I've been eating Vietnamese food in South Philly since the '80s, and this 8th Street gem is the authentic experience I've been searching for. It is a total 180 from the larger halls nearby. On a boiling hot day, the hospitality was immediate: they greeted us with a pitcher of iced tea and a complimentary bowl of starter soup (canh) before we even ordered. That kind of proactive service is rare and made us feel like family. My friend and I both went for the classic Cơm Tấm Đặc Biệt (broken rice combo) with the pork chop, fried egg, egg quiche, and shredded pork skin. Everything was fresh and perfectly seasoned. What really sets them apart is the table setup--they provide a 4-container condiment kiosk with everything a serious eater needs: fresh sliced serranos, Ớt Sa Tế (chili oil), Ớt Ngâm Giấm Tỏi (pickled garlic/chilies), and chopped daikons. While other spots might have slightly larger meat portions, nobody beats the soul, the hospitality, and the transparent pricing here. If you want the true heart of this family's cooking, skip the big spots on Washington Ave and come to this 8th Street treasure. It's the legitimate, attentive spot that reminds me why I love this food scene. read more

They earned themselves 5 stars not only for the taste, but I was impressed with their delivery packaging. See my photo - fair amount of fresh chicken, but I couldn't believe they took the time to pack the sauce, and also the lime salt pepper with Chiles for a delivery order. It's a small thing, but went a long way for me. I didn't expect that I could have the same experience eating at home as I have eating there. The chicken was fantastic as usual- very fresh and good quality. The broth is good too, and they package it separately (see photo). Pho is $15 which is pretty much industry standard these days. I was very happy with my meal and will gladly order from them again read more

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The bun Bo hue here is pretty good! The server is very helpful and friendly. My food came out pretty quickly. They are cash only. The downside is the place is lacking in cleanliness and looks pretty run down. If you're ok with that, then they have some pretty authentic food. read more

Cafe Thanh Truc - Bun Bo hue - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Cafe Thanh Truc specializes in authentic Vietnamese cuisine including pho, broken rice dishes, and noodle soups. read more

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Obviously their food options is something my husband keeps craving as we live in Northeast and the cafe is in south Philly. Today was a disappointment because I'm finally in the mood to order something from them and their cafe hasn't closed yet. I placed the order around 4:40 pm on door dash. Cafe is closed at 5:30. An hour and some change later, they cancelled my order. I knew something was off because there's no dasher in the app and it was already after 5:30 pm when I started wondering. They cancelled at 6 PM. They did refunded one of my order as they had no more banh mi but they could've also cancelled the whole order if they couldn't fulfill it. Yet they had me thinking I'm getting my order tonight. That's pretty bad customer service if you ask me. I won't be doing business there anymore. read more

Ordered mi wonton soup for myself! So hot, authentic and fantastic especially with the pickled chilies!! My daughter got the pho tai. She's super picky but ate it all up! We also hit bun ho hue to take home!! Can't wait to try it!! They also give you complimentary chrysanthemum iced tea!! So refreshing and yummy!! It's unsweetened!! Another person who reviewed this place felt they got dirty water- they obviously don't go to Asian restaurants that give tea drinks!! Smh ‍ highly recommend and will be back when in town! I couldn't stop eating to take pictures!! Sorry!! read more

Banh Mi/Iced Coffee Edition* I was really looking forward to try this place since I've heard good stuff about it. Today, after my run I decided to get a Viet Iced Coffee from here and since I'm already here might as well get their banh mi. Coffee: i truly appreciate this coffee, I really do. But cutting down on the condense milk would help. Way way way way too sweet and too thick for me. Banh mi: it has the potential to be great. The pate could be spread out evenly. I wasn't too happy with the first since the pate was mostly in the middle. The bread could be crispier. Tell you what. I won't give up i shall come back and get another coffee and banh mi! But for now 3/5. read more

Cafe Thanh Truc - Cold cuts banh mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Our new favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Philadelphia. We have been slowly trying them all and this one slaps the hardest. It is the MOST traditional Vietnamese food we have had in years. The guy who serves you is an Angel. The food and broth is so so flavorful. We ordered: - many bowls of pho - rib eye rare pho - vegetarian pho - chicken pho - beef and tendon pho - summer and spring rolls We have been back 3 more times in the past week. Highly reccomend to have the best pho in Pennsylvania. read more

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This is a small Vietnamese restaurant with the best banh mi in South Philly. Better than Cafe Diem.

