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Vietnam Restaurant

4 star rating
based on 72 reviews

Category: Vietnamese  [Edit]

221 N 11th St
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 592-1163
Price Range:
$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
No
Outdoor Seating:
No
Good for:
Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar

72 reviews for Vietnam Restaurant

Review Highlights   

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"The appetizer - crispy veggie spring rolls, SO DELICIOUS." (in 32 reviews)
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"a trip to philly isn't complete without my BBQ platter." (in 6 reviews)
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"I love the lime chicken, my wife loves the chicken and broken rice." (in 6 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Rich K.

 

8

49

Rich K.

Astoria, NY

4 star rating
11/12/2009

I'd like to give this place a 5 just for their BBQ platter but was put off by the service and lack of attention given by the waitstaff.  My water remained empty forever till I asked for more.  Diet cokes MUST be served with a lemon in any restaurant.  In addition, when I asked for some hot sauce, my waiter took forever to grab a bottle.  We were halfway done with the appetizer till we got it.  

Had the crepe appetizer.  It was okay.  Needed lots of fish oil and sriracha hot sauce b/c it was stuffed with an absurd amount of bland bean sprouts.

Go with one person and get the BBQ platter.  It's an assortment of veggies (basil, cilantro, etc) and meat (my favorite was the grape leafs stuffed with meat - probably beef - who knows?) that you wrap along with spring rolls/rice vermicelli/etc. and use fish oil, peanut sauce, or hot sauce to add flavors.  I devoured the entire platter in less than 7 minutes.  I don't think I've ever had an entree and not utter one word while eating it.  I just kept nodding my head YES in response to my friend who kept asking me if it was good.

Decor and ambiance were nice for a Vietnamese restaurant.  Clean bathroom/hardwood floors/dim lighting.  I'm used to dingy and dirty types in NYC.

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Photo of Erin F.

 

8

29

Erin F.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
10/27/2009

Vietnam is, arguably, my favorite restaurant in the city.

I came here for my birthday before I moved (it was over this birthday meal that it was officially decided that I would move to Philadelphia) and we have come here every few months since then.

The noodle bowls are great. I prefer the crispy noodle nests with tofu or the vermicelli noodle bowl with tofu. Either way, you can't go wrong. The sauce is mild enough but still flavorful.

My favorite parts about eating here occur on either end of the main course. The appetizer - crispy veggie spring rolls, SO DELICIOUS. And crispy and the sauce is so good. A little spicy, a little not. And the dessert - the corn or black-eyed pea puddings. The pudding is not your standard pudding. It is warm and milky and sweet. I want to get in that tiny bowl and wiggle around for a while. Maybe take a nap while I'm in there. It is the best.

Other bonuses: if there's a wait, you can go up to the bar on the third floor and sit and chat, have a drink, and they come to let you know when your table is ready. This is a good date thing. The ambiance is quiet and busy. They give you forks if you're like me and don't want to work while eating and use chopsticks. The food is very, very reasonably priced, as well.

This place is good for everyone except for babies who only eat McDonalds, soft pretzels, and Chili's.

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Photo of Jerry T.

 

3

35

Jerry T.

Philadelphia, PA

2 star rating
9/23/2009

We finally tried this establishment last night. I want to start this by saying that customer service is always considered on an equal basis as the food when I am evaluating an eating establishment. In the case of Vietnam, this is the main reason it is not rated higher.

Before I go further with that, lets talk about the food. The often highly rated barbecue platter was indeed good, although I would prefer to be able to soak and prepare my own rice wraps - as they came, already wet and ready, they tend to stick together. Overall, it was good, however. Not exceptional as others have rated it, but good.

My partner got the crispy duck which was very tasty, and very crispy as indicated - and I got the salt peppered shrimp which several people had recommended. The shrimp was cooked okay - maybe a bit overcooked - but honestly lacked in real flavor. I expected more taste, but it was rather bland. The sauce helped, but I still found it bland overall.

Now the service. When I go to a restaurant I like to feel as if they appreciate the business and are glad to have their customers in their establishment. We got no sense of this at Vietnam. The service was . . . well . . . somewhat robotic - it was as if we were being served by some new automated system that has no ability to interact with the customers. It was service on autopilot. Everything got done, but with no personality, and very little eye contact, which I found off-putting and rather strange. Mostly, the staff remained huddled around the front door quietly chatting and laughing with each other.

