Mala Town Express

6 months ago

Yall the food is was surprisingly good because idk it gives this chain type of feel you know. I went here with my bf and it was $50... and we didn't get that much because i wasn't too hungry. I can't imagine getting what i wanted, it may have been 60+ but regardless the food wasn't bad. I actually enjoyed it and keep thinking of when I could come back. The cashier was indeed very off, i asked if there was military discount and i barely said my full sentence and she just cut me off and said no. It was awkward. But yeah would come back but not when im starving :) read more

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Kaylynn T.

2 months ago

Super good food, make your own bowl and they bring it out to you. One of the prettier locations! Good selection of toppings too

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Jian S.

5 months ago

The cashier is really nice and provides excellent customer service. I ordered the Tom Yum, and the food was very delicious. read more

Mala Town Express - The cashier is really nice and provides excellent customer service. I ordered the Tom Yum, and the food was very delicious - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Chester K.

5 months ago

First time trying and the food is excellent. The young lady today at the cashier was phenomenal and provided great customer service. read more

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Jiang L.

5 months ago

Best of 3 places. They have great Chinese yogurt and a smaller selection but better sauces read more

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Ngoc Phung H.

5 months ago

Fresh food and the price is unbeatable! Our first time here so we didn't know what to expect so we went light with our bowl. None of us paid more than $25 lol. Will come back and get more food next time read more

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Luna W.

2 months ago

High quality ingredients and nice environment! Would def come back. The restaurant is not big but the selections are surprisingly a good amount. Service is nice too. read more

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Fei C.

406

1 year ago

The food here is fresh and with discount cheaper than the other malatang places in the area. I especially like the Savory Dry Mix (麻辣拌）and the food taste just awesome. There are also good variety of ingredients so you should be able to find your favorite. The service is fast and there are plenty of seats inside. The ambient environment is chill in general and good for friends and family to hang out. Plenty of on street parking during the week too. Highly recommend. read more

Mala Town Express - Inside1 - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

Mala Town Express - Sauces - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

Mala Town Express - Savory Dry Mix - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

Mala Town Express - Inside 5 - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

Mala Town Express - Discount - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

Mala Town Express - Sauce bar - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

Mala Town Express - Inside 3 - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

Mala Town Express - Savory Dry Mix 2 - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

Mala Town Express - Inside 2 - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Suki L.

181

270

327

1 year ago

Since this is an express location, the food will be served in plastic to go containers unless you request. Lots of variety to choose from but any extra sauces are additional charge. Their "mild" here is pretty spicy & unfortunately they will not let you adjust the spice level. *If the food weighs less than a pound you'll still be charged as 1 pound. **Not enough space to walk throughout the restaurant when full of customers. read more

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Stephanie D.

6 months ago

First time here and there's lots of variety to choose from, toppings, free pickled sides, a sauce bar, clean space, and a variety of drinks. Portions are and options are more expansive than most - I'll def be back! read more

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Anna W.

Elite 12

214

144

114

6 months ago

Ingredients are fresh, you pick what you want (same concept as tang bar). I like how they assign a table for you so you don't have to hover over other tables and wait. Got the signature beef bone broth (a little spicy) and classic (non spicy) read more

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Chloe D.

11 months ago

They have so many options to choose from--fresh veggies, meats, noodles, and all kinds of toppings so you can really customize your bowl just the way you like it. Everything looked super fresh, which made picking fun (and a little hard because I wanted everything ). The environment is clean and welcoming, with a good vibe that makes it a nice place to enjoy a casual meal with friends or just on your own. Service was quick and easy too. read more

Mala Town Express - Enviroment - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

Mala Town Express - Menu - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Eddy C.

2 months ago

Great quality and wide variety of choice. Been here couple times, great service. Highly recommended. read more

Mala Town Express - Great quality and service. - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Minnie C.

114

5 months ago

I love the atmosphere and lighting of this place. It feels cozy! They put some soup samples outside of the store, which is perfect for the cold nights here. It definitely drew my attention and I picked signature beef broth. The soups taste nice and lots of food selections. Staff bring out the soups for you as well! I will come back again. First time I came here few months ago during the summer, it was pretty quiet. Came in today in on a chilly February night and the soup samples drew in a lot of people the day I came in - such smart marketing! read more

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Crystal T.

