We are not vegetarian, but my bff wanted to try this restaurant. A Hidden Gem for Vegetarian Vietnamese Food Lovers. If you're vegetarian and craving something beyond the usual options, this spot is an absolute must-try. Tucked away quietly, it's a true hidden gem serving up incredibly flavorful and satisfying Vietnamese vegetarian dishes. The food is delicious--each dish tastes fresh, well-balanced, and thoughtfully prepared. From fragrant noodle soups to crispy rolls and savory rice plates, every bite was full of depth and comfort. The space is clean and welcoming, and the service is warm without being overbearing. Prices are very reasonable for the quality and portions you get. Highly recommend to anyone looking to explore vegetarian cuisine beyond the typical. It's a wonderful way to enjoy Vietnamese flavors--plant-based style! read more

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5 star is just for the food. All dishes are very well seasoned considering it's all vegan. I got the Bun Bo Hue, everytime it comes out with full of flavor, fresh veggies, and hot broth. Service is typical Asian, lady comes takes your order and if you need something gotta flag her down. Pay at the counter. Basically order, eat and leave. I also saw that they give out free 100 meals every month. So because of that, I'll still rate it 5 stars for food and their generosity. read more

Buddha Vegetarian Restaurant - 33. Bun Bo Hue - Vietnamese Near Me - South El Monte, California

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Lunch date w/mama Vietnamese vegetarian food. It was very delicious. Service was super nice and friendly. read more

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Buddha Vegetarian Restaurant was recommended to us by my Mom's dear friend and her daughter. Thank you! It is located in the same plaza as Thuan Phat Supermarket in South El Monte. Plenty of free parking. Interior was nicely decorated with gold, black, and gray theme. Very clean with lots of inside seating. One all gender restroom available. It was our first time here. It is a vegetarian restaurant. I am not a vegetarian, but I love vegetarian foods. Their menu offers a variety of common Vietnamese dishes. I had my eye on Bun Rieu and that's what I got. I also ordered a side of egg rolls. My Mom got a dish with some kind of bean or tofu cake and thin vermicelli. I saw the name of her item on the receipt, but I can't trace it back to anything on the menu at least not by name. The picture of it is on the menu though. I enjoyed my Bun Rieu very much. Tomato based flavor was on point. Lots of fresh ingredients. Plenty of rice noodles. Love the tofu skins! Highly recommend to anyone who loves Bun Rieu. My Mom loved her plate, too. Veggies were fresh and crisp. Good amount of thin vermicelli. Plenty of the bean or tofu cake. Perfectly balanced! Egg rolls were good. Filling was tasty. They had taro in them. Funny, there were 4 egg rolls, but only one big green leaf. Wished there was one green leaf per egg roll so we could get 4 individual wraps. To our surprise, we were given two complimentary mung bean desserts. It wasn't too sweet. It was quite delightful to end our meal with it. Thank you! Overall dining experience was nice and pleasant. Staff was friendly and attentive. Amazingly tasty vegetarian foods. Very reasonable prices. Total bill was less than $40. Can't beat it! We're coming back to try their other dishes. read more

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I order the Banh Xeo and it tasted great. It was the right crisp and not oily at all. The service was also friendly and efficient. The shopping center it is located in is not greatly designed or maintained, but the food and service made up for it. This review was not incentivized or requested by restaurant staff. read more

Never liked vegetarian food but this place changes my mind! The interior is modern and clean and the food is very yummy. The fried spring rolls are made of taro which is delicious. The boun thit noun was yummy. The fake meat portion actually tastes like bbq meat. I told my mum I would actually come here again which is saying something! I highly recommend this place if you wanna try vegetarian. Only miss was the food took longer than expected to come out. read more

Came with extended family who wanted vegetarian and they were very accomadating to our big party ! RSVP process was easy. Food was seasoned and tasted so good. My family enjoyed as well. I do recommend the Bun Bo Hue, Banh Hoi, and Cha Gio (Egg rolls). Service was quick and kind. They were also very flexible when a one us ordered a larger party tray order for togo as well! read more