Again, for me, food and service are equal partners when I am making a decision to return to a restaurant. I am willing to give them one more shot, but if this is the norm for service there, I'll go elsewhere.

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Photo of Kathleen B.

 

1

9

Kathleen B.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
11/6/2009

I think it's silly when people write reviews replete with words in all caps, but this is the best Asian food I've had in my LIFE. The crispy veggie spring rolls are perfection - they don't use the typical wrappers - these spring rolls are bigger, and have just the right ratio of crispy on the outside and firm but tender insides, and they are DELICIOUS. My brother bought a whole, separate platter of them just for himself

I also got the Chicken Vermicelli bowl - the chicken is perfectly chargrilled, and the combination of barbecued and lemongrass flavors is superb. You get more vermicelli than you could possibly eat, adorned with peanuts, cilantro, mint, and lemongrass that make for the tastiest lunch in Philly. I got mine with an added spring roll. So did my brother. In case you're counting, that's eight spring rolls for two people, plus two entrees. We ate like pack animals and it was awesome.

My entree was only $8.95, plus 2 bucks for a veggie spring roll. There was no wait for a weekday lunch. I found the dark wood interior and low lighting kind of depressing, and my waiter was pretty inattentive, but for food this good, I'd definitely return.

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Photo of Emanuel K.

 

9

20

Emanuel K.

Tivoli, NY

5 star rating
8/7/2009

I've been here, as well as to its across-the-street-rival Vietnam Palace countless times, and to be honest I don't think I could differentiate between the two in a blind taste test. If I had to pick one, this one would win on the basis of atmosphere alone.

I've tried literally dozens of their dishes and I don't think I've ever had a single thing that wasn't tasty. There are a couple dishes, however, which I can always rely on, such as the charbroiled pork and vermacelli (classic) and the salt and pepper shrimp (unreal).

Let me tell me tell you about these shrimp. Actually, forget that, just order them next time you go.

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0

3

Tony O.

Elkins Park, PA

5 star rating
11/12/2009

Vermacelli with meatballs and spring rolls. very good.

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Photo of simone H.

 

9

18

simone H.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
8/16/2009 1 photo

Wow...that pretty much sums it up.

The service is great, the food comes super fast, and the dishes taste so fresh yet are full of flavor. I've only been here once but I can confidently say this is the best Vietnamese food I've ever had. I ordered the vermicelli pork bowl and it was heaping with meat and fresh vegetables. The fish sauce that comes with the dish is a great addition but if you ask for the peanut sauce it's a real flavor enhancer as well.

Everything was delicious, but what really blew me away was the crispy pork spring rolls. My god, they will you give you a full throttle foodgasm! They add crunch and texture to the vermicelli bowl, and they might be the best thing on the menu.

I was completely satiated after dinner, but not too full. I left feeling happy and warm inside.

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Photo of Meredith K.

Elite '09

73

116

Meredith K.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
6/5/2009

I must have had some sort of magnetic attraction to Vietnam Palace until the other night, because I'd been there four or five times before even thinking to try the Vietnamese restaurant across the street, aptly named Vietnam Restaurant. Well, I'm glad I decided to be adventurous, because Vietnam Restaurant truly impressed me.

My boyfriend, friend, and I walked in around 9 p.m. last Saturday after checking out the Greek festival, which left us unimpressed and in search of delicious fare. The hostess informed us that there would be a fifteen-minute wait, but that we could check out the lounge upstairs while we waited. Bar Saigon is a few floors above the restaurant, which itself is two floors. The atmosphere was beautiful and romantic. The main room (there was also an adjoining room, which I didn't really check out) was dimly lit with candles and sconces and had a big-screen TV mounted on the wall, showing what may have been the strangest kung fu movie I've ever seen. The waitress was attentive and let us know when our table downstairs was ready. They've got a nice little operation going here! My Cosmo was delicious, as was my friend's chocolate martini (heavenly, really).

When our table was ready, the hostess came upstairs to get us. We were seated in the second-floor dining room. I wasn't too impressed with the atmosphere, but what Vietnam Restaurant lacked in ambiance it made up for with lightning-quick service and beautifully presented, delicious food. I ordered the steamed tofu rolls to start (yum!) and the Singapore Noodles, which had chicken, shrimp, lots of veggies, wide egg noodles, and a savory, mouthwatering brown sauce, for my entree. It wasn't as spicy as I'd have liked, but they offered sriracha to make up for the lack of heat. My companions were all pleased with their dishes as well. We were even pleased when we got the check, which ran us about $17 per person for appetizers and entrees. Even though I just moved to Vietnamese heaven (South Philly), I will still consider making the trek to Chinatown to eat here again in the near future.

