This eatery landed a spot in my top 10 favorite bites in Long Beach. Sesame Dinette is a hole in the wall Vietnamese spot serving up healthy, yet delicious eats. I visited yesterday for lunch and ordered their Sesame Banh Mi with rotisserie chicken - no jalapeño. This sandwich has been featured in my brain on repeat over the past 24 hours. One meal from Sesame Dinette was not enough. The bread was divine. Different from your traditional banh mi baguette, but thick, fluffy, and baked fresh in house. I also loved their combo of juicy chicken, miniature pickles, cucumber, and carrots. I have a feeling I'll be visiting for round two sometime this week! read more

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The pho French dip is incredible. Some of the most advanced sandwich technology I've encountered. It really has everything you could possibly want in a French dip, but better. This place also has wonderful drinks, kind staff and cool ambiance. read more

10/10!! Good food and good energy Very welcoming. Veggie banh mi was delicious- almost didn't think it was veggie until kitchen confirmed it was :) Def coming back read more

Food Researched this place beforehand and even searched for their vegan options. They had such good reviews and a friend referred this place. However we found it to be lackluster. The vegetarian bahn mi is not on traditional bread, but the cold cuts were so bad. I liked the mushroom pate, but they should have offered an option with the tofu instead. The vermicelli bowl was decent. I've had a better portion elsewhere. Did appreciate the vegan fish sauce and wish the condiments were more accessible instead of you asking. The tofu was cooked in this slices and the sauce on that was really good. Service The staff were really fun and redeemed this place. They were helpful and seemed cool. They let you take your time and didn't let us bus our dishes and said bye. It was a nice touch. Ambiance A few big tables and a four smaller ones. The vibe is very open and airy. Parking is a small lot and street parking is tough because it's on pacific and pch. read more

Sesame Dinette - Vietnamese Near Me - Long Beach, California

Such a cute, cozy cafe vibe. The workers were really friendly and sweet :) They're known for their pho french dip, so I had to order that! Pho French Dip: 3.75/5. The au jus was very flavorful and not salty! I had to dip the sandwich into the au jus for a few seconds so that it could REALLY soak up the flavors. I wish the au jus was piping hot, but it came barely warm. I expected the bread to have a crunch, but it was a bit soggy. Even though it's a PHO french dip, some crunchy veggies would've elevated the sandwich a lot more (maybe pickled veggies or cucumbers). Overall, it was a pretty good dish, but I wasn't mind blown by it! read more

Sesame Dinette - Pho French Dip - Vietnamese Near Me - Long Beach, California

If I could, I'd give this place more of a 3.5/5. I was not expecting this place to look as modern inside and just to confirm, this is not a typical Vietnamese restaurant with Vietnamese people serving you and you getting all of the culture and ambiance (or lack there of) included. It feels more LA-esque, Silverlake hipster type in a way. We came in an ordered a Banh mi dipped sandwich which was honestly pretty fire. Not at all traditional, but very yummy in flavor. We also ordered a noodle salad bowl and felt that the ratios of ingredients were a little off and that it was a bit meh overall. Wouldn't order that one again. The staff were interesting but overall nice. I will say that they don't even offer a restaurant here for customers which was a bummer considering my friend had to go pretty badly. I was under the impression that legally a restaurant that offers food where you can sit down has to also offer a bathroom, but maybe I am mistaken. Anyways, I don't think I'd necessarily go out of my way to come back here; but I am willing to try the pho if I'm in the area. read more

I can't believe it's taken me this long to visit Sesame Dinette. The space gives coffee shop which is so nice actually. You can order a Viet or tea latte with your meal. No need for an additional coffee shop - Sesame Dinette kills two birds with one stone. Drinks are pretty solid even though their one employee was multitasking as cashier, waiter, and barista. Everyone comes for the sandwiches (I think), so we did what the masses told us to do and ordered a sandwich. We opted for the Sesame bánh mì đặc biệt ($13). I liked the bread situation - not your typical baguette, but that was about it. There was maybe one piece of cha and mostly cucumbers and veggies in the sandwich. I'll definitely come back to try their pho French dip next time. The other entrees we ordered were quite good and pretty true to its taste. I ordered a rice plate ($17) with grilled pork + pork patty. It also comes with a side of pickled veggies. The grilled pork was tender and had good flavor. My entree was missing a pork patty, but I'm sure it would have tasted equally as delightful. We also ordered the vermicelli noodles ($17) with grilled pork and pork patty. This was very much like the rice entree except over noodles. Here they include fresh veggies which makes it taste like a cold noodle salad esp with the fish sauce. Delish. Sesame Dinette offers a variety of dishes that don't always appear on the same menu. I'll be back to try one of everything. read more

