Really generous serving sizes! My husband and I were impressed with how good the beef pho was as well. read more

Excellent food! Lots of small surprises of different tastes and textures. Hot, sweet, Spicy... fresh and crisp veggies. Lots of food! Thank you so much! We can't wait to come back soon! Mike & Melinda read more

Their food is probably the best asian food in SC. Their bbq pork with rice or spring rolls are the absolute best! Their strawberry boba smoothie was so delicious and creamy. I always come here and will forever recommend! read more

My favorite Asian restaurant in all of Santa Cruz by far!The staff is super sweet & accommodating & their Beef Pho & Banh Mi are to die for! 10/10 would recommend! :) This place has been a comfort place for years I've been at ucsc & feels like one of the most authentic asian spots here! read more

Amazing food and great service. This is the only place I have found authentic Vietnamese sandwiches in Santa Cruz. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

Great food at a decent price.... one of my regular spots to get dinner to go.. I often order online and that works well... then pay when I get there. I highly recomend basil chicken wings... they are amazing. I also get the Special Asian Beef Pho soup regularly... its the real deal. They give thin slices of raw beef to cook in the broth which only takes a minute it is so thin... fresh basil and cilantro and bean sprouts... along with jalapeño and noodles.. compliment pre cooked beef and beef ball... Other than those two favorites... we get the prawns; pork and vermicelli occasionally and padcthsi and spring rolls. They offer some Chinese dishes as well... but I have never tried them. read more

I was delighted to learn that the owner is Vietnamese. I was very skeptical to come here because Santa Cruz doesn't have a plethora of Asian eateries, Vietnamese to be exact. I cannot go and get a banh mi pate cha nor can I go and get banh bot chien so easily anymore. Sigh. More and more, I seem to miss San Jose like crazy. Anyway. Down w/ a cold, all I wanted was pho. Everyone kept talking about the #8 on the reviews so I ordered 3 (for Craig, my daughter, and myself) but later on I found out that they have pho dac biet. I like tripe and I like tendon. The steak? I eat that on the side - rare. I managed to get sach (tripe) added to mine. I was pleasantly surprised that the pho was quite tasty. For under $8, it was a generous portion. The meat counts but in pho, it's all about the broth. It needed roasted onions, roasted ginger, and more star anise. I can tell but overall it was pretty good given the demographic. Happy to see banh mi on the menu, I ordered the only option available: banh mi ga nuong. Though Craig didn't enjoy his half, I thought my half tasted delicious. I can taste the lemongrass that was chargrilled on the chicken. I wish I ordered two instead of sharing. Seriously. A few Chinese/Vietnamese items: fried rice, chow mein, egg rolls, general chicken, sweet and sour pork, wonton soup, lollipop chicken, beef and broccoli, sesame balls, bo kho, and many more; all reasonably priced. The place is fairly clean and service was great. I found out as I was waiting that not everyone there working speaks Vietnamese. It was fine but I am sure I looked stupid talking up a storm and asking questions when the other party has no clue what the hell I was saying or asking. I will be back for sure. It's nothing like the selections in San Jose but it will suffice for the homesick. Sad. read more

See all

For this area, it's alright but definitely no comparison to San Jose or Oakland. I've had pho a couple times here. Sometimes it's ok but sometimes it tastes really off. Anybody who knows pho, knows it's all abut the broth or the whole thing is off. Every now and then this place has off tasting pho because of the base. The staff could use a little better customer service, don't seem that friendly. I've seen them mix up orders a bit and aren't god about correcting their mistakes. When you tell them they mixed up the numbers or the wrong order, they ask if it's ok that you just eat it anyway...not good service. read more

I was yelping in the area for some soupy Asian meal and found this spot. I was kinda skeptical at first because the sign outside says they serve Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai food but how can a restaurant be good at 3 different types of cuisines?! It just has to be one really good Asian cuisine or just all not so good in my opinion lol Well I didn't try all three cuisines but ordered the number 8 pho which included meatballs and rare steak. The food was mediocre and had a lot of broth which I didn't mind but made it seemed like I didn't have a lot of meat or noodles. What I didn't like was the fact that the food we ordered for a party of 5 took a really long time (20-30 minutes) when I thought this was called "Asian Express" LOL not hating, just wondering when the express would play in. And the tables we were sitting at were dirty from leftover food residue :( They do offer iced water in a self-dispensing container but getting their dispenser refilled isn't one of the restaurant's priorities and I get thirsty :( Overall, 2 stars for this place. I'm surprised how many people do come to the restaurant and it does get busy but maybe I just ordered the wrong thing. Oh well not planning on returning though. read more

