REALLY good Vietnamese food. I ate the garlic noodles per recommendation. I get to eat a lot of good Vietnamese food, especially Pho and banh-mi sandwiches up in the San Francisco Bay Area. So I wasn't expecting anything special when I walked into this place. But this is definitely a step above simply good fare. I'll be back for more. read more

We went for Memorial Day and the small interior dining space was packed! We had to wait a while to get seated, to order, and to get our food so we easily spent over 2 hours there, which isn't ideal for 60 min street parking. They also forgot my beef pho combo after bringing out all of the other entrees. With that said, the food was pretty good. Egg rolls were crispy and flavorful, beef pho broth was clean tasting and not too salty with premium beef cuts and good noodles (though it had smaller noodle portion), garlic noodles with ribeye were enjoyed by the kiddos, and the chicken wings were tasty. The prices were also higher by a few $ than the usual Vietnamese places back in the East bay with larger portions. We just went on a busy holiday so our experience suffered a bit but I'm sure going on a regular day and/or getting takeout would have been better. read more

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Came with my family here for dinner and not going to lie it was alright... the food wasn't horrible, it's your typical pho restaurant. The inside was a little cramped, they provided the wooden chopsticks but no sauce plate, spoons, or even napkins, thought it was a given but had to ask. I got the combo pho which was decent along with the thai iced tea. Combo pho tastes like your average combo pho, nothing crazy. The thai tea was alright, it came with a mason jar and lowkey wished it was a little sweeter, didn't have high expectations for the drink. Family also ordered the combo fried rice that was also decent. I don't remember what my family ordered but they seemed to enjoy it. Heard from one of them and they noticed the pho didn't have enough noodles, wished there was more but didn't want to take the risk of having to wait. The food overall wasn't too bad, however, the wait was probably the downside of this place. Arrived at 6:15, did not get our food till an hour later (not kidding). Not sure if the place was short staffed but the food took a good chunk of our time. We were all being patient and respectful because we know what it is like to have rushes but an hour for our food to arrive was a bit disappointing. The service was bootycheeks I'm not going to lie... the workers were rushing us to be seated, side eyed us when we were complaining on the low but what do you expect when you have a hungry family trying to get their dinner... but okay... From sj trying out pho in monterey, not bad not going to lie. Would i come back? Maybe if im in the area, not sure if i am willing to wait an hour for the food to come. This is the type of spot you would go to if you don't have no where else to go. Tungtungtungsahur rates 2.5/5 read more

Slower service but decent food! Great to have Vietnamese option in monterey. - beef shank pho: broth was flavorful and clean, beef was tender. No complaints! - grilled pork vermicelli: sadly the fish sauce was a miss... no flavor at all, needed more fish sauce concentrate as someone who regularly eats vietnamese food. Good portion of pork but was a bit dry. read more

Rice And Roots - Grilled pork vermicelli - Vietnamese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Really pretty restaurant, love the drink variety and they have boba and all kinds of tea. The pork rice plate was pretty good in terms of both portion and flavor, and the pho was decent. Price point was also very reasonable for this area. read more

Rice And Roots - Pork rice plate - Vietnamese Near Me - Monterey, California

Luckily I got here about 10 minutes after they opened because as soon as I got sat, there was already a line behind me and that's when the waiting list started. Nice ambiance, open beamed ceiling and clean. The food was ok. The Beef Bone Pho that I got was good, but you can tell the noodles were not fresh. It was definitely cooked ahead of time, sat there until I ordered, and the broth poured over it. Also wasn't alot of noodles either. The Shrimp Springrolls was tasty and the peanut sauce was great. The Chili oil was nice and spicy!! read more

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Small restaurant and the service turnaround time was lengthy. We (2 people) joined the waitlist at 6:20PM with only 4 groups before us. We were not seated until 7PM, and shared table with another group of 2. Made our order at 7:05PM, and got the food at 7:36PM. Food (3.5/5): The taste is not bad but the portion was barely filling. They can definitely serve more pho after starving their guest for nearly an hour. Service (1/5): I counted over 3 people in the kitchen and 2 people at the front, but the food still served at the rate of 30 minutes/table. We were not provided with bean sprout or lemon along with the pho. The only utensil available on the table is chopsticks. I had to request spoon for my pho, fork for my dessert, and napkins. Quite disappointed with the experience. Walked out still feeling hungry. read more

