We had lunch on a weekday at around 11:30. The parking was full, but we were lucky to find a street…read moreparking around the corner from the restaurant. The place was crowded with the lunch crowd but there were tables available. No reservation necessary. No waiting lines out of the door. We were seated immediately. The ambiance is of a relaxing dining room where you can actually enjoy conversations without being rushed. It's a nice place to meet with friends and family to catch up over delicious and reasonably priced food. I had well-done steak pho, and my friend had steak vermicelli. We ordered vegetable spring rolls to share one each. Everything was delicious. The well-done steak in the pho was not overcooked. The pho had so much meat, and the condiments were fresh. The soup tasted great with deep garlic tastes although it was salty so I did not really drink it. The service was prompt and attentive. They came to refill our water a few times. We need to go to the cashier and pay. It's in a small mall in Kearney Mesa, so the lunch time parking is tough, but expect that, it's an excellent place.

I've been coming to Pho Duyen Mai since it first opened, and for a while, my family was OBSESSED…read more We were here at least once a week, birthdays, lunch, dinner, or honestly any excuse because the food was just that good. Unfortunately, over the years, I feel like the quality has really declined. The rice has been cold and hard, the egg rolls just aren't the same anymore, and some of the food doesn't seem as fresh as it used to. It's disappointing because this used to be one of our go-to family spots. We don't come nearly as often anymore, but every once in a while we'll give it another try hoping things have improved. Unfortunately, we've been disappointed more often than not lately. I really hope they're able to bring back the quality they had when they first opened because we genuinely loved this place. Parking was always easy since it's in a big plaza, but with Easy Does It opening, the plaza seems to be super packed lately too.

Phuong Trang has been a San Diego staple for decades. It first started in Linda Vista in 1988,…read moreserving traditional Vietnamese family-style meals before moving to its current home on Convoy in 1992. Today, it's one of the most well-known Vietnamese restaurants in the city, and after this visit, I can definitely see why. One of my favorite things about coming here is the location. Even though it's right in Convoy, parking has never been an issue for me. I usually avoid the area because finding a spot can be a headache, but Phuong Trang has a large parking lot that makes stopping by so much easier. I came in for a quick takeout lunch. One thing to know before you go is they don't accept Apple Pay, so make sure to bring a physical card or cash. The staff was incredibly welcoming. They greeted me when I walked in, gave me plenty of time to look over the menu, and never made me feel rushed. That kind of hospitality really stood out. I ordered the Char-Grilled Beef Vermicelli and the Shrimp, Pork & Jellyfish Salad. The salad comes with shredded green papaya, celery, cucumber, carrots, shrimp, pork, jellyfish strips, fresh mint, crushed peanuts, and shrimp chips.The salad was refreshing with plenty of shrimp and jellyfish throughout. I especially liked the crunch from the green papaya. My only complaint was that the dressing felt a little one dimensional. I wish it had a little more brightness to bring out the fresh herbs and vegetables. It was still enjoyable, though. The Char-Grilled Beef Vermicelli was my favorite of the two. It came with vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs, pickled daikon and carrots, crushed peanuts, plus five grilled beef rolls wrapped around scallions. The beef had a delicious smoky flavor from the grill. The only downside was that the inside of the rolls was a little chewy since it didn't get the same char as the outside. Even so, every bite was packed with flavor, so it wasn't enough to take away from the dish. Between the friendly service, quick turnaround for takeout, and solid food, I can see why Phuong Trang has stayed so popular for all these years. I'd happily come back and keep working my way through their menu.

This one makes me so sad to write because Phuong Trang was THE place my family ate growing up. We…read morewere here basically every weekend and anytime my parents didn't cook dinner during the week, we were here lol. We also came here for birthdays, graduations, celebrations, pretty much everything growing up. We have SO many memories here and the food was always so good. But the last couple of years, every time we've been here, it's been a miss. We recently got some food to go and the noodles had a really weird/off smell and we ended up not eating them. The squid was also not edible at all, we could barely chew or bite through it. The chicken was really overcooked and fried so much that the meat was super dry and fibrous. And it's not just this one time. We've noticed the same thing when we've eaten here in person too. The cơm tấm dishes always seem to have an off smell and the rice has been hard and cold. I honestly hate leaving a review like this because this place was such a big part of my childhood and my family has so many memories here. I really hope they can get the food back to how it used to be because I would love to be able to enjoy this place again.

Hoai Hue is such a hidden gem! I'm so happy I stumbled across this spot. The staff is warm and…read morewelcoming, and the food serves pure comfort with a homey feel. Parking is available out front or in the lot if you get lucky. I've done both takeout and dine-in, and every single meal hits the spot. 10/10! I love how different their menu is compared to the typical Vietnamese spots that carry pho and spring rolls. I've introduced several family members here, and every one of them loved it. I'll definitely keep coming back whenever the craving strikes!

