Bánh canh cua is the best here. Don't forget to order extra crab meat. Love the chili there. We always buy 2 jars when we go there. Service is good too. This is the spot to come every time my mom or friends is in town. There's always a line but it goes quickly.
Kristy L.
I've only had food to-go here; they stop dining service in the early afternoon. Their Vietnamese udon (banh Canh) is one of my favorite! It's $15 and you'll definitely have to heat up before eating because they refrigerate some of the contents. It's very delicious though and they don't skim out on the seafood and meat. I heard their Pho is also good so will try next time. I believe it's cash only but it's definitely worth a try if you haven't!
Eddie E.
Been having their bun thit nuong for years (to go) and finally ate in the restaurant. Delicious as usual.Also ordered their pho dax biet and banh cahn. Top notch, consistently good.
Kimberly A.
Tinny place, they were pretty busy around lunch time . they took our order outside while we were waiting. By the time we sat the food came out very fast The crab noodle soup had a thicker consistency which was new to me, as I ate the soup became more runny. The flavor was great. There was plenty of crab meat in it . The mushrooms add a great texture touchI loved this dish ! The fried rice was also very good, well seasoned no complains.
Carina V.
Yummy VN fare. Longer wait times. Kind of dingy inside but standard for Little Saigon--no frills establishment so don't be expecting any Michelin-star service or interior decor. I ordered the hu tieu kho, and it was delicious. They load up the toppings, and the banh pho is perfectly cooked. I HATE when bánh phở is over cooked and gummy, but this was good. Lots of crab. Very good. The bánh canh is also really good. Again, loads of toppings and perfectly cooked noodles. I like when the bánh canh broth is on the thicker side (like at Quan Hy) and this did the job.
KimAnh N.
The best Vietnamese Udon in town.. small hole in the wall and service was good. I ordered the Bánh Canh Tom Cua and love how generous they are with the crab meat.
Mr.BuffetSoCal ..
If restaurants were to be rated solely on the whims of their owners, Mai Phung would surely be a standout for its erratic and unpredictable business hours. However, dining at Mai Phung is an experience, to put it mildly. From the onset, my visit to Mai Phung was marred by inconsistency. The operating hours seemed to hinge solely on the capricious temperament of the owner. As customers, we were expected to adjust our plans to accommodate his random mood swings, which does not bode well for those seeking a reliable dining spot.I would like to highlight that the pricing at Mai Phung is not just misguided but borders on outright deception. The menu, like a siren song, seductively offers everything for $10. However, this illusion of affordability shatters at the end of your meal. The restaurant operates on an undisclosed 'updated' pricing model, causing an unexpected surge in your bill. A case in point would be my order of the banh canh, a dish praised by many. After enduring a grueling wait of over 30 minutes, the soup failed to make a significant impression on my taste buds. What did make a lasting impact was the shock of the bill. Instead of the anticipated $10, each dish cost us a hefty $15. Adding insult to injury, we were charged $1 for tap water, a fee so ludicrous that it still manages to surprise me.Addressing this discrepancy with the host elicited a nonchalant shrug and the justification that "we didn't update the price on the menu". This dismissive attitude coupled with such dubious pricing practices is, in my opinion, an unacceptable way to conduct business. It is one thing to charge a premium for excellent food and service, but to do so under the guise of lower prices is nothing short of swindling. In terms of the ambiance, Mai Phung offers a minimalistic setting with only 5-6 tables that leaves a lot to be desired. The cleanliness of the restaurant also raised some concerns, which further cemented my impression that Mai Phung is in dire need of an overhaul, both in terms of its decor and business practices.The service at Mai Phung was lackluster at best, hardly justifying the unexpected surge in prices. It's a disappointing state of affairs when your water ends up costing more than your tip.In conclusion, my experience at Mai Phung was a bitter one, steeped in regret and peppered with disappointment. I went in expecting a humble, hole-in-the-wall eatery serving hearty Vietnamese fare, only to be met with an overpriced, underwhelming meal, served in a setting that could best be described as wanting. The aftermath of my visit to Mai Phung left me with a bitter taste, a lighter wallet, and a strong resolve to never return. I advise prospective diners to think twice before venturing into this establishment. Your time, taste buds, and wallet deserve better.
Timothy T.
3.5 stars Lunch on a Sunday afternoon (1pm). There was a short line with workers tracking the guestlist. My party of 4 waited for about 30 minutes, not too bad. Especially since they are proactive and take your order 10 minutes before being seated. It's a small shop with only a few tables. Weird ambiance as they played loud old school techno music. I ordered their #1 special, which is the Banh canh Tom cua thit heo with everything (shrimp, crab and pork). The flavor was lacking as I expected the dish to have a stronger crab taste. I kind of didn't enjoy the consistency of the soup since it's a bit slimy. The Banh canh (noodles) was also too soft and didn't require much chewing. Overall it was nice to try but I personally don't know if I would crave it again. Note: they close at 3pm for a break before dinner time and slowly stop accepting customers around 2:45.
