious I returned the next night to try a delicious seafood pho. The menu is extensive with soups, stir fries and noodle bowls, the service attentive, and the atmosphere warm and inviting, a respite from a busy West Philly intersection.

sufficient if you're not looking for real Vietnamese food

I was shocked by some of the poor reviews and felt I had to write my own. My husband and I have been regulars since they opened and have never had a bad experience. The food is excellent and inexpensive. As for the service, yes like a lot of places if your whole party is not present they will not seat you. Maybe now that they have moved to a larger space, that may change, but this is not an uncommon restaurant policy. There is one hostess who clearly gets stressed when they are busy but I cannot even say that she has been rude to us. Did I mention the food is exellent and inexpensive?! The BBQ platter is not to be missed and yes, the place is definitely worth the trip to left Philly. We take all of our friends there and they make comments like, "This food is so good - we're stealing from them!" It's great.

We went here during a visit with family. They suggested it, and had been here before. We ordered the soup and a few entrees. The small soup comes in bowls as big as your head! It could have been my entire meal. I also ordered a noodle entree for my daughter with pork - and the pork was DELICIOUS. It was smokey and just wonderful. I liked that the spices were off to one side so she could avoid the spice if she wanted. We had a couple of food allergies and were able to find something for everyone. Everyone at the table had a good meal. The place is clean and comfortable, with a nice little lounge to wait in. There is plenty of free on street parking. Easy to get to. I'd visit again.

Our group was seated in the Sai-gon Room, which was sumptuous and elegant. There were curtained French doors on two sides, a small bar and serving area on another side, and silk shaded "bamboo" wall sconces and ceiling fixtures all around. The decor was Asian Understated; very rich, tasteful, with good use of architectural detail to carry the theme (Oriental inspired wall coverings, door handles, natural and artificial lighting), and it would be a great place to bring a date or client for dinner (or perhaps a proposal!). The ambiance was even carried into the restroom, which were was clean (I did not check the opposite gender's room). The food was wonderful, the Fried Shrimp were just right, light and crispy on the outside and perfect texture and flavor inside. The Polynesian drinks transported us to another world. I had 2 Mai-Tais and one of my friends had the "Suffering [expletive - Trip Advisor flagged this word]," which she loved. We ordered main dishes (do request the family style serving if dining with friends or people you know well): Shaking Beef, Chicken Sate, & Plum Tomato Tofu that came from the oven to our table bubbling hot. The Vietnamese Coffee is strong, smooth and rich, and for dessert, I'd suggest one of the unusual varieties of ice creams that they have. The cakes, when available, are not made on the premises, but those who ate them, said that they were excellent. Service was attentive, and the wait-staff was patient, helpful and knowledgeable. They can advise those who have dietary restrictions, but call in advance to be sure. We had in our group, one with allergies and one vegetarian. The location is very accessible by public transit, however, the neighborhood is in the process of gentrification, and parking is limited, though spaces can be had on the street. Somewhat challenging, but this is an urban location that does not have amenities, i.e., nearby garage parking. The only other minus is that the room can get noisy, but I loved the hardwood floors. This was my first visit to Vietnam Cafe and it is definitely on my list of places to return to!

We happened upon this place when the restaurant we wanted to eat at was carryout only. The food was good and came out pretty fast. The service was great too. We were asked many times if we needed anything else. When we needed something else, they were quick to get us that thing. I would recommended to anyone in the area that is looking for good Vietnamese food.

Hubby and I finally got a chance to dine here a few weeks ago; My son and daughter inlaw frequent this place a lot with their 2 1/2 year old who loves noodles! I was quite impressed with the food. The wait was a bit long and it was not very busy, so I don't know what that was about, but the service was pleasant from our waiter; I think the hostesses can be a bit more friendly and not seem so rushed to get you in and out. I had the Pork Vermicilli which was excellent; I didn't think I would like the noodles cold but it was great. I thought the presentation of the vegetable spring rolls was quite different; Normally they are served whole, but these were cut up into small pieces but it was plenty enough for two to share. I was not very fond of the dipping sauce, but it didn't spoil the taste of the roll; Hubby had the House special Vermecilli Which consisted of Crispy spring roll, grilled meatballs, grilled chicken, grilled pork, lettuce, and noodles; He did not like his noodles cold, but all the meats were very good. I tried telling him the noodles would cool. This place can also be quite noisy at least on this particular day it was; The place was not full at all, but a few of the tables were very loud; I can only imagine what it is like when they are busy. Its one of my pet peeves at any restaurant when you can hear complete conversations at other tables that are not even next to your table.No fault of the restaurant of course. The decor of the place was quite nice and very clean; They also have a small lounge area away from the dining tables for you to wait in until your table is ready. Overall our dining experience here was very favorable and we plan to dine here again.

