Our foursome loves Vietnamese cuisine and was happy to try Gabriella's on our visit to Philly. Our hopes were met and exceeded! The aromas and flavors brought back memories of meals we'd enjoyed in Vietnam. The herbs and greens, so universally part of Vietnam dishes and so often lacking here in the US were delightfully fresh and generously available. The service, family style, is exactly what we expected. And the server was friendly and helpful. The Gỏi Tôm Xoài (Prawn and Mango Salad) was perfectly balanced even though the mango, obviously, wasn't from a local tree (;-)). The Bánh Bèo Chén also had that flavorful balance (Water Fern Dumplings--no mango there). The special, Bánh Xéo Miên Trung (Shaken Beef) was outstanding, with beef more tender than we ever found in Vietnam and the tangy sauce simply mouthwatering. The unexpected stunner was the Dâu Hu Xào Xã (Lemongrass Tofu). Despite tofu's role as a bland protein base, the flavors really carried it. We'll be back whenever we get to Philly!
Lily W.
Overall the food was pretty good! The price-to-quantity ratio was a bit high though (although there may not be as much competition here in Philly). The savory crepes were really satisfying and the crepe is crunchy in a good way. Water fern dumplings are typically hard to find in the US, and it did not disappoint. The flounder was also cooked well and seasoned. The fried rice was alright, but not the best. The soft shell crab was definitely one of the best dishes here. The #1 dish in my opinion is the shaken beef. The meat is cooked to absolute perfection; it is truly tender and juicy while packed with flavor. I would definitely recommend and come back to this place for authentic Vietnamese food. Service was good, server was nice. Good vibes and atmosphere, the walls have a cool industrial feel.
5CD102 S.
The food is delicious- our appetizers were amazing! Great location and great service, byob!
Tina S.
Wow! Came here on a recommendation of a friend and I was not disappointed. Came on a Sunday night so I didn't think I'd need a reservation and I was sorely mistaken. There was about a 25 minute wait and even when we returned we still had to wait a bit more. When we were seated, our server came to help us immediately and answered our questions about the menu. She helped us determine how much we should order for our group and even provided some suggestions! We were so hungry that I hardly took any photos but the food was DELICIOUS and I'll be back with my husband.
Timothy D.
Really tasty food , good service nice ambiance , slightly pricey but you get what you pay for!
Caitlin C.
Went during Passyunk Restaurant Week with a friend and it was DELICIOUS. The servers were very kind and we were not rushed during the multi course meal. I cannot wait to return because the restaurant week menu was just a sliver of what was available. Great locally-owned spot in the neighborhood!
Allison Wright
Been wanting to check out this place ever since moving into the area since they had vegan/vegetarian menu items.Food: They do have a couple options that are veg option or completely vegan. One dish that had my hackles up is the egg fried rice. According to the waiter, despite the menu saying “Vegan option - pineapple & cashew”, he let me and my partner know that it STILL has egg on it and “people just usually eat the egg” in between laughing, so make sure to explicitly say no egg. I had to ask about the other items just to make sure. The crepes were just okay. The sauce is just soy sauce and chili. I also wish that they had a vegan dumpling option. The vegan hot pot is really overpriced ($30) for what’s in the broth and the broth has almost no flavor.Service: Not sure how it is on slow evenings but it wasn’t terrible. He did check on us periodically, but it was pretty busy and food appears to be scratch made.Atmosphere: This was also just okay. I think I expected it to look different based on how the place looks like from the outside, but it’s pretty no frills.Not sure how the meat dishes are, but I think that’s why they’re so highly rated. The vegan/vegetarian options honestly feels like an afterthought.Vegetarian options: Vegan/vegetarian options exist, but make sure to ask explicit questions about the ingredients.
The food was incredible here! Flavors and textures were amazing! Totally recommend the Water Fern Dumplings, Savory Crepes, Shaken Beef, and the Salted Egg Fried Rice.Service was great and interior decor was nice. Definitely recommend.
Great place to try out some Vietnamese flavors in Philly! Went here alone to try some dishes that I missed from my mom's cooking. Got the bánh xèo crepes and the Bánh Bột Lọc a while back. Personally, the bánh xèo lacked depth, though the main flavors were there; I prefer them with more batter/moister and additional toppings, such as mung beans, etc. I was pleasantly surprised with the Bánh Bột Lọc -- super flavorful and a great texture. Wish I was able to try some of the main dishes, but would have loved to share the street dishes with friends. The service was great and I got lots of recommendations; the vibes of the restaurant are very homey and unparalleled, perfect for an intimate or fun night. Overall the food was a little pricey, but they offer a great authentic selection that is rare in Philly. Might come back to see what other gems I can find!
