Christine wanted Vietnamese, so we found ourselves at V-Nam Cafe, a small spot that feels like it leans more toward takeout but does have a sit-down area if you want to eat in. We started with the calamari and then both went with the beef pho, which is exactly what you want on a day when you need something filling and warm. The portions were generous enough that neither of us could finish our bowls, which says something. Good food has a way of doing that. The service was genuinely warm. Our server kept the water coming without being asked and was attentive the whole time without being intrusive. An older gentleman working there was equally welcoming. Small spots like this live and die by that kind of energy, and V-Nam Cafe gets it right. As for the price, you are looking at around $15 per pho and about $10 for the calamari, so two people can walk out of there well fed for around $50 with tip. They were having some trouble with their card machine the day we visited, so I handled the tip in cash, but the card payment went through fine. If you are in the area and want a solid, unpretentious bowl of pho at a fair price, V-Nam Cafe is worth the stop. read more

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This hole in the wall doesn't look like much but it's pretty solid if you're looking for good Vietnamese. We ordered the Vietnamese iced coffee, spring rolls, curry chicken rice noodles, and beef stew egg noodles. The spring rolls were crispy and the meat was flavorful. The curry rice noodles was the perfect amount of curry soup. My only negative comment on the dish was that the rice noodles were a bit too broken apart. The beef stew egg noodles came with a nice rich broth. Everything came quickly and my water was refilled numerous times without asking. I was skeptical at first but I would return. read more

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3 stars (average) only because my friend enjoyed her dish. Me not so much. The potstickers were hard to chew and the spring rolls were just ok. Although food presentation looked nice and the service was friendly, it was the B rating and the grimy facade that will keep me away. read more

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So simple, so fresh, so light, and so satisfying. Best of all, this is one of the cheapest meals I've had in Manhattan and kept me full for hours. read more

V-Nam Cafe - Banh Mi Veggie - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

I considered this The Lower East Side Downtown best kept secret. I come here for a Bahn Mi for lunch and a bowl of hot Pho for dinner on a below 30 degree day in NYC. The facilities is minimal so it can get busy but you will not be disappointed. The spices and taste will pop while conversing with friend's. Everyone is always laughing in here and laughing is contagious. read more

V-Nam Cafe - Curry Spicy Noodles Soup - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

The banh miner V-Nam Cafe is ridiculously good!! wow! I wasn't terribly impressed when I walked into the restaurant, but was crazing banh mi's on my way back from work. I stopped by for dinner and got two special (bbq pork) banh mi sandwiches to go. Both my partner and I loved the flavor of the sandwich! The bread is so soft and fresh, and the meat was really flavorful. I especially enjoyed the pate in the sandwich and, for once, felt like I could actually taste the creamy flavors that it added. The service was fast and efficient, and the sandwiches were a super fair price (about $10.50 each). We were both full after eating it. The restaurant itself was a bit tiny, so I would definitely prefer to grab takeout versus eating in. Hopefully not the last time I'll be getting their banh mi! read more

V-Nam Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

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I tried to place an order with this restaurant with my friend and they picked up my call since I was a first time caller. My friend is Black and has been a repeat paying customer, and they have been screening their calls and deliberately sending his calls to voicemail. We tested this theory by him calling first, and I immediately called after (they only picked up for me). It is disappointing to come across a restaurant that discriminates against its patrons. Let this be a warning for any future customers. We recommend Non-La as a better alternative who serves all their customers with kindness and respect. read more

First Impressions- it was a super hot summer night and after drinks and exploring my friend and I were hungry. Luckily, we still had about 45 mins before the restaurant closed so we popped in, found an open table (it was full even with 45 mins til close and people waiting to pick up their to go order) and placed our order asap The Noms - I'm super picky with Vietnamese food (having grown up in a family where both parents love to cook and having Little Saigon nearby with all the best Viet foods close at hand). We both ordered Bun thit nuong cha gio and set to work eating... service was scant, but once the food was set down on the table the only focus was eating. The vermicelli noodles were were perfectly cooked, the thit was tender and flavorful. The nuoc mam that came with it was sooo good... I practically drenched my cha gio in it and asked for more! I'm conclusion- this is one of the few Vietnamese spots I like in NYC... most of the time I would say save your money and go to Cali for good Viet food. This is definitely one of go to spots now read more

