CAFE NHO & SOUTH BAY RESTAURANT — Restaurant in Hawthorne

This place was such a disappointment. Upon arrival, we expected the typical south east asian experience with all the uncles chilling in the back and restaurant. Our waiter was kind enough and took our order quickly. There were 4 of us and we each ordered a dish and 3 coffee total. The first dish (pork chop) came out a timely manner, maybe 20 mins after ordering. Our coffee didn't come until after 30 mins of waiting, we had followed up with the waiter and he brought out 1. Another couple came in shortly after us and ordered coffee and pho. They got their pho and finished it before the other 3 of us. After 20 more mins we asked again for coffee and our order and the explanation that we were given was that they were busy. 2 more coffees were brought out. After waiting 1.75 hours for food we decided to cut our losses in time and try a different restaurant. Upon leaving and paying for the food that did arrive, the waiter tried to charge us for the food that didn't even come out. I will note that they pork chop rice dish was a good but it is fair to say we won't be returning. I would not risk becoming hangry while waiting more than 1.5 hrs for standard Vietnamese dishes when other places are just as delicious and...

my new find opens early 6am for the coffee customers, dishes looks good too next door is their new place and food servings goood taste bun bo hue will return / Nho shop has strong cigarette smell - go next door for better air overall good place ! back for more early hours pho is best feeling ! back for more and pho ga tasty large noodle type authentic overall and menu will be back for more and i like early opening hour. /. 3.22.25 new menu new dishes great choices - new chao long great taste authentic! And bang coun cha loa my other favorite…excellent and early open hours breakfast is fantastic . back for more each week and pho with bone is large portion and feel heavy after eating. but tasty! return for more - bun rieu and all the herbs mix is great taste -open early is good / need to move the outdoor cigarette smokers away from front door smoke smell find way into restaurant and food taste changes owner knows and closed from door/ 6.17.25 back for more love the early open hours before work and beef stew with baguette so tasty...

Ok so yeah, no one was wearing masks and seating was entirely full of only men when I walked in. The guy working the front didn't really speak English and kept telling me only sandwich, so I got a sandwich. I tried to order a drink by miming it, and ended up with him giving me a free cup of tea.

After a few more attempts, cause I saw other people taking out delicious looking boxes of food and drinking iced Vietnamese coffees in take out cups, I managed to ask when some young guys were nearby to help translate and got a delicious coffee. Watching the coffee technique was something! He pulls a few spoonfuls of condensed milk in, pours from a metal tea container, and then looks like he's churning the whole thing into a froth with a spoon going up and down real fast. The sandwich was pretty darned good too.

So this place was't for me at all, which is a shame. And definitely not during COVID. Everything I got was great and I'd love to try their other food. People who were there slowly enjoying their drinks seemed to like the vibe. I did see one lady walk in as I...