Ben Thanh is currently my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in the Tampa Bay area. Mostly because I have yet to discover all of the treasures that the menu has to offer. And, each time we visit, I try something new--- and it has been consistently delicious. Located in an outdated shopping center, down a road of old warehouses and strange apartment buildings, is a completely blacked-out storefront window with the small words "Ben Thanh" on the front. This location is away from the Vietnamese Restaurant row in Pinellas Park, yet just around the corner from Halong Bay. Since you cannot see inside the restaurant from the outside of the building, there is no telling what lies within before you open the door. When you do enter, you will get stared at by everyone in the place. No avoiding it. If there is a place to sit down, take a seat and let the food adventure begin... I thought I knew what Vietnamese food was like until I went to Ben Thanh. I thought that all places were the same and that each restaurant would always have the same dishes available, just in different qualities from place to place. Ben Thanh proved me wrong. What is my favorite appetizer? Well, it would be the Goi Cuon--- but, it is done quite differently. There is a very thin slice of pork sausage as the meat component, and also a thin sliced chili pepper inside. The taste is unexpected and phenomenal. I really enjoy ordering just appetizers as my meal like the Bun Xeo and Chicken Salad. Wrapping the crispy Bun Xeo in fresh lettuce leaves with mint starts my day off with a smile. All of the produce is so fresh that you cannot go wrong with any of the dishes. An early lunch/brunch from here does not make me feel weighed down, like some other places. What is my favorite entree? I have yet to find that out because I order something different and new each time I visit. The most interesting is the BT version of Mi Quang, which is a wet noodle pork based dish covered in seafood and rice crackers. Dessert? I usually will order the Che Ba Mau (mixed bean and jelly in coconut milk), or go to Seasons for shaved ice, or Thuy for bubble tea. So, why only 4 stars instead of 5 stars? It is a family owned and operated place, with what I would guess is a mother and son doing all of the prep-work and waiting tables. The service is barely there, and I have often just been ignored until the waiter/waitress is done eating their lunch or finishing what they are doing to even look in my direction. Normally, this sort of service does not bother me, but at Ben Thanh, it is to the point of being rude. United Market is on the same road, so we usually stop there after lunch to get groceries for the rest of the week. Now that the Ben Thanh secret is out, the service will probably get even worse. Don't crowd the place, ok guise? read more

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I ordered an appetizer of egg rolls & an entree of vermicelli with beef wrapped in betel leaf . Loved my meal . The gentleman taking my order was exceptionally patient with me. Hope to return soon for more bun. read more

Ben Thanh Restaurant - vermicelli & beef with betel leaf - Vietnamese Near Me - Pinellas Park, Florida

Service was mediocre and so was the food. We were expecting authentic Vietnamese food from all the great reviews, but it lacked flavor and quality. read more

The food was good. I do like the variety of food that they have. If you're bringing a group, they have dishes that can be shared by multiple people. The prices are generally lower than other places and the amount of food you get is fair. It's generally clean and well kept. The dining area has a very homey feel to it. The location makes it a little difficult to find. The parking lot had plenty of space. The service left something to be desired. The server was nice and friendly but not quite attentive. At the time, the restaurant was not busy but it took a while for us to get the check. I do appreciate that the food came quickly though. Between ordering and getting the food couldn't have been more than 15 minutes. read more

what made me to come to this restaurant because I happened to know they made fresh Pho noodle in house, so I wanna give it a try. I was surprised to know they have a hot stone bowl Pho on the menu. The Pho comes with broth in a hot stone bowl and noodles in a seperate plate. The flavor was flavorful and tasty. I definitely go back to try other dishes as well. read more

Ben Thanh Restaurant - Pho comes with a hot stone bowl of broth and fresh noodle on the side. - Vietnamese Near Me - Pinellas Park, Florida

Came here for the first time last week and I was not impressed which was so disappointing because I've heard great things from here. Growing up in a Vietnamese family with a lot of home cooked meals, this place lacks flavors. I do like the to-go Tofu and pork sausages (cha lua). I'll definitely give it another try but for now, it's so so. read more