Overall the food was pretty good! The price-to-quantity ratio was a bit high though (although there may not be as much competition here in Philly). The savory crepes were really satisfying and the crepe is crunchy in a good way. Water fern dumplings are typically hard to find in the US, and it did not disappoint. The flounder was also cooked well and seasoned. The fried rice was alright, but not the best. The soft shell crab was definitely one of the best dishes here. The #1 dish in my opinion is the shaken beef. The meat is cooked to absolute perfection; it is truly tender and juicy while packed with flavor. I would definitely recommend and come back to this place for authentic Vietnamese food.
TL;DR Quality of food is exceptional and consistent, and ambiance is great. However, not a great value or surprise in comparison to many restaurants in Chinatown.I was curious about this restaurant because of Eater's review that this is an essential eatery for Philadelphia. I booked for Sunday evening close to closing time. The restaurant was packed but service was swift and the food was very good.My only gripe is that I found the menu a tad on the pricey side when compared to many other restaurants in Chinatown where you can order similar foods with the same great quality for a lot less. For example, the shaking beef was juicy and tender, but the beef is marinated in a similar way to beef in Chinese restaurants to achieve that tenderness (baking soda)--so despite the cost being justified at $28 for filet, it's unnecessary when similar quality could have been achieved with a $14 cut of NY Strip or Sirloin.The tofu was perfectly seasoned, crispy on the outside and wonderfully tender on the inside. But again, $18 for tofu tossed in a honey-soy glaze...that's about $9 takeout in Chinatown.The fried rice was flavorful but lacked the pungency or umami of the salted egg flavor that is advertised. It tasted like a yang chow fried rice with added fish sauce, yes it was good but you could get same portion at half the price at the same quality at EMei, Yi Pin, etc.The only dish we had that was absolutely worth the price was the deep fried flounder. It's an entire flounder battered and fried so that the skin is wonderfully crispy while the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender. It's served with rice paper so that you DIY your own spring rolls. At $36 it's a great novel and family experience with a lot of fish to justify the price.Gabriella's Vietnam is a great restaurant that thrives because of its consistent food and excellent homely vibes. It's a great introduction to Vietnamese food for people who are venturing into Asian food for the first time or do not often engage with Asian culture. However, if you are well versed with Chinatown or have a traditionally Asian background, you may be expecting a bit more for the amount of money you're paying.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Flounder
Nu N.
As a Vietnamese I would say the food was much more delicious and authentic than many places I've been to before. I was surprised that many non-Asians could eat Mam tom ( shrimp paste ) :) and enjoyed it .The service was great.
Joey Radcliffe
Food was awesome ,Flounder was on another
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nina D
Food is amazing so is the service. Shout out to our waitress who came to our rescue anytime we needed help, especially with the bottle of wine! We ordered the winter flounder, shaken beef, and crepes. Our waitress also recommended us to try the egg fried rice, which I am glad we took her suggestion on! The grains of rice were coated with salted egg yolk. Flounder was a little dry and very fun to eat since you create your own summer rolls.Our waitress was super attentive and tending to all our needs before we even waved her over. She's really quick with her service, when we dropped our chopsticks she had already brought us a new pair before we got her attention. Waters were always filled too. With every dish she brought out, she explained each dish and how to properly eat it, which we loved since we would've never thought to use the wraps for the fish.1 star for the atmosphere because the music was loud and we were sitting at the window/patio area. Music is very loud when there were barely any other tables, probably around 3-5 excluding us. We could barely hear each other talk with the music. To make it worst, we were able to hear screaming and yelling from the kitchen lady. We walked by to the restroom to check out the kitchen, which is cool since you can see them prepare all the food. But as an open kitchen you can hear everything. It was highly unprofessional to hear screaming during our visit. We could also tell that the other customers were kind of troubled by it too since everyone was dead silent when it was happening.Overall, the experience was amazing provided with the excellent service. We do plan to come again, but hopefully the next time we do not hear yelling.