My nephew recommended the Vietnam Cafe in West Philadelphia for lunch. The staff were welcoming and professional. The atmosphere was festive with open seating areas and private rooms. The menu was extensive, but I decided on the pho. The pho was delicious, generous and reasonably priced. I highly recommend the Vietnam Cafe for good food and a lovely dining experience.

Absolutely love Vietnam Cafe. Great space, great service, great food! We enjoyed a fabulous meal with our young children, but would certainly come back for a date night or with friends.

This is on 47th south of Baltimore Avenue, with the entrance around the corner. It is surprisingly large for the location, with large, bright windows and a varied and impressive menu. The house specialty vermicelli entrée was quite fine. The chicken curry, alas, was bland to a fault and not memorable. But we'll come back and sample many other things. It is quite a find!

I went to the Vietnam Cafe this past Saturday with my daughter and her fiance. The place is beautiful and clean with a very colorful atmosphere. It was quite crowded but we were seated after a very brief wait. The staff is professional and friendly and at the same time unobtrusive. It was a special occasion for us so we celebrated with cocktails. Both the Lemon Grass martini and Cosmopolitan were excellent. We shared the veggie spring rolls as an appetizer and they were crispy and flavorful. I got the grilled shrimp with broccoli and rice which was very good. My daughter and her fiance are obsessed with their rice vermicelli noodles bowls. The beef was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. We finished our meal by sharing a slice of the lemon cake that was so good. This is a great place to get together with friends and family for a terrific dining experience.

They offer a wide variety of good Vietnamese food, including vegetarian. They also can deal with allergies. Lively atmosphere - more of a festive atmosphere than most University City restaurants. Has a bar.

The food is good with no surprise (good or bad). Had three dishes which taste Chinese, Korean and Vietnam. All are good. Both the service and environment are good. A place I might go again.

Visitors to Philly hear about great neighborhoods, but may not be directed where to find an authentic culturally diverse neighborhood. Go to Viet Nam Cafe for lunch or dinner for a reasonably priced, delicious example of Vietnamese food. The restaurant is very comfortable with large panel windows that slide open in good weather, outside you will hear the planted bamboo swishing in the breeze as well as the great vibe of a great neighborhood. After dinner, take a minute to look around, there is beautiful old philadelphia architecture in the houses and smells from nearby Greek and Ethiopian restaurants. The people watching is great here as well!

Vietnam Cafe is our go-to choice for lunch. Consistently reliable food and service in an up to date and clean facility. Rice and noodle dishes are quick and great. Soups/Pho are perfect in the winter months.

There are plenty of more expensive restaurants in Philly, but none better. The vermicelli with spring roll is my favorite--just perfect. Last time my wife had basil shrimp with broccoli; perfectly grilled shrimp beutifully presented. The only disappointment I have ever had was with a guest who insisted on ordering a broken rice platter, so I suppose that it is true that not everything on the menu is great; but that is true for most of my favorite restaurants. I have eaten at La Croix and Le Bec Fin; Vietnam is better.

I have eaten at Vietnam Café once every couple of months for the past three or four years. The food is up there with the best Vietnamese food I have had anywhere, and the quality has been consistent from the original very small location, to the greatly expanded restaurant facility next door that they now occupy. I particularly like the tofu in tomato sauce, spring rolls (both with meat and vegetarian), and charcoal grilled stuffed grape leaves. The soups are very good as well. The location is not far from the Penn campus, near 48th and Baltimore, and there is plenty of parking in an adjacent parking lot, and on the streets near the restaurant. I have never been disappointed with either the service or the food. On a few occasions on weekends, I have had to wait ten or twenty minutes for a table, but it was well worth the wait.

Excellent food and service with generous portions. We started with tasty and crispy vegetarian spring rolls.Then, one of us had a small bowl of lemon grass soup and the other had a small bowl of seafood soup. Both soups were very flavorful and delicious. The portion size was very generous and more than enough for lunch. In fact,we took some left-overs home with us. Service was efficient and gracious.