46 Best Vietnamese Restaurants near Santee

“Felt bad arriving pretty late; 1945 when they closed at 2030. However it was a long day of flights and our hotel was far away and reviews for this place suggested it was excellent. I'd wager a guess I've eaten at at least 100 pho establishments in my time on earth and for sure this one ranks in the top 5. The food was great. The beef ribs were AMAZING and those deep fried buns were to die for. The prices are very fair and portions filling for most any adult. Most importantly the broth was rich and had a good mouth feel. Beefy but very light almost as clear as a consomme.

Wish I lived in San diego so I could visit this more than once but gives me something to look forward to coming back for.“

“Great portions and great taste. Very friendly servers, I recommend.“

“staff was warm and welcoming as we walked in. Super fast service, 3 different staff check on us to see if we needed anything. food came out in correct order, fresh, and hot! was a nice time. They even said thank you and goodbye on the way out which was nice. first time my hubby and I ate here, we will be back 😋“

“This little place is way beyond any description or expectation. I am not vegan and this is by far the best food I’ve ever had at any Vietnamese restaurant. They make you feel as though your long lost family was making a welcome home meal just for you. Everything about it is remarkable.. so here I am doing my best to remark on it. You are missing something wonderful if you do not go and have a meal there. Did I mention they are exceptionally health conscious…“

“Nice staff. Great food. They serve you a plate of salad w/ homemade tofu and a pitcher of lemon water with no extra charge once you're seated. At the end they serve you ice cream, no extra charge too!“

“Don’t order with your eyes because you won’t finish… trust me, it’s that good! They have to have the “best” Viet BANH CUON (steamed rice rolls) in town! Also the best BANH Mi Chao (Beef, sausage, meatball, eggs, and French roll skillet) for a great value too! I will most definitely come back again …and I live 30 minutes away in East Chula Vista! I highly recommend. 5 STARS!!!“

“The food here is delicious..ate there twice and can't wait to go back.“

“More than just a Bahn mi shop. Cali Baguette is an authentic Vietnamese eatery. Besides an amazing selection of sandwiches (btw you can actually smell the fresh baguettes being baked!) There is a multitude of snacks, drinks and desserts! The service and very warm hospitality are just as impressive as the food 👍 I will definitely be back again AND again!“

“The pho has huge serving size for the cost of about 14 bucks and the sandwiches are the best I've tried in el cajon. Even when I order to go they always make sure I have everything I need. The staff are always attentive to what we need and are very respectful and welcoming.“

“I’m use to the pho spots in little Saigon Garden Grove and this place is very reminiscent of that. The square tiles, the mismatched tables and chairs. The atmosphere feels authentic which excited me for the meal to come. Ordered the pho special and definitely did not disappoint. Very friendly owners. Very fairly priced matched with quality Vietnamese comfort food. Not much more you can ask for.“

“Had their egg rolls with the rice paper a year ago from a co-worker who brought a tray in to work. Haven't stopped thinking about it.

But somehow, it wasn't as good as I remembered it. Still good but a little too dry and too salty.
Bahn mi was great.

Not much of a seating area so beware if you plan on eating in.
They only take cash.

Wheelchair accessibility: Not much room for wheelchair“

“First time at this spot and it was great!!! Omggggg the egg rolls are delicious. Already craving more so I feel like I need to go back already for those alone! I had the rare steak pho and it was really good and my husband got the shrimp and pork bun cha bowl and also said it was good but could have used a little more flavor for the pork! The milk tea with the cinnamon & boba was sooooooo incredible as well (not too sweet and great size).

We were able to get right in (party of 2). The staff were so sweet and attentive right away!

Awesome atmosphere and comfortable nice. Saw a few big parties in there too, so it would be good to go with a group!

Can’t wait to be back for those freaking egg rolls!!!!“

“This my favorite spot I come here all the time . My favorite it’s always shrimp soup or the chicken soup.