These guys here are very friendly. Small but peaceful Pho restaurant. Food is good and it comes fast. Appetizer was a Chilli spring roll. Nice and spicy is the way I like it now. Good beef Pho, spring-roll bun bowl, and I had the bun bo hue (Spicy Pho) as usual. Broth was almost on point. Everything was good but for me, not the best Pho quite yet. Would definitely come back. read more

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The restaurant is renovated so it s comfortable. The portion is generous and prices are reasonable. However, the crepe should be crunchy, but texture likes french crepe which is soft. read more

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I loved this place. I used to come in for a perfectly quiet and great meal. But I just took an order out today, and I was given exactly 3 small pieces of beef and ONE beef ball (cut into 4 slices). I'm furious, because I drove all the way out there, feeling horrible, tipped well, and I open this insult of an order. This area is full of quality, authentic, delicious Vietnamese food. This once-favorite place has lost all of my business, extensive recommendations, and respect. (I added stars, because when I returned my food, they were kind, understanding, and refunded my card with no questions. I returned in a polite manner, and they gave me the same courtesy. I may one day sit down here again, but never take out. ) read more

Ben Thanh Restaurant - 3 miniature shreds and ONE beef ball cut into 3 slices - Vietnamese Near Me - Pinellas Park, Florida

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Very good! This place is very small but has great food. I tried the pho with everything in it and it was very flavorful. This place will definitely become one of my go to Vietnamese places in St Pete! read more

Food was okay. Family operated it seems. The nice old lady was a delight however the son seems nick picky. We asked for a couple more mint since it only had two leaves. The guy gave us a whole serving and charged for it. But didn't say until check out time We said we only wanted a few more leaves but he said it was part of serving. . You should say that before u charge. Pretty shady. read more

The management changed so nothing is how it was..... so sad! It used to be soooo good!!! The number one thing was the pho but now it's changed (even the noodles are different) the soup was bland. Sadly I will not be returning after coming here since I was a child. read more

Ben Thanh Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Pinellas Park, Florida

It's been a while since I've been back but I'm glad I did. Best place to get family meal, ca kho to (stew fish pot), canh chua ca (sweet & sour fish soup), bo bia (spicy vegetarian spring rolls), and a couple other dishes that are good food that you couldn't find else where. Haven't tried their pho though. read more

Ben Thanh Restaurant - Google Map Street View has the wrong image because it's of an apartment building in the back. - Vietnamese Near Me - Pinellas Park, Florida

$5.50 for a bowl of Pho?! Yes please! Like others have mentioned, this place is small. I was a little worried going with a group of 6 of us total (one small child) on a Friday night, but at 6:30 p.m. there was definitely room. (I actually hopes this changes, because they deserve more business). This place can be hard to find. My friends and I were at the Starbucks at The Shoppes at Park Place, which is literally 3 minutes away, yet all of us got lost trying to find Ben Thanh. It is not difficult to find once you know where you are going. However, there are a lot of dark rows of what appears to be shops up and down 62nd Ave. N, so keep your eyes out for 42nd St if you're going for the first time at night! This is definitely a family owned and operated place. You have to flag down your server to get any service. That being said, don't be scared or hesitant to call out for anything. You will enjoy this place immensely more if you go with people you like to chat for hours with. You will never feel rushed to leave and can talk to your heart's content. We started out with kim chi, which is not on the menu. This is not your traditional Korean kim chi. It was not super spicy (which I like) and tasted of ginger. Sometimes I actually hit a huge pocket of ginger. If you like ginger, this is your dish. I like ginger in little doses, but I still enjoyed it. I got the bowl of Pho with beef balls. It was delicious. Great price, great beef balls, great size, it was perfect, since it was a cold outside. My only complaint is the broth was almost too flavorful. It got to be a bit much at the end when I had just the broth. I've had pho where I have absolutely devoured the broth, which is why I'm giving this place 4 stars. I would definitely suggest trying this place. It's a little out of the way, but it is worth it. read more

I usually come here for the Vietnamese pancakes (banh xeo) and you use rice paper to wrap. Their banh xeo is always crunchy and not really greasy. Also, try their bun bo hue. It's pretty good here. The restaurant has 10-15 tables and it can hold groups of about 10. They always have authentic Vietnamese music in the background and videos of vietnam in the background. Those are always entertaining. It's usually of people selling food, catching fishes, or different types of fruits. read more

