So flavorful, hits the soup spot and feels like home. I never get Vietnamese food in San Diego because it always falls short of Orange County, but this is the real deal. Best banh canh I've ever had, super flavorful but still feels clean compared to other soup dishes (except for pho). Excited to try their bun bo hue next! Note: Cash discount but they accept card too! read more

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As someone who was born in Vietnam and lived my whole life in SoCal eating Vietnamese food, this was a 2.5-3 star food place. Banh beo: undercooked, good nuoc mam Bun Bo hue: lacked depth of flavor, no lemongrass or aromatics that define the dish, fish cake ball was great and wish there was more of it Com tom nuong: they brought it to us missing the shrimp patty. Shrimp was cooked well and broth was clear and savory. I never expect great service in Vietnamese restaurants but there was one lady who looked like she'd rather be anywhere else but there. It made the whole experience a bit depressing. Flies also were around our food as we ate. I would not come back or recommend it to friends. read more

Really solid place for viet food & all the employees here are really sweet!! Combo platter (7/10): not on the menu, but if you want to try multiple appetizers they'll offer this to you! Overall not the best I've had & I wish the fish sauce had some more spice to it, but it was solid! Banh loc had a nice chew to it too Banh canh tom chua (7.5/10): I am not the biggest fan of shrimp but this dish was still really solid, perfectly seasoned, & noodles weren't overcooked! We ordered the small size and it was a very large portion imo! Bun Bo hue (9/10): prob the best I've had in SD. I have no complaints! Also not too salty and well seasoned. Meat was tender and not dry. I'd get this again!! read more

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Big big fan of Vietnamese food and wanted to venture outside of getting Pho. Finally got around to trying banh beo and bun bo hue, found the perfect mom and pop shop to try it at. Portions were huge, I had so much leftovers. I don't have anything to compare the BBH and banh beo to, but it was delish. Would def come back to try more on their menu!! read more

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It has been a while. But they still have the same friendly atmosphere, and those delicious little rice plates. My colleagues got soup but I got a vermicelli plate with pork and shrimp. I don't know what number it is but it is so good! What I really like about coming here is that it is very down to earth. Most of the customers are from the Little Saigon area of City Heights. I do feel like I've been transported somewhere else. I didn't feel like getting the mung bean pudding so that will have to wait until next time. read more

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Just moved here and looking for my go to Vietnamese spot. Took my mom here while she was visiting and we were pleasantly surprised! The space is a cozy mom & pop shop in city heights. The place was packed with Vietnamese so we must have been in the right spot! The fooooood: -Bun Bo Hue Great traditional flavor!! They even have shrimp paste you can add to adjust the flavor to your liking. 8.5/10 -Banh Beo chen This is more of a hue style with the ground shrimp and the fried pork skin on top. Probably my favorite dish. It was light and delicious! 8.8/10 -Banh Canh Cua A crab noodle soup with tapioca udon. The flavor was a bit bland but I added in some fish sauce and it made it better. The crab meatballs had great texture and flavor. 7/10 Overall, this place was delicious and I would absolutely come back to support this mom & pop shop. read more

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I'm always looking for bun bo hue everywhere I go and theirs tasted like home! It was everything I was looking for. It's a mom & pop shop that seems to be run by family and they were all so nice and helpful. I will keep going back whenever I need something for the soul! read more

Best place to go for bun bo hue (spicy beef noodle soup) and banh canh tom chua (tapioca shrimp and crab noodle) and banh beo. read more

Hoai Hue Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

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I've been meaning to try this place and so glad we finally did. It reminded me so much of my mom's cooking. Visited on a Saturday and thought there was a wait; it wasn't long. The menu was pretty simple, but offered a variety of food items. The owner Hiep was very helpful in offering his suggestions on the menu; and we are so much! By the time we paid the bill, it was only $55 for 3 people and all the food. The ambiance is clean and simple. (They also have some side items that are written in Vietnamese but if you search what it is, translate to a lot of yummy items from my childhood) The nem chua, cha, and banh gio. Will be coming back for sure! read more

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What a good find! I've been searching for a place that serves good banh canh and this place is pretty solid. As soon as you walk in, you get hit by the smell of shrimp paste and the restaurant gives homey vibes. That's how you know the food is bomb. Our table ended up getting banh canh, bun bo hue, bun rieu, banh beo and banh bot loc. Banh Canh: Good flavor, not as thick as I'm used to. My favorite was the pork/shrimp meatballs. Bun Bo Hue: Pretty decent as it's hard to find a place with good bbh. The flavor of the broth is not as pungent as I'm used to, though. Adding shrimp paste is a must. Bun Rieu: Good if you haven't had homemade before. Personally, not the best place to have bun rieu. Banh Beo: Very good and I loved the nuoc mam it came with. It also came with thai chilis if you want some spice. Banh Bot Loc: Not bad, you could find better ones elsewhere. read more