The girl up front is always nice n kind to me whenever I come.. she always go out of her way to describe each item . Your damned if you do, damned if you don’t .. you can’t please everyone.“

“Food is delicious with great affordable prices. Definitely worth the drive.“

“Authentic Vietnamese place serving only 4 dishes. But if you like made to order banh cuon (steamed rice rolls), cha lua (steamed pork loaf), or best of all, gio chien (fried pork paste), you really won’t be disappointed. These simple items are much better than what’s available elsewhere because of the ingredients and because of their freshness. Yum!

Note: You can reheat the fried pork paste in an air fryer at home and it still tastes good, but when it just comes out, the smell of it is so irresistible!“

“Good service, good atmosphere, great food“

“Excelente comida 🥘 y atención“

“Their menu is very simple but the food is great! I love their soup(s)!“

“Good authentic food. Great service“

“When it’s cold and rainy or you just want some hot food to warm you up or test if you’s taste still works!!! Best place to be“

“This food to go restaurant, cook so good and delicious, the price is good too cheap than other restaurant , I love they cook. I think a lot people liked too“

“I didn't give it the highest ratings but it's a great place if you're craving some Pho. It usually ends up to be my twins and I place to go eat some Pho.

Wheelchair accessibility: Pretty short distance and easy from the parking lot. Yes there is wheelchair access.“

“this place is amazing and the prices are very affordable, i tried my first avocado smoothie here and i was blown away. they offer party trays too. very friendly people.“

“Absolutely the most of the most! The veggies are abundant fresh and crispy. the pork is tender and flavorful and the tiny rice noodles are hot and well cooked. they serve it with large lettuce leaves that you wrap all the goodies up as a Vietnamese burrito. and dip it into a flavorful sauce called fish sauce but it is not fishy and does not taste like fish. Tops! Every dish is tops. and the soups are also fun to try. A fun meal pretty much describes the Saigon Restaurant. Thank you, Victor. He's the top cheese there. I'm so happy this restaurant survived the pandemic.“

“One of the best sandwiches I've ever had in my life. This place knows exactly what a sandwich is supposed to be. It's filled with all the veggies you expect and you pick the protein you desire. I'll tell you this much... anything you order is going to taste good. We had thai tea and mango drink as well as egg roll and sesame balls with bean curd. So good!!! It was so good i couldnt finish it... but i ate the rest later in the day.. JUST AS GOOD..“

“This is a 42-year-old Vietnamese sandwich chain that started in San Jose. From 1983 to today, it has expanded across the United States and become almost a household name. My first try was truly amazing—I never knew sandwiches could be this delicious! Their meat is incredibly fragrant, paired with fresh vegetables and savory sauces. The bread is perfectly soft and chewy, creating a rich, savory flavor that bursts in your mouth with every bite!“

“2nd time this week eating there. Nice, cozy place, great food, great service. High recommended.“

“Food here is pretty bomb... My go to choices are: Pad Thai, Cantonese fried rice, veggie lo mein, Cantonese rice noodle, mixed veggies.Friendly and smiley service from Sara. Appreciate her warm and kind attitude ???? Thanks Barona for continuing the Friendly tradition for 10 years in a row... Congratulations ???????????“

“I came here for dinner today. the food was delicious and worth the wait. the restaurant looked nice with the murals and the aquarium at the entrance. the workers were nice, too. they let you bring your egg roll sauce in a plastic container to take home, too. I would pretty much go here again!“

“As a gluten free person, I ordered the chicken fried rice with no soy sauce and no oyster sauce, and a passion fruit boba tea with no sugar (which tasted totally normal). I talked to a man on the phone before going and he said that the chicken fried rice was gf with no soy sauce, breading, wheat, or anything, but when I got there the server and manager had a bit of a harder time understanding me but we managed to come up with it being safe without those two sauces. I'm not celiac, but they did say they would take extra caution when preparing it. It tasted great even without any sauces on it.

