Vietnam Café — Restaurant in Philadelphia

My Wife and I recently had the pleasure of dining at Vietnam Café in the University City section of Philadelphia, and it was an experience worth sharing.

Located at 816 S 47th St, this gem is a must-visit for anyone craving authentic Vietnamese cuisine. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere that complements the delicious food on offer.

The menu is extensive, providing a wide range of dishes that cater to various tastes, but the pho here is particularly noteworthy. The broth was rich and flavorful, with a perfect balance of spices, and the noodles were cooked to just the right texture. I also tried their spring rolls, which were fresh, crisp, and served with a peanut sauce that was so good I could have eaten it with a spoon.

What stood out was the service - friendly and attentive without being overbearing, ensuring that every guest feels taken care of. The dining space is cozy yet spacious enough to accommodate groups, making it ideal for both intimate dinners or larger gatherings.

The price point is moderate, offering excellent value for the quality and portion size you receive, which is a significant plus in this area. Vietnam Café also has a reputation for being a local favorite, evidenced by its high rating of 4.6 from 972 reviews, indicating that it's not just me who appreciates their offerings.

Whether you're in the mood for a comforting bowl of pho, a zesty banh mi, or something different like their clay pot dishes, Vietnam Café delivers with authenticity and flavor. It's a delightful spot that truly captures the essence of Vietnamese culinary tradition while providing a welcoming contemporary dining experience. Highly recommended for anyone in University City looking for great...

The wait was about 30 min. Hostess was very nice and polite. The food was delicious. We had the beef and brisket noodle soups, shrimp fried rice and summer rolls. Everything but the summer rolls was really good taste wise.

It was our first time there and we were so excited had been planning to try them out for some time now however our waiter ruined our experience. Sad because we really did enjoy the food but the server was so rude. I don’t even want to come back or suggest this place after the experience we had. After taking our order and bringing the food he never came back to check on us. We tried waving him over he ignored us up until we were ready for the bill. And then he still didn’t bring the bill. He gave us containers for our leftovers but we had to wave another waiter for the bill. And then had to give the bill to another waitress to run our cards. We were thirsty the whole time wanted a refill on water got nothing. And what was really upsetting was that i watched and observed him very carefully during the time we were there all the other tables he waited on he inquired about their meal, he stopped to refill their water glasses thanked them and said goodbye. We were polite the entire time so I’m not sure what caused his behavior. It was Just two of us and a baby. But yeah that ruined our experience we won’t be back. If you like paying your money to people to who will mistreat you and be rude by all means then this is your spot. Otherwise take your money...

I have been a happy customer here for many years and the food has always been, and continues to be, consistently excellent. This is one of the few kitchens that turns out a dish year after year that tastes the same and is always wonderful. On 10/15/24, however, my dining partner and I had an unusual experience where one of the servers was downright surly and we were not permitted to take home a dessert that I was not able to finish. I had ordered the rice pudding with coconut milk with the intention of eating a little bit and taking the rest home. When I asked for a container I was told I could not have one because the coconut milk would spoil quickly. I would not have ordered the dessert had I known I couldn't keep the extra, as I was pretty full from our dinner. We lingered so I could keep nibbling a little more of the dessert, and then aggravated a staff member by still being at the table at 8 pm when they wanted to close. Because this is a restaurant that has a strong takeout business, I never would have expected to be forbidden from taking leftovers home. Perhaps there should be a note on the menu indicating what dishes customers will not be allowed to package up should they fail to finish them in the restaurant? This was the only off-key experience I've had here in at least 10 years of patronage, but it will make me think twice about eating here again. And in the future I may go to restaurants with my own plastic container -...