Bánh Cuốn Hương Bắc — Restaurant in South El Monte

Huong Bac is a quintessential "hole-in-the-wall" eatery that surpassed our expectations during a recent out-of-state visit. Craving authentic Banh Cuon led us to this hidden gem.

Despite our late arrival—merely 15 minutes before closing time— the lady welcomed us with open arms, allowing us to place our order. We opted for the #9 Banh Cuon Dac Biet and #12 Bun Rieu, eagerly anticipating our meal in the cozy ambiance of the small dining area. The kitchen was bustling, with the gentleman wrapping what seemed to be freshly made Gio Lua.

The aroma of sweet and sour fish sauce wafted through the air, a hallmark of genuine Vietnamese cuisine. The wait was about 20 minutes, as the lady needed to boil water anew for our noodles and steam the Banh Cuon. She apologized for the delay, though we insisted it was our oversight for arriving late.

Tasting the Banh Cuon at our hotel room was revelatory. The rice rolls were thin, the batter didn't make the banh cuon "cakey" nor runny, it maintains a delightful stretchiness. The seasoning of the meat and mushrooms was spot-on, with the addition of meat floss and fried onions enhancing the aroma. The Gio Lua boasted a pleasant chewiness without being mushy. However, the real standout was the house-made sweet and sour chili fish sauce—a masterful blend that added an explosive burst of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors that I fell in love with their banh cuon instantly.

As I'm writing this, I haven't had the chance to try the Bun Rieu yet because I was eager to share my exceptional experience with the Banh Cuon. It was so memorable that I felt compelled to write this review immediately. If I ever return to the area, Huong Bac will definitely be on my...

Was craving some banh cuon but didn't have time to go to OC. Found this place and decided to give it a try. We ordered banh cuon dac biet (#9), spring rolls (#7), and bun cha gio thit nuong (#17). The banh cuon wasn't as good as OC, but it was still enjoyable and really hit the spot. The spring rolls I did not really care for, I wouldn't order that again. The bun was also really good. The portions were a lot, there was 2 of us and we couldn't finish it all, literally had a whole other meal for later. I would definitely come back for the banh cuon and the bun though! This is a mom and pop operation, it took probably 30 mins to get our food. I don't mind the wait to support a family operation like this, but just know that ahead of time, if you are in a hurry, this might not be the...

Came on someone’s recommendation. My first impression was that they were understaffed and looked overwhelmed. There’s only a handful of full of tables in this modest restaurant. The wait was 30-45 minutes even though there weren’t that many customers. But we were invested after 15 minutes, so figured we’d rough it out. So glad we did because the food was sooooooo good. The portions are generous and everything tastes so fresh. The prices are also low compared to other places with less good food. They could easily raise their prices by $5 and I would still think it was worth it because it was so good. So come but be prepared to wait even when it’s not busy. Cash only. There’s street parking or if you can find the hidden side street that leads to their parking lot...