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Cant wait to go back! Food is so delicious and so fresh. Super authentic. I ordered the #9 and it had housemade shrimp balls- my favorite! The udon noodles were chewy abd just darn right delicious. Parking lot is small just fyi. read more

Hoai Hue Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Bún bò Huế is an elite noodle soup dish. It's a little bit spicy and fishy, with a good lemongrass flavor. I look for it every time I stop by a Vietnamese restaurant, but not every place serves it. Luckily, my friend found Hoai Hue and they specialize in Bún bò Huế. I ordered the #1 original and it comes with pork blood, pig foot, and spongy crab meatballs. Delicious. To bring it up a notch, adding mint leaves and cabbage gives the savory meal a good crisp freshness. Clearly I'm obsessed. I apologize because I don't remember prices. I was zoned in on my bowl of soup. Hoai Hue is in a small plaza with parking, which was a bonus. If you can't find parking there, there's plenty of street parking around. I'm already excited to go back. LOL read more

Hoai Hue Restaurant - The #1, Original with all the fixings! - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

Finally made it over to this spot in City Heights, and it's quite authentic. It's a family-owned place in a great neighborhood for Vietnamese food, and you can really feel that local, welcoming energy. The staff are incredibly friendly and make you feel right at home. We ordered a pretty big spread: * Broken Rice & Bun: Both were classic and very satisfying. * Banh Beo & Bun Bo Hue: Really authentic flavors. * Banh Bot Loc: This was a highlight, the texture was perfect and the shrimp inside was great. Everything we had was delicious. Just a tip on the logistics: it's street parking only, so keep an eye out for a spot as you get close. Definitely worth a visit if you want some legit Vietnamese cooking in San Diego! read more

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Legit spot for bun bo hue! I got the bun bo hue and my vietnamese husband got the bun rieu, and he said it reminded him of home. We both thought our soups were solid and definitely hit our craving for noodle soup. We also both got tons of meatballs in our bowls! The banh beo was good as well. We also got banh nam, some of which didn't have as much filling as we would've liked. Their che was solid though! This definitely will be our go to spot for bun bo hue! read more

Hoai Hue Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

hoai hue is a hidden gem in san diego where you can eat vietnamese dishes that aren't pho or bun! i always recommend you try everything once and the service was fast! read more

Hoai Hue Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Love this place. I was first introduced to this spot by my Vietnamese friends. The broths are so rich, the noodles have good texture. The food is always well seasoned, generous portions, and a variety of soups. The service is good, not fancy but you get all that you need and they are attentive. The ambiance is okay, nothing special but it's warm and friendly similar to a garden cafe. I come back a few times a year and always leave happy. The only bad thing about this spot is parking can be tough depending on the time of day. read more

Hoai Hue Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

As a Vietnamese American, I feel like I can be kind of picky with my Vietnamese food. Currently on the search for solid Vietnamese food in SD and I would say this was it! Their bun rieu here was really good and I was told their banh canh and bun Bo hue are good too, though I have yet to try. We'll be back to try those things! Cute small local shop, kind of hidden but all the workers seemed friendly. Can't wait to try it again! read more

Hoai Hue Restaurant - Bun rieu - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

Such comforting, flavorful, and authentic food. Easy ordering with QR codes featuring their menu with pictures. When I'm hungover and craving something besides pho, I love to get Banh Canh Tom Cua (udon with light broth and shrimp) or Bun Tom Cua (vermicelli in light broth with shrimp balls). Everything runs a little on the sweet side in a good way. Highly recommend adding some Banh Loc (tapioca with shrimp and pork wrapped in banana leaves) for appetizers - super chewy with the perfect savory dipping sauce. It can get packed on weekends, I try to come during more off hours on the weekdays. read more

