Vietnam Restaurant
Vietnamese restaurant · Chinatown
221 N 11th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Highlights
Vietnamese mainstay serving classics; James Beard America's Classics winner
Vietnamese mainstay serving classics; James Beard America's Classics winner
"Vietnam is essentially a one-two punch. The bottom floor is a Vietnamese restaurant with incredible dishes like vermicelli rice noodle bowls, papaya salad, and lime chicken. Once you and your friends have finished arguing over who gets the last spring roll, head upstairs to Bar Saigon. The second-floor space is basically a tiki bar, with flaming punch bowls and Mai Tais in colorful glasses. Hitting both in one night is one of our favorite birthday party moves, but each place is also great on its own." - candis mclean, alison kessler
"Vietnam is a one-two punch. The first floor of the dimly lit, wood-paneled restaurant has been serving huge vermicelli bowls, peppery pork claypot, and the city’s best spring rolls for over 40 years, while the second floor is a tiki bar, complete with flaming punch bowls and Mai Tais in colorful glasses. It’s a great option in Chinatown for groups looking to share huge portions of incredible food, but it’s cozy enough for a solo bowl of pho. Check out their sister restaurant, Vietnam Cafe, when you’re in West Philly." - alison kessler
"Vietnam is essentially a one-two punch. The bottom floor is a Vietnamese restaurant with incredible dishes like vermicelli rice noodle bowls, papaya salad, and lime chicken. Once you and your friends have finished arguing over who gets the last spring roll, head upstairs to Bar Saigon. The second-floor space is basically a tiki bar, with flaming punch bowls and Mai Tais in colorful glasses. Hitting both in one night is one of our favorite birthday party moves, but each place is also great on its own." - candis mclean, alison kessler
"With its dark wood, dim lights, and upstairs bar, this Chinatown staple — a James Beard Classics winner — nails the ambience to match its food. Vietnam Restaurant’s sprawling menu has delighted diners for around 40 years, offering crispy spring rolls, filling vermicelli and broken rice dishes, steaming pho, several clay pot options, and a bonus: strong, fruity tiki drinks. There’s also a sibling called Vietnam Cafe in West Philly." - Ella Lilja Peterson
"What originated as the Lai family’s small and intimate space to serve Malaysian and Vietnamese cuisine in 1984 quickly gained popularity, and is now one of the go-to places in the city for vermicelli rice, savory clay pots, and other specialty dishes. Festive drinks include the Mai Tai or the Flaming Volcano, which is made for two." - George Banks-Weston
