I used to work in south Austin. I have been driving past Dong Nai restaurant literally for 20 years. It is located in the Target parking lot (Ben White & South Lamar.) I kept saying to myself, "Wonder if they are any good...hmmm? I should try them for lunch one day." Well, I have my answer. Absolutely YES!!! GO! EAT! The menu consists of Vietnamese and Chinese dishes. A couple friends and I met up for a late afternoon lunch to catch up. Service was prompt and attentive the entire time. I ordered a Pork Belly Banh Mi, a Soft-shell Crab Bao and a green Thai Tea. I was happy to see they offered Sticky Rice and Mango for dessert (unfortunately I was too full to taste it) . The Banh Mi was huge and delicious. The crab bao was soft outside and crunchy goodness inside. One friend ordered from lunch menu. She enjoyed the Chinese lunch...soup, entree and side dish. My other friend ordered the Pork Vermicelli. The portion was massive and she gave a yummy two thumbs up. I definitely will be back to try their other dishes. Next time I'm gonna order the Duck Phô. The atmosphere is pretty sedate. Nothing fancy. They concentrate all energy on serving great homemade food. read more

We hadn't been to this place in years and didn't know they had remodeled. It looks great inside although they play acoustic pop covers that could lull you to sleep. We got vermicelli bowls, husband got pork and I got tofu. The pork was well seasoned and they gave a generous portion. Tofu was fried but not crispy, it seemed to have really sogged out in the sauce and tasted of fry oil. Veggie egg rolls were good. Overall we'll be back to try some more. read more

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True authentic Vietnamese comfort food. Got the Signature Vermicelli dish and it was made well. Deep flavors and huge portion. Excited to eat more of it for left overs. The homemade sauce was perfect for my dish. Staff is friendly and attentive. Would come back! read more

The food was great. We did take out this time and all the meal components were packaged separately. The packaging made it so items were soggy. The staff were extremely friendly as always. Many customers were doing takeout, probably because of the temperature that day. The atmosphere at the restaurant is very positive. it is clean and smells fresh. customers are allowed to choose their table in the restaurant, which is really nice. Highly recommend Dong Nai. read more

I feel like whatever your expectation for a run-down strip mall Vietnamese restaurant is, it's Dong Nai. Let's start with first impressions. When I first walked in, I was surprised to find how dark and slightly dingy the restaurant was in general. However, I was greeted with a friendly hostess who was eager to take my take-out order so I decided to give this place a try. I ordered the chicken and shrimp vermicelli bowl, which had the price crossed out and a higher one written over it in sharpie. For a $12 bowl of vermicelli, I definitely expected better quality and flavor. It looked like they took their chicken stir fry and just poured it on top of the vermicelli. There was a thick brown sauce with the chicken and in the past when I've ordered vermicelli bowls, they usually included grilled meats. Three tiny shrimps were tossed on top and an egg roll on the side. The egg roll was at least tasty and so was the fish sauce. However, there was so much thick brown sauce, I didn't really get the enjoy the fresh bowl and fish sauce. I see that they are currently closed for renovation so I'm excited to see their improvements when they reopen. read more

The $15 dinner special was a ton of food! I got the chicken with mixed vegetables. Tons of beautiful veggies. Yum! My server, Nhu, was so good. My first time here. I will definitely be back!!! read more

Dong Nai - Inside the restaurant and the lunch/dinner menu. - Vietnamese Near Me - Austin, Texas

Wow. I like their cool waitstaff. Food was great. I got the lunch special and it includes soup and an eggroll. The egg drop soup soothed my mood on this cold day and was just perfect. I'd had coffee on my mind since I woke up so i got the Veitnamese Iced Coffee and it was like I was transported to the 1990's when I first discovered them. Yum. There is an adorable Tigress mural that just breaks my heart it's so cute. Meow. read more

Dong Nai - Kung Pao tofu lunch special. I ate all the tofu lol. - Vietnamese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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* Review for vegan dishes * We had a vegan pho (Pho Buddha) and a lunch special Szechuan with tofu. The Pho had a lot of different kinds of vegetables, which I enjoyed, but the soup was sweet and that wasn't to my taste. The Szechuan plate was an ordinary Chinese dish, not excellent or bad, but a quarter of rice was hard. It must have been an old rice. The other dishes must be good. There were Vietnamese customers. read more

