9 Best Vietnamese Restaurants in South El Monte

“Huong Bac is a quintessential "hole-in-the-wall" eatery that surpassed our expectations during a recent out-of-state visit. Craving authentic Banh Cuon led us to this hidden gem.Despite our late arrival—merely 15 minutes before closing time— the lady welcomed us with open arms, allowing us to place our order. We opted for the #9 Banh Cuon Dac Biet and #12 Bun Rieu, eagerly anticipating our meal in the cozy ambiance of the small dining area. The kitchen was bustling, with the gentleman wrapping what seemed to be freshly made Gio Lua.The aroma of sweet and sour fish sauce wafted through the air, a hallmark of genuine Vietnamese cuisine. The wait was about 20 minutes, as the lady needed to boil water anew for our noodles and steam the Banh Cuon. She apologized for the delay, though we insisted it was our oversight for arriving late.Tasting the Banh Cuon at our hotel room was revelatory. The rice rolls were thin, the batter didn't make the banh cuon "cakey" nor runny, it maintains a delightful stretchiness. The seasoning of the meat and mushrooms was spot-on, with the addition of meat floss and fried onions enhancing the aroma. The Gio Lua boasted a pleasant chewiness without being mushy. However, the real standout was the house-made sweet and sour chili fish sauce—a masterful blend that added an explosive burst of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors that I fell in love with their banh cuon instantly.As I'm writing this, I haven't had the chance to try the Bun Rieu yet because I was eager to share my exceptional experience with the Banh Cuon. It was so memorable that I felt compelled to write this review immediately. If I ever return to the area, Huong Bac will definitely be on my must-visit list!“

“This place is an amazing hole in the wall and I don't understand how this is not a franchise by now. I love trying new food places and not my first time having Vietnamese but I will say that this IS my first time having it. This was by far one of the best experiences I've had! Jimmy served us and was amazing! My best friend and I had a great time and we will definitely be coming back out! Thank you so much! ( I tried the Bun bo hue, men lui, banb beo 10/10 I also had Penny worth and basil seed drink and they are also amazing!)“

“Best pho I've ever had in my life. There's so much in there I was full for 18 days. During this time I was transported to nirvana valhalla and Betelgeuse. I returned in our own time as if only a second had past. Damon the owner greeted me and offered my samples and told me their process for making all the delicious soy based nuggets, they have pictures of all the menu items so very easy to order. Good opportunity to use google translate and brush up on your Vietnamese. cảm ơn bạn từ tận đáy lòng“

“One word, "excellent pho." The pho tastes so delicious here. Service here are friendly and comfortable. My favorite dishes are Pho Kobe and BBQ Pork with steamed broken rice. Most dishes are good. Lastly, desserts here are also good and include the coffee. They also welcome feedback :)“

“Pho Hai is my family's go to pho restaurant!! Johnny and the staff are always so friendly and attentive. I never add anything to my pho here, except veggies. That's how you know the pho is good!! The broth stays hot and doesn't get cold like other pho restaurants. Their Bun Bo Hue, Bun Thit Nuong, egg rolls and Com Tam are also really good here! I took my friend here today and she said this will be her new go to place!“

“Ordered through DoorDash craving a Vietnamese sandwich for lunch, I got the special sandwich and iced coffee. The sandwich was a decent size for the price, really affordable. Honestly it was a good sandwich,perfect amount of meat and veggies. The coffee was great as well, will be ordering from them again!“

“My go to for dry noodle! We always get the house special dry noodle version to go for lunch. We literally come here once a week because it's so good and the portion is super generous. It can feed up to 2 people so be sure to share or ready to take some back home! This location has a huge parking lot and it never an issue finding one.“

“found my new go to pho place! the portions are great, and the price is fantastic. service is fast and friendly, and they offer four different free drinks including thai tea the ambiance could be better, but i came for the food 4.5/5 so i rounded up i would bring a friend here“

“This place is really good. Got the chicken and rice noodles and it was really good. I think the chicken is super fresh because the chicken had some of the fibers on the skin which I don’t mind. It’s the natural way and I love it. They gave us fresh clean sprouts and basil leaves. Definitely coming back here again.“