It was OK, there is plenty of free parking in the lot. Feels like a typical chinese/vietnamese place. Best to know what things want before you go as the menu had very little description to tell you what anythign is and the server, Vietnamese lady, couldn't understand me or my questions. The noodles look like rice noodles even though menu says egg noodle, so I could have probably gotten that instead of the eggplant dish. I'm gluten free and tried several ways to ask about it, but I'm pretty sure I got gluten cause my stomach was wrecked. Free beans for dessert. Not a place for me, but if you already know Vietnamese food stuff and don't have gluten issues, it's probably a solid place. read more

This restaurant is better than expected. Unexpected find that totally delivered. The service is great! We came in an hour-ish before they closed and the service was friendly and attentive. Everything tasted really good. Especially their banh beo and Banh Bột Lộc. - Angel vermicelli with 2 vegan options were great too. Could use few more pieces of lettuce. - Lemongrass vegan meat with rice was very flavorful. - Bun Bo Hue was the only dish that i thought it tasted a little off. If i'm craving for viet vegan. I would definitely come back. The restaurant location is located right behind the supermarket. TBH, this restaurant sits in less-than-ideal part of the area. read more

FOOD: all so delicious, with big portions. couldn't believe it's all vegetarian! my friend who isn't very well versed in vietnamese food really enjoyed it all too. LOTS of options SERVICE: good, they gave complimentary dessert and tea which was very kind! AMBIANCE: a nicer casual restaurant, not too loud. small parking lot read more

Buddha Vegetarian Restaurant - lemongrass chicken - Vietnamese Near Me - South El Monte, California

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Authentic Vegeterian Food that I'm obssessed with! I often come here to order for vegetarian days, I've tried almost everything in the menu and nothing has ever disappointed me. They also have free meals every month ( I've never encounter one so I can't share my experience) The ambiance is nice, clean and organized. My regular dish would be caramelized fish and egg rolls and bun bo hue! Service is nice and quick! read more

Buddha Vegetarian Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - South El Monte, California

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Amazing vegan restaurant, everything tasted really good !! Tried their lemongrass chicken (vegan) and their spring rolls. The portions are filling and they also give you complimentary tea and dessert. Service was fast and the ambiance inside for dine in is good. Will definitely be back to try their menu again. read more

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Had a pleasant experience here. Food is tasty and customer service is so kind:) I definitely recommend:) read more

Delicious food n good service! They serve vegetarian Vietnamese dishes and soups! Affordable prices too! I'll definitely come back! read more

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We stumbled on this place after running an errand in the area. OMG what a gem! We were there really early - like, 4:30pm on a weekday. So they were empty. Food was amazing. Service was fine. Food was AMAZING (this bears repeating). Vegan fish sauce FTW. Can't wait to go back. read more

Buddha Vegetarian Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - South El Monte, California

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I honestly hate vegetarian food or anything green and healthy but tried this place because my vegetarian aunt said we were going to buffet but somehow ended up here. Anyway I had no idea what they order but there were some good ones. The one with the sesame seed chips , the plate with the square thing, vermicelli and veggies, and the circle baby dishes were good. The soup was okay it did taste like hot and sour soup but if they had meat it'd be good but I know vegetarian restaurant so they won't so. Food came out really fast. My aunts and uncles say this is the best vegetarian place around here and they are glad they don't have to go to OC to eat vegetarian. As a meat lover, I would only go back. On that note they also have vegetarian bun rieu and bun bo hue. read more

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Found this vegetarian restaurant on a rainy day. Next to a supermarket. Plenty of parking. Enjoyed the ambience. Relaxing music and calming decor. Variety of options. I ordered fish, came with a bowl of soup and steamed rice. Pretty good. Also ordered shrimp and meat spring rolls, average. At the end, they also give you a mini dessert, the green bean dessert soup was just right, loved it. Reasonable price and great service. Would definitely head back for other items on the menu. read more

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Buddha Vegetarian is my new favorite vegetarian restaurant! I'm not vegetarian, but I love vegetarian food. I have been going to many around the area, and was really happy to see it open. I have been here 3 times so far and the food has been excellent each time. Everything tastes fresh and healthy with great flavor and texture. Service is fast and friendly. They are open every day from 9am-7pm. There is plenty of parking in the lot shared with Thuan Phat Supermarket. If you're looking for a fresh, flavorful and healthy meal, Buddha Vegetarian is a must-try. read more