V-Nam Cafe - Bun thit nuong cha gio - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

Pretty good spot. I had ordered the fried fish banh mi and my husband got the original. The sandwich retained its crispiness and flavor which is great. We had take out not too sure about the service. The shop was small with a few tables and relatively quiet so good place to chat. Would come back to try the other items read more

Service was so good and the staff were so nice!! It was packed when we got in there and they quickly seated us as someone left!! The food is so yummy and vegan friendly. Veggie bahn mi with soy protein and no mayo to be vegan. Veggie pho was so flavorful and the soy protein was plentiful and delicious. My friends got the beef stew pho and they said it was amazing. Amazing price too! $48 for the three of us to be full (drinks included). 100% recommend read more

V-Nam Cafe - Banh Mi Veggie with Soy Protein (and no mayo to make it vegan hehe) - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

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Best bahn mi I've ever had! It was perfection. The oxtail pho broth was so good and the noodles were very tender. The potstickers were crispy and would recommend. This is such a good hole in the wall take out place. Phenomenal, would def suggest coming here! read more

V-Nam Cafe - Potstickers - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

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4.5 stars Loved the sunfish banh mi even though I only managed to get a few bites. L ate the rest, he usually doesn't care for fish so I didn't think he would eat the entire thing after I left it in bowl. He didn't even know which protein it was, only that it was delicious! Bread was crispy on the outside, soft inside, fish wasn't soggy even after a hr commute. Now I need to get another one and next time I won't share it! Beef stew and egg noodles were reheated for dinner the next day. I'm not a fan of egg noodles so that was just okay for me. The soup is really flavorful but a bit too salty. I separated it into two portions for myself. There's no way I can have that much sodium. The beef was lean and tender. No tendon. It was good... nothing special but great on a cold day. I'd def come back for more banh mis and try their pho. Priced reasonably especially for the area. read more

A fast casual long-standing place in the east village for Vietnamese food. Had been wanting to check this place out and ordered a banh mi. Ok firstly, their bathroom is all the way behind their kitchen which isn't sanitary for guest usage. Service is pretty good. I ordered the fish Banh mi and the bread just wasn't right. The sandwich was ok but the bread has to be the right type. Maybe if I had tried something else on the menu I would have enjoyed it more. read more

It's really good, solid Vietnamese food with no frills. Their banh mi sandwich with fried egg is excellent. read more

This place was great, amazing service, good food. Even with a wait its certainly a worth wile sacrifice.

I just gave a different Banh Mi shop 3 stars. if that is 3 stars, then this is definitely 4 1/2. I'm happy to round up since I don't have any go to spots near me. The Vietnamese coffee is delicious and worth a trip. I have only gotten the default Banh Mi there once, but the bread was soft and crispy on the outside, with hot tasty ingredients that all combined brilliantly. Really enjoyed this place, and it is now on my radar as a go to. Will be back. read more

Visited on my NYC trip and suddenly craved a banh mi. After days of searching prior to my trip, I finally found a place I could trust due to the positive reviews. Got a banh mi & beef vermacelli noodles to share with my boyfriend. The vermacelli was not spectacular but the banh mi made up for it 100%. It's the first time I have tasted banh mi like this, almost tasted like a beef tartare.. but it was delicious. The store itself sorta sucked because it was TINY and I had to squeeze past the staff and people eating inside to order my food but all was worth it. Would most likely come back just for a quick bite next time. read more

V-Nam Cafe - Banh Mi (Classic), Vermicelli Beef Noodles - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

Amazing banh mi and fish + vermicelli. I love the Viet iced coffee here as well! The kitchen situation is a bit chaotic, but it's a small operation and to be expected read more