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This place is located in a run down strip plaza. Not much to look at from the outside, but the food is excellent. Everyone was friendly, and the service was good. We had Bun Man and Nam Nguyen. Both were excellent. Very fresh ingredients. This is our new favorite Vietnamese restaurant. We'll be back soon. read more

Ben Thanh Restaurant - Bun Man - Vietnamese Near Me - Pinellas Park, Florida

I got the food delivered from Uber eats and it was not very good. Everything tasted like it had been sitting around in fluid all day. I threw most of it in the garbage read more

Top notch Pho with super-fresh ingredients...one of the best in the area (I've tried a LOT of Pho)...other dishes (fried rice, spring rolls, etc) are also of top quality, and made with fresh ingredients (it makes a big difference!) Small, clean place with very friendly service compared to some of the Vietnamese places around town. It's easy to miss this place when driving by - with almost no discernable signage. It thrives on word-of-mouth. I was introduced to it by a Vietnamese friend when I asked where her favorite Pho place was. read more

Love their foods, so authentic and well balanced in flavors and aroma. My favorite is com suon nuong, bun rieu, bun dau mam tom. They do kickass catering menu too. The stuff that viet parties have like Nom bao tu, xoi khuc, and spring rolls read more

My go to Vietnamese neighborhood restaurant. Don't let the plaza this restaurant is located in fool you. The food (and prices) are great! The owners are absolute wonderful people and probably see me more than my own family does. When I bring my friends who aren't familiar with Viet cuisine they always love the grilled pork over rice, the won ton soup and of course the pho. Everything is super fresh and the portion sizes are great. My go-tos are the pho and the beef fondue. Closed on Mondays (which still makes me sad) read more

Ben Thanh Restaurant - Bun thit nuong cha gio - Vietnamese Near Me - Pinellas Park, Florida

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Love this place . Very very good broth . Vegetables are a bit stingy , but if you ask , they will bring more. A bit of a dive place , but holes in the wall are fun too. Wait staff isn't the greatest , very slow . Very helpful, for the most part . Just slow . Also like the hot / sour soup. It's more like a Thai soup. I was able to order with beef . Last waiter wouldn't allow it .. yikes . Very , very fresh taste . A go to for me. read more

My boyfriend and I are so obsessed with this place. It really isn't much in terms of location or ambiance (some hole in the wall in a dying shopping strip), but ohmygodthefood. I swear by the Pho, all of the soups, and the rice dishes. I never had anything to eat here that wasn't delicious and incredibly fresh. We have gone to a lot of Vietnamese restaurants in the area, but never tried another one after we found this place. I should also mention that the prices are the lowest you will find, especially considering the high quality. read more

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My fellow yelp elite pal Crystal H. and I came here for lunch last Friday, after trying to make plans for what seemed like an eternity. We arrived right at noon and the place was dead when we got there (but that quickly changed). We had our choice of tables and were seated and presented menus immediately. Both of us have had Vietnamese before, but this was our first time at Ben Thanh. It took a while for us to decide, but we both opted for a hefty bowl of Pho and the Beef Bun Vermicelli. Usually, I don't order 2 entrees at a time, but the prices were so reasonable (most dishes fall in the $6 range), that I figured it couldn't hurt to try it all! For my pho, I went with the plain Jane "chicken noodle vietnamese style" as I call it. It was served simply, with a large helping of flavorful broth and fresh sliced chicken. Once I added some sriracha, bean sprouts and basil, we were good to go! I was definitely impressed with my dish and ate every last drop. Next, we had the beef bun. I've had it at other places and would say it was comparable to the competition. It was a large serving, with lots of fresh romaine, cold noodles and beef with lots of savory toppings. The peanut sauce was a bit different from what I was expecting, but still tasty overall. Sadly, I'm not a fan of the traditional fish sauce that's traditionally served with this dish, so I always opt for the peanut sauce instead. For about $14, I left satisfied after having a delicious bowl of hot soup (which was excellent considering the weather was cold all week and I had been feeling a bit blah myself) and a full meal. You can't beat that price! The only reason we didn't give 5 stars is because shortly after we arrived, the restaurant quickly became packed with about 40 guests and there was literally 1 poor server working alone. He really did his best to help everybody as quickly as he could, but he is only one person and could only do so much. They really should consider adding another server during the lunch hour since it's apparently a very popular place at that time of day. Overall, my friend and I both enjoyed our meals and agreed we would definitely come back. read more

