Gao is an all-around spot that never disappoints in taste or service, which is why I've returned with my family countless times. We've definitely become regulars! Such a great authentic Vietnamese spot for families and casual dining. My go-to is always the Grilled Beef Chop (Rib Cutlet) rice dish. Their house sauce is on the saltier side, but poured over the rice, it balances out perfectly. Oh, and I absolutely love the Vietnamese iced coffee here! And the portions? They do not play. Generous every single time. The service is what really sets Gao apart. The two gentlemen at the front are always so attentive and friendly. On my last visit, one of them remembered that I wasn't a fan of the steamed egg and pork meatloaf from a previous visit. I never mentioned it or asked for anything, he just remembered my reaction and offered to substitute it with an egg. Such a small gesture, but it says a lot. Great food, thoughtful service, and a place I'll keep coming back to! 10/10!!! read more

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This place honestly felt like a scam. We ordered trà đá, which is basically ice water with just a splash of tea. At 99% of Vietnamese restaurants, this is complimentary. If there is a charge, restaurants usually let you know beforehand, and it is typically around $1 to $2 per cup. At this restaurant, no one clarified that there would be a charge, yet we were charged $5.50 per cup, while their actual drinks cost only $6. If we had known, we would have just ordered actual drinks instead. It is not about the amount of money. It is about transparency and honesty with customers. As for the food, it was overpriced and lacked flavor. I ordered their special Vietnamese udon (bánh canh đặc biệt), but they had the audacity to serve me Japanese udon. That is not bánh canh. Vietnamese bánh canh and Japanese udon are completely different in taste, texture, and preparation, so this was especially disappointing and felt disrespectful to a traditional Vietnamese dish. We also tried their "most popular" dish, mackerel snd fish cake noodle soup (bún cá thu chả cá), and unfortunately, it was completely bland and lacked flavor. Overall, I would not recommend this place. Between the disappointing, overpriced food and the lack of transparency regarding the charges, the experience left a very bad impression. read more

Really Really Good Authentic Vietnamese food. Service was EXCELLENT as the young man was patient with us and explained all the food details. The fried rice was excellent, the spring rolls were bomb and the Vietnamese Coffee with Cold Foam was incredible. We will be back!! read more

Really pleased with the overall experience. The restaurant has a comfortable atmosphere, a clean dining area, and a menu with a good variety of choices. The food was enjoyable and satisfying, while the presentation was nicely done. Service was courteous and the meal progressed at a comfortable pace. I liked the relaxed setting because it made the whole experience feel easygoing. There was a good balance between the food, atmosphere, and service without anything feeling excessive. Overall, it was a pleasant place to enjoy a meal and a nice dining experience from beginning to end. read more

Visited twice this week since I've heard good things about the restaurant , ordered chicken pho both times 3.5/5 had nice flavor the first visit , the fried rice 5/5 was satisfying , made with different types of fatty meat that gives the rice more richness and flavor. Vietnamese coffee with foam was strong and smooth. That said, the service was very slow. It took about 20 minutes just to receive one bowl of pho, while larger parties who ordered AFTER us were served both their appetizers and main dishes first. The restaurant appeared to be prioritizing delivery and to-go orders, which negatively impacted the dine-in experience. For a small restaurant with pre-made pho broth, the wait felt excessive. When the pho finally arrived, it was only lukewarm instead of hot, which took away from the experience, and the broth was oilier than my preference. It honestly felt like smaller orders or families with kids were overlooked until my daughter finally asked out loud, "Why is it taking so long?" Lol she was clearly hangry. I usually enjoy supporting small, privately owned restaurants for both quality and service, but with so much competition in the area, I don't think we'll be back if wait times for simple soup dishes with my busy days continue to be this long. read more

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Very good food , fair prices , and as nice a staff as you will find. Each order is cooked fresh so it will take a min. This isn't fast food.

Authentic, fresh and delicious! Our sever was Very knowable and helpful. As a first time diners, he asked questions of our menu selections and helped us pick the best dishes for our pallet! It is far from fancy but it's clean and overall a great value and experience. read more

Authentic Vietnamese food. The service here is the best. So friendly and genuine. They have many noodle dishes and have various options for noodles: egg noodles, clear noodles, rice noodles. The classics like Phở and Bun bo hue are good. The bun thit nuong- grilled pork noodle is a nice option if you want something different and not with broth. It's tucked in a plaza near Lien Hoa market off of Water Ave. read more