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My first time dining at Sesame Dinette was so pleasant! Lots of warm and welcoming vibes. You can immediately tell that this space was thoughtfully designed with plenty of natural sunlight coming in and big tables for communal seating. Customer service was friendly and helpful. I ordered the Vietnamese turmeric fish noodle bowl. The flavors were simple, tangy, and fresh. Lots of great textures from the crunchy veggies, the bouncy noodles, the crispy and tender fish, to the crunchy peanuts. Would definitely get again. I also shared a homemade cookie which was delicious! I can't remember the flavor but it tasted like butterscotch/toffee- absolutely scrumptious. Such a great initial experience here, I will be back! Highly recommend! read more

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Food French dip - 4.8/5. An elevated sandwich with a perfect jus. A bit skimpy with the meat for $17. Excellent bread. Banh mi with grilled pork - 4.8/5 Another stellar sandwich, the best banh mi I've had and I've been to Saigon and Little Saigon. The meat does fall out of the bread but a stellar sandwich with balanced notes, including a spice that cuts through well. Vermicelli bowl with shrimp - Simply excellent again. Flavorful and fresh. 4.6/5 Crab rolls - So fresh. A big seller. 4.5/5 Viet coffee - Solid, much better than most. 4.7/5 Pandan latte - So good you won't even know it's oat milk 4.6/5 Service 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 My favorite Vietnamese fusion restaurant. Highly recommended. You will not be disappointed. read more

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New to the area and craving some solid pho, I gave this spot a try based purely on the reviews. It's one of those blink-and-you'll-miss-it places in a slightly sketchy plaza -- but hey, some of the best eats come from the most unexpected corners. I ordered my usual: chicken pho. That's my litmus test -- if the broth is bland, I'm out. But this one? Surprisingly flavorful. Clean, comforting, and not overly salty. You can tell they actually care about the broth, which is half the battle in pho world. Didn't dive into the rest of the menu yet, but if it's anything like this bowl, I'll be back soon. Pro tip: don't judge the book by the strip mall. read more

Sesame Dinette - Chicken Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Long Beach, California

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The food and the drinks are the best Vietnamese food I have ever had. The plates come out like little works of art. They have this pandan latte that is exceptional. The only things that sucks are their hours and no restroom. The only way we can get in here is on a Saturday in the middle of the day and don't drink any liquids before you go or you will have a really uncomfortable lunch. Can't knock them on the food and drink flavor, creativity and freshness. Those are top notch. read more

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Tried this spot out on a early afternoon, it wasn't busy but the restaurant? Gives cute aesthetic, cozy vibes, I love the picnic style tables. We tried the Pandan Matcha, Tofu Spring Rolls, vegetarian and pork bahn mi. The matcha and food was very tasty and flavorful. We can't wait to come back and try more menu items read more

Sesame Dinette - Tofu spring rolls, pandan matcha, vegetarian bahn mi, pork bahn mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Long Beach, California

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I'm not sure how to rate this place which is why I gave a 3. Ambiance and service were great but food was very mid for me. I ordered their beef wrapped in betel leaves... personally I didn't expect it to be just a sausage wrapped in leaves, the taste was a disappointment as well for it being $13. From how they described it, I thought it was a type of egg-roll. The only thing that really made it a cool experience was the drink I got. Lately I've been a fan of the taste of blueberry and their last blueberry coconut drink stood out to me so I got it. The taste was subtle blueberry with coconut water and I'm not even a fan of coconut water. It was called Once Upon a Coconut. I recommend getting that instead of soda but mind you, it was $3 lol. read more