Tiffany C.
I saw this restaurant on IG and was really intrigued by their specialty dish, Banh Canh Tom Cua which is Vietnamese udon crab soup. I've never had the crab version but I have grown up eating the regular Banh Canh clear broth with pork knuckle. So I would consider myself well-versed in Vietnamese food and the flavors. To start, it was very good but I thought the soup lacked the crab flavor I was expecting it to have. Oddly, the crab meat also lacked crab flavor. The soup itself also was seasoned way too much with pepper (see my picture) so it definitely overpowered everything else. For the noodles, i thought it should've had a little bit more of a chewier consistency, but it felt a little over cooked, thus making the noodles a bit mushy. It easily broke apart in my mouth. For some, softer noodles might be preferred but having eaten homemade banh canh all my life, i prefer noodles that have a bit more elasticity to it. Despite all that, I actually really liked the thick consistency of the soup though. For the ambiance itself, it was a really weird vibe. They play clubbing/techno music and it's pretty loud - which offsets the mom and pop shop look. Service was great! They ask you to place an order ahead of time while you're waiting so that once you are seated, food will come out quicker to help streamline the dining process. I'd love to come back and give it another try sometime
Nathan P.
Came here Wednesday, 03/29/2023 for lunch.Mai Phung is a Vietnamese hole-in-the-wall that specializes in Banh Canh, a Vietnamese thick noodle soup dish.This was for lunch around 12 PM. I was by myself and had to wait about 25 minutes. I ordered the Banh Canh Gua with crab, shrimp, pork (#1 on the menu) and the egg rolls. There's only one server who runs around seating tables and dropping off food. Food delivery is pretty quick.The Banh Canh Gua is thick and hot. The taste can be described as umami, salty, and slightly sweet. I added a lot of lime to mine to brighten the dish up. The egg rolls are extremely crispy and came with some deep fried pork rinds, but the pork rinds were not cleaned properly because there were still pork hairs on the skin.Prices on the menu are AFTER-TAX (how they do it in Japan and Germany) which is amazing. However, I think they are taxing a bit ($15 for egg rolls doesn't seem right). One thing I really did not like was that they charge for water. I think it's $1. That just seems cheap.Overall, it was yummy and great to get off the bucket list. Probably only need to come here every few months.Reason for stars off: long wait time, charging for water, too pricey, and hair on pork rind.
Nam Phuong the restaurant is closed but not the Nam Phuong To Go...which is just right around the corner on McFadden. I finally realized its the same owner once I discovered the place again. I love their bo bia..that's mainly the reason why i go there. The "to go" place have bo bia...but they no longer serve their usual dishes...just ga xao xa ot.
Khang D.
I cant believe my favorite restaurant is closed forever. So sad!
Rich H.
Summary based on 3 dinners: --had the great Thai combo dinner (listed as lunch on the menu, but available anytime) for $5.25. Decided to splurge and got a $2 strawberry shake. --on a 2nd visit, I got the Vietnamese $5.25 combo, with veg soup, choice of grilled meat, French rice with a fried egg on top, and a small green salad (with onion). --good service --cheap ! --ok parking --has wifi, but password protected and I couldn't quite communicate the issue If you want to recreate the experience of going to a low key, no pressure dinner at your aunt's, this is the place (not a slam!). Muzak from the '60s. Of the two combo dinners, I liked the Thai style the best.
Yralla L.
My husband and I have been here a few times and the food was tasty. The restaurant is a fusion of Vietnamese and Thai cuisine. The flavors is a combination of sweet, sour, and spicy. I enjoyed everything that I have tried here thus far...I like this hole in the wall restaurant.
Germaine N.
One of my most favorite Vietnamese restaurants. Very laid back, you never have to fight crowds or deal with rude waiters. Just good food and great service. They never rush you out either. What makes Nam Phoung so great: Well isn't not the Thai food that you think the place is about (the Thai food is not bad) but the great Vietnamese home cooking. They are almost all on the first page of the menu. Start with the Bo Bia - egg, lap soung, jicama & carrot rolls. We always start with 2 per person right off the bat. You have to wait, because they only make them to order but well worth the wait. Next go for Bot Chien - Fried Rice Cake with Duck Egg and Onions and an order of Xoi Ga Roti - Sticky rice with Grilled Chicken and Fried Onions. Again both made fresh and will worth the wait. For desert go for a fresh fruit milk shake, Shinto. My son loves strawberry while I love the Man Cau. They have real fruit and some how it reminds me of yogurt, but it is just the fruit. I really love this place.