Our foursome loves Vietnamese cuisine and was happy to try Gabriella's on our visit to Philly. Our hopes were met and exceeded! The aromas and flavors brought back memories of meals we'd enjoyed in Vietnam. The herbs and greens, so universally part of Vietnam dishes and so often lacking here in the US were delightfully fresh and generously available. The service, family style, is exactly what we expected. And the server was friendly and helpful. The Gỏi Tôm Xoài (Prawn and Mango Salad) was perfectly balanced even though the mango, obviously, wasn't from a local tree (;-)). The Bánh Bèo Chén also had that flavorful balance (Water Fern Dumplings--no mango there). The special, Bánh Xéo Miên Trung (Shaken Beef) was outstanding, with beef more tender than we ever found in Vietnam and the tangy sauce simply mouthwatering. The unexpected stunner was the Dâu Hu Xào Xã (Lemongrass Tofu). Despite tofu's role as a bland protein base, the flavors really carried it. We'll be back whenever we get to Philly!
Overall the food was pretty good! The price-to-quantity ratio was a bit high though (although there may not be as much competition here in Philly). The savory crepes were really satisfying and the crepe is crunchy in a good way. Water fern dumplings are typically hard to find in the US, and it did not disappoint. The flounder was also cooked well and seasoned. The fried rice was alright, but not the best. The soft shell crab was definitely one of the best dishes here. The #1 dish in my opinion is the shaken beef. The meat is cooked to absolute perfection; it is truly tender and juicy while packed with flavor. I would definitely recommend and come back to this place for authentic Vietnamese food. Service was good, server was nice. Good vibes and atmosphere, the walls have a cool industrial feel.
The food is delicious- our appetizers were amazing! Great location and great service, byob!
Wow! Came here on a recommendation of a friend and I was not disappointed. Came on a Sunday night so I didn't think I'd need a reservation and I was sorely mistaken. There was about a 25 minute wait and even when we returned we still had to wait a bit more. When we were seated, our server came to help us immediately and answered our questions about the menu. She helped us determine how much we should order for our group and even provided some suggestions! We were so hungry that I hardly took any photos but the food was DELICIOUS and I'll be back with my husband.
Really tasty food , good service nice ambiance , slightly pricey but you get what you pay for!
Went during Passyunk Restaurant Week with a friend and it was DELICIOUS. The servers were very kind and we were not rushed during the multi course meal. I cannot wait to return because the restaurant week menu was just a sliver of what was available. Great locally-owned spot in the neighborhood!
Been wanting to check out this place ever since moving into the area since they had vegan/vegetarian menu items.Food: They do have a couple options that are veg option or completely vegan. One dish that had my hackles up is the egg fried rice. According to the waiter, despite the menu saying “Vegan option - pineapple & cashew”, he let me and my partner know that it STILL has egg on it and “people just usually eat the egg” in between laughing, so make sure to explicitly say no egg. I had to ask about the other items just to make sure. The crepes were just okay. The sauce is just soy sauce and chili. I also wish that they had a vegan dumpling option. The vegan hot pot is really overpriced ($30) for what’s in the broth and the broth has almost no flavor.Service: Not sure how it is on slow evenings but it wasn’t terrible. He did check on us periodically, but it was pretty busy and food appears to be scratch made.Atmosphere: This was also just okay. I think I expected it to look different based on how the place looks like from the outside, but it’s pretty no frills.Not sure how the meat dishes are, but I think that’s why they’re so highly rated. The vegan/vegetarian options honestly feels like an afterthought.Vegetarian options: Vegan/vegetarian options exist, but make sure to ask explicit questions about the ingredients.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Holy Smokes! This place has delicious food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Savory Crepes Bánh Xèo Miền Trung, Shaken Beef Bò Lúc Lắc, Brussels Sprouts BẮP Cải Non GF V, Shaken Beef, Chicken Wings, Dumplings
The food was incredible here! Flavors and textures were amazing! Totally recommend the Water Fern Dumplings, Savory Crepes, Shaken Beef, and the Salted Egg Fried Rice.Service was great and interior decor was nice. Definitely recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Savory Crepes Bánh Xèo Miền Trung, Savory Crepes, Shaken Beef Bò Lúc Lắc, Shaken Beef, Salted Egg Fried Rice, Dumplings
Great place to try out some Vietnamese flavors in Philly! Went here alone to try some dishes that I missed from my mom's cooking. Got the bánh xèo crepes and the Bánh Bột Lọc a while back. Personally, the bánh xèo lacked depth, though the main flavors were there; I prefer them with more batter/moister and additional toppings, such as mung beans, etc. I was pleasantly surprised with the Bánh Bột Lọc -- super flavorful and a great texture. Wish I was able to try some of the main dishes, but would have loved to share the street dishes with friends. The service was great and I got lots of recommendations; the vibes of the restaurant are very homey and unparalleled, perfect for an intimate or fun night. Overall the food was a little pricey, but they offer a great authentic selection that is rare in Philly. Might come back to see what other gems I can find!