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Some of the best, casual Vietnamese restaurant this side of LA in the Southbay! Although I enjoyed a catering order and could not comment on the ambience or service, this delectable meal consisted of springy vermicelli noodles, a "pho" dipping sandwich with Pho-based Au jus, and a tasty selection of grilled meats. Overall, each dish had an amazing taste, freshness and in terms of the sandwich, great innovation! Would highly recommend a trip when in Long Beach! read more

My friend got me the grilled pork banh mi and OMG! Idk what they did to make this sandwich so good but it was amazing! Their crust sauce was delicious, it had a little spice, bread was crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. I've been trying to find a good banh mi near me and though this place is about 20min away from me I will definitely be back. read more

Sesame Dinette - Grilled Pork Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Long Beach, California

The pho French dip sandwich was recommended to me and it was easily one of the best dishes I've had in a while. I was so happy I actually called to let the staff know...I ordered this to go and was surprised with its unexpected, but pleasant presentation! The bread was so crispy and soft on the inside and the shape made it easier to scarf down! It was a perfect vehicle to pair with the soft, flavorful brisket, along with crunchy onions, fresh Thai basil and light, creamy mayo spread. Perfectly tasty on its own, but a French dip wouldn't be complete without the broth. It had so much flavor in such a small cup, the aromatics, the umami, it was all there. A simple dish packed with flavors and textures that exceeded anything I imagined for a pho French dip. THANK YOU! read more

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Oxtail pho... need I say more? And let me tell you--they do not skimp on the meat. I ordered through a delivery service, so I'm not sure if the basil, bean sprouts, cilantro, and lime were left out by accident or if the pho just doesn't come with them. Either way, the bowl itself was delicious: tender meats, lean brisket, and a clean, flavorful broth. I even got three pieces of oxtail--and you know how expensive oxtails are, so that alone felt like a win. Now, about the bánh mì... My plan was to eat half and save the rest for dinner. Instead, I inhaled the entire thing and immediately wanted more. At this point, I've accepted that I might just be a pig. This is exactly why I like eating at home--so I can devour my food like an animal and then go straight to sleep without judgment. read more

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Good customer service. I took my food to go, wish I stayed in because the AC was on and it felt so good. Plus there was plenty of space to eat. I really enjoyed my Bahn Mi sandwich. Tasty and satisfying. Wish to explore more options on the menu. read more

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I'm so sad to learn that the chef is retiring soon. I have genuinely enjoyed everything I've ever ordered from here including their signature Sesame banh mi (I get mine with chicken), their French dip, the summer rolls with plant-based shrimp, the pate chaud, the prosperity soup and my #1 favorite, their noodle salad bowl with grilled pork. It's going to be a mission trying new things on the menu that I haven't tried in such a short/ undetermined amount of time, especially when I have favorites. Today I ordered the summer rolls and they look a big bigger than usual. I also ordered their prosperity soup which has little noodle knots, goji berries, two kinds of mushrooms, lotus seeds, jujube dates and ginseng. It's seriously such a nice warm and healing bowl of soup. It's barely my second time ordering it, and I'm bummed I didn't try it sooner. They'll be open normal hours until they find a buyer, and I'm wishfully hoping it'll take at least a month or two. I don't want them to go away :( read more

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Food was excellent. Staff was so attentive and friendly. Really great experience. ............. read more

I've been craving a vermicelli bowl and couldn't find on in LB. Until this place came up! I got the bowl and pho french dip sandwich. BOMB! Plus it was stuff to the brim! Not stingy at all read more

Love this modern Vietnamese eatery! If not for their limited hours, I'd be here more often. The modern Vietnamese menu reminds me of my favorite Vietnamese restaurants in NY and Berlin. I also like the minimalist decor. Come for coffee, stay for lunch! read more

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My wife and I tried this place for the first time for lunch - a spot I've had bookmarked for ages. The vibe and the space were solid but the food was just ok. They have a decent parking lot and the space itself is bright and open. The menu itself looks good - with some unique items including the one I ordered - the Pho French Dip. My wife ordered the pork vermicelli bowl. The best thing about the dip was the bread - relatively light and crunchy - not like Bahn mi bread that bloodies the roof of your mouth! The pho dip was a good addition too. But honestly, the meat itself was just meh - not a lot of flavor. As for the vermicelli bowl - it totally looked the part but the dressing itself just didn't stand out. It was very one-note so it didn't bring any serious vermicelli bowl vibe to the table. The pork also was a little fatty and not terribly flavorful. Overall, this place just didn't stand out. read more

