It's been years since I've been here, and I wish that I'd come here more often. The pho broth is much better than I remembered it was in the past, and the price is good, as well. The dining room, unfortunately, is cramped and uncomfortable, so I would consider than to be more of a take-out place. I will not comment on service, because, frankly, I have no desire to sit down in the dining area. Where the food falls a little short is on the spring rolls, which I found to be just a bit dry. The peanut sauce offered was quite tasty, but a lot thicker than others I've had in the past. I think that this may have been due to the noodles being a bit overcooked and sticky that day (the ones they gave for my pho certainly were..). Maybe I just caught them on a bad day? The next day, I had the house vermicelli noodles, which I really liked, except that I thought they put in far to many bean sprouts, and once again, wished that it was a bit juicier. I added a bit of fairly thin hoisin sauce to the peanut sauce at home this time, and was more than pleased with the results. Parking IS sometimes an issue, and at certain times of the day, bums will be panhandling outside (they are right across the street from a liquor store, so whaddya expect?). Still, it's close to 490, so even the laziest suburban douche shouldn't find it too inconvenient to drive his Escalade to.... read more

My coworker and I had a craving for noodles and we had never tried this place let alone know of a place who served in Rochester, during the lunch hour. This was our first experience and everything from the service and patience of the waitresses there who explained how to order and what to order based on what we liked, to the lemons lime drink she made, brought us back!! This is so far, the best place for pho. read more

SEA Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Rochester, New York

This place has the best viet food in Rochester. The fresh roles are a must get when you order here.

This. This is what pho broth should taste like. Maybe it's because the water is better; maybe it's because they have an asian market nearby; but compared to every place I've been to in Buffalo this pho broth just plain kicks ass. The first thing I did when I got my bowl was try the broth - salty, beefy, good! And no pepper! (everyone in Buffalo is obsessed with pepper in their broth!) As I was eating it I kept having flashbacks of being in Seattle, with a huge, cheap bowl of pho to fix my cravings. This was, most definitely, a taste of home. The friendly waitress even gave me a piece of paper with the address to an asian market in Rochester. I was impressed, and I will drive an hour and a half to get the pho here again! read more

SEA Restaurant - Pho! - Vietnamese Near Me - Rochester, New York

great meal for a cheap price - and it's only an extra dollar to make pho to a extra large. The spring rolls were really good (I loved the peanut sauce). The fried squid was a little expensive for the amount they give you, and it's spicy! There was a small wait due to the restaurant's size, but the food is worth the wait. The restaurant's lighting is a little bit dim. Definitely recommend the Thai iced tea! Great drink! Note: if your order is less than $10, you can't pay with card. read more

SEA Restaurant - Appetizer: spring rolls and peanut sauce - Vietnamese Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Food is tasty and freshly made. Service is prompt and friendly. Accommodating as far as sharing dishes.

We've been eating here occasionally for years and the Pho is good (it's difficult to screw up pho) and my GF likes the house vermicelli (Monroe Ave location). But if you're ordering other things off the menu, you're at your own risk. The rice plate I ordered last night (take out) was downright nasty. Just some barely edible mystery meat over overcooked and mushy plain white rice. I tried to choke it down, but gave up. Stick with the Pho. read more

Excellent food. Rapid service. Clean and comfortable restaurant overall great value for a weeknight

Love love love this place. Order the Pad Thai! I ask for a level 3/5 spice. Food is excellent every visit.

It's a small kind of hole in the wall place...my favorite kind of place. The food was excellent and the staff was friendly. I had fried calamari which was just perfect; not too greasy and seasoned so as not to lose the delicate flavor of the squid. I then had fresh spring rolls very fresh and a green papaya salad perfectly spiced. I've eaten at SEA many times and have never been disappointed. read more

Rose V suggests the house vermicelli bowl and I second that suggestion. So good, personally I liked the house sauce and the peanut sauce, kind of a half and half thing going on. I've had the pho also and it is delicious. read more

Amazing food, good service. Place was clean, the qual was amazing, will come back!!!!

