Khanh's Restaurant — Restaurant in Campbell

This is the place that was once on Winchester. It is now on Hamilton, in the former Carrows space from way, way back in the day (well, 2009). Someone needs to update some of the photos on Google. Thing is, it still sorta’ looks like a Carrows. Not that it is a problem. But perhaps they could spruce it up a bit. That said, the hilarious fog machine/outdoor solarium thing is eye-catching. You almost expect a Whitesnake video to break out at any second . . . at the Khanh's Restaurant (which at least uses an apostrophe, which Carrows never did, even if the founder was a [Nan]carrow).

Three of us went to dinner on a Monday at 6:30. Not a lot of customers. Service was attentive. We had at least four different people handling our table. On a busier day, I expect it would be a bit different. Items were paced appropriately: drinks, then appetizers, then mains, with refills on drinks as requested. We weren’t rushed. Everyone, from the host to the servers (one of which seemed a touch nervous), was great.

We ordered the following: two beers, sparkling water, veggie egg rolls, beef and pork steamed meatloaf, grilled beef onion rolls, lemongrass aromatic chicken, shaken beef, and extra fried rice.

No need to comment on the drinks. The veggie egg rolls tasted like they almost always taste. And kudos to them for making sure each of us had our own set of two sauces. The meatloaf was unexpectedly good, if a bit stingy on the assorted vegetable and herbs that accompanied it. I ordered the grilled beef onion rolls because that was always a favorite of mine at Vung Tau. These both suffered and succeeded in comparison. They were like toothpicks, whereas Vung’s were quite a bit more substantial and tied with the green onion. That said, they were flavorful and came with an odd smattering of lettuce and cherry tomatoes (some of which got soggy in the sauce and from the heat). The chicken was indeed aromatic and tasty, even if it was barely peeking out of the already small bowl in which it was placed. The shaken beef was perhaps the most flavorful of all our entrees. The meat was tender enough and came with a smattering of grilled onions, mushrooms, and bell peppers . . . and, again, those odd pieces of lettuce and tomatoes that suffered from the residual heat of the main part of the dish. Suggestion? Place things like this to the side if the main is hot. Their fried rice is not hard-cooked fried rice. That said, it contains quite a few peas, carrots, and baby shrimp. But it also had little to no discernible taste, save for when the other items (and some low-sodium soy sauce) were introduced.

My overall take? This is a place that has been around for a while. I think the prices are a bit high. I think they skimp on veggies and on portions (especially the chicken dish). I also think the interior could stand a bit of a refresh. But I also understand that running a business these days is difficult (staffing, food costs, etc.). Will I come back? Very likely. But will I come back often? Not likely.

I wish the owners the best in these difficult times. They have been doing this for decades. I hope they can continue to do so for decades more. And I appreciated my first...

Great variety of traditional Vietnamese dishes on their menu in general, which is great because there aren't many Vietnamese restaurants in the area (you need to go deeper into San Jose). Their customer service is very nice, too!

The ambience is very calm and peaceful (they play classical music & it's spacious so it doesn't get loud), like it :) Probably the best Banh Xeo (Saigon crepe made with coconut milk & rice flour) in the area - so glad I discovered somewhere closer to me!

Khanh's Banh Xeo was pretty good. The crepe shell is thin and crispy, and it has shrimp and ground pork, bean sprouts, and jicama inside. The lettuce & mint leaves it was served with on the side were fresh :)

My other go-to for Banh Xeo is Truong Thanh in Milpitas. I prefer their Banh Xeo for several reasons, but it's totally a matter personal preference:

I love the crepe batter (the coconut milk flavor is more pronounced, and the batter is soft and pillowy without being mushy).

I prefer the sliced (boiled?) pork slices to Khanh's ground pork

They also give more meat, there are more bean sprouts and mung beans inside, and they serve more different veggies on the side (carrots, onions). It's overall a better value, but that may be a product of the location.

That said, it seems like Khanh's shrimp is much better quality. When I don't feel like going farther to Milpitas for good Vietnamese food, I'll go to...

Overall amazing restaurant. Nothing like all the other typical pho places that offer great food mediocre service and a bad atmosphere. This place takes your expectations to another level as the service is phenomenal, always waiters at the ready to take your plates and orders asap. Everybody is kind and respectful conversations are not overwhelming like other asian restaurants, plates and utensils are cleaned spotlessly. The restaurant also features beautiful window seats next to a miniature garden that is quite special. Now the most important part, the food. The pho selection is not huge however they are all delicious. I found particular enjoyment in the beef one as the flavor of the soup was amazingly deep and rich. The soup and quality of the meats were well above good pho places which is why their bbq meats are also quite good. Although their other things such as fried rice was subpar its to be expected as their main focus is on serving pho and other Vietnamese bbq plates. Overall amazing Vietnamese dishes with great deserts as well...