Asian Express - Number 8 pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Capitola, California

I came here to try their pho just because I missed it and had a huge craving. I actually came here with a small group and we all ordered pho. I could have sworn it was a little more expensive than how much I normally pay for a bowl of pho. It wasn't horrible but I've tasted better. I guess the 2 stars explanation is more due to the fact that their drinks SUCK. I thought I was ordering some sort of boba drink but it turned out to not be that at all and worse. I hate coconut and the dirnk contained a huge amount of coconut flakes. Oh and the boba inside wasn't even realy boba. It was hard, nasty tasting boba that disgraces all bobas! I mean it's conveniently located next to Capitola Mall and near a couple of plazas but don't think I'll be coming here again. read more

Asian Express - Vietnamese Near Me - Capitola, California

See all

Very good and savory pho soup, the spicy seafood is so good with boba drink Very small place and some dirty tables read more

One of the better Asian restaurants in my opinion in the Santa Cruz county. Also one of the only places where you would find decent pho there. (way better than that wannabe pho at Santa Cruz diner) They actually have pretty decent meat and noodles in the pho, and their broth is pretty good also. Only bad thing is that it is pretty pricey for the portion that they give. The entree plates are actually pretty good too. Yes, I am a beast and a vacuum cleaner, I ordered pho and a entree plate. Maybe because their portions are not that big? Or because I am fat. Either way, the food was alluring enough to me to make me want to spend more $$. Parking is aplenty as it is located inside a plaza thingy. Would definitely come back if craving chinaman food. read more

See all

First time trying this place and it is super yummy. Awesome fresh food with many veggie options. They also have great bobas and the best Vietnamese coffee in town. The customer service is superb! Will be coming back here again. read more

Ordered some boba drinks not too long ago and my family really enjoyed their milk teas. I ordered their passion fruit tea with boba, but unfortunately I noticed a fly floating at the top of my drink! Sad... read more

Asian Express - Passion fruit tea with boba - Vietnamese Near Me - Capitola, California

My friend Denise sent me here and I was dubious. #1. The name Asian Express is not inspiring to me. It seems like just another BORING " fast-food " place where they serve mediocre food. #2. Strip mall next to a Chipolte and a Starbucks. BARF. Two strikes against this place from the moment I walked from the parking lot. I go inside and it smells terrific. The cashier who took my order could not have been nicer. The place was very clean and you could see into the kitchen easily. I ordered a Vietnamese pork sandwich which came out fresh and hot from the kitchen in about five minutes. $6 dollars. IT WAS TERRIFIC!!!!! Seriously wonderful and perfect in every way. When I spent some time living in Guangzhou China there was a neighborhood that only had Vietnamese spots. I ate there several times a week. This poorly named business in the cheesiest strip mall in Capitola would not only survive in the mean streets of Guanzhou....it would thrive. Best Vietnamese sandwich I've had here in the US. Well done and I cannot wait to go back and try some other stuff. Thanks Denise! read more

COME HERE FOR GOOD ASIAN FOOD IN SANTA CRUZ!!!! Checked this place out after it reopened. Near the Capitola mall so there are a bunch of shops in the area! The restaurant is quite small, but not very busy most of the time. There's a menu right when you walk in and you have to walk in further to order. There's a nice selection of noodle soups and some rice plates. I would say mostly Vietnamese food. The cashier is super nice and will give you nice recommendations. All the workers are very friendly too! I've tried the chicken curry, chicken egg rolls, spicy seafood noodle soup, and the beef pho. All really good!!! The portions are generous and the phos are SO much better than other places in Santa Cruz. The egg rolls are also SUPER good since they come out fresh. My go to place to go when I want nice solid asian food (especially pho!) when I'm here at UCSC. read more