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GAO Restaurant is truly a standout. The service was exceptional from beginning to end, and the young gentleman who assisted us was especially kind, thoughtful, and attentive. The warmth of this family-run business is felt the moment you walk in. The food was outstanding--authentic Vietnamese cuisine, full of flavor, and prepared with genuine care. Every dish felt comforting, well-crafted, and memorable. GAO is the kind of place that leaves a lasting impression through both its hospitality and its food. Highly recommend. read more

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Absolutely amazing! This was hands down my favorite part of our North Florida trip. Even my incredibly picky parents were impressed! The staff was incredibly friendly and gave us so many helpful tips on exploring the area, plus they helped my mom find some exotic tropical fruits. The food was just as outstanding as the service. I highly recommend the Stone Pot Pho and the Ca Phe Kem Muoi (Salt Cream Vietnamese Coffee). The pho comes with the meat and other ingredients separate, allowing you to cook them in the broth at the table. The broth itself was perfectly spiced and full of flavor--something you don't always find at restaurants. It tasted just like something we would make at home. The coffee is strong but sweet, so it might take a little getting used to, but it's definitely worth trying! We also had the Mi Quang, a Central Vietnamese noodle dish that's hard to find. It was absolutely delicious, packed with a variety of flavorful ingredients. We loved it so much that we ended up returning on our way home to California. 10/10 would definitely recommend! Just please be respectful to the staff, unlike the couple we saw on 12/13/2025, who were rude, spilled water everywhere, and demanded free food. Such behavior has no place here. read more

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Jul 30, 2026 Our first time at this Restaurant in Tampa arriving from Seattle. A bit tired from a long trip but we ordered "bún cá thu" - we enjoyed very much it's very excellent & tasty - rất ngon đậm đà. We both felt refreshed. Thanks for the hospitality of the warm friendly owner (em Nghĩa) I would recommend to everyone and you should all try other dishes. :) VTP read more

After a busy, rainy day with friends, we were craving something warm and comforting--so we decided on some cozy pho. I always appreciate authentic local Vietnamese cuisine, and this spot did not disappoint. Everything was flavorful and satisfying. While I love a good bowl of soup, I opted for the cold noodles this time, and they were incredible. The meat was tender and well-cooked, and when combined with the hot sauces and fish sauce, every bite was packed with flavor. Instead of an egg-roll, I asked for spring rolls with peanut sauce--always a favorite of mine--and they were fresh and delicious. The rest of the table had egg rolls as an appetizer, which were also a hit. Several friends ordered pho, and they were happy about the rich broth, tender beef, and fresh vegetables. The table was well-stocked with everything you could need to customize your pho--cilantro, hot sauces, and more. I also had the Vietnamese iced coffee, which was smooth, creamy. One of my friends got the avocado smoothie, which was light, creamy, and just sweet enough. A surprise favorite for the table was the herbal tea -- one of the best teas I've ever had. The staff even kindly shared what was in it! Our waiter was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and attentive. The restaurant offered bottled water. Overall, this place is a fantastic local gem and a must-visit for anyone craving delicious, authentic Vietnamese food. read more

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Such a great dining experience here at Gao Restaurant. I wanted some specific dishes that I saw on their menu here, but go figure we ordered other items instead. First of all, the customer service here is glowing. Talk about so friendly, helpful, and welcoming. I loved them here. It was packed when we walked in, and everyone was Asian. That's a great sign. I usually end up in btw options here and I let them know what I was thinking about. I ordered Mi Quang noodles bc I wanted the whole combination of it all. They also brought me a sample of the other soup afterwards to try. That was so thoughtful of them. My husband had the Com Dui Ga (No. 4) - Fried rice with quarter chicken thigh. He really liked his food too. Glad we tried this restaurant. We were also happy with where we sat. The other side was groups so it was a bit louder. It was a great lunch and we will keep them in mind next time. read more

Gạo Restaurant - Mì Quảng/Quảng Noodles - Vietnamese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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5 stars for this spectacular restaurant. Bun Bo Hue (BBH) was always my favorite dish, and I have had it at so many locations and I must say that this place served an absolutely delicious BBH. It tasted exactly like authentic BBH in Vietnam, with different kinds of meats and with variety of veggies (perilla, banana flower, chillis, basil, and bean sprouts). The large bowl was huge and it can actually feed 2 adults. The waiter Nghia (Ted) was very sweet and attentive. He gave me and my brother everything we needed (extra napkins and rubber band for my hair) This restaurant deserved a try for whoever wants BBH in Tampa, Florida. read more

Gạo Restaurant - Veggies - Vietnamese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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One of the few that will do rice pair wrapped fried spring rolls and make their own jasmine tea! Good pork vermicelli, special dishes and personal service. read more

Everything was excellent except for a very argumentative server who didn't even know the menu items and claimed he has been working there 5 years read more