Finally wrangled a friend to try this spot with me. It's been bookmarked for months. We were celebrating my girlfriend's birthday. After a long morning at the museum we worked up an appetite and she wanted a Vietnamese food. I jumped at the opportunity to come here! We lunched on Tuesday afternoon. It's located among other businesses so parking is shared. We were greeted shortly after we walked in. There was only one open table, so you know it must be good! I already knew what I wanted, no menus necessary. I ordered Banh Beo-10 pieces, Banh Bot Loc, Bun Bo Hue and Bun Rieu. I am always afraid to order these soups out because they don't compare to my Aunt's. Our server brought out ice waters, straws, napkins and chopsticks right after we placed our order. Food arrived within 10 minutes pipping hot! And you know this place is legit when they have the stinky fermented shrimp paste table side. I started with the Banh Beo and Banh Bot Loc first. Both were very tasty, the dipping sauce was missing garlic and chilis. The Bun Rieu was very good, not as good as my Aunt's but definitely enjoyable. Bun Bo Hue was good too. My favorite part of this soup is the lemon grass. Both soups had generous amount of protein and accompaniments. Wished they served banana blossom though. The restaurant was cozy. Service was pleasant. The cashier Ethan remind me of my nephew. Great experience overall, this will be a new regular spot for me! read more

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It was pretty busy on a Saturday afternoon but then again we went in 5 people deep lol Definitely worth the wait.. This restaurant is the Heart and Soul of Little Saigon The Bun Rieu was just as amazing as I had it 5+ years ago.. with its delicious crab meatballs, large slices of Tomato, pork cubes, tofu, the soup would wake anyone up from a killer hangover.. and this Definitely worked for me haha (the noodles are thin) The Bun Bo Hue tastes flavorful and rich .. they ask you if you'd like your pork knuckle cut or as a whole which I think is so thoughtful.. (The noodles are thicker than a snicker) They also give you shredded lettuce, bean sprouts, basil and Jalapeños to dress your soups.. Shrimp paste is optional but wasn't really needed BUT it's really what you like your soup to be.. The Bahn Beo is to die for little pancake sizes of heaven covered in dried Shrimp and pork skins in this beautifully arranged mosaic.. And the Bahn Locs texture was on point I wanted to shrink myself and take a nap on it.. chewy and Shrimp forward ! You have to try these both with the sauce ! **it has its own parking lot which is always a great bonus read more

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We came here for lunch in a weekday. It's a nice casual restaurant with a good selection of authentic Vietnamese food. Not like most Vietnamese places with pho. We ordered the Banh Loc (appetizer), Banh Canh Tom (soup) and Bun Thit Nuong (noodle) . They were all good. The soup itself was very flavorful. A little too much onions for my taste but good taste. Good number of dishes to choose from. The woman helping us with our order was friendly. Our order came quick. Parking can be a bit of a challenge since there is a small lot next to the place but the spots are shared with other businesses. read more

This restaurant made me feel like I was back traveling in Vietnam. The soups were really good and everything tasted pretty authentic. The prices were reasonable too. read more

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HOAI HUE @ SAN DIEGO A place that was recommend by a friend turned into a place that means so much to me! As an out of state college student, I've been searching for some vietnamese goods in San Diego, and this spot checks all the boxes. It's a family owned small restaurant that can get super packed at times. The parking lot is very tricky, as it's very small and shared with numerous businesses. Walking in, the place is small and hasn't been renovated in years. I believe this place is kept for its tradition in the way it looks to feel very at home, and less modern. You can quite sit wherever you like, and the service is simple. Just order, eat, and leave. I've always gotten any of their soup bowls, Buon Boa Hue! So delicious. I've always ordered multiple of their Ban Bot Lop to-go frozen, it's a vietnamese sticky rice dough filled with yummy meat and shrimp! Overall, I have come back to this place and will continue to. It's a must have for someone that's looking for your authentic restaurant for vietnamese food! read more

Hoai Hue Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

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I love a good bowl of BBH! Came on a Saturday around 12:30 and waited a few minutes for a table to be cleared. I got the Bún Bò Huế with beef slices only (thịt bò) and boy was it flavorful! I asked for mild slice since I'm usually a wimp when it comes to spice, and it surprisingly wasn't too spicy for me so I may try the original spice next time! I also liked how the bowl came with bean sprouts and lettuce. Parking is available in a small lot behind the restaurant. Recommend paying with cash as it seems there is a slight discount versus card. Interior is clean and homey read more

Hoai Hue Restaurant - Bún Bò Huế (#3A) (thịt bò) "Beginner's BBH" - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