Amazing neighborhood cafe with very solid banh mi sandwiches and dishes. The seating is very minimal and barebones (2 tables) but the food is solid t unbeatable prices and the staff are great. My go-to is the BBQ pork banh mi with the perfect grilled and seasoned BBQ pork topped with pickled vegetables and Maggi in a crunchy and soft baguette. Honestly this is the best BBQ pork banh mi in South Philly AND it's only $5! The bun rieu is also solid although it does not come with the crab and ground pork meatballs but rather sliced pork and crabmeat with thin vs thick rice noodles. The bo kho is solid with a thinner broth and fresh baguette for dipping; it's not as thick as some varieties but still savory. Overall, this is a great neighborhood find so definitely come and get some banh mi sandwiches. They are a steal at $5! read more

One of the authentic restaurants in the city for Vietnamese food. I've only had their pho ga (chicken pho) and chao long (intestine congee). I gotta say that they have one of the best chao long around. The meat aside, the profile of the soup itself is complex and flavorful. This is good as it gets for eating out. Congee a lot of the time is a miss so I'm excited to find a place that has good congee. As for pho ga, it was just okay. Not the best around. However, I'm looking forward to trying out their other dishes. read more

This place is a little mom and pop shop around South Philly. There is limited seating, but know that if you come here, you'll feel right at home. The waiter took my order promptly and I got the vermicelli noodles. The food took a little while to come out, but not too long. The wait is definitely worth the wait because the food came out and I was amazed. The meat was cooked well, the veggies fresh, and large portions. If you're missing Vietnamese food, I highly suggest this place as they have a wide range of options for different taste palates and ALL are delicious. read more

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Don't come here. they were very sweet and welcoming, I hope they are successful, but they served us rancid water. I wish i was overreacting but when they brought us the water i thought maybe it was lemonade or iced tea as it was literally yellow, but my friend took a sip and said she thought it was water. after this we got up and left as we did not want pho made from the pee pee water. Her chest is hurting now and she said her throat and stomach hurt and i am honestly incredibly worried for her health. I normally would not leave a negative review on a family owned small business like this, but i feel the need to warn others for health reasons. please do not come here for your own safety read more

Cafe Thanh Truc - pee pee water - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We've been coming here for a few months. My favorites? Bun bo hue (flavorful, meaty fragrant, one of my absolute favorites in the Philly/NJ area and I've been to all of them), bun mam (on the sweeter side of other bun mam but really good), banh mi (near perfect crisp, thit nguoi is excellent, pate is yum, better than most), mi quang (meaty and fulfilling) and bun rieu (fresh and rich). Good room for a bistro like this but a little busy during lunch. With that said I've never waited. Service is quick. Pay at the counter. Cash and card accepted. Street parking can be a challenge. Foreigners (like me) welcome. ;) read more

Cafe Thanh Truc - Mi quang - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

After several visits, I decided to finally write up Cafe Thanh Truc. As you can see from the star rating, it was A-Ok. The pros: Cafe Thanh Truc has a variety of options on its menu. No longer do I need to decide in advance if I'm craving Pho or Banh Mi, as they offer both. However, because of the diversity, I feel that don't truly excel at either. Their pho is solid, but not quite as good as Pho Ha a few blocks away. Their Banh Mi good and cheap, but again not quite as good as Bali or QT. I do really like their summer rolls. Service is usually pretty good. I always have to ask for tea while I see others seem to get it automatically, however, that is not that unusual. Prices per portion are decent - I think the Banh Mi is cheaper than most, but the pho a bit higher than others. Regardless, you aren't breaking the bank for a solid lunch here. Cash Only! read more

