Not what I expected this restaurant mam to be but it's average taste. I grew up learning how to eat fermented fish early on in life when my mom will transport back real fermented fish and cook it outside so it doesn't stink up our home. This restaurant version taste like a subtle version which is okay but I prefer the one with lemon grass and a bit of gray color and fermented umami smell that just warms my soul. I'm going into too much depth about mam but I absolutely dream of it which I can't find in the states. Service was quick and friendly so I give that to them. First time here so maybe it'll get better.
Felisha L.
Wow! This small restaurant is packed of flavors! The atmosphere is inviting and charming. Our waiter was attentive, quick and efficient. The wait for food did not take long at all. I love that the menu was simple. There are rice plate, noodle and appetizers options. We had the Banh xeo. The plate came with 3 crispy mini Banh Xeo and served with a plate of fresh greens for wrapping. The noodles were bomb! The bun mam was so tasty. The broth had a hint of sweetness and a fermented fish taste. I love the pepper stuffed with Cha. Oh and the veggies that is served with the bun nam have a crunch to every bite. The pho was surprisingly good too. The broth was rich and flavorful. However, I do wish they serve the nuoc beo - onion oil. The rice plate was decent too. The flavor of the grilled meat was yummy. I would definitely come back here again! Try the bun mam!!
Yvonne C.
I really wanted to like this place but it's just missing a lot. It's a small mom and pop shop with about 4-5 tables. Parking is available right outside but they taken up quick. They have 2 appetizer items and about 6-7 entrees on the menu. I ordered the charbroiled bbq ribs with broken rice and it was not good at all. It was super tender and hard to chew. The pork chop rice was also missing umphhh and flavor. Dislike.
Brian V.
Small, cozy mom & pop cafe that serves delicious Vietnamese food. There's pho on the menu, but it's almost (literally) a footnote. I believe you come here when you have a craving for some of the more southern cuisines that the Viet culture has to offer in terms of noodles and rice plates. The service is friendly and pretty standard for these spots. The prices are more than reasonable. I came here specifically for other dishes other than pho. I ordered the banh xeo (Vietnamese crepes) and banh canh cua (crab noodle soup with fish patty, shrimp, and pork). I prob could have been good with one of those but I was excited to order and the prices were really reasonable. The banh xeo had a nice crisp with the shrimp / fillings cooked very well. The lettuce / greens that accompanied were crisp and super fresh. The dip was great and you can adjust it to taste with the condiments on the table. The banh canh cua was flavorful with fresh ingredients. Broth slightly light so you can adjust to taste, but a really good base. The noodles were thick and chewy and absorbed the flavors. A little slippery so watch that splash! All in all, I really enjoyed this place. As a matter of fact, the food made me a little homesick, with me calling my mom after leaving to share my recent culinary exploit. Would love to come back to try the bun mam. It's in a small strip mall anchored by a famous fast food chain so parking can be a little tight. I came on a weeknight and parked on the street. No issues finding parking for me.
Ha Ngan
Bun Mam so good a lot of topping, staff friendly and price
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Banh Canh, Bun Mam DAC Biet, Broken Rice Pork Chop Shredded Pork and Steamed Egg
Mia Ng
This is my place to go for Bun mam, savory broth w fresh ingredients and variety of vegetables ? also their Banh xeo was good too, crunchy & lots of meat filled inside. Sweet staff and the food served real quick ? let's support local small businesses please
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michelle L.
I love this place so much and really hope it stays in business for a while! Not many businesses are brave enough to do bun mam because of the pungent smell and length of time it takes to prepare, but this restaurant does it and does it well! I always come here with my family (both with the older generation and younger generation on separate occasions) and we always leave very satisfied!Their menu is small, but for good reason because the items they serve are their signatures! We always opt for the banh xeo, bun mam and the banh canh cua.The banh xeo is a good shareable. Portions are good and it's not as messy as ordering a huge one. Super crispy and flavorful. A great starter to the meal! The bun mam is good. Not as good as my aunts bun mam, BUT for a restaurant it's pretty good! Generous with the meat and toppings and noodles are a good texture. The banh canh cua is my favorite here! The broth is so delicious and like the bun mam, they are very generous with the meat, seafood, and noodles! The service here is great and there's never a wait. I do hope it gets to a point where they do have a wait because this spot is a hidden gem and needs more attention!!