The food is delicious. It is a restaraunt to bring family and friends out of state and visiting to because they would enjoy the cuisine. Everything is pretty delicious. It is one of my favorite restaurants. read more

I think this place may be under new management? The menu changed- there are a lot more items on the menu now! The pho broth is still decent but the noodles they use now aren't good. Wouldn't recommend. The ban xeo is now better than before. read more

This restaurant has been around for over 20 years! My absolute favorite banh canh! I love the chicken but you can also have it with pork!

Excellent choice for Friday night takeaway. Wow, the menu, prices, and service is excellent. Ordered a Pho (flank steak), grilled pork (hibachi, oh the flava) with vermicelli, and a couple of shrimp rolls. 2 entrees and an appetizer for $18. They just had a 10 year anniversary, go here. Off the beaten path south of Parkside Mall. I will return, no question. read more

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Food is great! This hole in the wall is easy to miss when driving past, but go out your way for it! My favorite was the shrimp "dumplings" in the transparent wrap. Mom had pho that had a delicious broth. I had bo kho which was just okay, til the very end when you can sip the soup all down and that's where the flavors really were. Sister had fried battered shrimp with rice which to me was mediocre. Overall, a great spot for some food. OH. And the Vietnamese coffee is theeeeee closest to authentic ones you get in Vietnam . Sooooo Delish!!! read more

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Yelp to the rescue. Driving back from the beach and needed some Pho for the family. Forget about the location that seems more like an industrial park strip mall and go for the food. The broth of the Pho was rich and savory, unlike many I've tried and liked before. So this one made an impression. The bowls were smaller than others but the noodles and meat were good. Just would have liked more. The spring rolls Cha Giao were more disappointing as they felt pre-made and dry. The rice noodle dish with veggies and roast pork was okay but not our favorite. So go for the pho and we will need to see what else hits the higher notes next time. We will be back. read more

Thanks to Coty S. I found Ben Thanh. She said it was probably the best Vietnamese in the area and I think she might be right. I was looking to find the best Pho for a friend of mine who has a specific version in mind. I was told to head to Hillsborough for Pho Quyen, but this left us satisfied. I tried the pork bun and it had fantastic flavors and it felt very fresh. The veggies were crunchy and the noddles weren't soggy or gummy. Also it was dirt cheap which makes it even better. My friend said the pho wasn't quite as good as "the other place back home" but it was good enough to stop looking. The inside isn't really decorated much and the service isn't the friendliest, but it was still polite. This place is definitely on my re-visit list! read more

I hated this place because I ordered dry noodles and they got me soup noodles. Definitely don't recommend. I HATED IT!

This place USED TO BE my favorite in the area for pho & chicken banh canh. My girlfriend and I used to come here at least two times a month. However, ownership changed and I found out the hard way. The food is terrible now. The pho broth under new owners was so bland it earned the ranking of being the WORST pho I have ever had, *by far*. It tasted like barely flavored water. Never going back. Soo sad!!! This place had a great reputation and now it's ruined. read more

affordable. and servers are fast and polite. but the spring rolls had paper tissue in them. read more

Ben Thanh Restaurant - These are the paper tissues in the spring rolls that made my teeth hurt ... (no damage tho) - Vietnamese Near Me - Pinellas Park, Florida