Cafe Thanh Truc - Deluxe - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I fell in love with this restaurant after my first experience years ago. Back in 2017, I had fallen ill with a terrible flu during a bad snowstorm and I couldn't leave my apartment for days. I desperately needed something to fuel and warm my aching body. I called several restaurants to see if they could deliver with very little luck. I kept getting turned down because of the snow. When I finally dialed this restaurant, an older lady answered whom didn't speak much english. Much to my surprise, she said she would deliver to me. It took a few minutes to place my order since we both had some difficulty understanding one another. After providing my address as well as relaying what I wanted to eat, it was a waiting game. I honestly had little hope but after about an hour, I got a phone call letting me know the food was outside. I rushed downstairs and I believe it was the same lady that had taken my order! She had a big smile on her face even though she had just made a trip through snow and sleet. The food literally cured me. I got a beef pho and some chicken congee that lasted me for a few days. Even after reheating, it tasted just as good if not even better. Anytime I am sick now, I always think back to that time and remember the care, warmth, and love I had received from this place. That chicken congee seriously works wonders and is a remedy for my colds. I've been to this restaurant countless times since then to show my support and you should too. You can't go wrong with anything here and the staff is always so nice. I'm not sure if they still deliver though. read more

We stumbled upon this place when the next door place (Cafe Diem) had no empty seats. We were hungry, wasn't expecting much but boy were we surprised when we took a chance on this unassuming cafe! Hubby got the house special pho and my toddler and I shared a seafood pho! This is probably the BEST tasting pho we've had! Priced reasonably, both soups were amazing, lots of meat. We will come back for sure!!!! read more

I'm so torn about this place. Their banh mis are excellent and the only spot that could possibly rival Cafe Mi Quang's. But then their "broken rice pork chop" dish was the worst we've gotten in Philly. First restaurant I've seen offer 1/3 of a pork chop on the platter. The rice was just regular rice, not broken, and the quick pickle was all vinegar. The omelet was good but not enough to make up for the rest of the disappointing dish. Their pho was okay. The meat was all tender but the tendon was insanely chewy and inedible. Broth was a little bland but overall it was fine. I don't think I'd recommend trying anything other than the banh mis here read more

Cafe Thanh Truc - A serving for ants - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

They take credit card with like a $1 fee. I think this might be our favorite family owned spot in Philly for Viet food. Everything on the menu is good. We've had the pho, bun bo hue, and banh mi (only $5!). Restaurant is small and offers a couple of seats for indoor dining. read more

Honestly not a complete review, need to visit again to get more than a quick fix bahn mi & viet coffee. Definitely wasn't sure what to expect. I just asked for bahn mi not specifying what kind, whereas my usual would be roast pork or something other than the lunchmeat style but of course all of my privledge is showing and I'm honestly super grateful tjat they put up with a Gaijin like me and gave me what I wanted for under 10bucks in a global pandemic. the iced coffee was strong and delicious af - Amen read more

Cafe Thanh Truc - Bahn Mi & Iced Vietnamese Coffee - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We went here because the place across the street was way too busy. The prices here were VERY reasonable and the Bahn Mi was good. Not the best I've ever had, but still very good and about as cheap as I've ever found in Philly. Will be going here again to try other sandwiches if in the area. I'll definitely update if I find one that's incredible. read more

Authentic food and friendly staff. They did get my order wrong but I didn't mind as much since it was really g!

Loved the food to die for but nothing better than mamas cook this second Chao Long Chao Long read more

We went to Cafe Thanh Truc to order some Banh Mi Thit Nguoi's to go. It took them about 15 minutes just to put it together and give it to us - we asked for it not to be toasted or anything, it shouldn't take more than 5 minutes. Already irritated and on our way home, I realized that they gave us Banh Mi Thit Nuong instead - depending on the type of person you are, this could be pretty annoying, we didn't want that type of meat. It's like asking for steak and getting dried chicken. Blacklisting this place and not even going to give it another chance. read more