Winnie W.
Very good!! There are no shortage of Beef Pho or Pho Ga noodles in SoCal, but a restaurant that specializes in Banh Canh (udon style noodles) and there are good and on point.Between our larger party, we ordered a variety of dishes : their classic #3 Banh Canh Cua (Udon w fish patties, crab meat, shrimp) -- recommended . #1 Bun Mam Dac Biet -- Fermented fish soup w shrimp, squid pork, eggplants and noodles (it's ok), #6 Com Tam Charbroiled BBQ Ribs over broken rice (good) , and a variety of appetizers: A. Shrimp Paste w sugar cane (very good), B. Nem Nuong (charbroiled pork nem) (very good), and the 4. Banh Xeo Vietnamese Crepe made into 3 smaller crepes (flavor is ok-good).Service is friendly, attentive and prompt. They refilled our water glasses frequently without asking and ware very helpful when we asked for extra lemons. The restaurant is nicely decorated, very clean with comfortable seats. Overall a good dining experience, and something different than the classic Beef Pho or Pho Ga (chicken). Recommended!
Priscilla K
So happy we stumbled upon this mom n pop small business. Fresh ingredients and generous portions. Excellent service- they were so accommodating for us and our toddler. My favorite was the shredded pork vermicelli.
Anna H.
Never had Bun Mam before and always wanting to try new dishes so I gave it a try. When they described it as a fermented fish stew, I was all in and ready for some serious pungent flavors. Perhaps I was expecting too much...but liked all the veggies that were added and overall it was a healthy soup with fish, eggplant, pepper. Also got to try the banh xeo and these were excellent. Comes as a set of three. Overall, I'm looking forward to trying their other dishes here!
The restaurant may be hard to find due to the weird parking lot layout, but it's on the side closest to McDonalds.I wanted to try this place because at some point I want to be able to tell people that Vietnamese food is more than just pho and banh mi. Bun Mam Dac Biet is something I've never heard of and so I was excited to test it out.Love the portion and abundance of ingredients. If you're a big fan of seafood and that flavor, I would say you would enjoy eating this. I would describe the soup base as sweet and pungent with the flavors of nuoc mam. I like the shrimp and pork toppings on the noodles and various mashed up meatball ingredients on there. None of them were overpowering the other, but I wouldn't say it was a slam dunk to my taste bud -- mainly because I've never had anything like this before.It was good that I think people who enjoy seafood should come try it out, but for someone like that who doesn't have a hankering for seafood, I don't think I would have cravings for this in the future.
Spiritual Gangsta
A delicious way to freshen your breath: make sure to load a good amount of the garlic + chili vinegar into your soup. Yummm!If I could give this place 4.99 tho stars I would, just cuz why my man refused to make out with me after lunch :/
nikie n.
I dun usually leave bad comments but Their food is not good at all. I ordered #3 and 4 and it's prob the worst noodle soup and Vietnamese crepes I have ever had.
sonia t.
I love bun mam so I had to try this place out. I did take out. Bun mam is pretty flavorful and stinky just the way I like it! They gave a good amount of seafood and meat in the bowl. Definitely coming back. If you like fermented fish soup, try this. So glad to have it in the area. Banh canh was pretty tasty too. I gave 4 stars cause I didn't Dine in.
Queenie T.
I have always wanted to give this place a try but I didn't get a chance to. I'm so happy that I did today. Called in to place an order of Banh Canh Cua aka Vietnamese crab udon noodle soup to go, and the food turned out amazing. I loveeee Banh Canh Cua but I can't find any restaurant in 626 area with decent banh canh cua. Everytime I crave for it, I always have to drive all the way to OC. I think this place has the best Banh Canh Cua in this area. You can tell how much topping I got for my bowl. I did add more crab meat to the bowl and omg.. it tasted so good Highly recommend! Please support local restaurant.