Restaurantji Recommends
Overall the food was pretty good! The price-to-quantity ratio was a bit high though (although there may not be as much competition here in Philly). The savory crepes were really satisfying and the crepe is crunchy in a good way. Water fern dumplings are typically hard to find in the US, and it did not disappoint. The flounder was also cooked well and seasoned. The fried rice was alright, but not the best. The soft shell crab was definitely one of the best dishes here. The #1 dish in my opinion is the shaken beef. The meat is cooked to absolute perfection; it is truly tender and juicy while packed with flavor. I would definitely recommend and come back to this place for authentic Vietnamese food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shaken Beef Bò Lúc Lắc, Shaken Beef
TL;DR Quality of food is exceptional and consistent, and ambiance is great. However, not a great value or surprise in comparison to many restaurants in Chinatown.I was curious about this restaurant because of Eater's review that this is an essential eatery for Philadelphia. I booked for Sunday evening close to closing time. The restaurant was packed but service was swift and the food was very good.My only gripe is that I found the menu a tad on the pricey side when compared to many other restaurants in Chinatown where you can order similar foods with the same great quality for a lot less. For example, the shaking beef was juicy and tender, but the beef is marinated in a similar way to beef in Chinese restaurants to achieve that tenderness (baking soda)--so despite the cost being justified at $28 for filet, it's unnecessary when similar quality could have been achieved with a $14 cut of NY Strip or Sirloin.The tofu was perfectly seasoned, crispy on the outside and wonderfully tender on the inside. But again, $18 for tofu tossed in a honey-soy glaze...that's about $9 takeout in Chinatown.The fried rice was flavorful but lacked the pungency or umami of the salted egg flavor that is advertised. It tasted like a yang chow fried rice with added fish sauce, yes it was good but you could get same portion at half the price at the same quality at EMei, Yi Pin, etc.The only dish we had that was absolutely worth the price was the deep fried flounder. It's an entire flounder battered and fried so that the skin is wonderfully crispy while the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender. It's served with rice paper so that you DIY your own spring rolls. At $36 it's a great novel and family experience with a lot of fish to justify the price.Gabriella's Vietnam is a great restaurant that thrives because of its consistent food and excellent homely vibes. It's a great introduction to Vietnamese food for people who are venturing into Asian food for the first time or do not often engage with Asian culture. However, if you are well versed with Chinatown or have a traditionally Asian background, you may be expecting a bit more for the amount of money you're paying.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Flounder
As a Vietnamese I would say the food was much more delicious and authentic than many places I've been to before. I was surprised that many non-Asians could eat Mam tom ( shrimp paste ) :) and enjoyed it .The service was great.
Food was awesome ,Flounder was on another
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food is amazing so is the service. Shout out to our waitress who came to our rescue anytime we needed help, especially with the bottle of wine! We ordered the winter flounder, shaken beef, and crepes. Our waitress also recommended us to try the egg fried rice, which I am glad we took her suggestion on! The grains of rice were coated with salted egg yolk. Flounder was a little dry and very fun to eat since you create your own summer rolls.Our waitress was super attentive and tending to all our needs before we even waved her over. She's really quick with her service, when we dropped our chopsticks she had already brought us a new pair before we got her attention. Waters were always filled too. With every dish she brought out, she explained each dish and how to properly eat it, which we loved since we would've never thought to use the wraps for the fish.1 star for the atmosphere because the music was loud and we were sitting at the window/patio area. Music is very loud when there were barely any other tables, probably around 3-5 excluding us. We could barely hear each other talk with the music. To make it worst, we were able to hear screaming and yelling from the kitchen lady. We walked by to the restroom to check out the kitchen, which is cool since you can see them prepare all the food. But as an open kitchen you can hear everything. It was highly unprofessional to hear screaming during our visit. We could also tell that the other customers were kind of troubled by it too since everyone was dead silent when it was happening.Overall, the experience was amazing provided with the excellent service. We do plan to come again, but hopefully the next time we do not hear yelling.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Savory Crepes Bánh Xèo Miền Trung, Shaken Beef Bò Lúc Lắc