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Photo of Waide H.

 

0

3

Waide H.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
8/26/2009

The very first time that I ate at Vietnam was quite a while ago when it was only one building, and the atmosphere was just perfect. The service was excellent and the food was out of this world! I have very good, fond memories of the place and I look forward to eating there again sometime soon, as soon as someone is willing to go with me.....only joking!
Again, it is a really good place to have some really good food!

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Photo of Kylie H.

 

6

11

Kylie H.

Philadelphia, PA

3 star rating
8/19/2009

I came here with a group of people. They all shared an appetizer which included a variety of meat. Being pescetarian, I was excluded from this. I ordered the seafood lemon grass soup. I didn't really like it. The soup didn't have much substance, and there were canned mushrooms in it, not fresh.

I think I will have to come back and order something else, because the place seems to be reviewed so well.

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Photo of Brian C.

Elite '09

17

50

Brian C.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
7/27/2009

I've only been to Vietnam Rest. once, but they had me at Crispy Spring Rolls... oh yea.  Definitely going back.

I'll come back with a better review later...

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Photo of whitney h.

 

4

28

whitney h.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
9/20/2009

Vietnam offers a classy place place with decent service and excellent traditional Vietnamese cuisine. The decor is nice and not gaudy like some other Vietnamese restaurants on 11th and Race. The service is brisk but courteous they keep it moving. What stands out is how great the food is. Enjoy

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Photo of Serena C.

Elite '09

35

159

Serena C.

Burlington, VT

5 star rating
5/14/2009

This place definitely rivals the Vietnamese food I've had in the SF Bay Area. It's slightly upscale (i.e. not a hole in the wall) with an understated wood-based decor.

Definitely get the Cha Gio (crispy spring rolls): "stuffed with ground pork blended with Asian spices, onion and mushrooms" ($6.50). They arrive piping hot and chopped into 1" long pieces for convenient eating and are served with lettuce leaves for wrapping. Not greasy, and with just the perfect amount of crunch.

The pork slices or pork chops with broken rice are classics (~$9), and the phos ($5.50 to $7.50) are tasty as well when you don't want to shell for a plate.

I've been told that they make their own ice creams here (the typical Asian flavors, such as mango, coconut, etc.) for dessert, but can't recall trying them.

Tip: Don't sit by the window during sunset--the building faces west, so you'll be blinded by the glare.

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Photo of Elizabeth B.

 

2

64

Elizabeth B.

Princeton, NJ

5 star rating
7/11/2009

Totally amazing food! I have been to the ACTUAL Vietnam and had meals not as delish as this.
We were originally recommended to go to a restaurant next door, but since it was closed went here instead... so glad we did!
The appetizer platter was completely devoured and left us all full. Consisted of some sort of thin rice tortilla (almost cellophane noodle-y), spring rolls, stuffed grape leaves, chicken, noodles and more... then miraculously we were ready for more when we saw our entrees! I had a wonderful sweet and sour chicken dish.
Afterward, there were DEFINITELY enough bites left to take home for another two meals! Will be enjoying that tommorow for lunch, I think.

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Photo of Lucinda H.

 

3

32

Lucinda H.

Lafayette Hill, PA

4 star rating
9/8/2009

We had a terrific dinner, excellent fresh food and all with excellent interesting flavors. Service was very (maybe too) fast and friendly. Great value although it's not Chinatown-cheap.

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Photo of Amy K.

Elite '09

346

584

Amy K.

Irvine, CA

4 star rating
1/10/2009 5 photos

I am so glad that Yelpers recommended Vietnam Restaurant to me!  You might not be able to tell from the outside, but the restaurant is really nice inside.  We were told there was a 10-15 minute wait for a table, but as soon as we sat down to wait, our name was called.

BF started with a Vietnamese beer, and I chose a tropical rum drink, complete with umbrella.  It was really delicious.

We shared a couple of appetizers, the fried tofu and the fried veggie spring rolls.  They were both really good, but BF liked the tofu better, and I thought the spring rolls were better.  The servings were huge for two people.  