1 year ago

I came to Mala Town for lunch on Saturday and there was only one couple inside given how it was nearly 80 degrees outside it was understandable why people were not eating here this day. I had pretty high hopes for this place after looking through yelp photos and comparing it to its two other competitors across the street. They had a variety of food to choose like seafood, meat, eggs, greens, mushrooms, etc. They also had a mini sauce bar that had all the essentials. Compared to its competitors, it was very reasonably priced and very tasty! I would love to come back here again! read more

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Rachel C.

186

287

6 months ago

The vegetable, broth, and meat selection here was very wide, they even had bitter melon (a rare find)! I got the signature beef broth and I thought it was flavorful and yummy. I would recommend this place but there was some mishaps with knowing whose bowls was whose. Other than that, this place is solid! read more

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Carissa C.

179

667

7 months ago

Honestly tried this place for the first time and it'll be my last. The ingredients were not fresh at all and it looked like it has been sitting out for hours. The meat was not even frozen anymore and looked like leftovers. And we were told "they didn't have any beef". It was the middle of the day how are you out of beef. The rice cakes I got were completely overcooked and mushy. And the workers were not very friendly or welcoming. They didn't acknowledge guests when they walked in or say anything when they deliver the food to your table. Definitely WILL NOT be coming back. There are much better malatang places elsewhere. read more

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Jose T.

2 months ago

Malatown serves flavorful food with generous portions, friendly service, and a welcoming atmosphere. read more

Mala Town Express - Chicken broth - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Allen L.

232

6 months ago

Excellent service and food variety, the atmosphere is chill, I love the drink selection as well, overall would come back again read more

Mala Town Express - Lots of selection! - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

Mala Town Express - Very warm vibes - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Danielle C.

633

3777

1673

1 year ago

I like this new trend of malatang places opening up. You pick your raw ingredients and weigh it by the pound and pick your soup, or make it dry stir fry. I usually go for the dry stir fry so I tried that here as well. I was a little surprised at how saucy the dish ended up being. The sauce was tasty but a bit much - the bottom part of the bowl was almost swimming in the sauce. Also the sauce was good but not quite what I was looking for in a dry stir fry. I was looking for more spicy and oily malaxiangguo type sauce but this one was more peanut / sesame sauce. It was yummy and I would get it again but I like the other malatang places' sauces a little better. The variety of the raw ingredients seemed good enough for most people. I don't need too much so as long as they have bok choy, spinach, udon noodles, lamb and beef slices, potato slices, and tofu, I'm happy! They're also running some promotions (parties of 2 get 20% off, parties of 3 get 30% off) since they recently opened so the malatang is a bit cheaper right now! read more

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Edward W.

480

2114

4602

7 months ago

We love coming here as the food is fast and the price is reasonable. There isn't usually too long of a wait either so it's nice to drop by when craving some hot pot. The best part is that they have beef tendon and shrimp balls. read more

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Brandon W.

283

1 year ago

Order: * Mixed veggies, tofu and beef in tomato broth. Pros: * The clerk was friendly and helpful. Clean, well kept, new interior. * All the ingredients appeared and tasted fresh. * The broth was pleasantly slightly viscous and had a developed flavor. * No wait or line, but no diners either . Cons: * I tried three of the beef options and two of the three were tough compared to other offerings in San Mateo, especially the raw garlic marinated beef. * I prefer to have a backrest, so not a fan of stool only seating. Comments: * If it were your only malatang option in the area, you'd be fine. Unfortunately, it's not so it falls short. * Someone commented that they charge for the sauce bar, but that wasn't the case for me. read more

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Joel M.

Elite 25

423

102

1 year ago

What a gem that just opened in San Mateo! We came late on a Sunday and got a Malaban (peanut-y dry mix) each with an assortment of veggies, fish cakes, noodles, and meats. They are currently offering a 20% discount for parties of two, which made this great value. Food and service is quick, and ambiance is relaxing. Definitely recommend checking out if you're in the area! read more

Mala Town Express - 2. Spicy Mix Dry Pot - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Stephanie D.

1 year ago

I was craving some soup and decided to try out Mala Town Express for dinner. I was impressed by the variety of toppings available! They even had a little sauce bar with other garnishes like cilantro and fried shallots. I got the tomato broth and my partner got the sichuan style malatang broth. Both were very flavorful and make me want to try their other flavors next time. read more

Mala Town Express - Sweet and Sour Tomato Soup - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Naw S.