Bánh canh cua is the best here. Don't forget to order extra crab meat. Love the chili there. We always buy 2 jars when we go there. Service is good too. This is the spot to come every time my mom or friends is in town. There's always a line but it goes quickly.
I've only had food to-go here; they stop dining service in the early afternoon. Their Vietnamese udon (banh Canh) is one of my favorite! It's $15 and you'll definitely have to heat up before eating because they refrigerate some of the contents. It's very delicious though and they don't skim out on the seafood and meat. I heard their Pho is also good so will try next time. I believe it's cash only but it's definitely worth a try if you haven't!
Been having their bun thit nuong for years (to go) and finally ate in the restaurant. Delicious as usual.Also ordered their pho dax biet and banh cahn. Top notch, consistently good.
Tinny place, they were pretty busy around lunch time . they took our order outside while we were waiting. By the time we sat the food came out very fast The crab noodle soup had a thicker consistency which was new to me, as I ate the soup became more runny. The flavor was great. There was plenty of crab meat in it . The mushrooms add a great texture touchI loved this dish ! The fried rice was also very good, well seasoned no complains.
Yummy VN fare. Longer wait times. Kind of dingy inside but standard for Little Saigon--no frills establishment so don't be expecting any Michelin-star service or interior decor. I ordered the hu tieu kho, and it was delicious. They load up the toppings, and the banh pho is perfectly cooked. I HATE when bánh phở is over cooked and gummy, but this was good. Lots of crab. Very good. The bánh canh is also really good. Again, loads of toppings and perfectly cooked noodles. I like when the bánh canh broth is on the thicker side (like at Quan Hy) and this did the job.
The best Vietnamese Udon in town.. small hole in the wall and service was good. I ordered the Bánh Canh Tom Cua and love how generous they are with the crab meat.
If restaurants were to be rated solely on the whims of their owners, Mai Phung would surely be a standout for its erratic and unpredictable business hours. However, dining at Mai Phung is an experience, to put it mildly. From the onset, my visit to Mai Phung was marred by inconsistency. The operating hours seemed to hinge solely on the capricious temperament of the owner. As customers, we were expected to adjust our plans to accommodate his random mood swings, which does not bode well for those seeking a reliable dining spot.I would like to highlight that the pricing at Mai Phung is not just misguided but borders on outright deception. The menu, like a siren song, seductively offers everything for $10. However, this illusion of affordability shatters at the end of your meal. The restaurant operates on an undisclosed 'updated' pricing model, causing an unexpected surge in your bill. A case in point would be my order of the banh canh, a dish praised by many. After enduring a grueling wait of over 30 minutes, the soup failed to make a significant impression on my taste buds. What did make a lasting impact was the shock of the bill. Instead of the anticipated $10, each dish cost us a hefty $15. Adding insult to injury, we were charged $1 for tap water, a fee so ludicrous that it still manages to surprise me.Addressing this discrepancy with the host elicited a nonchalant shrug and the justification that "we didn't update the price on the menu". This dismissive attitude coupled with such dubious pricing practices is, in my opinion, an unacceptable way to conduct business. It is one thing to charge a premium for excellent food and service, but to do so under the guise of lower prices is nothing short of swindling. In terms of the ambiance, Mai Phung offers a minimalistic setting with only 5-6 tables that leaves a lot to be desired. The cleanliness of the restaurant also raised some concerns, which further cemented my impression that Mai Phung is in dire need of an overhaul, both in terms of its decor and business practices.The service at Mai Phung was lackluster at best, hardly justifying the unexpected surge in prices. It's a disappointing state of affairs when your water ends up costing more than your tip.In conclusion, my experience at Mai Phung was a bitter one, steeped in regret and peppered with disappointment. I went in expecting a humble, hole-in-the-wall eatery serving hearty Vietnamese fare, only to be met with an overpriced, underwhelming meal, served in a setting that could best be described as wanting. The aftermath of my visit to Mai Phung left me with a bitter taste, a lighter wallet, and a strong resolve to never return. I advise prospective diners to think twice before venturing into this establishment. Your time, taste buds, and wallet deserve better.
3.5 stars Lunch on a Sunday afternoon (1pm). There was a short line with workers tracking the guestlist. My party of 4 waited for about 30 minutes, not too bad. Especially since they are proactive and take your order 10 minutes before being seated. It's a small shop with only a few tables. Weird ambiance as they played loud old school techno music. I ordered their #1 special, which is the Banh canh Tom cua thit heo with everything (shrimp, crab and pork). The flavor was lacking as I expected the dish to have a stronger crab taste. I kind of didn't enjoy the consistency of the soup since it's a bit slimy. The Banh canh (noodles) was also too soft and didn't require much chewing. Overall it was nice to try but I personally don't know if I would crave it again. Note: they close at 3pm for a break before dinner time and slowly stop accepting customers around 2:45.