We only ordered one entree, shrimp and broccoli, which was on the specials.  It's a good thing because we had so much food!  

Everything was delicious, the service was excellent, and the portions were more than generous.  What more could you ask for?

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Photo of Alessia K.

 

2

14

Alessia K.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
5/27/2009

So me and the babe are on a new kick of trying all the places I have been talking about for a few years.  We finally made it to Vietnam and it was so worth the wait.  First off, let me say I feel really bad for the place across the street named "Vietnam Palace."  Everyone I have talked to is always like, "Oh yea, Vietnam is awesome...but the one across the street with the "restaurant" title.  They get a bad rap but I am sure the food is just fine at the palace.  Anywho, Vietnam was perfection.  We were seated right away on a Friday night.  We ordered the giant bowl of liquor called the Flaming Volcano.  It was about 6:30 and we got a few glances from the classier people in the joint.  The drink was freaking awesome though and pretty strong (the rest of the night was not one of my finest moments).  

I will say that the veggie spring rolls were the best in the city (if anyone has a different opinion please let me know)  We pretty much inhaled the rolls because they were so crispy and filled with delish veggies.  We also shared two entrees, the spicy, crunchy and beautiful salt and pepper shrimp.  The other entree was a noodle dish with shrimp and chicken which was also fresh and flavorful.  Everyone else in the place was slurping on the Pho which looked divine but it was 85 degrees out and I was not in the mood to sweat like a man.  All in all, the place is fantastic and I cannot wait to go back and try everything.  I might even try the Palace just because I feel bad..  Enjoy!

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Photo of Allen M.

 

10

21

Allen M.

New Port Richey, FL

3 star rating
4/29/2009

I was willing ot give Vietnam a try, but after seeing the few choices of vegetarian dishes on the menu, I wish I would have gone elsewhere...

Nevertheless, what I got was delicious - Tofu Rolls appetizer, Tofu Vermicelli Bowl and Chinese Brocolli, and Coconut Ice Cream for dessert.

The restaurant was clean, and the service was quick and efficient - although, I felt the prices were a bit expensive...

My firends love this place, but I think I'd pass on it next time - Vietnam Palace across the street has more vegetarian options, I hear...

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Photo of Tia L.

Elite '09

6

81

Tia L.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
5/2/2009

I went there again and had to add another star.  I'm never disappointed with this place and I've tried something new each time.
The lemongrass pork chops, saigon noodles, crispy duck, the chinese broccoli... my mouth is watering just thinking about it... go eat there!
And you have to try the summer roll #6... the peanut sauce has a kick! Small little building, but good ambiance for a date or dinner with friends.

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Photo of Duy N.

 

4

44

Duy N.

Montgomery, MD

4 star rating
8/17/2009

This place is pretty good.  I've been here two times.  First time I got the cubed steak (bo luc lac), a classic viet dish that was actually disappointing wrt my standards.  The second time I got the broken rice with shredded pork, pretty tasty.  I've never been to the one across the street so I can't compare them.  Overall it's a solid vietnamese place.  Maybe next time I'll try canh chua & ca co.

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Photo of Jennifer L.

 

4

6

Jennifer L.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
3/3/2009 1 photo

This is a favorite restaurant of my husband's as well as some close friends of ours who are on a first name basis with Benny (the owner).  We always enjoy going and ordering all sorts of different things that we can pass around and share.  I love all the variety, and try to have something new every time.  

Enjoy the Vietnamese beer (Okay so that I've tried the same of more than once!), we always share the BBQ Platter and our eyes are always bigger than our stomachs as we share a Pho soup and both still order a main course each!  Makes for good leftovers!  : )

Be prepared to be there for awhile, but that is part of what I really enjoy about it.  It's quality time with friends rather than a rushed meal.  Everything always tastes extremely fresh, and I'd recommend trying it out if you've never been before.

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Photo of Jaime J.

 

9

27

Jaime J.

Allison Park, PA

4 star rating
5/8/2009

Oh my gosh, I love this place! I have yet to find anything that compares in Pittsburgh - and I probably never will. Most places in Pittsburgh are small and cafe-like...even dirty. Not VR. VR is beautiful and elegant - and so is the food.

Everything is fresh and you can see it and taste it. I love getting the lemongrass soup with the fresh cilantro, bean sprouts, and lime on the side. My typical order is #46 and #93, which would be the fresh tofu spring rolls and sate chicken with wide rice noodles. The basil chicken is also very good. They use all white meat chicken, too...which is nice.