This is the type of place I'd drive for. A well thought out modern take on Viet food. Located in a strip mall, they have a few parking spots in the plaza. I couldn't dine in since I had my dog and they don't have outdoor seating so I called in for a Pho French dip sandwich. Service was friendly and they said it'd take ~20-30 mins since they had a lunch rush on a Friday. Inside was cute with some seating and merch/sauces for sale Pho French dip sandwich (5/5) so good. Bread was light and crispy on the outside, brisket was tender and soft. The jalapeños gave it a nice kick. The pho dipping soup was nice and hot with a balance of spices/beef. It wasn't an overly sweet broth which I appreciated I will be back to dine in and try more items! read more

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The vibe is very cozy and chill. The service is excellent. The hospitality is very warm here. You'll very much feel apart of the neighborhood and understand why Long Beach is such a diverse place and welcoming. The food here is authentic. Love that they use organic meat for their chicken pho. read more

Sesame Dinette - Vietnamese Near Me - Long Beach, California

Sesame Dinette in Long Beach is an absolute gem. Every bite feels thoughtful, fresh, and deeply comforting. I especially loved the vermicelli noodle bowl: perfectly balanced, vibrant, and satisfying without being heavy. And the veggie banh mi? Crispy, flavorful, and layered with just the right mix of textures and brightness. I went to sleep dreaming of having it the next morning lol. If you're looking for a spot that delivers bold flavors, vegetarian (and vegan!!) options done right. And it's so cute with perfect lighting inside. read more

Sesame Dinette - Banh mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Came in to try their French dip sandwich. Vietnamese flavors that lean a bit into the French side. The dip itself tastes like Au Jus but with spice notes you would taste in the cleanest pho broth. Amazing. We ordered and were served pretty quickly. Their tofu spring roll was WAY better than expected. It is a real small spot that gives off cafe vibes. Ordered their Vietnamese latte on the way out and was not disappointed. read more

This review is based off an Uber Eats order but I would say what I ordered was soo good . I had a pulled chicken bahn mi , the chicken was flavorful , the flatbread used for the bahn mi was soft and flaky and the veggies like pickled onions , cucumbers , and cilantro topped it all off . I also ordered a pandan ice coffee and although it wasn't the best I had , it was still good . Next time I am coming to dine in and try other things on the menu . read more

I ordered the vermicelli bowl and it was delicious! The fish sauce was just right too. The drinks offered were unique and were very refreshing. The owner took time to check in with us and ask us about our day which is a really nice touch. I'll most definitely be coming back again and look forward to trying the other items on the menu. read more

This just became my new favorite spot in the area. Where do I begin... Cute mom and pop shop. Not much sitting area besides 3 or 4 small tables. They have a good amount of vegan options and none of them are BASIC! The vermicelli bowl we got had tofu skins which tasted like the skin on a rotisserie chicken! lol very specific I know. Plenty of lettuce, mint and carrots. The "fish sauce" wasn't sour or too fishy like most places. Had a bit of sweetness to it. Very unique I can't describe it! The spring rolls were cool nothing over the top. My daughter tore them up so I'm sure she has plenty of good things to say about it. The star of the show however was the prosperity soup. Something straight out of a traditional Chinese medicine text book. Mushrooms, ginseng, jujube,longan and more. The healthiest option I've ever seen one restaurant. I was so energized after my meal that I'm inspired to make it at home daily!! It's on the sweet side so treat it like a dessert! Overall this plane is a gem. The food is health conscious. The flavors are unique and not like every other "pho spot". Hats off to the chef who is selling the shop because of retirement. I will be back before he goes however keep in mind the store hours are limited to Fridays and Saturdays! read more