Rice And Roots - Vietnamese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Stopped in the day after Thanksgiving for a late lunch. I was seated promptly and given a menu and a glass of water. I Ordered one of their meaty phö and an order of Shrimp & Pork Spring Rolls. The service was excellent and prompt. The restaurant was bright and the remnants of the old Greek place shined through. I can't wait to dine here again to check out the rest of the menu. read more

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Waited longer than typical for whatever reason but the food came eventually and it was perfection! I wish more people know about this place because it's probably the best Vietnamese restaurant in Monterey. read more

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Best tasting Asian food on downtown! I had the egg rolls, shaken beef and tropical ice tea. I've been here once before and had the shrimp rolls and bahn mi. EVERYTHING is DELICIOUS Service friendly. They opened in April 2025. And there's a standing line outside at 2pm on Sunday. What doesn't work is the space. Not well planned and small. Plan on take out if there booked! read more

Rice And Roots - Shakened beef - Vietnamese Near Me - Monterey, California

A new and compelling Vietnamese spot. Had the char-grill pork with rice and vegetables, it was exactly what I wanted it to be, including some light charring on the meat. Service was efficient and friendly. Food came out quickly. Ambiance was casual and welcoming. Restaurant was clean. No complaints, and I'm curious to return and try other dishes, including the pho read more

Rice And Roots - Char-grill slice pork with rice and veggies - Vietnamese Near Me - Monterey, California

Tastes just like back home! I went to Carmel By the Sea for my birthday trip and they entire experience was amazing! After 2 days, I was craving Vietnamese food (I'm from OC so Vietnamese food is in every corner for me). This place felt so cozy with the pictures of Vietnam and welcoming workers. The food is authentic Vietnamese food. I know some places try to be more "Americanized" to cater to others, but when I'm someone who is Vietnamese and want my own culture's food, Rice and Roots is the place to go if you're in the area! The garlic noodles is so bouncy and flavorful! I'm a garlic girl, so the abundance flavor of garlic is up to par for me. The Bo Luc Lac was so juicy Eating it with the garlic noodles made it even more yummy! I am someone who LOVES Nuoc Mam wings (fish sauce wings) and I offered to have more sauce added to the wings and that made it taste just like home for me. The pho broth was very flavorful! I've been to many pho restaurants that made their broth/meat bland, but here I enjoyed the richness of the broth and the tender meat. Even the tendon was so soft! (I forgot to snap a pic with my phone, but I have the video in my camera. We were so excited to eat that the phone camera didn't eat the pho) Overall I felt just like I was back home and in the future whenever I go back Monterey, I'll definitely come back here! P.S. my boyfriend and I planned to stay there just in time for the 1 hour parking limit, but he reparked the car bc of how delicious the food was and we had to order more food as we ate read more

Rice And Roots - Bo Luc Lac & Garlic Noodles - Vietnamese Near Me - Monterey, California

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It was just okay. Went in after lunch with my wife and it didn't seem busy. They weren't sure where they wanted to seat us. After I chose a table back by the kitchen it took another minute to be given menus. Pickings a couple of sandwiches and some fresh spring rolls seemed safe and it was. Both were good, filled with fresh vegetables. Not there doing per se but a group of 4 came in to eat, got a table. 2 of them needed to use the restroom. They stood near the bathroom door which was on the other side of wall close to my table and had a full on conversation with the waitress in Vietnamese I think. Until they were both done...super appetizing. Last words...maybe not. read more

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9.7/10 Definitely one of the best Vietnamese dining experiences I've ever had! Everything tasted fresh and homemade, with flavors that felt carefully balanced. The Pho was outstanding the broth had depth, richness, and that perfect blend of herbs that made it incredibly comforting. The steak was tender and flavorful, easily some of the best Pho I've ever had. I also tried the Chicken Banh Mi, and it did not disappoint. The bread was warm and perfectly toasted with a nice crunch, while the chicken was soft, juicy, and cooked almost like rotisserie-style super tender. Fresh herbs and veggies added brightness, and the sauce tied everything together in a subtle but satisfying way. The shrimp spring rolls were a standout as well rolled tightly, loaded with crisp veggies, and elevated by the fresh mint inside. Paired with the peanut dipping sauce, they were light but full of flavor, and definitely something I'd order again. Service was fast, attentive, and efficient. The staff made the whole experience smooth, and the food came out quickly. Ambiance was cozy and welcoming this little spot in Monterey feels like a hidden gem with a clean, relaxed atmosphere. read more