5 months ago

I just had tang bar yesterday and tdy I tried mala town for the first time. I like how mala town is unique from other places. More healthy taste. Less MSG and less spicy folks, and less crowded, you are in the right place. Everytime I go to mala place, the msg hit instantly. But this place prove that they almost never use msg. The price is the most reasonable one. Servers are friendly. The dining place is cute and clean. The mala sauce is outstanding, creamy and giving mala flavor. If you are allergic to peanuts, unfortunately this is not right place for you. I would definitely come back!!! read more

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Dessa

2 months ago

This was my first time at Mala Town and this place really satisfied my cravings! You can get your own ingredients and choose your base. If you love noodles or just craving for some hot soup on a cold day, this is the place! Kevin from the front end was helpful as well in giving recommendations! Thanks for the great service! read more

Mala Town Express - Beef Set with Beef Bone Broth Base 招牌牛骨汤套餐 - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

Mala Town Express - Savory Mix - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

Mala Town Express - Entrance - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

Mala Town Express - Make your own sauce - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Maxine C.

2 months ago

Usually go here for the signature beef broth, but tried the chicken and tom yum today. Kevin at the register was helpful with describing the choices for each broth! I will get the chicken and tom yum broth again in the future. Don't forget about the sauce bar on the side as well, I like that there's more options than tang bar. read more

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Clarice T.

27 days ago

Love this place. Kevin is great and friendly. Definitely come and try it yourself, you won't regret it.

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Steven T.

4 months ago

Always a solid choice to come to eat here! I love the quick and easy vibe of this place. A good variety of selection of ingredients to choose from. Service is great as well! read more

Mala Town Express - mild beef bone broth - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Mahal Leia B.

2 months ago

Very easy to follow flow to pick up your food and a good variety of broths to choose fun. I got the tom yum broth, which is only available as mild spicy but it was spicier than I expected. (Coming from someone with a sensitive stomach). read more

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Nathan C.

3 months ago

Best soup the selection of proteins here is very good and quality is good. High recommend. read more

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Benny C.

3 months ago

Place is super clean and soup base is excellent! Staff give out great service and friendly highly recommend

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Trinh D.

479

117

171

1 year ago

I came on a Saturday evening and there was no wait to get food. This is definitely a no frills Malatang place but I loved that about it. The prices were lower than most other malatang places but well worth it. I got the dry noodle mix and I loved that it included some nuts and a sesame(?) base. It was advertised as mild and that's definitely true. I'm not good with spicy food but this was the right amount. I would highly recommend and come again. read more

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Sandy L.

7 months ago

Clean space, good selection of veggies and meats and other items. Very pleasant staff. We enjoy coming here all the time!! read more

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Jacky S.

3 months ago

Good variety of fresh options and food area is kept clean. Good service and no wait on Saturday evening.

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Page 3 of 21

77 E 3rd Ave
San Mateo, CA 94401
Directions
Order Takeout or Delivery
Start Order

Full menu

Hours

What time does Mala Town Express open?

Mala Town Express opens at 11:30 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

What time does Mala Town Express close?

Mala Town Express closes at 9:30 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mon-Sun 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM

Food & Alcohol

Does Mala Town Express serve alcohol?

No, Mala Town Express does not serve alcohol.

Indoor Amenities

Does Mala Town Express allow dogs?

Yes, Mala Town Express allows dogs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Mala Town Express have outdoor seating?

No, Mala Town Express does not have outdoor seating options.

Does Mala Town Express have parking?

Yes, Mala Town Express has parking options. Validated Parking

Other Amenities

Does Mala Town Express have free WiFi?

Yes, Mala Town Express has free WiFi.

From the Business

Specialties

Craving Bold Flavor? Try Mala Town Express – Only $9.99/lb! Welcome to the most savage deal in town – authentic malatang at just $9.99/lb, plus our signature broth for only $1.99. We’ve streamlined our supply chain to bring you unbeatable value without compromising taste. Fast, flavorful, and fully customizable. Located at 77 E 3rd Ave – Open Now!

More Info

Health Score

Mala Town Express Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Mala Town Express

Do you still get charged $1.99 for soup if you choose dry mix?

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I came here around lunch time with my family, we ordered the crispy chicken and pork bun appetizers…read moreas well as the tonkatsu ramen for all of us. Our server Michelle was attentive and checked in on us frequently! I appreciated the option of free garlic and house spicy sauce they offer on their menu for a garlic and spice lover like me. Food was great! I would come back again.

The Tonkotsu ramen was amazing. The noodles were cooked perfectly. Diana provided excellent…read moreservice. She made sure everything was perfect. Great food and great customer service. I'll definitely be back!

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heads up - Shady tipping - the owner will put the machine in front of you without a physical copy…read moreof your bill. she charges for to go container and the bag, both nominal but the tip is automatically calculated off the order, to go container, bag AND tax. BEWARE and ask for the paper receipt if possible if these things matter. also tipping starts at 18% and she tries to rapidly close the bill so you don't have a chance to look at it.

