Golden Deli San Gabriel
Vietnamese restaurant · San Gabriel ·
Crispy egg rolls, flavorful pho, and Southern Vietnamese fare
Crispy egg rolls, flavorful pho, and Southern Vietnamese fare
"Despite being open for 40 years, there’s always a line outside this casual, family-run Vietnamese restaurant in San Gabriel, and the popularity is understandable. The selection of comforting bowls of phở, crackly egg rolls, and other Vietnamese classics is the best in the San Gabriel Valley, and the crowd ranges from Vietnamese grandmothers to college students and young families — meaning there’s a table for everyone. Every table seems to have the chả giò: deep-fried egg rolls with blistered skin that shatters to a savory minced pork filling; wrap each roll with Vietnamese perilla and lettuce and dunk it in the accompanying nước chấm. There are various phở combinations — you can’t really go wrong — though a favorite is the no. 7 with thin slices of ribeye, brisket, and feathery tripe. The bánh mì makes a great to-go order, with barbecue pork and pork loaf arriving tender and a baguette generously swiped with mayonnaise, pâté, and dashes of Maggi seasoning sauce. To drink, the soda chanh (Vietnamese lime soda) cuts through the heaviness of deep-fried appetizers and particularly rich dishes; for those who prefer limeades on the sour side, this is the superlative version. Visit during off hours between lunch and dinner for the shortest wait, or venture inside and sign up for the waitlist via Yelp." - Kat Thompson
"I’ve been visiting Golden Deli for steaming bowls of pho and blistered egg rolls for nearly two decades, and the family-run Vietnamese restaurant has yet to fail me. Whether I’m sick, hungover, or just hungry, Golden Deli cures whatever ails me. My go-to is the pho tai nam, with thin slices of ribeye and brisket that gently cook in the hot bone broth. The bowls are generously filled with vermicelli noodles and thin slices of white onion that add sweetness and bite. I also typically order a banh mi to go — the barbecue pork with pork loaf is my favorite — and my future self always thanks me. If you’re anticipating a wild Halloween, keep this spot in your back pocket for a restorative meal." - Eater Staff
"Golden Deli in San Gabriel has been open since the ’80s, and there are still lines trailing out the front door of this family-run restaurant six days a week (it looks like a sneaker drop in a SGV strip mall). That’s what happens when you’re a staple on every phở guide in the greater LA area—deservedly so—and also serve excellent chả giò with fried wrappers that crackle under your teeth like honeycomb. photo credit: Matt Gendal The menu at Golden Deli is more than 100 items long, but everyone, from whole families to couples in matching PacSun hoodies, can be found steaming their faces over basil-laced phở and munching on fried egg rolls. Golden Deli’s comforting pho broth is so light it’s nearly translucent, with little puddles of fat floating at the surface. The blistered, cigar-sized chả giò are a must-order, too. You can get them solo, over cold vermicelli, or, if with a group, as part of a finger food platter with grilled pork and squeaky shrimp loaf. On weekends, you might spend as much time in line as you do eating at Golden Deli, which, in theory, sounds ridiculous. (Tip: wait times at their second location in Temple City are usually half as long.) But waiting for Golden Deli’s phở beats traffic on the way to Little Saigon, especially when we know a bowl here will be as dependably excellent, just as it was a dozen times before. photo credit: Matt Gendal Food Rundown #2: Phở Tai Golden Deli’s pristine broth is beefy but balanced. You get a little kiss of cinnamon and star anise in there, and the timing for all the noodle soup’s components is spot on: stretchy, al dente rice noodles and rare steak that finishes cooking before your eyes. photo credit: Matt Gendal #48: Bánh Mì Bì Between the crunchy baguette, juicy sliced pork, and strands of chopped pig skin, this porky sandwich has tons of great texture. A little Vietnamese mayo or paté would go a long way though: It’s missing moisture to prevent all the bread and pork from sticking to the roof of your mouth. #89B: Com Chạo Tôm & Thit Nuong & Chả Giò Plain and simple, Golden Deli’s chả giò is the best we’ve had. These fried egg rolls are crackly, crispy, and chewy all at once, and are best enjoyed on this sampler with other delicious things, like salty shrimp sausage and lemongrass-y grilled pork. photo credit: Matt Gendal" - Sylvio Martins
"I featured dipped bánh cuốn at Golden Deli in San Gabriel, showcasing the Vietnamese dish in a post that brought attention to the spot." - Matthew Kang
"Dish: Pho Tai Nam Gan The pho at Golden Deli achieves an immaculate balance in its translucent broth, right at the intersection of fatty, sour, sweet, and (most definitely) salty. There’s an oily shimmer on top that lets you know you’re in for some excellent soup, and while the noodles are sometimes a bit gummy, the beef brisket, ribeye, and tendon are tender and extremely flavorful, and more than make up for the soft noodles. Make sure to use the sliced lime and housemade chili sauce on the side to deepen the flavors." - brant cox, kat hong, nikko duren, sylvio martins