Buddha Vegetarian Restaurant - Bún Chả Cá Thì Là, Vietnamese fried fish cake noodle soup with dill, #38 on the menu - Vietnamese Near Me - South El Monte, California

This is a new Vietnamese vegetarian restaurant in the SGV. They have a variety of vegetarian food on their menu at reasonable prices. I've been here multiple times. Whenever I visit, banh beo is a must. The topping was well seasoned, and it tasted like real shrimp. The fried chives, crunchy croutons, and vegetarian fish sauce really elevate the taste of banh beo. I definitely recommend you try this place, whether you are a vegetarian or not; it will not disappoint you. I can't wait to come back to try everything they offer. read more

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4.5 stars Tried this vegetarian restaurant for the first time after grocery shopping and, boy, did it hit the spot! Mom got the Bun Bo Hue & I got the Lemongrass Chicken. Both were quite good & filling. The Bun Bo Hue was savory, the noodles were quite smooth, & the veggies were fresh. No complaints here. The Lemongrass chicken was very, very well marinated. It might be a little too sweet for me, but, when paired with rice, it was darn-near perfect! At the end of the meal, someone came by to give a sample-sized dessert. This time, it was a a mung bean & kelp dessert that is quite popular during the summer season. It was decent. There's quite a bit of seating available & plenty of free parking on site. I will definitely be back. read more

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Found this new little gem in the same plaza as Thuan Phat Supermarket in El Monte. Was empty on a Thursday (I was the only customer at 6pm), I assume it's not well known right now especially being in soft opening still. Don't let that deter you because even if you're vegetarian/vegan or not, the food is delicious. I got these two items to try out. Spring rolls with rice paper - I misread and this came with rice paper instead or rice. A bit confusing since it was in the rice section. The rice paper came dry and still was edible (the vegetables slightly rehydrates them). The meat came on a skewer and was flavorful and a good texture. It's a light dish but so good. (5/5) Chili Lemongrass Chicken - This is a must get. Flavor wise it really packs a punch. Although the chicken is vegetarian, the seasoning made it a really good dish. Texture wasn't really like chicken but non the less, very good dish. (5/5) A must go to for vegetarians/vegans. I typically have days where we eat vegetarian due to Buddhist culture so this is a great and flavorful way to do that. Great food, and price was very reasonable. My total was $27 for the 2 dishes I got. I would be back to try out the soup dishes. Hope this place picks up. read more

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DON'T GO TO THIS RESTAURANT!! They lied to you and served you with left over food for whatever they had left before they closed I ordered Lau Mam and pay $32.67 and I got just trash not foods for human!!!! They didn't even mention any for me that they ran out or didn't serve that type of food read more

delicious vietnamese vegetarian food!! parking is easy to find in the lot and service was very quick and attentive, even for a large party. we did wish there was more description on the menu, as we were not all familiar with vietnamese cuisine and what would be included with each dish. the entrees did end up coming out before the appetizers, which threw us off a bit, but everything we ordered was delicious! i got the bun bo hue, and it was good, but i did have to add a lot of chilis because it came without any spice at all which i found surprising. i was able to try a friend's lemongrass chicken, and agree with other reviews that it is amazing!! as for appetizers, the egg rolls and spring rolls were pretty standard, standouts were the jackfruit salad and banh beo. would definitely come again! read more

Buddha Vegetarian Restaurant - 33. Bun Bo Hue - Vietnamese Near Me - South El Monte, California