They have a nice bar - you should try the flaming volcano! The vietnamese coffee is very good too. A dark, chicory coffee served with sweetened, condensed milk.

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Photo of augusto j.

 

0

19

augusto j.

Lansdale, PA

3 star rating
10/7/2009

Quality food at a reasonable price, it does not distinguish itself from the many other Vietnamese establishments along the same street or along Columbus Avenue (which are cheaper).

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Photo of Brandon S.

 

0

3

Brandon S.

Indianapolis, IN

2 star rating
7/21/2009

Wow, I can't believe all the great reviews of this place!  I travel 100% for work and have done so the last 9 years.  Therefore, I eat out almost every night of the week.  I have also spent quite a bit of time in Asia for work and I can honestly say this is probably the worst Asian food I've had in the States.  I ordered a noodle dish and the noodles were completely charred.  Every bite tasted like burnt charcoal.  This is the first bad review I've ever written on yelp.  The two stars is only because the service was really good and the ambiance was nice.

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Photo of Hank C.

Elite '09

103

1214

Hank C.

Jersey City, NJ

3 star rating
1/12/2009

Well, the pho here isn't bad, but the best part of this restaurant is the spring rolls - fresh, hot and totally worth a trip to eat. But, everything else here, unfortunately, was only normal, and that meant I often stopped here for an order of spring rolls to go, and little else.

They do have a decent waiting space as it does get busy here, but they are certainly swift in clearing up tables and clearing you out as you finish up. Drinks here are a bit on the weak side, almost cloyingly sweet.

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Photo of cassie t.

Elite '09

23

74

cassie t.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
11/17/2008

Wow, what a gem!  We wandered in here pretty randomly, after pondering between here and Vietnam Palace across the street.  From the outside you could never tell that this place is such a classy establishment! The restaurant goes up three floors with a really nice lounge area on the highest floor with a bunch of fun cocktail choices and beer to occupy you while you wait for a table.  Also, sweet shrimp chips!

The atmosphere of the place is great, it's cozy, clean, and feels really nice, unlike most places in Chinatown.  The service is very professional, friendly, and fast!  I would say that this would be an awesome place to take a date.  

They have a pretty wide selection of Vietnamese food, from Pho to vermicelli noodle bowls to meat dishes and crispy noodle dishes as well.  We all got the vermicelli noodle bowls, which were around 8.50-9.50 per bowl, and they were excellent!  (and generously portioned as well) I would say that the crispy spring rolls are definitely something that is done well here!  MMmm.  The food came out fast as well!

And for people who judge places by their bathrooms, Vietnam restaurant has really nice bathrooms.  What a classy joint. Highly recommended. I'll be back soon!

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Photo of Brian M.

Elite '09

22

54

Brian M.

Philadelphia, PA

3 star rating
11/5/2008

So I've done Vietnam Palace (which is across the street) a number of times and recently did Vietnam Restaurant (the older of the two I hear) for a friend's birthday.  Very similar places.  I think I like the atmosphere better here - however the food is very similar on both sides of the street.

I started with a chicken lemon grass soup - which was amazing.  I also recommend getting the grilled meat balls and crispy spring rolls off the appetizer menu - my friends got them and the pieces I stole were great.  Unfortunately I got the grilled squid which was a bit chewy - but flavorful.  Either way I wasn't a fan.

For dinner I got the house special broken rice - which was basically jerked meats over rice.  Honestly - it worked... but I can appreciate dry meat if it seems like it was done that way on purpose.  Either way - I liked it, but not enough to order it again when I go back.  I think I'm looking more towards a seafood based dish next time.

If you go - be sure to try one of the wacky milk shake flavors.  Jack Fruit is a favorite for me.  Also - look across Race street for parking - it's cheaper and only a block away.

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Elite '09

393

767

Bill M.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
9/10/2008

Another winning spot courtesy of the Lai family (Vietnam Cafe, Fu-Wah). After an awesome showing of Conversations From The Cafe at TBar (one weekend left!) a friend and I decided to try here out. With it 's biggest competition literally right across the street (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) you'd think it would be hurting on a number of levels. But the family has definitely managed to maintain another awesome establishment.

