SPOT #1 Spring Rolls | Lion Plaza Food Court: (Thien Huong & CD Bakery)
Home of my favorite spring rolls and nem nuong (grilled pork spring rolls) in the Bay Area.
The nem nuong is the closest (in flavor) to Brodards that I’ve had! They make it fresh for you as you order and will cost you around $10 for 4 pieces. The nem (grilled pork) is among some of the best I’ve had in the Bay Area and the sauce is really flavorful!
Just around the corner of the Lion Plaza, there is another shop called CD Bakery and they sell some of my favorite spring rolls! Usually, there will be premade spring rolls just sitting in the shop, but you can request them to make fresh ones! This will cost you around $10.50 for 6 pieces which is considered a very good deal! When made fresh, the rice paper is extra soft and chewy. I can usually eat around 3 of these before I get full.
SPOT #2 Bun Bo Hue | Bun Bo Hue An Nam:
Bun Bo Hue An Nam is home to arguably the most famous Bun Bo Hue in San Jose. Bun Bo Hue is a type of spicy Vietnamese soup noodles. The flavors are just the perfect level of spicy, sweet, and umami. The soup has a spicy kick to it, but totally manageable for the average person. This is a must try spot if you love spicy noodles!
SPOT #3 Pho | Pho Y #1:
The secret’s out. One of my favorite Pho restaurant of all time is Pho Y #1. Their delicious soup has the perfect amount of saltiness and bone broth flavor. In pure judgement of just taste, this bowl of pho from Pho Y #1 is unmatched.
SPOT #4 Hu Tieu Nam Vang | Nam Vang Restaurant:
Here is another vietnamese noodle spot for you guys. It’s a Cambodian/Vietnamese noodle dish that incorporates dry noodles with a delicious and savory sauce. Toppings of pork, liver, shrimp are all added to create a hearty meal.
Nam Vang restaurant is considered the ‘OG’ spot for Hu Tieu among the Vietnamese locals. You can get this bowl with rice noodles and/or egg noodles. Always get soup on the side, because the flavors are much more concentrated and delicious when eaten dry.
Nam Vang restaurant is still my favorite Hu Tieu spot for flavors, but competition is quite fierce in San Jose. I also recommend ‘Noodle Hut’ (Milpitas) and ‘Yummy Trieu Chau’ (San Jose) which are very comparable to Nam Vang restaurant.
SPOT #5 Banh Xeo | Banh Xeo Ngon:
Banh Xeo is a savory Vietnamese crepe filled with toppings like shrimp, pork, green onions, and bean sprouts. Of course, the best Banh Xeo that I ever had was a homemade one, but ‘Banh Xeo Ngon’ is the best restaurant one I’ve tried.
What makes a banh xeo good is how well made the crispy exterior shell is. People usually eat banh xeo with lettuce as a wrap and nuoc mam (Vietnamese fish sauce) as a dip.
Why is it green? – You may ask. This is because the one in the photo is made with pandan!
SPOT #6 Banh Mi | Banh Mi oven:
For $6, you get a massive foot long banh mi sandwich that is good for 2 meals! I always get the banh mi with grilled pork since Vietnamese grilled pork is probably the most familiar to the American palate. The bread here is crispy and the meats are sweet, savory, and smokey. I definitely recommend this spot if you are looking for a healthy, cheap, and tasty meal!
HONORABLE MENTIONS
1) Hai Nam Restaurant – Very authentic Hai Nam chicken. Ask for no bones if you have an American palate!
2) Hue Restaurant – Famous in San Jose for their appetizers. Their banh beo (vietnamese steamed rice cake) is unmatched in the Bay Area!
3) Pho Kim Long – One of the most famous Vietnamese restaurants in San Jose. They are loved by many and is considered a one stop shop for Vietnamese food since their menu is so extensive!
