Vietnam Café
Crispy spring rolls, pho, flaming cocktails, and papaya salad
Information
The Best Phở In Philly - Philadelphia - The Infatuation
"West Philly’s Vietnam Cafe serves a whole range of Vietnamese food like claypot dishes, bun cha, and BBQ platters. But for the purposes of this guide, we’ll focus on their phở. In the version with beef brisket, you get hints of cinnamon and clove, and the beef basically falls apart when you nudge it with a spoon. If you’re into seafood, get the hu tieu do bien, which has a near-infinite amount of shrimp, squid, fishcakes and vegetables in the bowl." - alison kessler
The University City Lunch Guide - Philadelphia - The Infatuation
"Like the staple in Chinatown, this easygoing West Philly spot serves great food, from BBQ platters to a pork clay pot that’ll temporarily make you forget something called a “term paper” exists. In addition to the long menu of noodle soups and vermicelli, they also do Polynesian cocktails—like the Flaming Volcano—-that you can either drink or use as a small bonfire if you stop by in the winter months." - candis mclean
The 15 Best Restaurants In University City - Philadelphia - The Infatuation
"If you’ve been to the original Vietnam Restaurant in Chinatown, then you already know it has incredible dishes like vermicelli rice noodle bowls, papaya salad, and lime chicken. Plus, the Polynesian cocktails are way stronger than they taste. The Vietnam Cafe in University City has pretty much the same food and drink situation, but it’s larger than the Chinatown location, and there’s always a table open–even if you show up with your entire Chem 101 class." - candis mclean
The 20 Best Restaurants In West Philly - Philadelphia - The Infatuation
"If you’ve been to the original Vietnam Restaurant in Chinatown, then you already know it has consistently good dishes like vermicelli bowls, seafood claypots, and crispy spring rolls. Plus, the tiki-ish cocktails are way stronger than they taste. The Vietnam Cafe in University City has pretty much the same food and drink situation as the Chinatown spot, but it’s way bigger and there’s usually a table open—even if you show up with your entire family." - candis mclean
The Philly Private Dining Directory, Ranked By Capacity - Philadelphia - The Infatuation
"The Saigon Room sits at the back of Vietnam Cafe in University City. It’s full of plants, colorful hanging lanterns, and there’s even a sound system if your friends want to belt out that Demi Lovato song during your early 2000s-themed birthday party. Food options include a buffet, pre-set menu, and Happy Hour food menu that features dishes like bahn mí, shrimp pad thai, and crispy spring rolls (our favorite in the city)." - candis mclean