A restaurant known for their BBH so it has to be great right? My family didn't enjoy it. The meat…read morecould be more tender and the depth of the broth wasn't there. The com thit nuong was not bad but it's also not the best we've ever had. Pork is cooked differently than how we're used to. They're in patty form, good flavor but the fish sauce was very salty! There's this sweet lady there providing great service. Felt like you're visiting her home and she wants to make sure you're taken care of.

First time here. Found them on Yelp. Giving them 5 stars because for simple reasons…read more They catered to plant-based/vegan and vegetarian options. We phoned in before driving there and they answered all our concerns and questions. The staff were all very friendly, very accommodating, and the place was organized and decorated. The plating/presentation was nice, and the food was decent. The pricing was also reasonable. The only thing to keep in mind is that parking is a bit limited, and was a bit busy and not as easy to get into--also, the restaurant has you order up front and they'll bring you the food to your table. The water is self-serve. Overall, a good first time experience. We're not from the area but would definitely come back to try more items on their menu.

i kept seeing this place pop up and i finally tried it. i loved it!…read more i got their combo 1: - crispy shrimp spring roll - shrimp & avocado spring roll - pork egg roll - shrimp egg roll - chicken dumpling - iced jasmine tea (unsweetened) - vegetable soup it was so delicious! i want to come back to try their pho. the service was great. you grab your own water, but a server will come by to take your order/bring your food/bring your check. you pay at the counter when you're done. there's a small parking lot outside, but i recommend going when it's not peak hours so that you can snag a spot. the restaurant doesn't seem to have AC, they do have a giant fan blowing in the back. but i would recommend bringing your own mini fan if you're going to dine in!

So yummy I had the duck noodle soup with wontons and the vegan salmon. For dessert we had vegan…read moreflan and tapioca pudding. I'm so full and ready for my nap. Treng was great help I was having trouble choosing between all the options gave great suggestions and treats. Highly recommend so many options!

We found this place on a whim just looking for a veg Banh mi, but once we sat down we realized this…read morewas more than just a sandwich shop. The menu is a bit overwhelming at first because they have such a huge selection, this is truly an Asian vegan dream. If you've got some childhood meat dishes you're craving, chances are they have a plant based version here! Their dessert was also top notch, they are individual sizes and I'm not sure if that is a good thing or bad thing, because I would have demolished an entire cheesecake. The service was also wonderful, the server told me about the restaurant's owner and history, she was so kind and offered us an extra portion of a banh khot so we would have gave equal amounts to try. They also offer free lemon water (more like unsweetened light lemonade) which they constantly refill. The server said they made it all in house daily. It looks like a hole in the wall at first glance, but truly is a gem of a place!

This is our new favorite restaurant in Mira Mesa. Came back again to try out other menu items…read more This time we got the cubed vermicelli with fried tofu, which also came with sliced pork and intestines. Interesting combination and full of flavor. And, it's the first time I seen this kinda intestines in restaurants. Ngon Ngon dishes never disappointed. Can't wait to come back again to go through the menu

I have learned to disregard the pretentious 3/4 stars reviews by people with yelp elites tag…read more This place never disappoints, we ordered the masago rice with soft shelf crab and very satisfied on the amount of masago they put in the rice. Taste great, great value as always. Staff and owner are always very nice and attentive.

