47 Best Vietnamese Restaurants near Santee

“My wife and I eat here easily once a week. We celebrated NYE dinner around 6:30, and it was pretty busy. The owner and two other employees were quick and made sure everyone was seated, order was taken, and had what they needed at all times. Food took a little longer, as expected, but they were kind enough to bring out a complimentary order of wings that we got to try for the first time! Incredibly delicious, I was only able to take a picture after not before lol. We will be ordering them from now on as an appetizer! If you try any new pho restaurants in San Diego this year, make sure this location is at the top of your list!! Our go to orders are as follows: Signature pho, beef rib pho, shaking beef, Thai iced tea, Vietnamese coffee, watermelon smoothie, matcha latte, and now the wings. Huge thank you to the staff and ownership for such an amazing restaurant. We can’t wait for more meals this new year :)“

“Excellent customer service and amazing food! The gentleman who took my order was kind, helpful and even brought me a glass of water while I was waiting for my takeout order. Food was so good-we got chicken pho and a grilled beef rice plate.“

“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…“

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

“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!“

“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.“

“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!!!“

“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“

“this is my favorite place to go eat pho. The broth is so delicious full of flavor!! my kids love the grilled pork chop & egg rolls !! soo freakin good! The spring rolls are also soo delicious. 10/10 recommend !! the staff is so polite and friendly !! Cannot leave without dessert the 3 bean color dessert or my coconut boba smoothie, can’t forget the Vietnamese iced coffee. 🙂🙂🙂“

“Its was really good im not going to lie to you. The restaurant was clean and spacious and the bathroom was really clean to. The food was really delicious and flavorful and it was made right there on the spot. All the food that was ordered was made fresh and piping hot so I can tell there was no microwave involved. The two ladies that work there were really nice, polite and provided the most excellent service. Will be returning.“

“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“

“Good service, good atmosphere, great food“

“Yesterday wasn't our first time here and there is a reason why - the food is simply great! My son loves their meatball pho which comes with a healthy amount of noodles, meatballs and is delicious. My daughter loves their fried tofu in the appetizer section. Special mention to their grilled pork and fried rice as well, the fried rice was street style and yummy. The ambience is casual and let your hair down. Great for dine in and take out.“

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

“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!“

“I ordered the rare beef pho. Broth was great, the noodles did not seem like they were freshly made and the beef was cut a bit thick. But, otherwise, was very enjoyable.

If you like tons of spice, you can ask for chili oil. It may seem like a small amount, but the whole thing packs quite the punch.

The atmosphere reminded me of the family-owned restaurants back in Orange County... very familiar and homey for me.

Will be coming back here another time.“

“Good authentic food. Great service“

“Authentic and delicious. Definitely my go to when it comes to catering and lunch when I’m in the area“

“Excelente comida 🥘 y atención“

“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.“

“It was my first time trying this place out. I must say that I will definitely go back. The food is authentic. I ordered a chicken & shrimp vermicelli. The shrimps were fresh, charbroiled chicken was flavorful. My friend ordered the G-Beef pho, and he was very impressed. We usually go to Xin Chào Eatery in Del Mar. and I still think Xin Chào Eatery is better (but also pricier). But this place is pretty solid for PQ neighborhood. Service staff are owners themselves, who are authentically Vietnamese. They are polite and speedy. I didn't go to the restroom today, but the environment is bright and clean. I will return.“

“I got the #8- Rare steak Pho, it was hands down some of the best I’ve ever had. Big portion. Delicious broth. Generous amount of steak. Generous amount of toppings including large stocks of mint, jalapenos, juicy limes, and sprouts. On top of that, a manager/owner type gentlemen made his rounds checking in with new customers asking how it all was- he was very sweet & sincere.. we told him how much we loved the Pho to which he replied, “I made it with all my heart!”.. now that was icing on the cake! Thank you!“

“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“

“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 ???????????“

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

“BEST Ice coffee I’ve had in a long time. I had chugged quite a bit before the picture. I ordered the large coffee and strong and #11 SW special combo and already ate half before I was compelled to write a review. I also ordered the L Pate Chaud Chicken pastry and it was so buttery and flakey it didn’t even have a chance of making it in the picture. I can see why the coffee is #1 ordered nothing fancy but definitely a coffee lovers wonderful surprise, and for a sandwich shop! I’ll definitely be coming again especially for the coffee!“

“Bale French Sandwich is a tiny shop tucked away in Mira Mesa Square serving quick Vietnamese dishes like banh mi, fried rice, egg rolls, and boba.

We enjoyed the charbroiled pork and lemongrass chicken banh mi - a great value at $6.25 each. The bread had a great crust: thin, very crisp, and flaky. The pickled carrot and daikon added nice texture and brightness, while the raw jalapeños brought the right amount of heat. The egg rolls were also a hit, with a peppery flavor and a crisp outer shell.

Note that this is a grab-and-go spot with a strictly business vibe. The service is efficient, so have your order ready. There is only one small table for snacking and two benches for waiting. They also offer extensive party tray options if you order in advance.

There is plenty of free parking, though the lot gets competitive on weekends due to the nearby Aldi and Lucky Seafood Market.“

“Been THE go to place for me and friend for YEARS. If we want pho no one even asks which place, it's always pho cow cali, good prices(14ish dollars), large sizes and good mix-ins. Plenty of good options aside from pho as well, simply the perfect place.“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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“

“Delicious place to soup for lunch“

“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!“

“i’m telling you the way that this lady made this sandwich with so much flavor and love. I will marry her. The sandwich was really good. The portion size for the price was amazing. You do not find these types of ma and Pa shops anymore and this one is phenomenal. I recommend everyone going and trying out their food because it was so good 10 out of 10!!!!!!!!“

“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!!!!!“

“Food came out quickly. Good quality.“

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

“We’ve eaten here a couple of times and always enjoy the pho. They have a vegetarian broth available and vegetarian proteins like faux chicken and shrimp, which cannot be said for many of the Vietnamese restaurants in our neighborhood. And it’s a really good broth, surprising flavorful and light on the salt.

The other thing we love to order here is the fruit slushies and boba. The fruit slushies, in particular, are out of this world. I would recommend the strawberry.

My only complaint is that they don’t always read/follow the instructions I write in when ordering online. Tonight, for example, I ordered the vegetarian pho with tofu and asked for it without the cilantro garnish and, still, my soup was decorated with cilantro leafs.“

“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.“

“Phở Hòa is one of the best spots for comforting, authentic Vietnamese pho! The broth is rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced you can tell it’s been simmered for hours. The noodles are fresh and the portions are generous, with plenty of tender meat and crisp herbs.

The service is quick and friendly, and the atmosphere is casual and welcoming perfect for a cozy meal any time of day. Everything tastes fresh and consistent every visit.

If you’re craving a hearty bowl of pho that hits the spot every time, Phở Hòa is a must-visit!“

“their sandwiches are to-die-for🤤🤤🤤🤤“

“I wished I could give this place more than 5 stars if I could. Best amazing Vietnamese sandwich pho and strong smooth coffee . Customer service is the best and are very welcoming . Quality and fresh food. Highly recommend this location and the vibe is very mellow .“

“So good here! This food is amazing.“