I just discovered this little gem of a restaurant a few months ago after my honey introduced me to this place and it's been one of our favorite places to eat ever since!! The food is delicious! The beef pho is full of flavor and served with plenty of bean sprouts and other herb garnishes. One of my favorites is the bahn xeo. The crepe itself is light and crispy. The sauce that accompanies it is a yummy sweet and spicy chili sauce. It's listed as an appetizer, but the large portion can be eaten as a whole meal. Their fried spring rolls are also light and crispy - not greasy or oily as some can be - and come with a side of lettuce, herbs and a sweet dipping sauce. Also loved their Thai tea...so delish!! We stopped in for lunch today and I ordered the bun bo hue...the broth was spicy with hints of lemongrass and sweetness..it was soo good! I loved that they give you lots of herbs to garnish with because that's one of my favorite things about Vietnamese soups, so this was a plus for me! The staff have always been so friendly to us and the service is pretty fast. You can sit anywhere you like and the waitress comes over to greet you right away. Will definitely keep coming back! read more

Move over "Tasty Pho" and "Thinh An"...yes...another has taken over your coveted position of "Tina's Favorite Pho Restaurant in Tampa"...Ben Thanh's Pho ROCKS !!!!!!! We have eaten yummy pho in New York City and California. Many moons ago, I tried to make pho, once. Make no mistake...my pho totally sucked and was bland. But, it was my 1st attempt at making a broth and gave me great appreciation of the spices that make an awesome pho. To me, Ben Thanh's broth is: 1. Soooooooooo tasty 2. The picture of Umami 3. The reason why my taste buds thank me for being alive. :) Dave and I have been to Ben Thanh twice. Both times, I've ordered the pho with everything-for-a-carnivore (the #19, I think). We also get the spring rolls with the Chinese sausage. The spring rolls with the Chinese sausage are delicious. The vinegar-chili sauce is a great condiment that compliments the Chinese sausage. This sauce would be great for a great variety of Dim Sum, Lechon, BBQ, Pork Dishes...Ummmm...Did I mention that the vinegar-chili sauce is yummy? :D Ahhhh...now, for the pho...This is the 1st pho that I've had that does not need any lime, jalapeño, or mint to enhance the broth. The broth is that good. It needs no enhancement. Please do your taste buds a favor. Have a Ben Thanh pho. read more

From the one visit I've had, I'd give it another try for sure. They were swamped with take out orders and it took a little longer than expected to get my chicken pho but it was delicious. They use a sweeter basil than I was expecting but it was still good. I'll probably be back! read more

Ben Thanh Restaurant - Pho ga (chicken) - Vietnamese Near Me - Pinellas Park, Florida

This place is tucked away in a strip mall and easy to miss; but I've been here twice and both times were 5 star experiences. First of all- parking is super easy which is a gift. And then entering, the place feels small but we were able to get eight people around one table with only a minor negotiation with the server. It's the kind of place you could come to in a hurry and eat on the fly or you could meander for hours which was more our style. Those who were drinking were disappointed with the beer selection- there were only three available. Two big chain beers and one Chinese beer- and no Vietnamese beer option. But, the water glasses were constantly filled and the coffee was delicious. All the food was amazing. I ate the beef Pho and it was so delicious that I forgot to take a picture. The mung beans and Thai basil and jalepenos were on a shared plate in the middle of the table and there was more than enough to go along. The broth was excellent but I'll agree with previous posters that at the end it was almost too much flavor. I was fighting off the end of a battle with strep, though, and felt amazing after. Finally, the reason I give the place 5 stars over 4- the prices. This place is beyond reasonable and for the 8-9 bucks you'll pay for your meal- it's definitely worth the trip. All in all I highly recommend. read more

This wasnt the best location or the most attractive restfrom the outside, but the food made up for it. The best Pho I have ever tasted and the chili spring rolls were great. They serve fresh lemonade and lime drinks which were refreshing and a nice compliment to the Pho. The menu had pictures throughout so if you're a newcomer, you get some assistance. They also have a board with daily specials which i love because they mix it up and use fresh ingredients. The staff was nice, and it was full for lunch despite the location challenges. I'll definitely be back to sample some of the other dishes. read more

Hard to find lemongrass clams (especially ones this fresh and flavorful) as well as Chả Giò this authentic. Glad this place exists. I recommend! read more

My seafood soup had two shrimp in it, two tentacles and yes, two small pieces of shrimp. Very tasty soup but not worth paying for seafood with as little as they gave. I wouldn't come back. Poor service and not a nice looking place. Too many other good places to go to. read more