Gabriella's Vietnam
Vietnamese restaurant · East Passyunk Crossing
1837 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148
Highlights
Vietnamese comfort food, known for water fern dumplings and shaken beef
Vietnamese comfort food, known for water fern dumplings and shaken beef
"Philly has no shortage of excellent Vietnamese restaurants, and Gabriella’s Vietnam is one of them. One of the major reasons why is the tương tỏ wings. They’re coated in a soy garlic sauce and fried to a golden crisp, giving them skin that crackles when you take a bite. Eating them is up there with Philly’s favorite pastimes, like watching a Braves fan trip on the sidewalk." - candis mclean
"Locals are wild for Gabriella’s in East Passyunk (make a reservation or prepare for a Titanic it’s-been-84-years level wait). The specialty at the cozy BYOB is their whole fish, whether you get the sizzling catfish or crispy-fried red snapper, but you’d be remiss not to start with the shrimp-stuffed tapioca dumplings or wok-fried soft shell crabs. Don’t let the club music fool you—groups of friends may be dancing in their seats, but it’s more for the soulful spread on the table than the untz untz playing overhead." - alison kessler
"After opening her Vietnamese and Thai grill restaurant in Ambler in 2019, chef Thanh Nguyen expanded into the former Saté Kampar space in East Passyunk to serve Vietnamese street food of the highest order. The bánh bèo quảng nam — open-faced dumplings that come served in small decorative bowls — are unreal, and the large-format dishes, from the half-chicken platter to Vietnamese fried winter flounder, will not be a letdown." - Emma Orlow
"Gabriella’s is a Vietnamese spot that works for a solo dinner, groups of friends, or anyone whose love language is bánh xèo lettuce wraps. Must-orders are the water fern dumplings—doughy, sweet rice cakes filled with minced shrimp, mung beans, and pork cracklings on top—and the syrupy soy garlic chicken wings. Gabriella’s also makes a mean cocktail, so if you’re in the neighborhood and don’t have a reservation, wait for your flash-fried soft shell crab with a frozen passion fruit margarita." - alison kessler, candis mclean
"Plan ahead for a visit to Eater 38 mainstay Gabriella’s Vietnam, where reservations are required. Try standout dishes like crispy savory crepes (bánh xèo), open-faced water fern dumplings, and unctuous shaken beef. Don’t miss their drink offerings, which include frozen passion fruit margaritas and a delightful Vietnamese take on the espresso martini made with sweetened condensed milk." - Ella Lilja Peterson