One of the best pho in places in Tampa. Family friendly restuarant with great service. Menu has a good variety of options especially for people who are vegetarians. Would definitely recommend trying them if you are in the area. read more

Gạo Restaurant - P2. Phở Đặc Biệt Lớn / Large House Combo Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

This one is a toss up. We got there around 1130 . We were seated but then it took a bit for the waiter to even acknowledge and take our order... like I mean 10 minutes... and then another 10 minutes to get 2 waters and hot tea... then another 20 minutes to get the other hot tea. The food quality is meh... I will say their fresh rolls are worth a trip back... but I would order it to go. I ordered the grilled beef which was more riblets. I wanted to love it because the marinade was so good but it was the toughest cut of meat I have ever eaten. Super chewy like very hard beef jerky. The inside is super cute but the service is slow especially at lunch time which sucks when you only have an allowed time. We got the bun bu hue and had to add a lot of spices and vinegar to the broth because it wasn't as elevated as were used to. read more

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I was recommended this place by my Vietnamese friend, when we showed up the restaurant was packed on a weekday! Bun Bo hue was great, a very generous portion but not spicy at all. The tea was fantastic as well, we were encouraged to eat the berries and apples inside after drinking all of it. read more

Gạo Restaurant - H3. Bún Bò Huế / Spicy Huế Style Beef Noodle Soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

This restaurant was recommended to us by Vietnamese owners of another restaurant in the Tampa area. They said to come here for some of the freshest and cleanest Vietnamese food in Tampa Bay. The service was impeccable. We got seated right away with a smile. Our waiter was very attentive, refilling fish sauce, explaining food, and giving us tips for authentic ways to eat and order the food. Atmosphere was clean. Best Vietnamese eggrolls I've ever had! read more

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Everything from the food to customer service was amazing!! Food was very flavorful and staff was very welcoming and hospitable.

Excellent. Pho is really good. Got bun bo hue, bun cha, egg rolls, goi, bun. Food is fast, great service. Not too crowded on a Monday. read more

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Authentic Food! Had the noodles with Cha Sui, Broken Rice and Pork Chop and amazing crispy egg roll! Service was very nice and smooth. read more

Gạo Restaurant - Broken Rice Pork Chop, Noodles and Char Sui - Vietnamese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

The food was delicious the service was friendly and the place had a nice cozy atmosphere.

Best Viet food in town. Central Vietnam food. Staffs are friendly and helpful. Nice sitting area

Food was amazing! 5 stars if for food and service that wows and Gao is it! Try the stone pot pho for all cuts of beef. The staff were so friendly. Next time I'm back in Tampa I will return! read more

I went with my wife for lunch, food was amazing, tasteful. But the best part here is the staff, they are super friendly y took the time to explain everything on the menu. read more

Gạo Restaurant - H3. Bún Bò Huế / Spicy Huế Style Beef Noodle Soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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I can't say enough good things about this restaurant!! First off, the service here is UNMATCHED. They are sooo friendly and helpful when it comes to recommendations. I was even able to sample several broths! 10/10 recommend the mi quang, bun cha ca, grilled pork rice plate, and salted foam Vietnamese iced coffee. read more

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My bf and I went on Labor Day and they were relatively empty until 20 min in and they had a packed house at 6:30pm. Absolutely blown away by their flavors and quality. You can tell they curate their menu with love. The server gave great recommendations and was just a lovely guy. Even though it was busy with people coming in to place to go orders or pick up , the servers did a great job in looking out for everyone and it was a friendly service. I ordered the pho 5 and my bf had the #1 rice with grilled pork (he substituted it from the pork chop). I had leftovers because the pho was so huge. It was so comforting and you could taste the flavor profile. A delicious bowl of Pho requires a sophisticated and skillful combination of various spices to enhance the overall taste of the dish. While star anise contributes a mildly spicy flavor to the broth, cinnamon provides depth to the taste. It was like as if it was simmering for days because it had so much depth. It was rainy outside and such a great meal , very comforting. It felt so nourishing. The ambiance is chill and you can tell locals love this place. There is so much variety to choose from and all true to the Vietnamese culture. It felt like we truly were having a once in a lifetime experience in Vietnam. read more

Honestly 10/10. Food was great and the server was so kind. Very attentive , helpful even kinda funny. We will be back !!