In the San Gabriel Valley there's a new vegetarian restaurant that doesn't just serve vegan food they serve excellent vegan food. I came across this gem on a weekend run to the Vietnamese grocery store in the same parking-lot and boy am I happy I found this place. On entry I was politely greeted by a young man with a smile in a classy yet relaxing looking establishment. It was really easy to order with their menu in both Vietnamese & English. They will provide free filtered iced water and I believe free hot tea but you might want to ask. My wife ordered the Bon Bo Hue which is a rich broth noodle soup with fried tofu, vegan beef and a side of cabbage and basil leaf. She said it tasted like it was made of beef and found it to be extremely delicious. I had the Cam Ga Sa At which is vegan chicken chili lemon grass dish served with a scoop of rice & pickled veggies. I really was shocked and puzzled how they make tofu taste so similar to chicken and the texture was nearly like real chicken. I especially liked the season on the chicken as it wasn't too overpowering with lemon grass flavor but it was clearly pronounced in every bite. I give this place a solid 5 stars because the ambiance is nice, the food great and it's really affordable. Also note I am not a vegetarian and this being my second time eating a vegan establishment I'm amazed how good it is. I will definitely be back highly suggest you give this place a try. FYI: They also have vegan hot pot which looks like a lot of fun if you come with friends. read more

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So good! Thank you! We went out of our way to go here but it was Way worth it! The food hit the spot. As vegetarians, we were so thankful for a place with such tasty options! read more

This place was in a slightly sketchy area but the inside was pretty nice. More modern than the dingy surroundings. This is my first vietnamese vegan type of restaurant and I was just blown away with how good the food was. They make meatless meals very tolerable with flavor. I had the bun bo hue, which i didn't miss not having the tendons or meat at all. The substitute vegan meats were tasty and the broth was stellar. Would recommend this place and the two dishes in this review. I can't remember the other large build it yourself appetizer dish but it was so good too. read more

Buddha Vegetarian Restaurant - The bun bo hue. So flavorful - Vietnamese Near Me - South El Monte, California

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Was craving vegetarian food so went here to check it out. Got the bun bo hue and it was amazing. Was very flavorful. The decor inside is cute and place was super clean. Service was top notch. Def my new favorite vegetarian place moving forward in the sgv! read more

The best vegan Vietnamese food I've had outside of Vietnam! The fish ball noodle soup had the perfect textures and flavors. My partner had the chili lemongrass chicken rice dish, you can really taste the lemongrass! Not spicy at all but there's two types of hot sauce on the table, plus fish sauce, white pepper, and soy sauce for you to add yourself. I love this place and will definitely be coming back! We came after visiting family graves at Rose Hills, it's also right by the Whittier Narrows! Shares a parking lot with a large Vietnamese grocery store too read more

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I've been here several times now and have tried different items on the menu. All have been delicious and full of flavor! Large variety to choose and staff is always attentive as well as friendly. read more

We were planning to take my grandma to another vegetarian restaurant, but it was closed, so we decided to try this place instead. My grandma is usually pretty hard to please when it comes to restaurants, but she really enjoyed the food this time. Ordered ban bo hue, vegetarian hot pot, and banh beo. My grandma couldn't stop raving about how amazing the flavor was in the vegetarian hot pot. We all really enjoyed the banh beo too. After each bite, she'd say the flavors kept getting better and better. She even insisted that we should come back here every time we visit her. We'll definitely be back, especially since my grandma loved it so much. Also, I'm not sure if the hot pot base had flavoring (I thought it was just water), but she kept going on about how we couldn't replicate this flavor at home LOL If you're looking for a good spot for vegetarians, this place is definitely worth a try! read more

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Good Vietnamese vegetarian food for a reasonable price. I had the banh xeo, and it was wonderfully crispy with a refreshing side salad. The restaurant has nice greenery inside with relaxing music, so it was a great quick lunch spot. Service did forget a portion of my order, but they quickly corrected with no fuss at all. read more

First time eating here we got the bun bo hue it was delicious i love the soup sip all of it lol. We also got a spring roll im not a vegetarian but i wanted to try their spring roll soo yummy. Definately will come back for their spring roll. read more

I'm not vegetarian by any means, but who can ignore long lines outside this restaurant? After putting it off for months, my girlfriend and I decided to pop in for a quick visit. She got the the "pork" rib rice while I opted for the meatless version of bun bo hue. I was deeply surprised by the aromatics for each dish. The pork rib rice had minced "meat" and a vegan patty that was packed with flavor. It almost made me feel like I was eating a regular Vietnamese dish. The bun bo hue was clean and earthy. The broth was insane for it being all vegetables based. I recommend any vegetarian to try out this spot. read more