Picture menus, fast service, price slightly over market but decent portions, lots of customers, i have no complaints. Their pho smells great.... read more

Asian Express - Chow mein & kung Pao chicken. Note the chicken is red, actually spicy like Kung Pao is supposed to be. - Vietnamese Near Me - Capitola, California

My daughter and I have been coming here every nice or twice a week for over 2 years. Not only is the food SO delicious, the staff is just the sweetest. They are super-attentive and the service is always fast and friendly. My daughter LOVES the boba tea and the pho soup is just so tasty. read more

Wow the Vietnamese food here is better than many you can find in the Bay Area. Delicious bahn mi, avocado shake, chicken pho, and stir fry. One star knocked out because the table is gross with thick greasy residue. Improvement to the cleanliness is needed. Staffs are very friendly and attentive to our needs. We were very happy to find a Vietnamese restaurant in Santa Cruz with good pho. read more

Worst customer service, and the food is very mediocre. Definitely do not sit in the back of the restaurant smells like shit and Clorox. Do not go here. read more

This place is a cozy fav spot! The spicy soup base are my go-tos! Its a perfect amount of spice with good flavors and can be enjoyed at their spot or packaged nicely to go. The spicy seafood, mix veggie wonton or bbq pork wonton are sooo goood! For appetizers, their spring roll and egg rolls are recommended. Oh, and if you like Taro- the boba here is one of the best for the area read more

Okay maybe I ordered the wrong thing, but my soup had a decent flavor .... Except for the chicken in it. This must have been old chicken that was once roadkill and then microwaved and dunked in my soup. Yuck. Clearly I'm not a fan of old chicken taste, but hey... maybe, I would give this place another run. I'm leaning toward more of a no-go, but if I did return, I'd get something vegetarian. read more

Went here for lunch yesterday and got the chicken pho along with some egg rolls. My table had no napkins and was slightly sticky. The food wasn't bad, it took them very little time to bring out my pho but an additional 10 minutes for my egg rolls but they were hot and fresh so I didn't mind. The egg rolls were the best part of the meal. The pho was good but I've had better although it's definitely not the worst I've had. Friendly and helpful staff but even so I don't see myself coming here again for a sit down restaurant. read more

Favorite hole in the wall place in Santa Cruz. We get the vermicelli noodles with pork/shrimp/egg roll ( number 14 I think?) and one of the pho dishes. Prices have gone up over the years but i Still enjoy this place read more

Went in with my bestfriend today. We got pho, pork spring rolls, pot stickers, and an orange chicken combo plate. Everything we got was fantastic, what we couldn't finish we had to take home for later. The food came out quickly and we were kindly thanked on our way out! I'd definitely recommend coming in! read more

I have been to this place several times and their food doesn't disappoint. Even better than most other "fancy places". Their food has always good taste and they have fast service! read more

This is for their pho only. I haven't really ordered anything else from here. But I will say this. I love pho. Like, could eat it 3x a week happily. I lived in Oakland for 15 years and was surrounded by good pho everywhere (San Jose area obviously being king of the very best pho). I knew moving here was going to be a huge sacrifice when it came to Vietnamese food. Though I long for other delicious Vietnamese dishes, I can say that Asian Express has really come through for me on the pho front. I give them 5 stars in Santa Cruz, where I might give them 4 stars in the Bay Area. Point is, they make really damn good pho. The beef is sliced paper thin (and they give you a ton of it), the beef balls are tasty, and the broth is on point. I will branch out with them and try their bún soon, now that spring is here. But if you've got a hankering for pho, look no further. read more

I came to this place solely for their banh mi, which I've had three times now. Each visit the greens have been fresh, the meat still hot, the french roll warm, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Delicious! can't wait to come back for more! read more

So tasty and never disappoints. I come here once a week, at least. Their noodle soups hit the spot...I'm slowly working away at the menu :)

I have been craving a banh mi, and I was not disappointed! The pork was super flavorful and not dry at all. I was even more delighted by the #13 which I had gotten my son, which is the grilled prawns, pork and vermicelli. Everything was great and even better portion sizes. It was our first time here, so I was a little confused by the layout, but we were welcomed as soon as we walked in and helped by a nice gentleman. Overall, it was a good experience and we'll definitely be back! read more

Asian Express - Pork banh mi, Thai tea and #13 - Vietnamese Near Me - Capitola, California

I placed a telephone order for a chicken bahn mi to go. I get to the restaurant to pick it up and was told they ran out. Not a good way to conduct business. read more

Excellent, authentic Banh Mi with correct roll and fillings.In mini-mall with other sandwich and quick lunch places.