This was the second time I tried pho! I really loved the service and the vibes in the restaurant were nice, but the pho broth was a bit bland compared to Saigon Pho on Lyell. I would definitely try this pho again, but my heart belongs to Saigon Pho. read more

After reading all the amazing reviews we decided to stop in for dinner. We asked the waitress what she recommended and she ordered the three things she said they're known for and everything single item was beyond our expectations. Pad Thai, chicken pho and fresh spring roles with peanut sauce. Don't expect a fancy restaurant or super cute dining room from Sea Restaurant, just go in for the food. I'm not a noodle soup person and typically order drier food when at Vietnamese restaurant but this place did an amazing job with my soup. If you order the pho make sure you order the steamed vegetables and actually put in the the side items they bring you. Fresh basil makes it very flavorful. Good job! Definitely recommend this place if you haven't already been. read more

We got here an hour before closing on a Saturday night, which may explain the lightning fast service, but I have a feeling this place prides itself on friendly, family-business-type service and it's well worth the pride. First off, how do you even get pho that cheap?! I haven't had pho for such an affordable price since the early 2000's - our whole meal came out to a little under $20 minus tip. And our food came out super fast - probably about 5-10 minutes after we put in the order. I got the chicken pho with the chicken broth - the chicken was a little dry but when soaked into the broth, it had flavor and texture. The broth was really delicious, a tad on the salty side but just bordering on savory. I squeezed a bit of the hoisin sauce into the broth and mixed it up and it was delicious. We had so much left over that we ended up taking our leftovers home. read more

I need to eat here more it's so good it's fast it's fresh the staff is always kind it's perfect for theses chili days ahead of us I can't wait to eat here again read more

I understand, The Big Roach is way feeble when it comes to asian restaurants, but I have to say this did not even meet my politically-correct little league low bar for suburban asian restaurants. Spring rolls- blah. Pho- blah. Stir-fry, blah. Old limp mint leaves and sprouts- double blah. Twenty-five bucks worth of mediocrity. Step up your game or lock the door. You won't be the only Viet game in The Big Roach forever. read more

My fave place to get pho in Rochester, the ingredients always taste fresh and the portion is awesome for the price.

I'm so glad we went in today! With kids, it's a risk! The kids loved the egg rolls. For $3.75? We ordered 2 more plates. They loved the wonton soup and I've never seen wonton soup like this. There were at least 8 dumplings/wontons in each plus chicken. My Pho was great. Husband's Pho also great. Strawberry smoothie was perfect for a picky toddler. I will return and want to try more! Everything I watched come out of the kitchen looked so fresh. read more

SEA Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Rochester, New York

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I absolutely love getting Beef Pho soup from this restaurant especially on a super cold as usual Rochester night. I tend to go with my sorority sister and it is our spot. It isnt too noisy or overly decorated. The service is good, not too attentive but the waitstaff are all nice and friendly. They have a very extensive menu but what uou need to get is Pho. Period! It is so freaking tasty. Their thai coffee was alright nothing too special but sweet and tasty. I wouldnt bring too many people as the space is more for intimate parties. read more

South East Asia is where it's at on a Friday night on Monroe Ave. This place is always poppin' and it is because the food is delish. I ordered the hu tieu do bien, which is a pho with: shrimp, imitation crab, squid, and a "fish cake". The pho was pretty good, but because the place was slammed on a Friday, the service was sub par. It took awhile for the food to come out, and to get the pho toppings (limes, basil, bean sprouts, soup ladle spoons). The noodles are always very filling, and I typically have to ask for a to-go container for the next day's lunch. I still am partial to Pho Viet's shrimp pho, but since they have turned over to a new establishment, I am on the hunt for the best Rochester pho bowl fo sho'. The shrimp spring rolls are so fresh, and come with four. They are a perfect little appetizer to hold you over until your pho or entrees come out. It comes with a tasty dipping sauce as well. I like that this place has that "hole in the wall feel", but sometimes it can be a wait. The problem is there isn't much space to wait, so there will be people opening and closing the door constantly, hovering near your table waiting for one to open up. I will definitely be back for a Pho Fix, but it might be during a lunch time, to avoid that weekend bustle. read more