Not what I expected this restaurant mam to be but it's average taste. I grew up learning how to eat fermented fish early on in life when my mom will transport back real fermented fish and cook it outside so it doesn't stink up our home. This restaurant version taste like a subtle version which is okay but I prefer the one with lemon grass and a bit of gray color and fermented umami smell that just warms my soul. I'm going into too much depth about mam but I absolutely dream of it which I can't find in the states. Service was quick and friendly so I give that to them. First time here so maybe it'll get better.
Wow! This small restaurant is packed of flavors! The atmosphere is inviting and charming. Our waiter was attentive, quick and efficient. The wait for food did not take long at all. I love that the menu was simple. There are rice plate, noodle and appetizers options. We had the Banh xeo. The plate came with 3 crispy mini Banh Xeo and served with a plate of fresh greens for wrapping. The noodles were bomb! The bun mam was so tasty. The broth had a hint of sweetness and a fermented fish taste. I love the pepper stuffed with Cha. Oh and the veggies that is served with the bun nam have a crunch to every bite. The pho was surprisingly good too. The broth was rich and flavorful. However, I do wish they serve the nuoc beo - onion oil. The rice plate was decent too. The flavor of the grilled meat was yummy. I would definitely come back here again! Try the bun mam!!
I really wanted to like this place but it's just missing a lot. It's a small mom and pop shop with about 4-5 tables. Parking is available right outside but they taken up quick. They have 2 appetizer items and about 6-7 entrees on the menu. I ordered the charbroiled bbq ribs with broken rice and it was not good at all. It was super tender and hard to chew. The pork chop rice was also missing umphhh and flavor. Dislike.
Small, cozy mom & pop cafe that serves delicious Vietnamese food. There's pho on the menu, but it's almost (literally) a footnote. I believe you come here when you have a craving for some of the more southern cuisines that the Viet culture has to offer in terms of noodles and rice plates. The service is friendly and pretty standard for these spots. The prices are more than reasonable. I came here specifically for other dishes other than pho. I ordered the banh xeo (Vietnamese crepes) and banh canh cua (crab noodle soup with fish patty, shrimp, and pork). I prob could have been good with one of those but I was excited to order and the prices were really reasonable. The banh xeo had a nice crisp with the shrimp / fillings cooked very well. The lettuce / greens that accompanied were crisp and super fresh. The dip was great and you can adjust it to taste with the condiments on the table. The banh canh cua was flavorful with fresh ingredients. Broth slightly light so you can adjust to taste, but a really good base. The noodles were thick and chewy and absorbed the flavors. A little slippery so watch that splash! All in all, I really enjoyed this place. As a matter of fact, the food made me a little homesick, with me calling my mom after leaving to share my recent culinary exploit. Would love to come back to try the bun mam. It's in a small strip mall anchored by a famous fast food chain so parking can be a little tight. I came on a weeknight and parked on the street. No issues finding parking for me.
Bun Mam so good a lot of topping, staff friendly and price
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Banh Canh, Bun Mam DAC Biet, Broken Rice Pork Chop Shredded Pork and Steamed Egg
This is my place to go for Bun mam, savory broth w fresh ingredients and variety of vegetables ? also their Banh xeo was good too, crunchy & lots of meat filled inside. Sweet staff and the food served real quick ? let's support local small businesses please
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love this place so much and really hope it stays in business for a while! Not many businesses are brave enough to do bun mam because of the pungent smell and length of time it takes to prepare, but this restaurant does it and does it well! I always come here with my family (both with the older generation and younger generation on separate occasions) and we always leave very satisfied!Their menu is small, but for good reason because the items they serve are their signatures! We always opt for the banh xeo, bun mam and the banh canh cua.The banh xeo is a good shareable. Portions are good and it's not as messy as ordering a huge one. Super crispy and flavorful. A great starter to the meal! The bun mam is good. Not as good as my aunts bun mam, BUT for a restaurant it's pretty good! Generous with the meat and toppings and noodles are a good texture. The banh canh cua is my favorite here! The broth is so delicious and like the bun mam, they are very generous with the meat, seafood, and noodles! The service here is great and there's never a wait. I do hope it gets to a point where they do have a wait because this spot is a hidden gem and needs more attention!!