Apparently, this is the latest incarnation of a series of Banh Mi shops at this location, as a quick YelpCheck shows this place has had several names over the years, while working with the same people and offering substantially the same menu. As Robert Burns wrote so well, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." And, so it is for this small store on S. 8th Street just off Washington. The space is clean, with about 7 tables, and a warm staff that is attentive, yet unobtrusive. I had plenty of time to peruse the double sided laminated menu, but I really knew what I wanted coming in. The rep here is about authentic Vietnamese Sandwiches, Banh Mi, although they also provide Pho, Vermicelli and Broken Rice dishes, along with a long list of VN Coffee and other beverages. The fresh ingredients are on display in the glass enclosed refrigerator that separated the customers from the food prep area. The work on my meal was in plain view. It arrived a few minutes after ordering on a white plate covered in sandwich paper. The Baguette was fresh with crunchy crust and soft airy inners. The Grilled Pork was plentiful and cut into small pieces at the bottom of the sandwich valley. Daikon Radish, Cucumber, Carrot, and Cilantro were piled on top and overflowing. I took a bite to start the proceedings, and was met with each of the components as they lustily exploded in my mouth. Really a great first bite! I added a squirt of Hoisin and Sriracha to bring up the volume a bit and to experiment to see how they would change the experience. The Banh Mi was fine as it was, but I can be excessive when it comes to flavor, so the addition of both more BBQ flavor and Chili heat was pleasing. Café Tranh Truc also has a few HDTVs on the wall, so I was able to enjoy a rewatching of The Hurt Locker during dinner. The entertainment was free. read more

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Heard good things about the bun rieu here but today I tried the fresh chicken pho. I also tried the hainan chicken and their summer rolls before. I believe this place is a family owned restaurant and the family there is always welcoming. They serve hot or cold tea as well as water. I really like the taste of their tea so I always order their cold tea. The chicken there is super fresh and the pho broth was very hot - just the way I like it. Rice noodles were cooked perfectly and it also comes with a side of salt, pepper, and chili dipping sauce! (Make sure to squeeze the wedge of lime in it) Hainan chicken is a must try for me and Im definitely coming back to try the bun rieu and the banh mi sandwiches. This place is. 4.5 stars in my book. P.S if you're unfamiliar with the place, the bathroom is located downstairs in the basement. It's kind of creepy but hey, it gets the job done! read more

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VERY GOOD!! love going to this place with my family. the green onion soup that comes with the cơm bì sườn is chefs kiss

Truth be told, I felt like I was cheating with my favorite place (Cafe Diem) for a quick meal just two doors down... After another quick look down 8th St, I made my way into Cafe Thanh Truc... I hadn't had a banh mi in a long time, and felt that this was a safe bet after reading Gerald S review... A small, but not cramped space inside with about 6-7 small tables. I took a seat and placed my order, summer rolls, grilled pork banh mi, and a glass of green ice tea.. The kid who took my order, (I consider everybody that appears to be 30 and under a kid.. my envy!), was very polite while not rushing the order. The order took longer than most places to come out. But I was fine with that, considering that I've been to places that had premade summer rolls and banh mi we're just ok. Both came out and I was completely satisfied.. I probably should've followed my initial instict to not try the fresh chili paste that was in a jar on the table... That stuff was extremely hot. But I will be using it the next time I'm in and order a bowl of pho... Good first visit. Decent service, not rushed to order or hurried to vacate the table, and the food was great... Now I have another option on the same block when I'm in the area and hungry. read more

Proving an updated review and photos of other dishes I have tried here. This is truly a hidden gem. I wish this place stays open later into the evening, but if you happen to be in the area before 6pm, give this place a try. Parking can be tricky, but there is a free lot on same block north of the restaurant. Parking is also free on Washington ave. The chicken and rice is darn good (see pic). One of my fav is the traditional "hu tieu nam vang" which can be serve as a soup or dry (with soup on the side). It's another take on the familiar pho soups. Hu tieu noodle soup comes with delicious slices of pork, shrimp, or other assorted seafood options, depending on the restaurant. Hu tieu noodle soup is to south Vietnam, as pho is to north Vietnam, and bun bo hue is to central Vietnam. All are healthy, delicious, and perfect on a cold day. It's panacea for anyone willing to try. read more

Cafe Thanh Truc - Hu Tieu Nam Vang (dry) - soo good - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Best authentic Vietnamese place. Closest thing to my mammas cooking. The iced tea is my favorite. The broth is so flavorful. My goal is to try everything on the menu lol. read more

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Went to see if they did bun rieu well...did not disappoint. Excellent bun rieu! Will be back again. I just got back from a trip to Vietnam where the bun rieu was amazing so to live up to my current experience was really a high standard. read more

