Good service. Great price, very tasty fish cakes! I appreciate that they are made daily
Nguyen H.
New favorite spot for bun rieu. The portion is generous with lots of topping. Love their crab/shrimp balls it's flavorful. The aroma of the broth will certify it authentic. Bought frozen fish paste to fry for bánh mì too and the family approved.
John Le
The chả cá is bomb, only place I'll go to get it. Made fresh everyday. They'll wrap it uncooked so you'll just bring it home and cook it. Or you can order cooked ones there. They also have a menu that serve popular Vietnamese noodle dish as well as other foodies.
Daima T
Very nice lady, good sandwiches :)
Linh B.
I tried this place for the first time today with my mom. We had bún riêu chả cá. We both think it's pretty good. The portion is big. The broth is very flavorful. We enjoyed their cha ca! We also ordered cafe sua da. It's also good and creamy, it's kinda similar yo Lee sandwich coffee lol. The service is very good! They are very friendly. The store is very clean. We will come back for sure!
Linda L.
Location*In the corner of a small L-shaped plazaAtmosphere*Small, clean, fast-casual to-go but they do have 1 table inside for dining---at least 1 outdoor table, sometimes I've seen 2Food*They specialize in cha ca which is all made fresh from them. However, I just want to share that their bun rieu cha cais sooo good especially since they give a generous amount for price of $13. I crave it all the time... They also have banh canh, bun cha ca, banh mi cha ca.Beverages*Very limited selection: water, tea, milk yogurt with condensed milk, soda chanh, might be missing a few more options
Mr.BuffetSoCal ..
Just a few years ago, I discovered a wonderful spot for traditional Vietnamese cuisine called Mama's Cha Ca. It quickly became a favorite of mine, known for its mouthwatering Cha Ca and Bun Cha Ca. However, my recent visits have left me feeling disappointed, as the standards I once appreciated seem to be dwindling.The Cha Ca, which used to be an exquisite blend of succulent fish and beautiful seasonings, has sadly altered in quality. Instead of the tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture I remember, the fish has taken on a rubbery and chewy feel. Even more concerning is the decline in flavor. The dish, which once offered a rich burst of herbs and spices complementing the fish, now tastes noticeably bland.A similar fate has befallen the Bun Cha Ca. I have fond memories of the fish cake being soft, tender, and bursting with complex flavors. Unfortunately, on my recent visit, it too had turned rubbery, and the once robust and aromatic flavors were nowhere to be found. The taste was underwhelming, a stark contrast to the delightful experiences I used to have.While the ambiance of Mama's Cha Ca is still warm and inviting, and the service remains quite decent, the changes in the food quality and flavor have unfortunately cast a shadow over these positive aspects.Consistency is a key player in the culinary world, and despite Mama's Cha Ca being relatively new on the dining scene, I had high expectations. Sadly, based on my recent experiences, it seems they've lost their way a bit.In conclusion, although Mama's Cha Ca still offers a pleasant dining environment and service, the decline in the quality and flavor of their signature dishes cannot be overlooked. It significantly alters the dining experience. I hope they take this feedback to heart, and focus on improving their food offerings. Considering the promising start they had, I believe they can once again become the rapidly growing favorite they used to be by delivering memorable, flavor-packed dishes.
Bicky N.
Review is based on service not food: Not very sanitary. The guy used the same gloves that he makes food with to collect cash and went back to make the food again.
Tofu R.
Tried their fried cha ca and it was really delicious and had a unique taste from others I've tried over the years. The flavor is robust but not strong and pairs well with other dishes for a family meal. Love the type of fish they use.
I happened to be in the little Saigon area and I needed to make a quick pitstop for lunch. Seeing the five star review of Mama's Cha Ca, I decided to give it a shot. I bought one bún, one bánh mì and at the recommendation of one of the workers, I got the kumquat tea instead of the passion fruit.I had a few places to stop by in the area, but I finally got to take a moment and take a bite of the bánh mì. Wow! The bread was fresh, flaky, and chewy. Whatever their secret sauce is was flavorful and unique and the fish cake was delightful. I am looking forward to trying the bún. The restaurant is next to a café, and there is no indoor seating. You can expect to pick up your food and go. Otherwise, the place was well-kept and clean and the workers were very nice.I will definitely be back to Mama's Cha Ca.
Sanny C.
I don't know about the other foods but for sure, you can't go wrong with the fish cakes. Super fresh!!! They make new ones on the daily. I came here twice today lolThe first time, I got 1 lb. They just made it, so it was still very hot. At first, she wrapped up a whole piece for me. However, I wanted to eat it right away, so I asked if she could cut it. She was really nice. She got it cut and packed up neatly. Also, she gave me utensils and napkins. The fish cake was chewy and tasty. I usually like mine with dill, but these were good even without.My mom enjoyed it very much as well. We went back and got 2lbs. I didn't think we would get fresh hot ones. However, they were almost done making a new batch, so we waited. Such a good snack or add it in bun rieu or whatever you want.
Chi N.
Good fish cake but not out of this world. Space is more like a deli with some tables out front. We had the bún riêu, bánh mì - both were tasty. Service was a little slow but overall good.
Ky N.
I came here on a random afternoon because I was craving banh canh. It's really good! Their broth has so much flavor that I literally finished the entire thing. It's a very small place, there's not really seating inside and maybe 2 tables outside so definitely not a dine in kinda environment.
Joann V.
3 starsThe 3 stars is just for the fish cake. Personally, I really love fish cake - the more pepper, the better! But I thought this was really pricey for 1 lb of fish cake. The total came out to be $13.05. It's definitely worth a visit and I will go back to try their noodle dishes. I'm just not sure if I'd buy the fish cake by itself again. With that said, it is approved by my mom, who immediately made her rice noodle soup with the fish as toppings...so there's that.