Dietary restrictions: Gluten free- the communication was difficult but we figured it out“

“Always great I get vip service when I come here the food is always great“

“I have eaten Vietnamese cuisine throughout California, and Grandpa Tao ranks among the best. In addition to the amazing tastes, the casual restaurant is friendly and comfortable. Ingredients are fresh, the environment clean and relaxing. I particularly recommend the Pho, the Rice Vermicelli (try it!) and the Shaking beef. You'll like it.“

“Food excellent good service and fast“

“My first time eating at this place, located in the Mission Gorge area of San Diego. The surrounding is always scenic and safe, and the people are friendly. The food is very savvy and culinary. Service was exceptional polite, creating an ambience environment, along with decors and sanitation, Saigon Star deserves an ovationfor its Vietnamese & Chinese bistro, as is should be IT: the local eatery in town....more dynastic ambient... Fantastic Four!!!!!“

“Definitely the type of hole in the wall you want to discover. These are the type places where it may not look like much but the food delivers.

We popped in on a whim, but as soon as we spell the food we new we had chosen the right place. The service was super friendly and welcoming, making our family feel comfortable and at home. We came for the Bahn Mi, but then mostly ordered for Pho as it smelled great. The Bahn Mi was so good we ordered another and the second was even better than the first!“

“With the Vietnamese sandwich shop now under new management, we decided to take advantage of their grand opening special, which included a free drink and bánh mì que for posting on social media. ??

Upon entering, we were warmly welcomed by the staff. ? Several customers were already inside, enjoying their regular bánh mì.

The shop features 3-4 small tables with stools, creating a cozy seating area. The space was clean and the menus were straightforward, making it easy to place our order. ✨

The service was incredibly friendly. Although the lady suggested her favorite, the fresh fruit tea, it was unfortunately sold out. ?? We chose the Thai tea and milk tea with boba instead. She generously added free fried shrimp to our order! ?❤️

The Thai tea was good, but the highlight was the milk tea. Unlike the typical black tea base, this one had a fragrant jasmine flavor that was absolutely delightful! ?

The bánh mì que is a new variation of the sandwich, being shorter and slimmer. It was packed with a delicious amount of char siu meat and fresh veggies. ???

Given the quality of these items, I’d definitely return to try their regular bánh mì when I’m in the area and craving a delicious Vietnamese sandwich. ?“

“Sam makes amazing food here! Dining at Ly Heng Restaurant was a truly memorable experience. The ambiance was both elegant and inviting, and the staff were incredibly attentive and friendly. All the food is fresh and was absolutely delicious, and the drinks was perfectly crafted. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a wonderful dining experience.Thanks sam for making my family feel right at home.“

“Delicious place to soup for lunch“

“The pho was hands-down some of the best I’ve ever had—rich, aromatic broth that was perfectly balanced with just the right amount of spice. The beef was tender and flavorful, and the noodles were cooked to perfection, soaking up all that deliciousness.“

“Food came out quickly. Good quality.“

“Great food I had a bowl of Vietnamese favorite pho and love is“

“I've been coming here quite a few times and every time I just wait to get slapped by the server, he is kinda mad everytime and I don't take it as a bad thing I just laugh it off but maybe they should consider smiling more lol my family was scared to ask for the bill because it seems any moment he will just explode and yell or something overall it's pretty good and everytime I go there I pretty much laugh about how scared I get about asking for something or ordering it's funny but maybe other people don't take it as is“

“their sandwiches are to-die-for🤤🤤🤤🤤“

“I'm always looking for the best Pho. The aroma of their spices hits you as soon as you enter the restaurant. Service is good. The food is served promptly and very hot. The Pho was very good and tasty. Ample of vegetables to add to your servings.“

“So good here! This food is amazing.“

“Another great spot if you are craving for bahn mi and other Vietnamese food delights.

Ordered # 2 / Grilled Pork: Thin and crispy crust with fresh and. For me, grilled pork was lacking of seasoning. Fresh pickled carrots/daikon and cilantro. Will try other meats on our next visit. 3/5

Croissant: I was surprised they have one if the best croissant. Flaky, crispy crust and buttery flavor. Would definitely buy this every time I am in the area. 5/5

Parking is hard during lunch time hours so plan accordingly. I was there around 8AM so no issue with parking.

Friendly staff and love the ambiance inside.“