I've been eating Vietnamese food in South Philly since the '80s, and this 8th Street gem is the…read moreauthentic 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.

They earned themselves 5 stars not only for the taste, but I was impressed with their delivery…read morepackaging. 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

Just stopped here for lunch and it was so good! We came at off hours so it wasn't busy, but the…read morefood and drinks were delicious. We started with the garlic shrimp dumplings - it was cooked perfectly, not too soft or too hard. The pork belly Bahn Mi and the tofu rice rolls were great; the ingredients were so fresh. It's a very intimate setting, but they also have a walk-up window. Definitely recommend checking out this place!

I've never been to a restaurant like this! Going into Street Side felt like entering someone's…read morehouse for a meal. The restaurant is located in what looks like a typical Philly row home, with plastic dishware and kitschy decor. Not only did the restaurant feel down to Earth, but so were the prices. The dumplings in particular were super cheap and shockingly good, and the beef skewers were nice and tender. The size of the lemongrass vermicelli was on the smaller side and the dish didn't particularly stand out, but it was still good! I'm definitely looking forward to coming back here, whether for a full planned meal or an impulse takeout dumpling stop.

Absolutely delicious bánh mì from Cafe Cuong this morning: perfect roll, awesome heat from the…read morejalapeño and crunch from the cucumber, and such tasty BBQ pork. Meanwhile, very easy to order via telephone and pickup (credit cards accepted) was quick (within 15 minutes). Will definitely be back!

I visited Cafe Cuong with my girlfriend for a quick lunch. It was my first time here, and I left…read morepretty satisfied. The food was great, and you can tell this place has a long history. Having been around for over 30 years, it's clear their approach to making good food hasn't changed. Overall Ratings Atmosphere - 5/5 Service - 5/5 Food - 5/5 Parking - Street Parking Atmosphere - The decor is definitely showing its age, but the restaurant is clean and well maintained. The artwork feels vintage and adds to the character of the space. Service - We had a chance to chat with the owner's son while we were eating, and they were very friendly and welcoming. What We Ordered - Vietnamese Iced Coffee (Good) Com Chay Cha Bong (Crispy rice with chicken floss and fish sauce) Surprisingly delicious and very addictive Deluxe Banh Mi (Very good) Final Thoughts - It's not an area we visit often, but we would definitely come back if we're in South Philly again. If you're in South Philly and craving authentic Banh Mi, this is definitely a spot worth checking out.

Came here because the reviews are so good, but was disappointed by the quality (& options). They…read morewere out of a bunch of menu options so I got the crackling pork banh mi and bbq banh mi. (They were out of lemongrass pork and all pho options besides chicken pho.) The bread for both banh mi were slightly stale and hard, and the crackling pork was very dry. The bbq banh mi was much better, but I think the bbq pork itself made the bread tasting less dry. The guy was super friendly, but it did take about 30 minutes for our order to be ready (7 banh mi, 2 shakes). I wouldn't come here again, especially when there's better banh mi spots in Philly.

I ordered takeout pho ga and it was ready in about 10 mins. $13 or +$2 with credit card payment…read more The packaging was good for takeout and I'm happy they switched to paper products on the soup container instead of plastic. I really enjoy that their pho has veggies and tofu, and not just chicken. The chicken is stewed very well- soft, tender , might I say even better than pho 75. I'm also surprised by the amount of chicken they give you! There was a whole damn drum stick and what felt like another half pound worth of chicken . My only criticism is that the broth was a little strong on the seasoning, just a bit too salty for my palate. Outside of that, solid pho.

This tiny tiny hole in the wall, the size of a closet offers the best banh mi I've ever had…read more Noticing there was only one table with a couple chairs inside, this struck me as more of a takeout restaurant and that's exactly what we did. We ordered their QT special which comes with bbq pork, Vietnamese ham (steamed pork roll) and meat (Vietnamese head cheese). The bbq pork I assumed would be char siu which to my delight, it wasn't. It's difficult to describe, but it's a pork roll with fat. Almost like a Vietnamese mortadella. Alongside, it's served with homemade butter (mayo) and the most amazing and unique pate. The pate isn't your typically stuff that comes from a can. This was excellent. Topped with pickled carrots, cucumber and jalapeno. A young half Cambodian and Vietnamese girl worked the counter and ended up making our sandwiches. She was friendly and I could never imagine such a tiny place offering such a fantastic banh mi. Not much atmosphere, but incredible sandwiches.