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Rice and Roots is a modern Vietnamese restaurant located in downtown Monterey. We often love the heavy flavors of grilled pork or chicken over rice. Sometimes you need a break from all that seafood in Monterey. Overall 3.5-stars for me but rounding up to 4 stars on account of the grilled pork chop. Our picky 5-yo som hasn't been eating at most of the Monterey and Pacific Grove restaurants, but he did enjoy the pork chops! I'm also a fan of the garlic noodles, which were chewy and packed with flavors. I got mine with grilled lemongrass chicken. Overall, good flavors though I prefer less sauce. I saw some strange blonde finers in the dish but then realized its probably from the grated lemongrass stalks. Iced Vietnamese Coffee was pretty strong and helped neutralize all those potent flavors from the savory meal. I only wished there was more of it! Parking is on the street or in one of the nearby parking structures (1st hour free then $1/hr). read more

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Fiiiiiinally some good pho and boba in Monterey!! Not good for my door dash habit- I constantly crave this. The pho broth is delicious and has great depth. Love the spring rolls, so fresh. And the boba (have tried Thai iced tea and brown sugar flavors) is great. Would definitely recommend read more

Rice And Roots - Rare steak pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Monterey, California

Pho broth is very tasty. The pork and shrimp spring rolls are amply filled and the peanut sauce is perfection. So glad I found this place. read more

Rice And Roots - Spring rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - Monterey, California

Best I've had in Monterey county ! Great portions of meat and the broths flavor is spot on. Nice calming music and very clean, waitress making sure all tables are wiped. The service was fast as well was in and out in less than 45 minutes. read more

Rice And Roots - Combination pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Monterey, California

Arrived a little after 11am on Sunday and all the tables were occupied. Had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. The waitstaff were friendly. Appears to be a family-run establishment. Started with the egg coffee which was good - not too sweet and strong (and not that bitter phin coffee strong). The food took a while to arrive. First, the wings - arrived hot and crispy. Good flavor and i like the basil and onions. Hubs ordered the garlic noodles with beef - he said it was as good as others he's had. I ordered the grilled pork vermicelli which came with a couple of shrimp and eggrolls. I liked that there was a good proportion of meat and veggies to noodle ratio - it was ok. The noodles were quite filling. read more

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My first meal in Monterey! Definitely a great find! Plenty of seats, super friendly and attentive service, a lot of street parking to choose from. All of their food comes super fresh, so it's worth the wait! read more

Rice And Roots - Vietnamese Near Me - Monterey, California

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This is my first Yelp review even though I am a foodie. I have a lot of respect for this restaurant. We are having our vacation in Carmel by the sea and wanting to have some pho. My husband found this place in Monterey and I was very impressed by this restaurant. I grew up eating authentic pho and I also cook, so I am bit picky about pho. The food here was much better than what I expected in Monterey. I truly appreciate that the food is authentic and the chef does not try to modify the dishes too much. I tasted the beef flavor in the pho broth. My 2 year-old son also approved the pho broth. My husband had the garlic noodle with beef and it was yummy. The beef was slightly marinated with lemon grass and it was just enough to enhance the flavor. The crispy tofu was bomb. One big thing I want to share is the rooster image on the plates, bowls and the chopstick cup. It says a lot about this restaurant. The owner values and keeps the Vietnamese culture very well through this piece of detail. I was very happy to eat here. Thank you for making me proud of Vietnamese food and Vietnamese culture in the US. read more

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Amazing service ! Food was delicious and when we walked inside it smelt amazing! Great place to come when it's a cold/windy day! read more

Rice And Roots - Pho,Spring-Pork Belly Spring Rolls, Fried Tofu with Sweet & Sour Sauce - Vietnamese Near Me - Monterey, California

Tiny little pho place. Delicious broth and small servings. Try the wings as they taste so good and like home. read more

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The food was delicious and the service outstanding. This is a must visit when you are here in Monterey. The restaurant is clean and loved watching the different Vietnamese foods on the large TV. If you are craving for Vietnamese food, come here!! Thank you Rice And Roots!!! read more

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We got the pho dac biet and I was mildly surprised that the serving size of the bowl was just right. I'm used to the house special pho being a huge serving. The pho was warm and comforting. It had a fair amount of meat. I really enjoyed the che dessert. The staff are friendly and the food came out quickly. The restaurant and bathroom were pretty clean. read more