I recently went on a family vacation to San Diego, and when going with Vietnamese parents, they tend to want Vietnamese food lol. Heard this is one of the OG Vietnamese spots in San Diego! As a Houstonian, I have high standards, and unfortunately, this restaurant didn't make the mark. We ordered Bún Riêu, Mì Quảng, Bún Bò Huế and Bánh Bèo. You cannot go wrong with Bánh Bèo, it's one of my favorite Vietnamese dishes. Bún Bò Huế is what this restaurant is known for. However, it was just okay. It lacked depth of flavor. Out of all 3 bowls, my partner and sister liked this one the best. I didn't have high expectations for the Bún Riêu because I've never had a good bowl at a restaurant in my life. Homemade is just better, but since this is one of San Diego's best Vietnamese restaurants, I gave it a try. The broth oddly tasted similar to the Bún Bò Huế, so I am guessing they use the same base. This was also okay, but it didn't taste like Bún Riêu. It was my first time trying Mì Quảng, and I thought it was pretty good. I personally like it the best out of all 3 bowls. However, my partner said that it's sweeter than usual, and it should've been a bit more dry. Overall, I recommend getting what they're known for: Bún Bò Huế. Would I come back? No. However, the price point is good for California, the restaurant owners are kind, and service is fast. read more

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Finally had a chance to come here after a friend recommended the place! Limited parking lot in th back. Came here on a Saturday for lunch, little bit of a wait after writing your name down. My friend and I ordered the Bún Bò Hue (#3B) , the Banh beo Chen (#22) and Banh Loc (#19) it was all just enough for us two! It was all delicious and came out fast. They do charge for credit card payments so bring cash! read more

Hoai Hue Restaurant - banh beo, banh loc - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Hoai Hue is a Vietnamese restaurant serving central Vietnamese cuisine in a compact street front space. AMBIANCE Black-green interior and dim lighting create a darker space and by extension a smaller feeling space. The interior felt packed with people when I arrived. SERVICE Quick if you know what you want - I took a moment to look at the online menu which has pictures. I'd appreciate if staff could just wipe down the table with a cleaning cloth instead of spraying when I was eating. FOOD Not on the menu is a combination plate of items 19,20,21 that all come with sweet fish sauce. I added chili paste and shrimp paste (quite fishy and a little goes a long way) for a kick of heat and a major blast of umami, respectively. 4.5/5 Bánh Lọc (#19) pieces of steamed pork and shrimp tapioca dumplings (chewy!) wrapped in banana leaves 4/5 Bánh Nậm (#20) pieces of steamed rice cakes (soft) with grounded shrimp wrapped in banana leaves 3.5/5 Bánh Bèo (#21) pieces of steamed rice cakes (soft) with grounded shrimp toppings read more

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Still the best bun bo hue after almost 2 decades for me. Nothing out there can beat the flavor, amount of meat, and stinkiness! Lol This place is still the tiny, mom and pops with awesome service and quickness. This would be one of my last meals on earth if I had a choice! read more

Hoai Hue Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Heard this spot specializes in bun bo hue and they certainly do! We came around 12:30 pm on a Saturday and waited a few mins to be seated. We found parking in the lot behind but it is shared with other businesses so it can be tricky. I ordered the Bún Bò Huế with beef slices and pork meatballs (thịt and chả) and asked for mild since I can't eat spicy :'). It was delicious and rich, full of flavor, and wasn't spicy at all which was perfect for me! It came with lots of beef slices and thick juicy meatballs. They also gave a huge plate of bean sprouts and lettuce on the side. Service was quick and there's a good amount of tables. I'd definitely come back whenever I'm craving BBH! read more

Hoai Hue Restaurant - Bún Bò Huế with beef slices and pork meatballs (thịt and chả) - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

I was introduced to this place by my pal, author Michael Gardiner, who is working on a Vietnamese cookbook and this is his favorite Vietnamese in San Diego. The food we had was all tremendous, exciting intensely delicious flavors. The lemongrass in the pork we had was so amazingly delicious. Loved the little accoutrements to the dishes too the little dish of broth and the spicy dipping sauce. I'd never had the shrimp patty that came with my dish and it was quite good, especially with the dipping sauce. The staff were nice enough to instruct us how to eat everything too because it was a little outside our sphere in a most welcome fashion. Always nice to broaden our horizons and try something new. Place was absolutely packed when we got there also which is always a good sign. Looking forward to trying more of their offerings! read more

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Was craving Vietnamese, so Hoai Hue was the spot for lunch. My friend and I went around 1 pm and it was very busy. The plaza parking was very packed, as I grabbed the last opened spot. As we head inside, a lot of seating was filled. We grabbed a booth that wasn't fully clean yet, but also the staff to wipe it down. The staff was friendly and quick to clean it and gave us menus. They were also very helpful with all questions we had! It was a large menu, so it took some time to decide what to get. We ended up getting the Bun Bo Hue and the Banh Beo. The Bun Bo Hue was easily one of the best that I've ever have. For the Banh Beo, it wasn't the best but it was decent. We did ask for extra fish sauce, which made the dish better. One thing to point out for both dishes is the generous portion. Both were easily shareable for us and even have room for leftovers. Note: American Express is accepted. read more