One of my favorite places for pho! Its a small restaurant tucked away in a corner. The egg rolls here are homemade and soooo delicious! Their shaking beef was also better than most restaurants (definitely on top 2). The service can be extremely slow, especially during busy hours. read more

Nice staff. Food quality is a little above average. I had the bun bo hue. It is a generous portion with lots of topping. The broth however seriously lacks of flavor. I do not taste the lemongrass flavor nor the mẳn ruốc. I could have been a great dish. Mi quang has very little broth and gets cold quicklywhen you add theveggies to the bowl. The rice cracker with black sesame seeds was replaced by a deep fried rice paper. If these two dishes are the restaurant's signature dishs , they need to take action to improve them. I don't think it is too hard to do. read more

Came here for dinner with my wife. We had been here once before but it had been crazy busy and we didn't have the best experience. We decided to try it again and this time for dinner. I an glad we did. The staff and specifically Ted are very passionate about their food and helping us understand the differences in taste you can achieve by small additions of noodles , sauces and condiments. We started off with fresh rolls with peanut sauce. They truly were the best we have ever had including the peanut sauce which was wonderful. Then the meals came. Wow we were impressed. The broth was good, The noodles were good and everything just worked perfectly including the vegetables and the condiments. We both really enjoyed the meal and certainly will be back . read more

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I do not recommend this place. I've never given a 1 star on yelp because I understand a lot of these restaurants may be family-run, and every poor experience I've had at other places may have been redeemed by some positive quality. However, my experience at Gao was just a complete snowball of utterly displeasing experiences. The most positive experience I had in this entire ordeal was probably just being seated at a table that was clean....Everything was downhill from there. Once seated, we waited for 15 minutes before menus were even offered to us. At this point, I was skeptical about the service, but I had some hope. We asked for 2 waters and 1 vietnamese coffee for drinks (important for later), then we placed in our food orders. 10 more minutes passed... then 20 minutes... then 30 minutes... not even water was brought to the table. Meanwhile, in hilarious fashion, dishes and utensils were brought to our table 1 by 1. It was The Office-level comedy, in the worst way. First came a fork... then came spoons... then plates and napkins... then small bowls. It was like they were stalling. Still no drinks. At this point, we were pushing 1 hour. I waved over a waiter to share my concerns, and he tells me that they have a catering order they have to do first. I'm ready to get my food to go or just cancel the order. He tells me "they're preparing it right now". I ask, "what about the drinks?" Finally, we get 2 waters, but no coffee. 10 more minutes pass. I ask about the coffee. No coffee. At this point, I just want to leave. 10 more minutes... Finally, the food comes. I immediately ask for takeout boxes because I don't want to spend another minute in this restaurant. I tell them "cancel the coffee". The response: "oh no, it's ready right now!" 10 more minutes pass... are you kidding?? And then, without even an apology, about 1 hour and 30 minutes after we had put in the order: "here is your coffee" Thanks, food was mid, and I definitely won't coming back. read more

Excellent pho and other foods! Friendly service! Always go here at least once a week. Authentic pho. Highly recommend

I heard several great things about this small place by the one-word name Gạo, which means Rice in Vietnamese. I decided to give it a trial after participating in the Tampa O'green River event. We had one passion fruit and one avocado smoothy. We tried the Lotus Root Salad with Shrimp and Pork, which was well marinated. Our server Hiep recommended Hue's Spicy Beef Noodle Soup (Bun Bo Hue) and Fish Cake Noofle Soup (Bun Cha Ca), so we took his choices. They were delicious. I noticed the menu has various Phở (Vietnamese noodle soup) and Rice dishes. The owner stopped by to see how everything was. He proudly said that he cooked all broths fresh daily and never kept them frozen. His mom and dad are in the kitchen. I personally like less broths on both noodle bowls since I can see the ingredients, and I shared that feedback with the young owner. I love to support family run local business like this. Yummy! Just like the dog friendly city of Tampa, Gạo allowed us to bring our puppy in, which was also nice. read more

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The food was fresh, flavorful, and well prepared, with generous portions and friendly service that made the overall experience enjoyable and worth coming back for. read more

A year later and Gao is top quality with pho, summer (fresh) rolls, and unusual items (for Americans). So, get what you like and ask for recommendations, too! They have fresh noodles, hot sauces made from scratch, and Mi Quang/Quang Noodles which is my new fave. read more

Winter weather needed a bowl of hot delicious noodles soup and gao did it hot and yummy also thanks to the hospitality from Ted added a bonus to the perfect meal. Will be back again for sure. read more

Gạo Restaurant - Fish cake noodles soup! - Vietnamese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

I had a great time dining here with my family. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. The interior of the restaurant was pretty casual. GAO restaurant offers 2 types of noodles for their pho. The fresh ones are served by default and they are unique, wider and flatter than the thin rice noodles I was used to from other pho restaurants. Our server was the owner's son and he was very friendly. He said that they imported the fresh noodles from Vietnam! The pho broth was delicious and I would return. read more

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