48 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 😋“

“We went there after seeing all of the fantastic reviews both on Google and Yelp as well as seeing this place in Yelp’s list for the top 100 restaurants in the country. We are not huge fans of vegan but went there anyway to give it a shot. And, oh my, everything was amazing from the food, the service and the atmosphere. It’s a small place located near North Park and so it’s not like you are going to stumble upon it. The best thing I can say about this place is that if you didn’t know it was vegan, you would be thinking you are eating meat. Most of our dishes had “beef” but it was great. We had the dumplings, pani puri, noodles and a dish with steamed rice. Trae, our server, was soooo helpful. Highly recommend you give it a shot.“

“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!“

“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!“

“this is my favorite place to go get pho. only after visiting 2 times the server was recognizing us and calling us friends. you can sit anywhere you like, there's 3 tvs you can choose to look at, ones channel changes, one is on sports and the last on cartoons, they play music occasionally & it's usually instrumental covers, I love the songs that play. service is quick and friendly, I usually get the house special pho which is rare steak, chicken and shrimp, or shrimp fried rice. my wife usually gets ox tail pho, both options are really good. their thai tea w boba is the best Thai tea imo“

“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“

“I really enjoyed the vegetarian Pho and the fresh coconut. The Tofu spring rolls were okay. I’m sure the meat spring rolls are more tasty.

Overall great experience, really good Pho base. Super Fast service. Perfect meal on a cold day.“

“Not familiar with restaurants in this area we decided to give this place a try. It was a great lunch. We ordered the house vermicelli and the meatballs pho.
The meat of the vermicelli was tasty, and the veggies were fresh.
The pho had a good flavor.
The mango slushy was delicious.
We are planning on coming back, this time to try their stew that looks great.“

“Good service, good atmosphere, great food“

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

“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“

“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.“

“Excelente comida 🥘 y atención“

“This place is so small but so yummy . I went there to order to go around 8 pm Super Bowl night.. it’s expected it was a slow night . I got to go since the lady told me they close early it was No problem at all .. service was good super friendly . I always make sure to come when she’s working she’s super helpful

I been here for few months always get Pho Dac Biet, egg rolls and chicken wings .“

“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’ve been coming here for many years, and I’ve traveled almost all over the world, but I’ve never found Vietnamese food that tastes like this place. The flavors are truly special and consistent every time.

I was also lucky enough to know the owner, Jonathan. Rest in peace. You will be terribly missed. Who is going to come to my table and yell “hello friend” now? It will never be the same without you.“

“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.“

“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“

“Ordered 4 dishes for takeout. The heavenly papaya salad, garlic chicken bowl, fried shrimp noodle bowl, and the pho fried noodle. Didn’t care much for the papaya salad. The dressing seems to be missing something. Taste diluted. The chicken bowl was good and flavorful. The shrimp noodle bowl was good but wish they give more shrimp. There was only two shrimp. The fried pho noodle was oily and the noodle was hard. No taste at all but just oily. I do wish they have more options tho. And the portion was pretty small and pricy.“

“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“

“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.“

“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 ???????????“

“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.“

“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“

“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.“

“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.“

“Pho Cow Cali Express is located in Mira Mesa just a few blocks west of the 15 freeway on Mira Mesa Blvd. I’ve been here numerous times purely for nostalgia and because my family likes it here.

Sometimes you’ll see a line out the door so you’ll need to sign in. The wait time is typically quick unless you have a huge party.

My order usually consists of their Grilled BBQ Pork Vermicelli (Bun Thit Nuong) and their Egg Rolls (Cha Gio).

This restaurant has plenty of seats and the ambiance is very casual. There are TVs around and it’s mid-noisy inside.

The service is pretty quick given that the menu isn’t as large as other Vietnamese restaurants. There’s prices are also decent and competitive for the area. The servers are really just there to take orders, bring out orders, etc. - very casual dining.

One thing to note: The aroma will stick to your skin, hair, and clothing! And it’s pretty intense. It should definitely be your last stop of the day. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Overall, Pho Cow Cali dishes out simple Vietnamese food, where the service is quick and dining is casual.“

“I come here for lunch from about ever other week. The bahmi is always consistent. The bbq pork is full of flavor. The bread is nice and crispy and the vegetables always taste fresh. I usually take my order to go but great place to dine in as well.“

“Delicious place to soup for lunch“

“Great location with great food.“

“Food came out quickly. Good quality.“

“I enjoyed a beef banh mi from this Vietnamese eatery. The only thing was when I ordered it, I thought it was going to be pieces of grilled beef, like the picture showed and the way the BBQ pork comes, but the beef was more like sliced meatloaf.

The banh mi was good however, just a little on the dry side, the meat that is, but it was well seasoned and tasty. The the sandwich came with fresh Julienned carrots and daikon, fresh sliced jalapenos, and cucumbers. It came garnished with fresh cilantro sprigs, but was missing a spritz of fish sauce. The French baguette was great and are baked in house. I think they should offer a side of fish sauce and/or a hot sauce with the banh mi sandwiches.

The service was friendly. They offer a small amount of inside seating but none outside. They offer a large amount of banh mi sandwiches and milk tea beverages.“

“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.“

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

“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!!!!!“

“Love this place for hủ tiếu! Their Phnom Penh–style rice noodles are delicious in both soup and dry versions, just like in Vietnam. My husband loves the stir-fried flat rice noodles, it has that perfect wok hei flavor.
Portions are generous, and it’s usually not crowded, so we get seated and served quickly. Highly recommend!“

“their sandwiches are to-die-for🤤🤤🤤🤤“

“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!“

“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 .“