The service here is 5 out of 5 stars. We have never been disappointed with any of the wait staff. They go above and beyond to accommodate everything you need. They are ANAZING with kids. The pho is pretty fantastic. We have been going here at least once a week since coming back to the area. I love the fried squid and the fresh spring rolls. The only reason I don't give this place a five out of five stars is because sometimes the pho comes out "cool" vs hot. Still incredibly enjoyable, but not quite perfect. read more

Best phó in town. Whatever we order something from summer rolls to shrimp or chicken salad on the menu we never get disappointed. I guess best food in town. Best part is, I know the owner family very down to earth people. read more

We love, love, love SEA Restaurant's Pho. If you are ill or depressed their Pho will heal you. It is so soothing and delicious that you will feel enveloped in a big warm hug. We don't work there or know anyone that does. We don't know the owners but wish we did. We highly recommend Sea Restaurant. Yum read more

I had the shrimp basil fried rice which was pretty good. I would definitely get it again! The thai iced tea was also good.

I am so pleased with coming here! I came because of the great reviews here on yelp. Had the seafood pho and fried egg rolls and both were DELICIOUS. service was super fast and the waitresses were super nice. In addition, the interior is so cozy and clean and pleasant. Just a really solid place all around, I will totally be back. read more

Excellent Southeast Asian food and great prices. Very relaxed vibe. Mostly young people but not too hipster. The rice w vegetable and beef is excellent, ask for the fried egg on top. The fried spring rolls and fish sauce very tasty. Poor that fish sauce over it all! Healthy, filling, unpretentious, chill. Beer selection good. Gip will be back! read more

Some really good pho at this place. It's probably my favorite pho spots in Rochester and it is one my favorite pho spots overall. It even rivals some of the pho shops I used to go to growing up in California (there was a Little Saigon near us)... so this is some good stuff. I'm not sure what the recent 1 star reviews are talking about... but they must have gone on a really off day or something cause the stuff I got was fresh and delicious. read more

After the recent untimely demise of a pho spot near and dear to my heart, it was time to revisit SEA to get my fix of delicious broth and noodles. When the cold weather hits, you just can't beat it. We started off with the recommended appetizer of fried squid, which was chewy, yet light with peppers and a spicy glaze. The egg rolls were small but crispy and hot. My mom and I got the seafood pho but asked for only shrimp...imitation crab and fish cake didn't sound the most appetizing. My dad went for the brisket pho and when I saw his I kicked myself! The brisket was rare and so tender it flaked, and there was a lot more beef in his bowl than shrimp in mine. I should have re-read my old review from 2012 (lessons learned). The flavor of the broth and quantity of noodles did not, however, disappoint, and there were ample add-ins for the table. SEA will be a regular haunt for me now, along with, it seems, many others. There was actually a wait for lunch when we left. Pho for all! read more

Let's just say their Pho definitely exceed my expectations from an Asian fusion restaurant.

Amazing pho! Huge bowl for a small price. You have to get the fried squid also, a little spicy but great flavor!

I am addicted to the pho! The restaurant is clean and the staff is helpful when you don't understand the menu. Good portions of food especially for the price and located on Monroe ave right in the heart of downtown Rochester. read more

Time had passed day by day, month by month as I waited for the right moment to try SEA for the first time. Clearly, I dropped the ball on that one and should have been a regular visitor. I enjoyed the Beef Pho. Literally had leftovers for an entire week. The serving size is enormous. The broth is full of bright flavors and a hint of sweetness with the herbs, like Thai basil knocking it out of the park. I loved the crunchy bean sprouts too. It's great for eating in and takeout, SEA serves as the perfect weeknight dinner when you have no desire to cook on your own. Delicious and inexpensive. Win-win. read more