Hoai Hue Restaurant - Bun Bo Hue - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Stopped by to have quick lunch before I go to airport. Pretty busy when I arrived, put my name on wait list but didnt take long to get our table. The server she was fun n nice. I ordered #1 big bowl bun bo hue, and of course I couldn't finish, I wanted to try all the topping anyway :))) read more

Hoai Hue Restaurant - #1 bun tam hoai hue - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

What a delicious bowl of bun Bo hue! The soup was really flavorful with plenty of shrimp paste. Wasn't too spicy, but the aromatics were all there. The portion size was amazing given the price point. The lady tried to get us to upgrade to the #1 but because we had just had Mien Trun's bun Bo hue we just go the bun Bo hue dac biet combo. This place was popping on a Saturday but we didn't wait long to be seated and food came out real quick. I preferred this bbh over mien trungs but both are delicious in their own right. This place takes card with a 3% processing fee, but gives discount for cash. Mien Trung takes cash only, but has an ATM on site. You really can't go wrong with either. I just happened to enjoy this bowl of bbh more. read more

Hoai Hue Restaurant - Bun Bo hue dac biet - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

If you know Vietnamese food, you'll appreciate what Hoài Huế is doing here. I came specifically for the Bún Tâm Hoài Huế, and it absolutely delivered easily one of the best versions I've had in California. What really impressed me was the broth. It's not like the typical Bún Bò Huế you find everywhere else. The soup has a distinct taste and depth that feels more authentic and unique rich, flavorful, and well-balanced without being overly heavy. You can tell care goes into it. Highly recommend if you want something that stands out from the standard BBH spots. read more

Hoai Hue Restaurant - Bun Tam Hoai Hue - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

I really liked the bun bo hue here! They also give a lot of meat. I also liked the shrimp balls in the other noodles we got as well. There was a short wait at 2pm. read more

Hoai Hue Restaurant - Bun Bo hue - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

Convinced my friend to come with me after seeing all the hype online. The restaurant felted and looked dirty, the bánh bèo chén was just okay, and the bún bò Huế and mì Quảng were served lukewarm and completely flavorless. As a Vietnamese person, this was hands down some of the most disappointing Vietnamese food I've had in San Diego. Won't be back. read more

Whoaaa this place has authentic, rich broth, bun bo hue. I can see why they get busy. Many locals are here and you can tell this is the IT place for some home cooking. the banh beo is also SO good even when taken to go. The workers are so nice! read more

If you're looking for legit Bún Bò Huế, this is the spot. I've been coming to Hoai Hue for years now, and every time it hits just right. The service is always quick and easy, and the staff is super friendly they make you feel welcome without trying too hard. My wife is all about their Bún Bò Huế it's flavorful, rich broth, just the right amount of spice exactly what you want when you're craving comfort food. I, on the other hand, usually go for the rice plates. Today I got the Cơm Hoài Huế (#14) and it was perfect as always: rice, BBQ pork patty, grilled shrimp, shrimp patty, and a fried egg on top. Simple, clean flavors but done really well. We also ordered the Bánh Bèo Chén (#22) 10 little rice cakes topped with ground shrimp and pork rinds. It's one of those appetizers you have to share (or you'll end up eating all of them yourself). Light, savory, and honestly just fun to eat. For the price, it's totally worth it. This is one of those go-to spots for us especially when we're like, "What do you want to eat?" and neither of us can decide Thank you to the staff for always making it easy to order, easy to enjoy, and for keeping the atmosphere super relaxed. It's one of those places where you just feel comfortable. Highly recommend. Always hits. read more

Hoai Hue Restaurant - Cơm Hoài Huế rice, BBQ pork patty, grilled shrimps, shrimp patty, and fried egg - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Bún bò Huế, Bánh Bèo chén, Bún Suông, Bánh canh Tôm Cua, Mì Quảng, chè Đậu Ván hồ, chả lọn....enjoy the taste of central Vietnam to the fullest. Quick service, enough tables and booths, clean restroom, parking in the back, save money if pay by cash. Normal Vietnamese noisy ambiance. Hard to beat in San Diego. read more

Hoai Hue Restaurant - Bánh Bèo Chén - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Been coming here more and more lately and it's always great. This is still one of my favorite Vietnamese restaurants in San Diego and my #1 place to get Vietnamese coffee. You really can't go wrong with anything you order from here. read more

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