I've been on the hunt for a good banh mi in NYC for a while, and this one is definitely at the top of my list. I got the classic banh mi and the beef pho. The banh mi bread had a nicely crispy exterior and super soft interior. The filling was delicious (though I wish it had more slices of meat), but it was still really flavorful. The pho was decent. Not necessarily my favorite as it was less aromatic than I usually liked it, but still very good. Everything was excellent considering the price. The prices were extremely reasonable, and the service was nice and fast. Will definitely be back to try their other dishes. read more

V-Nam Cafe - Pho Beef Noodles - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

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Charming, straight forward hole in the wall serving a mean bánh mì. If you're in the area looking for a good value sandwich this will scratch that itch! Nice people, good food, great vibes for a casual lunch or dinner. read more

Very small Pho place that does an excellent grilled chicken Pho, I recommend not going at peak hours if you plan to dine in because there is very limited seating. They include a 20% gratuity on the check so be mindful of that when it comes to tipping. Prices have went up drastically over the past few years but so has everything, overall very good Pho at a reasonable price for this day in age. read more

Fish Banh Mi still my fave grab and go item there. Price went up to $11.50 but still affordable for East Village.

Came here to eat with a friend recently and it seemed like a good restaurant. Prices were really good for the food that we ordered. My sandwich took a while to come out, but when it did come it was lukewarm, which was a bit off-putting. My friend order soup and you didn't even see any steam coming from the bowl. The waitress never came to ask how the food was because she decided to go on break as it began to get busy (I didn't understand that). Also, they don't give you shrimp chips on the side (I guess times are hard). This isn't an elegant restaurant by any standards, but you will get filled up on the food here, in my honest opinion. It doesn't break the bank and you can go elsewhere for dessert afterwards. If you order food to go, DEFINITELY heat it up when you get home. Lastly, why are dogs being allowed in the restaurant when you clearly have a sign saying "NO DOGS ALLOWED"?!? That's disgusting. read more

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Was searching on Yelp for something to eat late last night after a long day with a hangover and I'm happy with finding V-Nam Cafe. They were one of the only Vietnamese restaurants open that deliver and I ended up having a nice average meal! Ordered the vermicelli beef noodles and delivery came fast. Also got a side of beef soup that was delivered and only had chicken in it. I think I would've liked the Vermicelli Beef Noodle better if it was delivered correctly-- asked for it "Very Spicy" which means they add thai Chile, sriracha & jalapeños but they forgot it :( so it has no spice at all. Womp womp. All in all the beef was cooked well and the noodles were tender. Wish they had more mint as it only came with 1 leaf. Left me craving for more flavor!! read more

V-Nam Cafe - Vermicelli Beef Noodle - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

If you're looking for a world-class Banh Mi, this is the place. The bread had a delicate balance of crispy and soft and the meat was tender and flavorful. It's also really big! Especially for 8.50, this sandwich is more than worth it. Also tried the Clay Pot Ginger Chickenand it was lovely. Tender meat and large portion. EDIT: I've been back here so many times in the past month and this place doesn't disappoint. Great food, great service, great prices. read more

V-Nam Cafe - Banh Mi Sandwich - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

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If you're looking for value and remarkably flavorful vegan pho, V-Nam Cafe is it! The cafe itself is an extremely unassuming spot, tucked away under some scaffolding on 1st. The interior is somewhat small and narrow, but cozy: the lighting is a bit dim, and there's a collection of plants by the windows. Service was friendly and fast--our potstickers were out within 10 minutes. These crunchy potstickers were DELICIOUS. Perfectly fried to a crispy, golden brown, and slightly fragrant from the shrimp, they paired so well with the fresh carrot and radish garnish! One of our party said these were some of the best potstickers they've ever had. $6 well spent. At first, I was skeptical of the pho with vegan broth. I've had some truly miserable, watery vegetarian hotpots and ramens at other restaurants. But this? This sets a new bar for vegan excellence. Full of citrus brightness, deep sweetness, and tofu with just the right amount of bite! I added generous helpings of sriracha and hoisin, which may have helped, but that broth--along with generous heaps of bean sprouts, jalapeño, lime, and basil--really gives me hope that quality vegan pho will become more of a thing. Hard to beat the $11 price. Super happy with this spot! read more