Keeping the 5* for my last review. Ordered the lollipop chicken and basil chicken and they were very disappointing. Lollipop chicken was overly sweet and fried, and it made me feel a little sick after eating. Basil chicken was a lot of tiny fried nuggets that I also felt was over seasoned. I may go for the basil chicken wings next time instead. I plan to just stick to the Vietnamese food for the foreseeable future. read more

The woman taking my order created my plate for me. I was looking for a tofu plate and she described what she could make for me and tailored it to my spice preference. Needless to say I LOVED it. Thank you awesome lady! read more

Asian Express - Tofu Kung pao - Vietnamese Near Me - Capitola, California

See all

I love this place. Always consistent, quality, cost, value, service is always excellent! I like the pork spring rolls & grilled chicken with vermicelli, the soups and sandwiches. Highly recommended. read more

Crappy food and service. I didn't like my food and they refused to give me something else free of charge, the beef in the pho was was overcooked and tough. read more

Asian Express - Horrible horrible food and even worst service - Vietnamese Near Me - Capitola, California

Pho Review: Pho here is below sub par! If you've never had Pho, don't go here as your first experience because it is straight trash. Flavor: Lacking. One word, lacking. It's missing flavor. The meat is bland and tastes as if it's on the verge of going bad. The noodle was over cooked/soft and also didn't have any flavor and sort of tasted like it was going bad. I didn't even finish it to be honest. I left after a few try's. Service: Crappy. Host/Cashier had a bad undertone and was rude. When one couple left he said: "you could've wiped your table but you didn't...mmhh". Then, when I left and told him I didn't like it and wanted a refund he said: "well next time you should've picked something that you actually liked" umm No bro, your Pho is trash, I've had good Pho! Pick any place in San Jose and you'll find its 3x better! Presentation: Deceiving. Looks decent to the untrained eye but somebody who knows their Pho could spot the signs in the broth. Broth had a Yellow ring around the rim, which is probably too much oil or nasty fat OR both! Conclusion: I give it a 5/10. It wasn't enough to make me throw up(thank god) but also not enough to make me say "Mmm this is actually really good Pho!". Bottom line, eat at your own risk! Oh and btw in case your thinking I'm an ungrateful Asian, I'm not. I'm Mexican, and even I know what "Good Pho" tastes like. No wonder they call it "Asian Express". Mic dropped* read more

I've been here a few times already and it's about time I give this restaurant a review. It's really hard to find a decent Pho restaurant in the santa cruz area and I'm glad this place exists! To be honest their Pho wasn't the best the first few times I had it but maybe they got new cooks or something bc their pho tastes better now! Their vermicelli noodle is pretty good, I love the egg rolls that come with it! I tried their beef stew (pho bò kho) today and it was surprisingly pretty warm, tasty, and homey! I love how perfectly braised the beef is! Definitely recommend this dish! Although the food was good my friend found a bug in her pho and they took it back for her and made her a new bowl. On top of that, the owner or manager came out to apologize and later came back with really delicious sesame balls on the house for her. This was really nice, thanks so much! The sesame balls were so crunchy and yummy! Will def come here for my sesame balls craving next time. Overall, I had mixed feelings about this place in the past but my recent experience has been good so I will probably keep coming back! read more

See all

Food was great, my oldest son and husband love the pho and there shrimp rolls and my youngest and I loved the fried rice and orange chicken, we came here before while it was still covid and sucked we couldn't dine in but now that we can we love it, it's our go to when my son says I want pho, they wer fast too on bringing our food out, we love it read more

I come here for the beef Pho, the best you'll find in the Santa Cruz area! The ambience here is mom and pop restaurant, run down and comfy. The service is 10/10, the main fellow who is usually at the register is ON IT. He serves you your waters, your sauces, he is on it with the service! I appreciate the service here above all. If you're feeling Pho, this is the spot read more