I saw this restaurant on IG and was really intrigued by their specialty dish, Banh Canh Tom Cua which is Vietnamese udon crab soup. I've never had the crab version but I have grown up eating the regular Banh Canh clear broth with pork knuckle. So I would consider myself well-versed in Vietnamese food and the flavors. To start, it was very good but I thought the soup lacked the crab flavor I was expecting it to have. Oddly, the crab meat also lacked crab flavor. The soup itself also was seasoned way too much with pepper (see my picture) so it definitely overpowered everything else. For the noodles, i thought it should've had a little bit more of a chewier consistency, but it felt a little over cooked, thus making the noodles a bit mushy. It easily broke apart in my mouth. For some, softer noodles might be preferred but having eaten homemade banh canh all my life, i prefer noodles that have a bit more elasticity to it. Despite all that, I actually really liked the thick consistency of the soup though. For the ambiance itself, it was a really weird vibe. They play clubbing/techno music and it's pretty loud - which offsets the mom and pop shop look. Service was great! They ask you to place an order ahead of time while you're waiting so that once you are seated, food will come out quicker to help streamline the dining process. I'd love to come back and give it another try sometime
Came here Wednesday, 03/29/2023 for lunch.Mai Phung is a Vietnamese hole-in-the-wall that specializes in Banh Canh, a Vietnamese thick noodle soup dish.This was for lunch around 12 PM. I was by myself and had to wait about 25 minutes. I ordered the Banh Canh Gua with crab, shrimp, pork (#1 on the menu) and the egg rolls. There's only one server who runs around seating tables and dropping off food. Food delivery is pretty quick.The Banh Canh Gua is thick and hot. The taste can be described as umami, salty, and slightly sweet. I added a lot of lime to mine to brighten the dish up. The egg rolls are extremely crispy and came with some deep fried pork rinds, but the pork rinds were not cleaned properly because there were still pork hairs on the skin.Prices on the menu are AFTER-TAX (how they do it in Japan and Germany) which is amazing. However, I think they are taxing a bit ($15 for egg rolls doesn't seem right). One thing I really did not like was that they charge for water. I think it's $1. That just seems cheap.Overall, it was yummy and great to get off the bucket list. Probably only need to come here every few months.Reason for stars off: long wait time, charging for water, too pricey, and hair on pork rind.
Restaurantji Recommends
Nam Phuong the restaurant is closed but not the Nam Phuong To Go...which is just right around the corner on McFadden. I finally realized its the same owner once I discovered the place again. I love their bo bia..that's mainly the reason why i go there. The "to go" place have bo bia...but they no longer serve their usual dishes...just ga xao xa ot.
I cant believe my favorite restaurant is closed forever. So sad!
Summary based on 3 dinners: --had the great Thai combo dinner (listed as lunch on the menu, but available anytime) for $5.25. Decided to splurge and got a $2 strawberry shake. --on a 2nd visit, I got the Vietnamese $5.25 combo, with veg soup, choice of grilled meat, French rice with a fried egg on top, and a small green salad (with onion). --good service --cheap ! --ok parking --has wifi, but password protected and I couldn't quite communicate the issue If you want to recreate the experience of going to a low key, no pressure dinner at your aunt's, this is the place (not a slam!). Muzak from the '60s. Of the two combo dinners, I liked the Thai style the best.
My husband and I have been here a few times and the food was tasty. The restaurant is a fusion of Vietnamese and Thai cuisine. The flavors is a combination of sweet, sour, and spicy. I enjoyed everything that I have tried here thus far...I like this hole in the wall restaurant.
One of my most favorite Vietnamese restaurants. Very laid back, you never have to fight crowds or deal with rude waiters. Just good food and great service. They never rush you out either. What makes Nam Phoung so great: Well isn't not the Thai food that you think the place is about (the Thai food is not bad) but the great Vietnamese home cooking. They are almost all on the first page of the menu. Start with the Bo Bia - egg, lap soung, jicama & carrot rolls. We always start with 2 per person right off the bat. You have to wait, because they only make them to order but well worth the wait. Next go for Bot Chien - Fried Rice Cake with Duck Egg and Onions and an order of Xoi Ga Roti - Sticky rice with Grilled Chicken and Fried Onions. Again both made fresh and will worth the wait. For desert go for a fresh fruit milk shake, Shinto. My son loves strawberry while I love the Man Cau. They have real fruit and some how it reminds me of yogurt, but it is just the fruit. I really love this place.