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I ordered to go via Yelp and ordered the beef pho + oxtail, chicken pho, and the cold cut pork banh mi. The pho was delicious!! Broth and cuts of meat were tender. However, for the banh mi, I was disappointed that there was no paté in mine. Not sure if it was supposed to have it or not, but I feel it would have added much more umami if it did. I'm also used to banh mi's having it, but maybe this place doesn't do it. read more

Love this place, so relaxing and peaceful. Been here dozens of times and my all time favorite things to order are the chicken pho, turmeric fish vermicelli (so good and unique), as well as the chicken salad. read more

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So good, I hope this place expands to Los Angeles so it's closer to my home! I ended up buying extra meals to take home. read more

Sesame Dinette - Grilled pork vermicelli salad - Vietnamese Near Me - Long Beach, California

This is gem of a place that I recently discovered while searching Yelp for new vegan Asian eats. The Dinette is small as the name implies but clean and modern appearing. They serve Vietnamese cuisine with innovative interpretations. For example, their vegetarian "meat" Banh Mi (can be modified to be vegan) comes in a crunchy flat sesame bread rather than the traditional baguette. I enjoyed it so much that I brought my family back to try. They also serve high quality hot tea which is difficult to find even at a large restaurant! It is located in a small strip mall and I can see parking being an issue at times but I have not had difficulty parking both times I've gone. The neighborhood isn't the best but not to the point that it feels dangerous in any way. Staff are super friendly. read more

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Beef pho was amazing. Staff is super friendly. Good beverage options. Clean and bright place!

Cute, bright, restaurant/shop. You order at the counter and they bring it out to your table. We weren't expecting much because it's not the typical authentic-looking mom&pop Vietnamese restaurant, but we're delighted with the dishes! The soup was very tasty and the vermicelli bowl was light and fresh. We also got their version of the banh-mi which was decent, but I prefer the traditional one more. Looking forward to coming back and trying their other dishes Small parking lot but we were able to find parking easily. read more

Sesame Dinette - Wonton soup & vermicelli pork dish - Vietnamese Near Me - Long Beach, California

Small little store front restaurant but service was chill and helpful. I had the French dip banhi- great roll - seemed home made and very tender beef and generous bowl of broth to dunk sandwich Outstanding- I want to try other dishes Limited parking in strip center read more

Sesame Dinette - I took bites out of the front half -smelled so good I could not wait - Vietnamese Near Me - Long Beach, California

Good pho. The broth is light and has a good flavor. I had ox tail pho. Nice, fresh basil, lime and bean sprouts. My friend had the pork sandwich. She said it was good. I had iced coffee which was strong and tasty, not too sweet. Service is order at the counter and food is delivered. A sweet young lady helped us at the counter and offered helpful suggestions. Ambience is fair. Several tables. The chairs are uncomfortable. No public restrooms. read more

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Such a great LB hole in the wall. My favorite spot for a delicious homie meal. The French dip with pho broth will not disappoint with its tender brisket hints of basil and toasted sesame bread. I also love the pulled chicken banh mi and chicken pho - on constant rotation! I always get an extra side of jalapeños because I'm obsessed. I crave this food when I don't get have it. Big plus new owners are lovely and attentive. read more

Sesame Dinette - Phooooooo - Vietnamese Near Me - Long Beach, California

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The decor is pretty minimal with uncomfortable and cheaper furniture. For how the food is priced, I do think they should provide a bit more customer service. You order at the counter and you seat yourself. The front staff who was there that day, was not mindful of pulling the chairs and made loud metal sounds from the chair legs, while she cleaned up. Which was kind of disruptive in the small echoey space. The oxtail pho is priced at 18 or 20 - i forget - which is pretty pricey in terms of pho. While it tasted good and quite flavorful, the meat did not come off the bone. I still would get this again and enjoyed it very much! But def when I'm in the mood to splurge. The bun bowl was on the less flavorful side- while the beef quality was very good. I really like the place but something about the ambiance is not super inviting and the service was a bit lacking! We both thought the appetizer soup was great but again a bit on the pricey side. It had a lot of ingredients and it tasted like it would heal us from the inside!! I would say food was almost a 5 but I docked a star for the lacking ambiance. read more

Sesame Dinette - mushroom soup of some kind - very delicious and taste nourishing - Vietnamese Near Me - Long Beach, California

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