This is a new vegetarian Vietnamese restaurant that has a beautiful decor inside that looks clean and calm. The food is delicious! I need to come back to edit this with the correct names but my favorite so far are the rice noodle Weave dish with the egg rolls and the rice noodle salad with meatloaf. The staff who work here are nice as well. I am not certain which items are gluten free since it's not denoted but for example for the rice noodle salad I just didn't eat the meatloaf and gave it to a friend to eat instead. read more

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Delicious healthy foods & great service, will love to eat here with family and friends!

Food was honestly very good, all vegetarian and the staff is extremely friendly. It is just a tad expensive but worth it for the food and environment read more

Zero stars if I could. Was shopping next door to the supermarket and was excited that this was open already. We walked in and it was completely dead on a Saturday night. The only customer there were the owner's friends which she was already talking and attending to. We ordered off the menu and pointed to the picture that we wanted which is a white wrapped spring roll skin fried egg roll, but instead we got the egg eggroll instead (image attached). The worker told me that they use photos that are NOT theirs and he apologized for that. We are very annoyed at this as but took it anyways because they're adamant that this is an eggroll. If that wasn't annoying enough, when we tried to eat the egg rolls, we noticed some bugs in the lettuce! We saw not just one but TWO! Not sure how many more lettuce bugs there were in total because we were too disgusted to check. We made sure that they were not anything else but bugs and once we saw their legs, we returned it. A minute later, the gentleman came out and told us that these are not buggs and just the flowers of the vegetables which are not it because I grow lettuce in my garden and these are lettuce bugs! We couldn't believe that they tried to give us back to us and try to make us eat it ! The owner saw what happened and came by to give us a smile, but never apologized. She just asked if everything was OK and my mother-in-law had to explain to her that these were bugs and she just smiled and nodded and just stood there. Then back to chit chat with her friends who were showing support. The owner did not care about us one bit and no one came to check on us. When we left, no one acknowledged us or anything and made us feel like the bad people for pointing out that they serve us bugs on the lettuce. The only good thing they had was the curry lemongrass chicken with rice. But our entire dinner was ruined already with how they handle things. Would not recommend nor will we come back. Not to mention right before we got our food, they served us the veggies with the saran wrap still on it! I understand they do this in the back, but please remove it before serving to customers because this looks very unprofessional. Really not sure how this place will survive if you're going to ignore us the entire time and not apologize for serving us unwashed lettuce. read more

Buddha Vegetarian Restaurant - Not 1 but 2! They tried giving it back to us saying they weren't bugs. Shame on you !!! - Vietnamese Near Me - South El Monte, California

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It's located in Thuan Phat supermarket parking area. A decent size restaurant with Buddha decors. The service is excellent; friendly, attentive, and fast. I ordered Bun Mam, it's so good. It smells like the real fish fermented soup and tastes similar. I've heard other dishes are good as well like Bun Bo Hue and others. I will come back here again to try other dishes. read more

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Delicious food, many options, will return again and again! If you like vegan Vietnamese food, this is your place. Even if you're not vegetarian, you will almost certainly enjoy what this place has to offer. My husband (who normally eats meat when we go out) ordered a noodle soup with mushrooms, veggies, and mock meat, while I had the bun (rice noodles, lettuce, cucumber, mock pork, spring rolls). We also ordered a fresh spring roll appetizer (#1 on the menu) and a passion fruit drink. Everything was so tasty! Prices were reasonable ($12.50+ entrees, $5 apps, $5-6 drinks). Service was friendly. Although I've not been to Vietnam, the place felt very authentic. I don't live in the area but will go out of my way to return. read more

I love the food. It was amazing so rich and so delicious. I'm sorry I forgot to take a photo when it first came out. Presentation was really cute. My first time coming here and I love next to a market so like grocery shopping. ima For sure come back!! read more

Buddha Vegetarian Restaurant - Soup I ordered - Vietnamese Near Me - South El Monte, California