Solid food but expect to wait a REALLY long time. We waited probably 10-15 min outside and then another 30-40 for getting food. I think they were short staffed so if you're hungry consider the wait time. We ordered 2 pho, bahn mi, and shaken beef. It was really good food and I loved the broth of the pho and the flavor of the shaken beef. There's a fair amount of seating but this place must be popular since it was constantly filled and people were buying food to go. Parking around the area is street parking or at the bank across the street but overall easy to find parking. Total came out to be 90ish for our meals. read more

Solid pho spot in Monterey. We were craving pho for lunch and were pleasantly surprised to find this place! It looks like they're relatively new and still getting into the groove, which is totally understandable. The place was packed on a Sunday for lunch, so food did take a bit of time, but the servers were incredibly kind and checked in with us regularly. I ordered the combination pho, which came with a generous portion of meat. The tendon was the standout for me- large, tender, and flavorful. The rest of the meat was also soft and offered a nice variety. The broth had a well-balanced flavor, not overly sweet or MSG-heavy like you sometimes get elsewhere. They provided the usual sides (bean sprouts, jalapeños, limes). My only small note is that I wish the broth had been a touch hotter when served, but with how busy they were, it's understandable. Overall, I'm glad we gave this place a try and would recommend it if you're in the area and craving a comforting bowl of pho! read more

Rice And Roots - Combination Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Monterey, California

The fact that this place got the green light by two other Vietnamese reviewers was enough to get me to try this place out. As one noted, this place is solid. Thumbs up by me and my picky Asian parents. My toddler also approved. Service was friendly in an understated way, which is a good thing. Always grateful for a legit Asian spot in the Monterey area. read more

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Finally Monterey got a Banh Mi place downtown. Food was really good, compared well to San Jose spots. No longer have to do that drive. My wife got the lemongrass chicken and we shared an order of the garlic fry's. Everything was delicious. Service was quick even on a busy Friday night with just the owners working. Only cons was there was a lot of fruit flys flying around our food. read more

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Great authentic food and desserts. I went during a conference when they got slammed at one time and handled it with good customer service and prompt food delivery. read more

Rice And Roots - Papaya salad - Vietnamese Near Me - Monterey, California

Been there many times it's been my favorite Vietnamese restaurant. But yesterday the pho broth had so much oil on top and service was terrible. Not sure if I would return. Quite disappointing. read more

amazing. we tried the garlic noodles, with shrimp, and the pho tai, both were perfect. one waitress but she did great. always busy, but still managed to be attentive. read more

Rice And Roots - garlic noodles with shrimp - Vietnamese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Customer service was great, ordered for pick up. They looked busy being closed to closing. I compare a lot of my pho to San Jose, which is hard to compare. Only reason why I deducted 2 stars cause the broth had wayyyy too much flavor where my noodles soaked up the saltiness. I don't know if it was because it was the end of the day and maybe got the broth from the bottom of the pot rwhere all the seasoning was? I had to add a lot of water and reheat my soup. Second star deducted was from the bone in short rib barely had any meat on it and a whole lot of that tissue skin around the bone. Tofu appetizer was great and we absolutely loved the desserts! One last recommendation I'd have for them is to put crushed ice in the Che instead of large cubed ice, but the flavor was great!!! I'd come back to try other food and the pho again. read more

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Deliciously authentic (I'm vietnamese and grew up on homemade pho and other viet dishes)!! I ordered Pho Suong Bo (bone-in short ribs soup) and my husband got the garlic noodles with ribeye. We also got the butterfly prawns. My soup was so flavorful, I only added the sliced jalapeno for some heat and a squeeze of lime. I didn't need to add Sriracha or hoisin sauce. The meat was fall of the bone tender--excellent quality and definitely worth the $. My husband LOVED his garlic noodles. That's his go-to dish. The prawns were tender and lightly crispy with the panko. They have THE BEST Vietnamese iced coffee, but I unfortunately can't have caffeine anymore. Now, I order their coconut juice, and I could've drank 5 more!! It's so fresh and you get a couple of pieces of fresh coconut in it. Yum! read more

Rice And Roots - Must try the Pho Suong Bo!! SO FLAVORFUL! - Vietnamese Near Me - Monterey, California