60/100 QT Vietnamese Sandwich is a no-frills,…read morehole-in-the-wall joint. Friendly and fast service so I really wanted to like their food, but I struggled to chew the bahn mi's bread and was disappointed at the portions of their rice platter. --- The interior of QT Vietnamese Sandwich has two very tiny tables which each seats two, with a TV. The solo employee was friendly and I appreciated her taking our 4 sandwich and 1 rice platter order 40 minutes from closing. It took about 15 minutes from ordering to receive our order, which was pretty fast! I ordered the lemongrass tofu bahn mi and lemongrass beef rice platter: -Tofu bahn mi: The bread was so unpleasant and hard to chew. It was sooo tough and chewy. I had to take a break after eating half to give my jaw a break. Really unpleasant and unfortunate since the filling was pretty good. I would not reorder this. -Lemongrass beef rice platter: There were only two 3"x1.5" pieces of beef with a small side of rice and fish sauce. No veggies. I honestly forgot to take a picture because I was so sad when I opened the platter. I would not reorder this. Overall, maybe I had a dud experience due to such a large order being placed close to closing, but I was disappointed with the food. Next time, I'll be coming earlier in the day to see if it makes any difference.

Got the house special vermicelli and papaya salad with beef jerky…read moreIt came LOADED with meat. Theres a layer of meat, vermicelli, and some shredded cabbage & cucumber. The meat was mostly good. My favorite was the sausage. It was so flavorful and unique. The chicken was on the drier side and a little tough for me. I did get a rouge small bone in one of the pieces. The rest was also seasoned very well and had a touch of sweetness almost like a bulgogi, but more savory. The egg roll was also fried to perfection - crispy but not greasy. The papaya salad was good. I found nothing too special about it. The beef jerky was not dry or tough at all and I thought was the star of the salad Overall, I liked this place and would come back. The (red) meats definitely stand out and are stars here

At first glance, Vietnam Café appears to be vegan-friendly, with options like Crispy Veggie Spring…read moreRolls and Tofu Vermicelli. However, closer questioning reveals an issue: their shared fryer. Because tofu and spring rolls are fried in the same oil as meat or seafood, cross-contamination is a major concern. The staff was incredibly patient in helping me look through the menu and identified two dishes they could safely veganize: the papaya salad and steamed bok choy. If you are comfortable with cross-contamination, there are more options available, but be sure to leave out the fish sauce. For what it's worth, Vietnam Café is widely regarded as one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in Philly, and the interior and ambiance certainly match its reputation. Just be prepared to be selective with your order.

My flavorful and crispy Salt & Pepper Tofu & thirst quenching Freshly Squeezed Limeade are cost…read moreeffective, made timely & consistently delicious!!! Very nice ambiance and great service if dining in. Loyal customer for years!

We ordered the Chả Cá Lã Vọng (Turmeric Fish). It was prepared with basa and had a very mild,…read moreapproachable taste, served with a plentiful and fresh variety of greens for wrapping. While the dish was enjoyable, I wish the Mắm Tôm (fermented shrimp paste) had been included as it appears in the menu description. When I asked for hot oil, we were served Sriracha, so I had to be more specific to get the house chili oil. Perhaps my partner's request for a fork and spoon pinned us as "safe" diners! Judging from other reviews, this might not be your first choice for Phở -- though the Súp Cua (crabmeat soup) seems to be a notable exception. From our experience, Pho Today or Pho Ha still hold the crown for the best Phở and generous portions. On a high note: the Chả Giò (spring rolls) were excellent -- better than most we've had lately. Le Viet is the ideal place for a crowd that wants a full bar, sports on TV, and authentic Vietnamese food. The dark, modern ambience and generous spacing between tables mean you can actually talk (and talk loudly) without bothering your neighbors. The staff -- specifically a young man and woman who helped us -- were incredibly nice and accommodating.

Great pho, with fast service and always spot on. Very good value!…read more Usually I get the house special and it never disappoints. The summer rolls are great. They have a large menu but I keep going back for the same ones.

I'm not from the area but I stopped by to charge my car nearby…read more The pho broth was good. But there was a lot of fat, honestly surprised that they would serve a bowl with that much fat on it. I also ordered the vietnamese coffee. The coffee was served in a styrofoam cup with no drip on top. Already a bad sign. It definitely tastes like powdered instant coffee which is kinda nuts to serve for $6 a cup.... The service and ambiance were both nothing to write home about. Overall, I wouldn't stop back even if I was charging my car and starving.