I was welcomed back for my third visit even tho it's been a while since I've been here. Great ambiance, friendly employees, and kickin amazing food! Thank you so much for making my experience amazing. read more

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This place is awesome. I had a grilled pork lemongrass sandwich and it was a foot-long! and very tasty. It was season well I highly recommend it . the girl working The front was very kind and makes a great cup of iced coffee. read more

I felt so welcomed eating here! It was only my 2nd time coming here and the lady remembered me from the first time. I ordered shrimp spring rolls, pho chicken, and pho havin it. The service is so great, food comes out in a timely manner (came out in 5 mins!) and the price is good! Food tastes great as well. read more

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A great alternative spot to 888 which has gotten packed over the years. They have beautiful Asian dishes from delicious pho to fried rice to the pillowy clouds of bao buns. They also have a great drink menu with unique offerings. Love the staff too: they're so kind and accommodating. I've had multiple dishes here and loved them all. I try not to blab about this place too much so that my go-to Asian spot doesn't get swamped, but they deserve your business! read more

They have a very strict no substitution policy. Our family of 5 came in on a Sunday for some delicious pho. We saw they have egg noodles on the menu and requested that the rice noodles (tend to get mushy) be swapped out for egg. Not ever a problem at any other pho spots and we get pho a lot! We're willing to pay extra. The server informed us that the kitchen would not change the noodles. I understand preserving a dishes' integrity but pho is deliciously basic. We opted to take the $75 we would have spent on pho elsewhere. Btw... No substitutions was not stated on the menu. read more

I came during covid on a Saturday and ordered take out. I had read all the great reviews and was really excited to try it! We ordered the orange chicken with fried rice and chicken lo mein. The orange chicken meal came with a choice of soup (I chose egg flour) and two egg rolls. To drink I got an iced Vietnamese coffee and my boyfriend got a Thai iced tea. We ate the food right away in the car and was pleased with how the orange chicken was still crispy, but disappointed because the chicken was overcooked and dry. The side of fried rice did not have anything other than some small pieces of egg and did not have much of a flavor at all. The egg rolls were good and the egg flour soup was just okay. It was really thick and tasted like the broth from a canned chicken noodle soup with a strong egg yolk-y flavor. Our chicken lo mein was practically flavorless. There were a ton of veggies like celery, onions, and carrots, but did not taste like any of it. I felt like I was eating plain noodles. The vietnamese iced coffee was good and strong! I could not drink the whole thing in one setting. The Thai iced tea was SO sweet and barely tasted like tea. Overall, I was disappointed by the food and will likely not be coming back. The food was decent, but severely lacked flavor. I do appreciate that the service was quick and the employees were friendly when picking up our order. read more

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10000% yes. I think we came here every weekend when we first discovered it. The salt and pepper tofu is the best I've ever had

One of the reasons we keep coming back to Dong Nai is not only the location but the tasty and gracious amount of food we get when we dine in or take out here. Yes their bahn mi is HUGE (one portion will comfortably feed 2 people) and delicious as well. I suggest the grilled pork bahn mi with all the sides that come with it - cilantro, cucumbers, serrano, and pickled carrots and lemongrass. Pair it with some delicious and fresh spring rolls and maybe some fried dumplings if you are into that sort of thing like me! I recently tried their orange chicken and boy was it delicious, a little spicy, and fed me for more than 2 meals the day after. Recently we came here to order take out during these quarantine times. We had a really easy time ordering over the phone. You will want to stay in the car when you arrive and call the main number to let them know you have arrived. They will come out with your food and take your card for payment. The whole process was super easy and smooth. The food was packaged up neatly and we had everything we needed (sauces too) without having to check it before leaving. I highly recommend coming here and ordering pick up so that you can keep a local establishment running during these trying times. read more