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One of my favorite comfort food in Bay area! The food quaility is great, and most importantly, the…read moreservice is so amazing. Sage (our waitress today) was incredibly friendly, thoughtful and efficient. I really recommend this place

Once I decided I was craving galbi-jjim, I knew I had to take a visit to Daeho. This is maybe my…read more5th time coming here, but I always come for the galbi-jjim because they do it so well. We of course had to get the mozzarella for a little extra $ and it was so worth it. The cheese pull is crazy! I remember coming here on a cold day and wanting to get something soupy, but I've always known Daeho for their galbi-jjim so I didn't know if other things on the menu would be as yummy. I was so wrong. I tried their galbi-tang once and have been ordering it ever since. I love the clean broth and I love that they slice the meat for you so it's super easy to eat. Their galbi-tang feels like a warm hug. Service was decent the few times I've been, but it does get crowded here for dinner so come prepared. One thing that's worth noting is that this place is a bit pricey, but I typically have leftovers and they may taste even better the next day. Daeho is definitely a place I'd visit once in a while if I want a meal that hits the spot.

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Wheelchair accessible

Been here many many times and each time I've enjoyed the Mazesoba. I've tried the soup ramen and…read morethe dipping ramen which are exceptional too, but nothing beats the Mazesoba. Taishoken does this dish so well, even better than other restaurants where Mazesoba is their specialty. This dish really does not get the attention it deserves here. Today in addition to the Mazesoba we also ordered their fried squid, and wow it delivered! Worth ordering everytime in our future visits! They usually are very busy, but they have online waiting list you can set a time you think you'll arrive and they are very good and efficient with seating and waiting times. Can't say the same for a few other ramen places also in San Mateo. The service here is very consistently excellent too. Parking is hit and miss on the street but around the corner are the garages and that is very reliable. This is a great go to when in San Mateo.

First dipping ramen experience and it was definitely solid! Had the spicy tsukemen and it was…read morepacked with flavor. Noodles taste fresh and are delicious. I loved the spice level and it's a good amount of food. The real star for me though was the chashu don. Omg I could have eaten this as my meal. Also had the takoyaki- would probably skip this next time. Personally too much sauce but the flavors were good.

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MY Dumpling

Wheelchair accessible

Ordered to go and had no issues with pick up. The cashier was fast with giving my order. I will say…read moreoverall 4.5/5 stars though just because this place is a little pricier than other places. The restaurant itself was clean and new. On to the food, 5/5 mini pan fried buns These were delightful small dumplings with a whole lot of juice and flavor and that slight crunch from the pan fried bottom. Must order. 4.5/5 pig ears Flavor was tasty. Well seasoned with hint of sichuan and not too oily. Only problem was that the ears were slightly too soggy but improved when eaten after being in the fridge 5/5 pork mustard green noodle soup This was just clean and tasty! The noodles were soft with a perfect bounce. The broth was lightly salted and delicious. 4/5 pork shrimp and chive dumpling This had a good mixture of filling. Juicy and flavorful. Skin is a little thick. Overall, I think this is some of the best dumplings on the peninsula. Definitely coming back and trying more.

The food is good, service is quick, and tables packed in there. Barely any room to walk through…read more They had utensils at the end of the table and water containers. Who knows how long those containers were sitting there, though. There were two chili oils, but no soy sauce. I was a bit confused as they have a QR code to scan to order but then they come to your table to ask for your order. Pick a lane. Plenty of options to choose from and especially like the vast amount of seafood/veggie options. The honey walnut shrimp was not as expected, too deep fried. The fried rice had all the fixin's but no flavor. It desperately needed some soy sauce. The mini pan fried dumplings were the cutest thing ever! The shumai wasn't hittin' like other dim sum places. The salt and pepper fish was hella salty. XLB dumplings, dan dan noodles, and the cucumber salad were all favorites. We had plenty of leftovers. I did find a bug (not a fly, a bug bug) in one of my to-go containers. Had to throw it all out because I was paranoid that the bug had laid eggs or something. Double check your containers and/or food before eating.

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Mikiya Wagyu Shabu House

Mikiya was a great experience. The food quality was really good, especially the Wagyu cuts, Wagyu…read morenigiri, tartare, and bone marrow. For the price, it felt worth it because the menu had a lot of premium options and everything came out fresh. Our server David was great too. He was attentive, helpful with the menu, and made sure our table was taken care of throughout the meal. He made the experience smoother and more enjoyable.