Very good!! There are no shortage of Beef Pho or Pho Ga noodles in SoCal, but a restaurant that specializes in Banh Canh (udon style noodles) and there are good and on point.Between our larger party, we ordered a variety of dishes : their classic #3 Banh Canh Cua (Udon w fish patties, crab meat, shrimp) -- recommended . #1 Bun Mam Dac Biet -- Fermented fish soup w shrimp, squid pork, eggplants and noodles (it's ok), #6 Com Tam Charbroiled BBQ Ribs over broken rice (good) , and a variety of appetizers: A. Shrimp Paste w sugar cane (very good), B. Nem Nuong (charbroiled pork nem) (very good), and the 4. Banh Xeo Vietnamese Crepe made into 3 smaller crepes (flavor is ok-good).Service is friendly, attentive and prompt. They refilled our water glasses frequently without asking and ware very helpful when we asked for extra lemons. The restaurant is nicely decorated, very clean with comfortable seats. Overall a good dining experience, and something different than the classic Beef Pho or Pho Ga (chicken). Recommended!
So happy we stumbled upon this mom n pop small business. Fresh ingredients and generous portions. Excellent service- they were so accommodating for us and our toddler. My favorite was the shredded pork vermicelli.
Never had Bun Mam before and always wanting to try new dishes so I gave it a try. When they described it as a fermented fish stew, I was all in and ready for some serious pungent flavors. Perhaps I was expecting too much...but liked all the veggies that were added and overall it was a healthy soup with fish, eggplant, pepper. Also got to try the banh xeo and these were excellent. Comes as a set of three. Overall, I'm looking forward to trying their other dishes here!
Restaurantji Recommends
The restaurant may be hard to find due to the weird parking lot layout, but it's on the side closest to McDonalds.I wanted to try this place because at some point I want to be able to tell people that Vietnamese food is more than just pho and banh mi. Bun Mam Dac Biet is something I've never heard of and so I was excited to test it out.Love the portion and abundance of ingredients. If you're a big fan of seafood and that flavor, I would say you would enjoy eating this. I would describe the soup base as sweet and pungent with the flavors of nuoc mam. I like the shrimp and pork toppings on the noodles and various mashed up meatball ingredients on there. None of them were overpowering the other, but I wouldn't say it was a slam dunk to my taste bud -- mainly because I've never had anything like this before.It was good that I think people who enjoy seafood should come try it out, but for someone like that who doesn't have a hankering for seafood, I don't think I would have cravings for this in the future.
A delicious way to freshen your breath: make sure to load a good amount of the garlic + chili vinegar into your soup. Yummm!If I could give this place 4.99 tho stars I would, just cuz why my man refused to make out with me after lunch :/
I dun usually leave bad comments but Their food is not good at all. I ordered #3 and 4 and it's prob the worst noodle soup and Vietnamese crepes I have ever had.
I love bun mam so I had to try this place out. I did take out. Bun mam is pretty flavorful and stinky just the way I like it! They gave a good amount of seafood and meat in the bowl. Definitely coming back. If you like fermented fish soup, try this. So glad to have it in the area. Banh canh was pretty tasty too. I gave 4 stars cause I didn't Dine in.
I have always wanted to give this place a try but I didn't get a chance to. I'm so happy that I did today. Called in to place an order of Banh Canh Cua aka Vietnamese crab udon noodle soup to go, and the food turned out amazing. I loveeee Banh Canh Cua but I can't find any restaurant in 626 area with decent banh canh cua. Everytime I crave for it, I always have to drive all the way to OC. I think this place has the best Banh Canh Cua in this area. You can tell how much topping I got for my bowl. I did add more crab meat to the bowl and omg.. it tasted so good Highly recommend! Please support local restaurant.