Wowowowowwow.....after their winter facelift, this authentic minority owned restaurant has it all. Decor: It's super cute with a bold wall mural from a local artist , new flooring & paint, lots of seating and gorgeous amounts of light compared to the old darker outdated look. Food: -Pho: Let me rave about this. You can taste the care in the slow cooked carefully tended beef broth. I can imagine an elderly grandma in the back just fanning the flames and lifting the lid every few hours. With chewy rice noodles and crisp bean sprouts and basil, you taste the quality in ingredients. Best pho in all of south Lamar. If you are a pho aficionado or someone who just appreciates a good noodle soup, you will be happily satisfied. -BAOS: These are a new addition to the menu. DO NOT SLEEP ON THESE. The bao is fluffy and chewy (which is how you can tell they are done well). Tried two of the fillings and the duck was a favorite with crispy skin, rich meat and a healthy dose of hoisin and fresh cilantro. Pork belly was not a bad second choice but that duck..... -Bahn Mi- This perennial favorite of aromatic crispy French bread that's filled classic Vietnamese pate, chicken or a variety of other filling and then stuffed with bright pickled veggies and a gentle smear of mayo that collides into a symphony of flavors and textures. They do an on point job with all the classic dishes like spring rolls, bun, broken rice plates and others. I'm so surprised that there is not a line out the door every time i come with the well priced, excellently prepared dishes. But honestly I don't mind that people still only know about ramen, I can keep this jewel of Asian cuisine a secret a little while longer. read more

Great food! Great prices! Great Service! Great variety, lots of interesting Vietnamese cuisine!

I ordered the lunch plate with chicken and mixed vegetables. The chicken came out super salty, and I asked the server if they could remake it because it was not edible. Server proceeded to take my plate and didn't offer me anything else to order. She said they would remake my meal, and never did. Sat there and watched my family eat the whole time... This place needs better customer service! Very disappointed read more

This place has GREAT food! Awesome spot if you're vegan too! Everything is fresh and delicious! Definitely coming back! read more

Dong Nai - Tofu bun - Vietnamese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The buns were sweet and soft. The broth was actually perfect as is, no need to load it with other sauces and salts. And the meat? 10/10

The pork belly was a bit gummy but the thai tea was sweet, the servings plentiful, and the service very attentive. Lots of other cuisines on the menu besides Vietnamese if you're more into other dishes. read more

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This is some of the best Asian (it's Chinese and Vietnamese) food I've had in Austin. I have both dined in and ordered take out- and all times the orders came out correct, quickly, and tasted fresh. The server was really nice and accommodating. We have ordered: Eggplant tofu, mixed vegetables with tofu, and lemongrass tofu (our favorite!). Also order a side of steamed veggies if you want extra fiber to balance out the meal; we love the bok choy. Come here for the yummy food, quick service, and proportions. read more

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tried the steak pho, came with a lot of meat and noodles and veggies but kind of disappointing for someone who has a lot of pho tai. the meat was very gristled/all fat rather than steak pieces or strips, the broth was rich but not a lot like pho i've had, it was more like seasoned chicken broth. and though it was good, the broth is key i have to say. read more

Dong Nai - Vietnamese Near Me - Austin, Texas

I've lived near here for almost a year and just finally tried it recently -- wish I would have gone sooner! The pho is excellent and for $10 you can get an insanely large bowl! It honestly almost feels like literal stealing with the amount of delicious leftovers I got to take home. Broth is amazing and very flavorful. I've now tried the shrimp (with added meatball) and the shrimp, pork and fish ball. The fish balls were my favorite, but all the meat was very good. Lots of spice options and fresh herbs to add. It's just a little place, atmosphere feels kind of like a little divey Asian place (I think it used to be a Chinese restaurant), but that gives it so much charm! Staff are incredible friendly. Worth a visit! read more

Dong Nai - Pho bigger than my head! - Vietnamese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Best I've had in austin. The dong nai pho was amazing and the bao buns were delicious as well as the thai tea!