Visited several times and the experience has always been consistent. Our server Koko was amazing!…read moreShe was attentive, friendly, and checked in at just the right times. Best service I've had in a while!

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Whisper

Locally owned & operated

Private events

Foods are gorgeous and flavorful ! Tried to order all favorite dishes all at once for celebrating…read morethe little one's 7th! Service is good and efficient! We definitely will come back again

amazing food and atmosphere!! this is my third coming and I will be back! Ada the barista was very…read morelovely and gave great recommendations!

Crème Brûlée French Toast

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Crème Brûlée French toast

Palette Tea Garden & Dim Sum

Nhà Hàng Dimsum khá ngon. Không gian sạch sẽ sang trọng. Giá cao hơn Koi Dimsum. Nên đặt bàn trước…read moremột ngày. Vì giờ ăn trưa khá đông.

San Francisco, you fancy as hell…read more My friend took me to this dim sum place the day I landed and wow, the food was so good. It's family style so you can share amongst each other and it's a bit expensive but come with a big group and it's so worth it. When you walk inside, it honestly is so beautiful. They have a table where the fish are swimming on it. They have a huge screen with art constantly changing. The aesthetic cannot be beat, even walking to the bathroom had a pretty cool hallway. Usually places with a gorgeous aesthetic like this I get concerned that the food is not gonna be good, but I've got to say I am pleasantly surprised that is not the case. The food was actually pretty fire and service was good. I would only go back with a big group because this is very much a collective family style experience. Gets 5 stars from me!

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Gao Viet Kitchen & Bar - San Mateo

Ambience: amazing, mix of nice casual, had both upstairs and downstairs seating…read more Service: seemed fast, regularly had waters refilled Food: - banh cahn cua: so good! The soup was very flavorful. It was a thinner broth, not the mildly gelatinous one I usually think of but still delicious. The noodles itself had good texture, not too soft. I also loved their spin on the crab being deep fried soft shell crab. I thought that was fantastic - gao rolls platter: great for trying their various rolls, the pho cuon was my favorite

Came here for lunch for Fourth of July and the wait was not bad at all. The outside looks small but…read morethe inside is actually two story and they have a separate waiting area you can sit and wait at. The ambiance is lively with a full bar upstairs. They have a huge variety of different cocktails. For drinks we kept it non-alcoholic and ordered: Sea salt Vietnamese coffee and pandan coffee. They were both delicious with a strong taste of coffee however the sweetness evens it out. Food we ordered: Banh cuon - 5/5. This was huge! The banh cuon was good and it had a great amount of filling. Chubby pho - 4/5 this is their classic pho broth and we added a bone rib to it. Unfortunately they mistaken it for a side of bone marrow instead. The broth tasted fresh and clean without a lot of MSG. The pho noodles were thick since it's northern pho and it was good with the right amount of chewiness to it. Unlike other pho restaurants, it doesn't come with bean sprouts or basils but you can request for the bean sprouts. Banh khot - 4/5 I love Banh khot. It had a very dominant coconut flavor to it but it was crispy and very flavorful The service was very friendly. Their server Linh was very mindful and observant. She noticed that my friend was pregnant and advised us to sit at a regular table instead of their high tops and cleared a table for us. The waiter himself was nice as well.

Banh Canh Gio Heo $25.00

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FISH SAUCE CHICKEN WINGS

Avenida Restaurant

Food 8/10 We had the grilled pork belly and the inasal. I…read morewould've liked both to be have a little char but it was decent. Service: 9/10 Our server was great! Ambiance 8/10 The place is big and had cute decor.

Decided to finally try this restaurant out after walking by it so many times…read more The atmosphere was very nice! Nice and clean, and definitely had the feel of a fancy restaurant. The service was great too. Nice and prompt, as well as polite. Sadly...the food itself is where it was lacking. The Chicken Skewers were fantastic! Nice and flavorful, as well as filling. Vanilla Ice Cream wasn't anything special, but a nice refreshing sweet treat to end it. Sadly, the Crab Meat Fried Rice came up short. There were packets within it that were very tasty and flavorful, but overall it tasted pretty...plain, for lack of a better word. So plain that I couldn't bring myself to finish it, and didn't want to take it with me afterwards. I got the full entree size instead of the half size, so maybe that had something to do with it. Might go for the half size next time. Overall, willing to comeback in the future and give it another shot in the future, but sadly not blown away this time. Here's hoping the next visit goes better!