Between the spicy broth and my Chirasha addiction McThrill was feeling the heat! but I loved every moment of eating my seafood claypot (especially the jumbo shrimp). And my friend devoured his salt and pepper chicken in ten minutes flat even though he wasn't that hungry (he normally does it in 5 so it wasn't that impressive.). It was also fun to go through all of the entree option's that aren't yet available in the West Philly Cafe (eventually?) and prepare myself. So overall Vietnam wins.

Now I just need to try a Virgin's Downfall (read Chrissy R.'s hilarious review you pervo!).

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12

82

T. B.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
1/31/2009

I came here at noon on a Saturday for lunch and we were seated right away (although it got busy very quickly). We ordered a lot of food for 3 people - 3 appetizers, 3 entrees, and some drinks. Bill came to 65 before tip, which I thought was a little pricey for a Vietnamese restaurant. But then again, it's a lot nicer and cleaner than most.

The portions were huge, food was just ok, and they didn't have many pure vegetarian options. However the staff was helpful in concocting customized veggie dishes for us, so that was nice.

I thought the vermicelli noodles, fried spring rolls, 3 bean drink, and non fried spring rolls were pretty tasty. The pancake was less crispy than I would have liked.

I would def come here again.

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Elite '09

50

145

Heather D.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
12/16/2008 1 photo

What a delicious find in Chinatown! Went here with an old friend to catch up over a few drinks.  After perusing the drink menu, we decided to be efficient and ordered the Volcano drink for two.  It was your typical rum-juice drink served in a huge porcelain cup with a small divet in the middle (the volcano) filled with Bacarda 151 that was on fire. It was a great start to a fantastic meal.  While the drink was large, I don't think it was that strong.

After perusing other Yelp reviews, we decided to order the Vietnamese Ravioli, a combination Vermicelli Dish and the Pork Clay Pot.  The Vietnamese Ravioli certainly gets points for being different, but I can't say that I'd order it again.  It may be better if it was a litter spicier, or maybe the rice-wine-based dipping sauce was spicy.

The Vermicelli dish was excellent.  It came with pork, chicken, a type of ground meat log and a vegetarian spring roll.  All the meats were seasoned exceptionally well.  The ground meat log (sort of like a ground lamb kabob) was a little difficult to eat without a knife, but I persevered.  At the bottom of the bowl was a variety of cucumber and carrot that helped offset the blandness of the noodles.  My friends Pork Clay Pot was very good as well, set in a sweet, spicy sauce.  He finished it all!

Since it was a slow Sunday evening, the service was very quick and attentive. While the food could have been a bit spicier, the presentation and attention to detail made up for it.  I would highly recommend this place to someone who may be unfamiliar with Vietnamese food.  They will definitely want more!

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Elite '09

17

62

Viviane T.

Centreville, VA

4 star rating
7/10/2008

I'm Vietnamese and when I go to these places, I'm hard to please, however, this restaurant have yet to disappoint me.

When living in Philadelphia for six years, I went here almost four times a month and each time that I come here for dinner I always order the BBQ platter. If it's just for two, this platter is more than enough. The dish is a "make it yourself summer roll" filled with spring rolls, chicken stripes, mixed veggies, rice noodles, and meat stuff grape leaves to die for. If you're unsure as to how you would make this mouth watering masterpiece, just ask and they will show you the way. You mix and match the ingredients provided and once wrapped, you dip and eat. I usually dip mine in their lemon/pepper fish sauce, but others like to dip theirs in the peanut sauce provided.

Their other dishes are good too, I love their clay pot cat fish, it makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Their other noodle soup dishes, like the bun bo hue, are delightful and is great during the winter.

Upon looking at the prices you might feel that it is over priced, and I do agree, however, for the environment and the quality of food, I feel that it is all worth it (this is the only reason why I'm giving it a 4 star). Their service is prompt, but they do get extremely busy, so if you don't want to wait, call ahead!

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Elite '09

12

41

Melissa D.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
6/4/2009

The veggie spring rolls are off the hook!!  I've been coming here for years, both eat-in and take out (if you call ahead they do curbside service so you don't even have to get out of the car!!) and everything I've tried has been fresh and delicious.  I'm a fan of the shrimp vermicelli, but I also love the claypots and nothing beats the spicy lemongrass soup in the winter.  I haven't had the pho yet but it seems to be a favorite and I'm sure its great!

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378

Evann G.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
12/12/2008

When my fiance told me we were going to dinner at Vietnam for a friend's birthday, I actually asked him what kind of food he thought they served. He was like, umm, Vietnamese food. Well, I thought maybe they had some sort of avant garde or ironic name and they were actually a hot dog place or something. You never know!