I am so happy I was able to make last minute reservations to Kingfisher for right when they open at…read more5pm on a Saturday! They only had a table for 5 but we ended up having 6 people in our party. They were so kind to be able to accommodate the additional person! They had personalized menus that greeted my party and it wished my friends a happy birthday!! They actually got to take the menus home! This was really a nice touch, I appreciated the details. We family-styled everything which is honestly the way to go so everybody can try a little of everything! It was majority of our party's first time dining there. We started off with some drinks, I got the Non-alcoholic Guava Mocktail and I got to try what was the equivalent to an espresso martini too. Definitely liked the guava drink better because it tasted like guava nectar juice (kind of like Kerns or Jumex). The Expresso Martini had fresh mint in it and it tasted earthy which wasn't my cup of tea. For food we started off with the Heirloom Tomato Salad which was DELICIOUS!! I don't know what they put in the Vietnamese Green Goddess (probably fish sauce since all the dishes basically had this) but it was magnificent and one of my favorite dishes of the night. Then the Scallops and the Black Cod came out. The Scallops came in a set of 3 and we cut them in half so we could all have a taste. The sauce on this was DIVINE!!! It was citrusy but still really flavorful bursting with umami. I'm literally starting to drool reminiscing about it xD We wanted to keep it to use on other dishes because it was so good. The Black Cod was also delicious. It had fried skin attached and a sesame soy glaze. Next up came the Beef Tartare and the Wagyu Steak. The Beef Tartare was probably the least flavorful out of everything we ordered, but it was still well seasoned. My friend said it was really spicy but it might have just been her bite because I didn't think it was spicy at all. I like that the give you the option of leafy greens or shrimp chips to eat it with. The Wagyu though, was an all-star dish. It was the crowd favorite for sure, we all enjoyed not only the steak but the picked baby eggplants that come with it, and the sauce was phenomenal!! Lastly came the Dry Aged Duck which is what they're known for. It was definitely the biggest fish out of all. You were able to eat the duck with two different sauces, one they called a "Fish Sauce Chimichurri" and "Vietnamese XO sauce" which is more so satay. My friends liked the XO sauce but I liked the Chimichurri better. They had actually forgotten about the side of Buttered Rice but I was told it was incredibly flavorful on its own so we still asked for it. It had more than just butter in it, there was dried shrimp and sesame seeds, and it was made with coconut milk or something because it had a sweet but savory taste to it. I saved some of my duck and Wagyu to eat with it which was actually pretty good. Overall I liked that they brought out the dishes from lightest to heaviest and especially after they brought out out 2 sides of Buttered Rice we were all satisfied and full. It was the perfect amount of food. Honestly EVERY dish was different but amazingly dank and I think it's the fish sauce in everything. They were also sweet and kept the cake we brought in the fridge, placed the candles on it for us, and even after we sang they cut the cake for us!! 10/10 would recommend coming here for not only the food but the impeccable service!! Since we had a larger party there's an automatic 20% gratuity already added to the bill, which came out to be $555! (Look at that angel number!)

We came here during Restaurant Week which was probably our first mistake. For $75, it just wasn't…read moreenough food. Looking at pictures from other nights, most of our food was half the size or missing some major component. For example, the egg noodles had only a few very thin truffle shavings compared to what I saw online. They also lacked the real truffle flavor. The chocolate dessert was half of its normal size. Overall, everything is extremely overpriced and lacks flavor. The food was so bland across the board and it felt like we were being skimped out not on just the size but the flavor too. We eat a lot of Asian food and the taste wasn't even close to matching our expectations. All the workers were very friendly, but the food came out very slow. They also gave us a printed out menu for our anniversary with our last name on it which was spelled wrong. I don't care about that, just thought it was very funny. The restaurant was smaller than we expected, but we did enjoy the colors, the layout and the overall ambiance. Wouldn't go back!

Shank & Bone have very modern decor for a Vietnamese restaurant but it was very fitting for North…read morePark. We ordered Com Dac Biet, Bun Dac Biet, and their Wagyu Picanha Pho. I absolutely loved the rice dish and noodle bowl. Their fish sauce was flavorful and their meat was seasoned very well, especially their shrimp. I thought their pho was ok, the wagyu had a nice smokey flavor but their broth was lackluster for me. Sometimes they can be very busy but we were able to be seated right away on a Sunday evening. Parking might be an issue as well. Even though Shank & Bone is on the pricier side, I would definitely come back again.

In little Italy. Street parking only. Dogs allowed in their small patio area…read more My friend got their wagyu pho special which she really enjoyed. You can choose flat or thin noodles. Broth was very flavorful. I got the tri tip and bone marrow special with chimichurri. It was rich but good. Ok amount for the price but would've preferred a little more meat. Service was good and I liked the decor.

A cozy and comfortable family run restaurant. They don't have much on their menu, but if you love…read morebun cuon, u need to check it out. The majority of the customers do take outs. We sat down for some food since we need to go grocery next door after. The food and portions were good. The best part the bun cuon comes hot unlike the place in Mira Mesa so I think they are made to order. They also offer various party trays. We will Definitely be back again!

This is our spot whenever we need party trays of bánh cuốn / banh ướt. The banh cuốn is fresh,…read moresoft, and perfectly balanced with toppings (bean sprouts, sliced cucumbers), making it ideal for gatherings or potlucks. Their bún riêu is also good - it comes with a mountain of fresh vegetables, and the broth leans on the sweeter side, which I personally enjoy. Comforting, flavorful, and hits the spot. The inside of the restaurant isn't much but let's be rieu (haha) you're not here for the vibe or decor.

The braised pork belly is out of this world phenomenal super juicy the flavors are tender rich and…read morewarming, highly recommended. The typical bun / rice noodle bowl is super fresh and the grilled pork is flavorful and another recommendation as well. Hidden gem if you've never done here next to the bookstore

Bánh Mì Hội An is a gem for a quick, filling, and flavorful meal. The generous meat portion sizes…read moremake it an especially smart pickup if you need a reliable meal to pack. High marks for flavor. The meat is deeply seasoned and savory, balancing brilliantly with the bright, tangy kick of the pickled vegetables. The bread has great overall texture with a crisp crust, though the savory sauces from the meat can make the bottom get a bit soggy over time.