Recently remodeled and the menu is updated! I've been twice now since the remodel and this is officially my new go-to Vietnamese in south Austin. The inside is now bright and cheery and super clean and inviting. Alex is a fantastic server and makes sure everything is perfect, as is the young man that works in the kitchen and checked on the food after it was served. The pho is fantastic and the bun bowls are fresh and delicious. You can really tell they truly care about the food and it shows. I can't wait to come back and try the lunch specials which come with soup, egg roll, tea, and rice. Special mention for the chili oil, I'm not sure if it's house made but it is absolutely delicious- deeply roasted but not too spicy- be sure to ask for some! read more

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This might be the best hidden gem of a resteraunt in town!!! I love the Saigon short ribs, the corn, the Tom kha, everything here is top notch read more

I ordered Tao's chicken, she bring Orange Sweet, by mistake, I told isn't my order, she saying it's the same so I asking bring me spicy chili oil other side, she saying not have, I told her that plate I not ordered and not want sweet orange, she quick bring spicy chili, tastes old but old. I dislike her lies, and didn't replace order. Not impressed, I'm chef !!!! So I went other restaurant Hunan Lion, perfect what I wanted and the server were honest and friendly! Sorry! read more

Dong Nai - Tao's - Vietnamese Near Me - Austin, Texas

So delicious! The wait staff was fast and friendly. The duck bao and pork vermicelli were amazing. Really delicious. The ambiance is nice, not amazing but totally worth it for the great food, people and prices. We often go to Elizabeth street cafe for Vietnamese but this is just as good and half the price. Looking forward to coming back to try more of the menu! read more

I'm sure like so many others due to Covid, eating out has been less frequent, but as I find my way back out to venturing to new places I'm quite delighted that I found this gem. As Pho has become a household food at this point, many claim to really know what Pho is really supposed to taste like. The key points about what is supposed to be important for Pho to me is the broth, then the quality of the meat ingredients and then the vermicelli that is used. The broth was deep and flavorful. High quality and quantity of meat used The noodles were perfectly cooked and silky. I've been to plenty of Pho places and this one now holds my 1st place rating. The customer service is swift and attentive and they use Covid protocol even when speaking to you. read more

Dong Nai - Vietnamese Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great Pho, great service and great location to be fair. Although the restaurant was a bit dirty, having to use your hands constantly to scare the flies away was a lot. But other than that the food was amazing. read more

Tasty Vietnamese grub - but the quality isn't all there. Shrimp is the way to go in any of the dishes since the meat and chicken do not really pack much flavor on its own. This was based on the observation of a dish I ordered that had all three of these proteins - M7 (Rice Sticks combo aka hu tieu tuoi xao thap cam). Never heard of rice sticks before my visit - but basically it's stacked rice noodles cut lengthwise to make it into thick strips, or sticks. Prices are fair, and the place was popular when I visited for lunch. The service was also friendly and pleasant. There seems to be a loyal following here among the South(west) Austin crowd, possibly because there are not many options for Vietnamese in this quadrant. read more

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I love dong nai. Very affordable, big menu, decently vegan and food allergy friendly. Service is fast and kind. I've never had a bad meal here. Stand out for me has been soup (of any kind) and the Vietnamese egg rolls (eat them while they're hot). Especially important to me: as a fat person I rarely get to sit in booths--but the ones here are big enough for me and adjustable if I needed more room. That's what gives them the fifth star from me. read more

Fast friendly service. Recently remodeled. Good selection of wine & beer. Excellent lunch specials. I had my food in less than 5 mins from the time I walked in the door. The food is knock your socks off good. If you like Vietnamese food you will love this place. read more

The staff was extremely friendly. I had their fresh rolls and one of the rice noodle vermicelli combos. The vermicelli (Bun) combo was quite large! I think next time I'll skip ordering an appetizer, or not. Lol. All the food was delicious and very affordable. Please support this small local business! read more

Newly remodeled, nice relaxing environment, excellent service! Try their shrimp rolls, they are ridiculously delicious. This time I got their beef rib Pho which I've never heard of. There is a beef rib in the bowl which sounds difficult to eat but the meat falls right off the bone. It is tender and not chewy at all. So delicious! They have all sorts of Pho, appetizers, dishes. Check out their menu! The only sad part is I never have room for dessert! read more

Really great authentic flavors of Vietnam. We visited Vietnam in January and were so happy to be able to find the same tastes. read more

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This is the most delicious food in Austin. I've had many different dishes here and they have all been so flavorful. It's is by far my new favorite place to eat. read more

Love this place! Great food and service! I had the Bun and my daughter had Pho both were awesome and portions were generous!