Good service. Great price, very tasty fish cakes! I appreciate that they are made daily
New favorite spot for bun rieu. The portion is generous with lots of topping. Love their crab/shrimp balls it's flavorful. The aroma of the broth will certify it authentic. Bought frozen fish paste to fry for bánh mì too and the family approved.
The chả cá is bomb, only place I'll go to get it. Made fresh everyday. They'll wrap it uncooked so you'll just bring it home and cook it. Or you can order cooked ones there. They also have a menu that serve popular Vietnamese noodle dish as well as other foodies.
Very nice lady, good sandwiches :)
I tried this place for the first time today with my mom. We had bún riêu chả cá. We both think it's pretty good. The portion is big. The broth is very flavorful. We enjoyed their cha ca! We also ordered cafe sua da. It's also good and creamy, it's kinda similar yo Lee sandwich coffee lol. The service is very good! They are very friendly. The store is very clean. We will come back for sure!
Location*In the corner of a small L-shaped plazaAtmosphere*Small, clean, fast-casual to-go but they do have 1 table inside for dining---at least 1 outdoor table, sometimes I've seen 2Food*They specialize in cha ca which is all made fresh from them. However, I just want to share that their bun rieu cha cais sooo good especially since they give a generous amount for price of $13. I crave it all the time... They also have banh canh, bun cha ca, banh mi cha ca.Beverages*Very limited selection: water, tea, milk yogurt with condensed milk, soda chanh, might be missing a few more options
Just a few years ago, I discovered a wonderful spot for traditional Vietnamese cuisine called Mama's Cha Ca. It quickly became a favorite of mine, known for its mouthwatering Cha Ca and Bun Cha Ca. However, my recent visits have left me feeling disappointed, as the standards I once appreciated seem to be dwindling.The Cha Ca, which used to be an exquisite blend of succulent fish and beautiful seasonings, has sadly altered in quality. Instead of the tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture I remember, the fish has taken on a rubbery and chewy feel. Even more concerning is the decline in flavor. The dish, which once offered a rich burst of herbs and spices complementing the fish, now tastes noticeably bland.A similar fate has befallen the Bun Cha Ca. I have fond memories of the fish cake being soft, tender, and bursting with complex flavors. Unfortunately, on my recent visit, it too had turned rubbery, and the once robust and aromatic flavors were nowhere to be found. The taste was underwhelming, a stark contrast to the delightful experiences I used to have.While the ambiance of Mama's Cha Ca is still warm and inviting, and the service remains quite decent, the changes in the food quality and flavor have unfortunately cast a shadow over these positive aspects.Consistency is a key player in the culinary world, and despite Mama's Cha Ca being relatively new on the dining scene, I had high expectations. Sadly, based on my recent experiences, it seems they've lost their way a bit.In conclusion, although Mama's Cha Ca still offers a pleasant dining environment and service, the decline in the quality and flavor of their signature dishes cannot be overlooked. It significantly alters the dining experience. I hope they take this feedback to heart, and focus on improving their food offerings. Considering the promising start they had, I believe they can once again become the rapidly growing favorite they used to be by delivering memorable, flavor-packed dishes.
Review is based on service not food: Not very sanitary. The guy used the same gloves that he makes food with to collect cash and went back to make the food again.
Tried their fried cha ca and it was really delicious and had a unique taste from others I've tried over the years. The flavor is robust but not strong and pairs well with other dishes for a family meal. Love the type of fish they use.
Bombastic
Restaurantji Recommends
I happened to be in the little Saigon area and I needed to make a quick pitstop for lunch. Seeing the five star review of Mama's Cha Ca, I decided to give it a shot. I bought one bún, one bánh mì and at the recommendation of one of the workers, I got the kumquat tea instead of the passion fruit.I had a few places to stop by in the area, but I finally got to take a moment and take a bite of the bánh mì. Wow! The bread was fresh, flaky, and chewy. Whatever their secret sauce is was flavorful and unique and the fish cake was delightful. I am looking forward to trying the bún. The restaurant is next to a café, and there is no indoor seating. You can expect to pick up your food and go. Otherwise, the place was well-kept and clean and the workers were very nice.I will definitely be back to Mama's Cha Ca.
I don't know about the other foods but for sure, you can't go wrong with the fish cakes. Super fresh!!! They make new ones on the daily. I came here twice today lolThe first time, I got 1 lb. They just made it, so it was still very hot. At first, she wrapped up a whole piece for me. However, I wanted to eat it right away, so I asked if she could cut it. She was really nice. She got it cut and packed up neatly. Also, she gave me utensils and napkins. The fish cake was chewy and tasty. I usually like mine with dill, but these were good even without.My mom enjoyed it very much as well. We went back and got 2lbs. I didn't think we would get fresh hot ones. However, they were almost done making a new batch, so we waited. Such a good snack or add it in bun rieu or whatever you want.
Good fish cake but not out of this world. Space is more like a deli with some tables out front. We had the bún riêu, bánh mì - both were tasty. Service was a little slow but overall good.
I came here on a random afternoon because I was craving banh canh. It's really good! Their broth has so much flavor that I literally finished the entire thing. It's a very small place, there's not really seating inside and maybe 2 tables outside so definitely not a dine in kinda environment.
3 starsThe 3 stars is just for the fish cake. Personally, I really love fish cake - the more pepper, the better! But I thought this was really pricey for 1 lb of fish cake. The total came out to be $13.05. It's definitely worth a visit and I will go back to try their noodle dishes. I'm just not sure if I'd buy the fish cake by itself again. With that said, it is approved by my mom, who immediately made her rice noodle soup with the fish as toppings...so there's that.