Café Diem

Hands down one of the best Vietnamese spot to have Bun Bo Hue. We ordered a Banh Cuon, Hu Tieu Tom Thit and it was amazing. The portion was great comparing with the price. Parking was a little tricky but there’s a free parking lot one block away. Will definitely be back for more!

CASH ONLY -^_^- Right, here’s the rundown on this spot—they’ve nailed the Bun Bo Hue in Philly! Now, I’ll say it leans a bit on the sweet side, but it’s not a deal-breaker. The broth is packed with rich, bold flavors, and they’re not stingy with the meat, which is always a plus. But let’s talk about what’s missing—where’s the blood cake? And some crunchy toppings like cabbage or banana flower would really take it up a notch. Still, the service is spot on. Quick, friendly, and the staff genuinely care about making sure you’re sorted. Small place, but no long waits—and a heads up, it’s cash only! Now, their Banh Cuon Cha Lua is fantastic. The rice rolls have just the right chewy texture, filled with savory ground pork and earthy woodear mushrooms. The Nuoc Mam? Perfectly balanced, just the right amount of zing. And the Cha Hue, absolutely delicious, complements everything beautifully. Pair that with the crisp Do Chua, fresh cucumber, and basil, and you’ve got a brilliant balance of flavors and textures on the plate.

Very authentic Bun Bo Hue and Hu Tieu Kho Tom Thit. Everything tastes phenomenal! Tiny restaurant and limited seatings and they take cash only.

I can’t believe it took me this long to make a review. I’ve been here multiple times and Cafe Diem is probably the best Viet restaurant on Washington. Their menu is very small but every single thing on the menu slaps and is done very well. It’s also a very small space but fits up to 6 people at the bigger tables. They do run out of ingredients for certain items like the rice noodle dish so make sure to come fast! I highly recommend to anyone that lives in South Philly.

The best bun bo hue I've had anywhere. The portions are generous and the broth is extremely flavorful and has a nice spicy kick as well. The pho was also great but the bun bo hue was the star. The Thai ice tea with grass jelly was pretty good as well. Highly recommended.

Hands down the best Bun Bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup) in town!! The broth is so flavorful and delicious. Their banh cuon cha lua is also good. Portions are big with a reasonable price. The ladies in there are very friendly and food comes out really quick. I highly recommend to try their Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk is so good. Even though this place is small, but cozy with a lot of different Vietnamese food options.

Stepping into this restaurant made me feel like I was back in Vietnam. I HIGHLY recommend the Spicy Beef Noodle Soup. I've never had a dish quite like this in a Vietnamese place before. The soup was a little spicy and a little sweet, and it is just the flavor you want to eat on a hot day. The Chicken Pho noodle was nice and fatty, and really delicious, but the Spicy Beef Noodle Soup was the show stopper. I loved their thick Vietnamese ice coffee.

First time I've ever had the spicy beef noodle soup and had it ordered extra spciy. I got the special with beef, tendon, pork feet, and ham. It was not the spiciest soup (mild for me, but I do tolerate heat well), but you can adjust with the condiments to some degree. Noodles were cooked well and everything tasted well together. I'd visit this place again when in Philly.