Vietnamese Restaurant

by Kate V.

i will agree that their food is awesome.  i have been going there my whole life and i still love it. don't expect fast service but that is all in the charm. it's family owned and operated. i am constantly reminded every time i go there "you come here you little baby. now you big girl."

by Daniel F.

It's huge inside, and decorated sparsely. The same lady is always there -- I think her same is Susie or something -- and she's always in precisely the same mood. The food is excellent, and the portions are generous. If you don't get the Cha Giao, you're just not doing it right.

by Nicholas R.

This restaurant has been a family staple of ours for as long as I can remember.  They consistently produce delicious Vietnamese food with fresh, flavorful ingredients and friendly service.  The prices are fair and the portions are generous as well! We've ordered almost everything on the menu over the years and have never been disappointed.  We especially love the Bun Bo, a spicy soup with with a unique, addicting flavor and a mixture of textures ranging from melt-in-your-mouth beef to crisp bean sprouts.  It's definitely worth your while if you're in the market to add a new experience to your dining repertoire. Bottom Line:  The best Vietnamese dining experience you can find in the Treasure Valley.

by Max B.

The Cha Gio here is too amazing for words. Order some Cha Gio, put some chili paste in the fish sauce, order a little "Pesi Soda" to wash it down and you will immidiately have 10 orgasms. Honestly too good for words. My favorite dish I've ever had at a restaurant- period.

by N. N.

So good and such an institution.  Don't go expecting hip or trendy atmosphere.  But the food ROCKS!  I can't remember the name of the soup I had but it was one of the best soups I've ever had - shrimp and tomatoes, and sour /spicy/sweet all at the same time.  Yes it's ugly and in a old strip mall, but don't let the looks fool you.  This place is a hole-in-the-wall gem.  Just the way I like 'em!

by Stanton C.

I was considering downgrading this by a star after today's visit, but decided to keep it at a 4-star rating because I'd still come here for pho if I had a craving in Boise.Today I got the spring rolls (I think most places in Boise call them "fresh rolls"). I was a little confused when the waittress asked if I wanted grilled or steamed pork... usually it's NOT the grilled kind. The half order comes with two rolls cut in half - stuffed full and wrapped tightly. Oddly enough, they brought out two sauces - one that's traditionally served with grilled pork, and the usual peanut-sauce type for the rolls I usually get back home. They weren't bad at all - better than the others I've tried here, but not close to stuff I can get at home.The pho was a little disappointing today. The soup lacked... something. I'm not sure what it was... but it didn't have everything I loved about it last time I came. Still, the serving size was still very large and the waittress offered me some basil and lemon (not lime =/) to go with my pho this time.Two things that made me want to subtract a star:(1) The waittress honestly told me she wasn't sure if the basil was fresh. I don't really want to hear that you don't have fresh ingredients... if it's not fresh, I'd rather not have it and would definitely not want to hear that you don't have fresh stuff. Sorry =/(2) Service was a lot slower today. Granted, they have one waittress and it got busy... you should just keep in mind that if you've got places to go, be prepared to wait a while to get your check/change. Really didn't know what to expect when coming here for lunch today - I mean, come on... Vietnamese…

by tara w.

Shoot, everyone loves this place, but it didn't do it for me.I didn't mind the lacking decor.  Definitely, the place has a friendly, homey vibe.  You could tell that many of the patrons were long-time customers.  Based on all the 5-star reviews, I was expecting greatness.I'm a vegetarian noodle salad type of girl but could only find a noodle salad topped with an egg roll on the menu.  I gave it a whirl because I crave the fresh, crisp, healthy yumminess but this was soggy yuck with fried stuff on top.The name of the restaurant alone could be a punchline to a joke:We ate Vietnamese food last night.  Oh?  Where?  Vietnamese Restaurant.  Right, got that, but where?  No, that's the name of the restaurant.What is?Vietnamese Restaurant.

by Beauford W.

I'm not sure how they came up with the name but this restaurant is probably the best Vietnamese restaurant in Boise. Saigon Grill deserves honorable mention but the food  doesn't quite measure up.The interior is super lame.  The chairs appear to be purchased from a "going out of business" bingo hall. The only reason you go to Vietnamese Restaurant is for the food. I've never had a bad dish at this place. If you're a fan of Pho soup or cha gio or bahn xeo this is your place. This is the best Boise Vietnamese restaurant I've tried. Plus the name is easy to remember.

by Vera M.

I came from San Diego and when I moved to Boise, I first thought that there wasn't any resturant that I would feel comfortable eating at.  Vietnamese food was one of my selections. I live near Allumbaugh and we decided to drive around Franklin Road and we saw "Vietnamese Restaurant". I had to try this place because it reminded us of home. I looked at the menu and thought "man, this pho here is really expensive!" (Compared to a $4.75 bowl in San Diego) The soup is made for TWO! ( It says on their menu ).When I finally got our order the bowl of soup was HUGE! I ordered the Char-Broiled Porkchops Rice, so there was plenty of left overs.The Pho that my friend selected was just like eating Pho back in Ca. YUMMY! The service was very friendly - We looked around to see what the other customers ordered and they seemed pleased. We go here often when were feeling a little home sick :p Great place!

by David F.

I added this place to my Treasure Valley Pho Tour Fall 2009 today and am happy to report that I would rank the Pho Tai with thinly sliced beef tenderloin at #2. This knocks a couple of contestants down the scale so I will have to make a list.The broth was savory with highlights of bright star anise. The beef was mixed. Looked like some of it was the really marbled kind and another cut was all light colored and gnarly. The light colored beef tasted excellent. I wonder if it was some special cow part not normally served to gringos. The noodles were the typical small white rice stick. Nothing spesh there. The herbs were a plenty. No lime though. $9 of heaven overall. I also recommend the goi cuon thit nuang with the charbroiled pork. Usually goi cuon comes with roast pork. Grilling the pork with a sweet sauce makes these rolls more of a meal.The curry stew is pretty good. 3 out of 5 according to my daughter who is the curry princess. Another soup I'd recommend in the sweet and spicy shrimp. It is a little too sweet but the combination of flavors is unique. Worth trying once when the inversion sets in and you need a little taste of the tropics.The people who run this place are super nice and I have always felt at home. Back in the day when you could smoke in restaurants, there was a server/chef who would always have a cigarette hanging precariously off the side of her lip as she took your order. I always imagined the ash falling into a vat of broth.The strip mall where this is located has a little interesting color too. Tattoo parlor, laundromat, hookah bar, and an OK taco truck. Take a stroll after diner and get your fill of urban funk south of the tracks.