Anyway, this is my new favorite restaurant. We've been here twice now and it's ruined me for all other food. The beef with broken rice is like a drug. It's actually sort of gross how fast I consume it. The pork clay pot inspires similarly crude behavior. But the food is just so good!

We've also tried the Vietnamese ravioli, chicken with broken rice, and chicken clay pot. None of them disappointed, although none stood out as much as the two mentioned above.

But! For dessert! You can get corn pudding! And it tastes like the actual DEFINITION of 'delicious.' Seriously, you must try it.

Drinks are tasty, fun, and humorously-named. Service has been spotty. But the food! Oh yeah.

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Ann L.

New York, NY

5 star rating
5/22/2008

OK so I visit my brother in Philly maybe max 3 weekends a year, and we ALWAYS go to this restaurant.  we ALWAYS get the same dishes...the bun (rice noodles )with either the mixed meats (for the boys) or grilled chicken (for me).  SOOOO TASTY.  I've eaten this dish countless places, in more authentic restaurants, across Vietnam, orange county in california (the mecca of vietnamese food), at home.  And this by far takes the top spot (sorry mom!).

A little pricey for what you actually get but the place looks so much nicer and cleaner than your average vietnamese restaurant.  The service is good.  Order extra carrot/radish pickles!!

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Elite '09

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Kate C.

Westtown, PA

4 star rating
7/17/2008

I forgot how good the food is here.

We usually go to Vietnam Palace across the street because of it has a wider range of vegetarian menu items.  But today I shook things up and had lunch at Vietnam.  Veggie spring roll vermicelli and a Vietnamese iced coffee is a delicious lunch.  Not healthy, but thoroughly and completely delicious.

The decor is beautiful too.

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Oski B.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
4/25/2009

Not as cheap as the Vietnamese places on Washington between 16th and the Italian Market, but definitely a better atmosphere.  Food is served nearly as soon as you place your order so there's not much time to build up an appetite.  Come hungry!

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Elite '09

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Kim N.

Vienna, VA

2 star rating
6/19/2008

They have a stocked bar for cocktails, which is not  common in vietnamese restaurants (most of us are lightweights). They've been mentioned in several magazines, which is apparent at the entrance, but probably just for being the one of two vietnamese restaurants in philly with the other one being directly across the street. Other than that, the've got nice napkins...?

The service was average, and the vegetarian eggrolls were way below average. Veggie in this case means "no meat," and doesn't mean "vegetables." Go figure! It was a fried not yet golden brown roll, with vermicelli, a mushroom or two and pepper...everywhere. It was so peppery I couldn't taste much else. It was stronger than sriracha. The fish sauce was sugary, without a kick.  We have a term in Vietnamese, pronounced "Zuhh-Ehhhggccck!" That's what I told my mom about it.

.

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Elite '09

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Jake V.

Philadelphia, PA

5 star rating
3/15/2008

Recommended by a co-worker, Vietnam supposedly started as a hole-in-the-wall kind of place that worked itself up.  And boy, is it impressive.  The food is fresh, varied and delightful.  The atmosphere is really classy but not too stuffy.  And yet, all the prices are reasonable.  

The only problem is that I've always had to wait to get a seat but I guess it's due to it's earned popularity.

On a side note, I also enjoy Vietnam because when ever I get to mention the name, instead of just saying the name, I tend to sing the name to the tune of Van Halen's "Panama".  And although Vietnam does not feature David Lee Roth flying around on a wire or a bass guitar shaped like a Jack Daniels bottle (that I know of), it is almost as great.

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Sharon G.

Philadelphia, PA

4 star rating
8/22/2009

Great deal and good vegetarian options! I can eat Vietnamese soup again!! Yay!

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Elite '09

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Andrew T.

Philadelphia, PA

3 star rating
3/10/2009

Vietnam is a really exciting yet down-to-earth and quite accessible restaurant. The Mai-Tais are the best in the city. Try the chicken clay-pot---it's bursting with flavor. Service tends to be slow and a little unattentive, but the food is worth the wait. However, a friend and I visited once and both our dishes were atrocious. I can't remember what we got, something with shrimp, I think. Shrimp that doesn't taste right is bad news. That must have been a fluke because the food has been really great with subsequent visits.

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