V-Nam Cafe - Potstickers - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

After a busy Sunday shopping saga, I landed at V-Nam Cafe, my first time at this cafe the waitress was nice and kind with a deep knowledge of the menu, she recommended spring roll for appetizers and beef pho for main dish. The spring roll are crispy hot and delicious, the beef pho ! Oh boy ! So tender and full of flavor the portion was generous! I had a great time, and recommend this cafe for anyone who is religious about the oriental flavor read more

V-Nam Cafe - Spring Roll - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

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Little hole in the wall spot with banging food. The spring rolls are perfectly crunchy and delicious. The banh mi is easily the best I have had in the city. I have only had the classic but it is lovely. Medium spicy has a punch but not too much of one. I added the egg and it was a very nice component. Place is very small but there are a few tables for sitting down. Probably more of a take out or delivery place, but having the food extra fresh when you eat in is nice. They take cards but not AMEX. read more

V-Nam Cafe - Spring Rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

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Came here around 9pm on a weekday. Easily found a table, service was quick, and the Banh-Mi was the perfect sandwich. My only regret is that I didn't get to try anything else on the menu, but I will be back! read more

V-Nam Cafe - Banh Mi (Classic) - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

Delivery review: Really yummy pho here with vegan friendly options! Flavorful vegetable broth and they have either tofu or soy protein (faux chicken) which is delicious! Always glad to have a veggie pho option. When you order delivery they package all the components separately ! I also really enjoyed the summer rolls and subbed out shrimp for soy protein. Generous portion and very tasty ! Actually really loving this fake chicken. Not dry and good texture. I would order from here again. Fast and timely delivery read more

This is a hidden gem in the city with such tasty food. I ordered takeout when I was sick and the pho brought me back to life. I'd come back again soon to try their bahn mi looks great. read more

No frills authentic Vietnamese spot. I've dined in solo multiple times now when I've found myself in the neighborhood needing a quick bite. Service is always polite and quick (never rushed). Bahn mi's here are super solid. Great bread, good ratio of fillings and bursting with flavor. Today i got the summer rolls which I'd give a 8/10. Flavors were on point but the mint and lettuce were a little more wilted than I'd hope for - still had a crisp to them thankfully. The rice paper had a perfect texture just needed to be rolled a bit tighter. Make sure you use all the sauces and ask for something a little spicier if that's your jam. Excited to try the pho here once it cools down. read more

This place felt like a warm hug! It's a small, no-frills spot and delivers exactly what you hope for from a vietnamese spot. I got the beef pho and it was super tasty and it's a portion big enough for 2 meals; really nothing else left to say. The people tthat work here are super nice and prices are affordable. Very glad that I came here and highly recommend to everyone. read more

V-Nam Cafe - Pho Beef Noodles - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

Very affordable and reasonably priced. Service was okay but the staff was definitely friendly! I ordered the classic Beef pho and a friend ordered the Beef stew with egg noodles. Also ordered shrimp fresh rolls. I will definitely come back! read more

V-Nam Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

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Casually walked in on a Saturday and got seated right away. Bahn Mi and Pho all for less than 25, my god that shit was fire.

Love their banh mi sandwiches, my go-to when I'm not sure what to eat . Also, their spring roll is delicious, and the beef pho soup is good too. read more

Love this little hole-in-the-wall. Fantastic complex casual flavors and quick service. Reasonable prices. Try the pho. Try the coffee. Don't tell too many people. read more

V-Nam Cafe - Tofu pho - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

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I got the chicken curry soup. Absolutely delicious, warm and so rich. The leftovers lasted me multiple days! read more

V-Nam Cafe - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

I can't say enough good things about this place. The soy protein is some of the best fake meat I've had, and I've had a lot. The pho was super flavorful and filling. Incredible prices for the quality. A little cramped, but worth it. Nice server and fast service. Next time I'll try the bahn mi since other reviews rave about it. read more

V-Nam Cafe - Pho Veggie with Soy Protein - Vietnamese Near Me - New York, New York

Perfect meal for a cold February day. Wife and I got beef + chicken pho. Both were perfect, served with ample lime, basil, and bean sprouts. Fast and friendly service. Will definitely return when in the area! read more