This is the "Best" hands down fried squid in Rochester! It's very flavorful and has a little kick too (not too spicy) for the people who don't like spicy foods. I like mine w/more heat so I always dip it in Sriracha sauce (yep, just love spicy- the girl who puts habanero Tabasco & Sriracha sauce on everything, lol) read more

SEA Restaurant - Fried Squid - Vietnamese Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Recently revisited SEA a few times for pho, I'm almost afraid to admit but I find the pho "okay" here. The serving sizes are very generous for the price and they have a great selection of beverages to order alongside you meal. The fried squid is my go to app, I thought I remembered it being a bit crispier and tender but it is still tasty. The pho itself is pretty good just not always as flavorful as it could be in my opinion. Overall it is a spot I will continue to stop at when I'm in the area and get a S.E.A craving. read more

SEA Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Rochester, New York

I was yelping for a some good food in the Rochester area on my visit here and saw the great reviews this place got. I was still pretty skeptical though. Could this little Asian restaurant in Rochester beat all the places I've tried in California? As a judge of Southeast Asian cuisine, I think I'm more than qualified. I've lived in the San Gabriel Valley of southern CA, where there are Pho restaurants on practically every corner. I also grew up 20 minutes away from Little Saigon, so Vietnamese food is nothing new to me. And to top it off, I dated a Thai guy for 7 years and learned to cook Thai food from his mother. Of course, I wanted to see what the buzz over their Pho was all about, so I ordered a bowl. We also ordered the Grilled Pork Chop dish and Chef Special Chicken Wing appetizer. We noticed that they actually made an effort to serve our meal in courses, which was a very nice touch for such a casual place. The service was without question much better than most Asian places back in Cali. Now to the food. First up, the chicken wings. This wasn't an authentic dish but had very authentic flavors. WOW. I felt like I could actually TASTE the fusion! It was a little bit of so many things - a little sweet, a little tart ... a little salty, a little spicy ... a little bit of Thai, a little bit of something unknown. I've never tasted anything like it and wish I could come back a few more times just to analyze its many textures. The pork chop arrived on a huge mountain of rice. Geez, you could probably feed a family of four in a 3rd world country with the amount of rice they give you! In terms of taste though, it was a bit tough and sightly dry. When I finally got to taste my Pho, I thought oh ok, it just has a mild sweetness to it that I usually don't find with Pho back at home. The flavor was great but as I ate more, I discovered it was more amazing than I thought. Could it be? Is it possible?? A bowl of Pho that ISN'T loaded with MSG??? I could actually eat a bowl of Pho without feeling as parched as an eskimo in the mojave??? And with that, they won me over. Props to them for making the BEST PHO EVER. If this restaurant wasn't 3000 miles from home, I'd be an instant regular. Who knew that a little place in Rochester could outdo all the Pho places I've ever been to. If I'm ever back in Rochester, this will be the first place I visit. read more

SEA Restaurant - grilled pork chop - Vietnamese Near Me - Rochester, New York

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I definitely prefer this location as opposed to the one on Mt. Hope. I used to go to SUNY Geneseo, which is about a 45 minute drive away, and I would come here all the time for pho. Even though I graduated, I still come back to the Geneseo/Rochester area to visit my friends and always make a stop here. The waiters are super kind and the food always comes out quickly. read more

This place was really good. I had a glass noodle salad dish and loved it. Ask for it without all that lettuce. Lol. I've had that dish at other plsces and the noodles themselves were the salad. I can't wait to come back to visit here. read more

SEA Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Rochester, New York

My 1st trip here i was picky and scared to try it but after numerous visits its now my favorite restaurant to go too. Their chef special wings are amazing n their calamari is the best (i don't like seafood but i love their calamari). The pho is good and their fried rice is really good. Ive had other dishes and im never disappointed. Sea is the best place to eat! read more

Chicken. Rice. Porridge. Double the portion. When it's cold, wet, and gloomy (which Rochester is 60% of the time) there is nothing else on my mind. Not a big fan of pho but friends claim it's the best they've ever had. read more