Mean's Vietnamese Cafe — Restaurant in North Island

I grew up in California (USA), where we get some of the best Asian Cuisine outside of the respective countries. Being half Asian myself, and having traveled quite extensively, I'm often disappointed when restaurants "water down" their ethnic food to suit a Western palette.

I was very pleased to have found Mean's Pho Tai (Rare Beef) flavorful and served with the typical, although pared down, accouterments. I think this is mainly due to lack of local availability versus effort.

Back home I would have Pho Tai and Bun Thiet (Noodle Salad with char grilled pork) almost weekly. Finding a local restaurant that stays true to authentic Vietnamese flavors is a blessing!

I was also impressed that despite not having traditional drip Vietnamese Iced Coffee on the menu, the lady was kind enough to make me something pretty darn close!

I enjoyed the service and the food and look forward to going back!! The fact they are open ALL DAY 7 days a week is an added bonus!! So many times I am looking for a late lunch and the only option is fast food.

Highly recommended! Check it out!

Update, 11 Jun 2024:

Through the years, a few other Vietnamese restaurants have popped up in town. Some with variations on their menus that are different from Mean's. Having tried the Pho at all locations, Mean's is still the clear winner. The richness in flavour of the broth is far more developed, and the quality of the meat far surpasses the other restaurants.

After all these years, and many more competitors, I stand by my initial review that this is the best Vietnamese Pho currently available.

One other update is they are now closed on Mondays, but good for them!! We all...

4 stars for the food but zero stars for the service.

We've been regulars here (at least once a week) because of the food. But after today's visit, even the food can't save the extremely dissapointing service that we've received. We know the restaurant staff prefers to take orders at the table, so I went up to get a menu to let the server know where we are sitting. We waited for 15 minutes for someone to take our order. The girl there was just clearing the table, ignoring us completely. It wasn't until I walked up to the counter that she said she would take our order at the table. While we waited for our food, a couple came in and sat at a table near us. When no one came to take their order, they went up to the counter to order their food. Their drinks and a food item came, but we still have not gotten any of our order. We stopped waiting when we realised that the couple came in after had already gotten all their food and drinks while we still did not get any of our order. My partner went to find out and found out the girl never put in our food order. 45 minutes to find out they never even once come to check if we had ordered or needed anything. Horrible! A shame that they have such horrible service that overshadow the food. Our time and money are better spent in businesses that care about...

I recently visited Mean's Vietnamese Cafe and I must say, I had an absolutely delightful experience! The moment I walked in, I was greeted by an Asian lady who was incredibly warm and friendly. She went above and beyond to make sure my dining experience was nothing short of amazing. Her positive nature and kind demeanor really made my day.

As for the food, it was absolutely delicious! The flavors were just bursting in my mouth, and I was thoroughly impressed with the quality and presentation of the dishes. The menu had a good range of options and I really enjoyed trying out some of their signature Vietnamese dishes.

The cafe was quite busy during my visit, which speaks volumes about the popularity of this place. The ambiance was cozy and welcoming, and the decor had a nice rustic feel to it.

The only downside was the large dust buildups on the lights above/high places. However, this was a minor issue and didn't detract from the overall positive experience I had at Mean's Vietnamese Cafe.

Overall, I would highly recommend Mean's Vietnamese Cafe to anyone looking for a delicious, wholesome, and positive dining experience. From the friendly and attentive staff to the mouth-watering food, this cafe truly deserves a...