Cafe Thanh Truc - Entrance ... - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Can't wait to continue to try more things but so far so good ! Bun rieu is delicious. Mi hu Tieu Nam Vang (spelling maybe off but just look at the menu) is the best with great portions of meat and shrimp. Broth is so good and it's consistent each time! Banh mi is a knock out with yummy bread. What i like is there's pickled jalapeño peppers on the table sometimes or pickled onions ! Just an extra bonus of yummy ness. Just great Vietnamese food. Xoxo, Fat girl read more

5 star food - bun rieu was wowowow. Extremely seafoody and flavorful. I liked the summer rolls too. 2 star ambience - eek is all I can say...... I did see a large bug scuttle across the ground. It was nasty. I'm giving it 4 stars because I guess the food was good enough that I would place a takeout order and eat it somewhere where I can forget about the bugs... read more

I dropped off my car for an inspection at Don's Auto, a couple of blocks away from Cafe Thanh Truc. I was thinking of getting a banh mi here but changed my mind and ordered the bun bo hue instead--at 8:30 in the morning! What a treat. It was delicious and very homemade. There was a touch of lemongrass in the broth which made it oh so good. They are Cash Only and all the employees and customers were Vietnamese when I stopped by. This bowl of noodles made me happy for the rest of the day as it reminded me of home. read more

Cafe Thanh Truc - Bun Bo Hue—pure happiness - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I love their vegetarian bun bo hue! It tastes like the regular bbh. Ive also tried other food from here and its always been consistent. They have alot of vegetarian options here. Hate to say it but the place looks a little sketch but its good though. read more

Ordered bun cha gio on Grubhub today.. and is now my current reigning favorite. The rice noodles were bouncy and chewy, the spring rolls were well seasoned and still crispy (despite delivery time), the shredded lettuce, herbs, & sprouts brought the fresh crunch. I will be ordering the rest of the menu soon! read more

I ordered the summer rolls and bbq banh mi and wow, I was surprised at how good it was. I bought with the intentions of saving the sandwich for later but couldn't. Also the prices are amazing. read more

Their beef stew (bo kho) was so good with baguette. High recommend if you want some quick take out but authentic Viet flavors

Came here for a lunch for breakfast with my son on Saturday at 8am. I had chicken congee and my son had meatball pho we also shared shrimp summer rolls. My son didn't like the peanut sauce with the summer rolls since it was very thin, but I thought it was ok, not the best I had but not bad either. My congee was great, flavor and consistency were really superb and the side of chick was juicy and flavorful. My son loved his Pho too. So the food was over all a 4 star for me. What was off putting was the servers attitude. While she was talkative with the only other patron in the place, a Vietnamese lady, and seemed to be pleasant with her, she was super cold and quiet with us. She exuded a negative energy toward us as though she disliked us, even though she had zero reason for this attitude. Perhaps it was racial, perhaps it was a bad morning or the need to be extra nice to the Vietnamese patron, who knows and who cares. She shouldn't be in the service/hospitality business as far as I am concerned. So although I really like my congee, my hard earned dollars will be spent elsewhere next time!! read more

An authentic Vietnamese restaurant in the heart of South Philly Viet town. Their options are very diverse and the workers friendly. There are a couple items here that I have not seen in a long time. One of them being the Vietnamese rice noodle in coconut cream with meatballs and pork skin. This is a specialty in Vietnam and is rarely available outside the country. The noodles are chewy and akin to Japanese udon, the cream adds a decedent touch to the dish. The pork skin and meatballs is the savory component to this otherwise light and sweet item. Another dish I would recommend here is the "chao long" or rice congee with pork and organ meats. I know, I know, and I agree, I don't usually mess with rice soup or organ meat but this place will convert you. You can always customize and ask for pork slices only and no organ meats. In either case, this is the place to get this dish. I have been in the U.S for over 20 years and this is the only time I would eat rice congee by choice. I have tried it at many places and was so let down that I gave up on this dish altogether. Here however, faith has been restored. The soup is so flavorful and light at the same time. The toasts garlic and shallots really elevate the aroma. Make sure you get this dish, if just to prove me wrong, you will find it to be the best decision you've made. Most of their noodles and soup dishes are pretty amazing and the portions extremely generous. I do have to warn you about the rice. The porkchop is a bit dry and the rice seems to lump together. In any case, try all their noodle soups first before the rice, since its not the best. In general, this is a really good and authentic spot for Vietnamese food. Check it out and you will not be disappointed. read more

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