Tried the new Rice and Roots restaurant in Monterey. Good location, service was ok (more to that later, food was good. 3.7/5 Would rate higher but see below. l arrived by myself for a weekday lunch and tables had to be cleaned before I could be seated. While waiting, another group arrived behind me. Miscommunication between the two servers happened and the group that arrived after me was seated ahead of me. Their order was also taken first. I wasn't in a hurry so ok fine. l ordered the shrimp summer rolls, which arrived after the boba tea. No napkins provided. Flagged down one of the waiters, she acknowledged it and left to what I think would get me napkins. Meanwhile had a summer roll and taste was good and authentic. The sauce was more fish sauce than peanut butter but good. Still no napkins, I hoped I don't have to use hand to wipe off any peanut sauce, so not lady like... My Vietnamese egg coffee arrived, very delicious. Ube Boba tea was ok. Asked 2nd waiter for napkin. The vermicelli pork and shrimp main dish was good but only came with a tiny bit of fish sauce. Finally received my napkins from the first server. It's a new restaurant so maybe some training needed to finesse their service (and I honestly expect the bare minimum from a Vietnamese restaurant, I come for the food and not "fine dining" experience). You pay at the counter after your meal. Waiters were really nice however and I can see that they tried. If you're in Marina try QQ Noodle and Pho Lucky Noodle House. I'm always happy to see new Vietnamese restaurants in the area and wish Rice and Roots much success. I'll return in a few months to see if they've improved with more experience and gain the fast no nonsense efficient service I'm used to. read more

Rice And Roots - Shrimp and pork vermicelli - Vietnamese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Phenomenal Pho! They make their broth fresh from scratch every single day! Takes them 10 hours for each batch! Service was great, and their restaurant was very clean! If you want great Pho, I Highly recommend trying them! read more

Rice And Roots - Bone beef pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Monterey, California

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One of our new favorites in Monterey! Small Vietnamese sit down restaurant, we ordered the grilled pork banh mi to start. Flavorful and good blend of vegetables, but would have liked more veggies. Them OMG we ordered the papaya shrimp salad and the flavor and heat was perfect. I will be back for this dish! Shrimp was cooked perfectly, and the umami was off the chart. My only recommendation would be to make the salad larger by simply adding more lettuce, and there could have been more shrimp or larger shrimp. The fish sauce wings were nice and crispy with the perfect amount of fish sauce marinade to make it cravable. We also tried the basil garlic wings, but thought the fish sauce wings were the clear winner. Is it a first date place, possibly, but not sure a person love or dislike of fish sauce would come up prior to the first date. Probably would need to know someone longer, but atmosphere is nice. Atmosphere: 4 of 5 Updated seats and tables, clean, and modern. I would replace the outdoor awning, that is a little worn. First impressions are a lot. Food: 5 of 5 perfect blend of flavors with that umami you crave, without being overpowering. Value: 4 of 5: pricing is appropriate for the flavor, and umami. Service: 4 of 5. Very attentive to the tables, food takes a little longer to come out, but they have only been open a month, so this is to be expected as the ramp up. read more

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This is a relatively new hole in the wall pho shop located near downtown Monterey. I've eaten here a couple of times now and would say it's the best pho in town! The broth is super clean but also full of flavor. The meat is tender and the noodles are appropriately cooked (just make sure to stir it right away to break the noodles up). The R&R egg rolls (Chả Giò) are crispy and flavorful, but be sure to ask for lettuce if you want to eat them properly. The signature papaya salad is light, tangy and refreshing. It comes with comes with chips for a nice crunch. The dining room is on the smaller side, but tables can be moved around to accommodate different sized parties. The service has been a bit slow both times I've visited, and I had to ask multiple times for items like napkins or another spoon. Everyone is very friendly though, and the food has been worth it. I wish they would stay open until at least 9pm on weekends, especially in the summer season. I'm excited to go back and try more delicious food! This is definitely my go-to now when I need a comforting bowl of pho to heal my soul. read more

Rice And Roots - Phở Tái (pho with rare steak). Includes basil, bean sprouts, fresh jalapeño, and lime on the side. - Vietnamese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Wish I got photos! Ordered a vegetable banh mi, grilled pork banh mi and shrimp spring rolls. All were absolutely scrumptious! Very big sandwiches read more

Fast service, everyone was friendly.. my food was delicious I would definitely come back again and order the same thing. Our boba drinks were not as tasty, drinks a little watered down, wouldn't recommend them.. read more

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