Viet Noodle Bar — Restaurant in Los Angeles

I found this place while looking for a nearby place that sells pho and went as soon as they opened at 5pm for dinner. You have to street park with paid meters and the restaurant is a bit difficult to find in the dark due to no obvious sign and there's a small decal on the glass entrance. Two of our families got seated and I thought the place was extremely bare in terms of decor. If you asked me what kind of genre of food they might sell based on the inside, I'd have no clue, ha.

Anyway, we got the menu and I was shocked to see a beef pho selling for $20.45 and all other dishes being at least $16. As an Asian, I've been to countless pho/Viet restaurants and prices are usually half of what you'd find here. I suppose Atwater Village area is too hip for my wallet. I ended up ordering that pho and a chicken rice dish. With one waiter handling both dine-in and take-out customers, we waited 20 min ish to get the food while the togo folks seemed to get their food faster. The pho was actually tasty and warm with good amount of beef. The rice dish was pretty decent, but I thought it was slightly bland.

So after +40 dollars for two dishes and some for parking meter, I came out with my hunger satisfied but I still think it's too pricey compared to other Vietnamese restaurants. By the time we left, there were quite many customers dining in, but at first, it was dead silent without any music and waiting for food felt a bit longer. At least the food was...

Warning: this is not actually Vietnamese food! I didn't actually try the "Organic Beef Pho" because it was $20. My Vietnamese mom would never speak to me again if she knew I paid that much for pho or if the beef being Organic had any bearing on me selecting this. A bowl of pho that even approaches double digit pricing is pushing it let alone $20. It didn't even have brisket, tendon, tripe, or beef meatballs.

My friend picked the place and saw that another Yelp review said the Tumeric fish was recommended (I've never had this in my life). So we tried that and the lemon grass beef, which I've cooked before. Neither was flavorful and were served on very thick white noodles, not on the traditional Vermicelli noodles and NOT served with any Nuoc Mam (aka Fish Sauce). It tasted like nothing I've had in my decades of Vietnamese life.

I fault myself for not reading any reviews or researching this place and letting my friend pick it. I should have seen every more red flags when I walked in and there was only one other customer in the sizeable restaurant at 730pm. I also was not greeted with the delightful smell of pho as I walked in, which should be expected in any good pho/Vietnamese restaurant.

The restaurant should have spent more time researching authentic Vietnamese cuisine and flavors if it was going to be called Viet Noodle.

Positives: clean, good decor, polite and friendly staff. All of which I would trade for a major upgrade...

Viet Noodle Bar in Glendale is more than just a restaurant; it’s a staple, an institution, a place that has quietly but consistently delivered some of the best Vietnamese food in the area for years. It’s not about flash or trends—just solid, comforting bowls of noodles, fragrant broths, and fresh ingredients that keep locals coming back.

The atmosphere is unpretentious and welcoming, the kind of place where regulars nod at each other over steaming bowls of phở or turmeric-laced bánh mì chao. Service is straightforward and efficient, with no unnecessary frills—just good food brought out quickly and done right. The menu is focused but refined, emphasizing quality over quantity. Their signature dishes, particularly the noodle soups and rice bowls, showcase a balance of flavors that feel both traditional and refreshingly light.

Despite Glendale’s ever-evolving dining scene, Viet Noodle Bar has held its own, serving as a dependable go-to for those who want a satisfying meal without the fuss. It’s the kind of place that doesn’t need hype—it just exists, quietly excelling, and that’s what makes...