Cafe Thuy Van
5600 National Tpke, Louisville, KY, 40214
Cafe Thuy Van Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Louisville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Louisville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Louisville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
5600 National Tpke
Louisville, KY, 40214 - Phone (502) 366-6959
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Mia N.
Being born in Vietnam and raised in a Vietnamese family, this place meets most of the authentic vietnamese expectation. The food is very flavorful! The down side about this place is that its cash only! so make sure to bring cash while visiting. My favorite dish is the dried rice noodles mixed with seafood. I can only find it at this place! Another favorite is the broken rice dish. Get the deluxe and you'll have everything! $1 extra if you want the soup.
(4)Sarah C.
This is just about one of the few places my parents love when it comes to Vietnamese food. Being Vietnamese, my parents often poo-poo on most of the East End Vietnamese restaurants. But Cafe Thuy Van kills any of the competition - it is yummy and completely authentic. That translates to delicious food, and mediocre restaurant appearance. The pho here is ridiculously good, as is the banh xeo and avocado smoothie. The egg rolls taste like my mother's egg rolls (the measuring stick to which I use for every Vietnamese egg roll). A few cons - they only take cash and like I had previously mentioned, the decor/appearance is fair. There was a kid, (I'm assuming a family member), playing xbox in the corner. But hey, at least they're kid friendly and family-based, eh?
(4)Verna U.
Cash only. Seat yourself. I am torn in between Cafe Thuy Van and Vietnam Kitchen as my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Louisville. I love both restaurants for different reasons. For Cafe Thuy Van, it's the authenticity that does it for me. I feel like I'm back home in Houston when I walk into an authentic Vietnamese restaurant and everyone is Asian (speaking Vietnamese, Khmer, Chinese, etc.). They have Vietnamese entertainment playing on repeat on the tv and a small Buddhist shrine. Totally Asian. Love it. Menu is small compared to Vietnam Kitchen's menu, but there are adequate choices. Hands down, best banh xeo in Louisville. I also really like their banh cuon. Their pho is delicious and filling. The banh mi is excellent also. I noticed another reviewer complained that the noodles in her pho were in a clump at the bottom of her bowl. If you've ever prepared noodles for numerous people ahead of time, the most efficient way to do it is to evenly proportion the noodles into "clumps" that look like circular or ovular nests. That's how my family and other Asian families I know prepare noodles for pho. Jackie will most likely be your server. That's his desired American name. He's really nice and will talk your head off if you give him the chance. If service seems a little slow, it's because he's usually the only waiter. It's really easy to pass up this place because they don't have a large sign outside and the strip of stores/restaurants doesn't look like much. But don't drive by; go inside!
(4)Smile I.
Let's just talk about FOOD. The most authentic and delicious restaurant in town - much better comparing with Nam Nam or Vietnam kitchen. You should try: -Cháo lòng -Chem chép nuong mo hà nh. (Grilled mussels) -Canh ga chien nuoc mam. (Chicken wings) & dont forget to have some desserts (chè)!
(5)Yao M.
Since the original owners of Pho Binh Minh left, Cafe Thuy Van has the best Pho in town, period. Their Bun bo Hue and Banh Mi Bo Kho is off the hook, too. Don't expect anything fancy as far as service. It's a family owned business, cash only, avid Vietnamese food lovers only.
(5)Kelly Y.
My friend came to town and I brought her here to satiate her serious craving for authentic Vietnamese noodles. We were not disappointed. Lucky for us, we did not get the same server as the last time I was here. This time, she gave us plenty of time to check out the menu prior to ordering. The apps: cha gio (fried Viet spring rolls) and banh xeo (Viet crispy omelette/pancake) The cha gio was just as good as last time, in fact, they were the best I have ever had! Crispy, beautifully wrapped outside, dense and meaty inside. The banh xeo was impossibly crispy and airy. It came with an assortment of herbs, even ones that I don't recognize...always a good sign for an authentic place. The entrees: #18 bun bo hue and #21 banh canh gio heo. My friend really liked her #18. She asked for extra spicy and received fresh hot chilies on the side to make it even hotter. My #21 was a revelation: thick, clear, chewy banh canh noodles with plenty of odd pork slices including liver, heart and a chunk of pig trotter in addition to squid, quail egg and more pork slices. All of these were in a wonderful broth and plenty of herbs on the side. On a side note, I would have given it 5 stars if I had gotten the correct order, I ordered #20 instead of #21. But since banh canh is one of my favorite crave-worthy noodles; and that my tolerance for mistakes is high when the food is good, I did not bring it up. I guess this means I must come back for #20 soon!
(4)Dan L.
Worst pho and service I've ever had. Honestly. Do yourself a favor and go to Vietnam kitchen. Or see for yourself and wish you didn't
(1)John S.
Food here are awesome and really authentic. Try anything here, you won't be disappointed. This place is cash only. Their customer service's probably not acceptable for most Americans but other than that you should pay this place a visit.
(5)Ka-Lin H.
Depending the day I come, my rating will change from 2 to 4. Therefore, I give this place a 3 out of 5. Like I said, this place is a hit or miss. The place is inconsistent in their quality of food. I used to come here with my husband on a regular basis even though we live in St. Matthews. It was worth the drive. And then... they expanded the restaurant and the quality went down. Maybe they spend too much effort and money on expanding the place that they forgot to spend the extra effort in their food. Who knows. The second to the last time I was here, the pho soup didn't even taste like pho. The broth was sweet and almost had no taste. It was so disappointing that I didn't come back here for at least 2 years. Finally my husband and I went back to this place about 2 weeks ago. surprisingly the broth was good and pho actually tasted like pho. We got their deep fried egg rolls and they were of course amazing. I would just go back for their egg rolls. Anyways, I would give this place a try again in the near future. If the broth sucks again, I probably wouldn't be making the 20 minute drive to come back here again.
(3)Riley S.
I go here often with my parents, it is about my favorite restaurant in the whole world. The location is a bit off the beaten path, but god is it delicious! I always either get the #24 or the very popular rice plates. The number 24 is a HUGE bowl of hot broth with tender pork slices, a quail egg, and shrimp. I found here that sometimes they will add a few more or less goodies to your meal. Sometimes when i get the #24 they will add calamari also. There is an old women that often remembers my parents and I. It is strange though, because often we are the only non Vietnamese customers there. We call the older women the "grandmother" because she is so sweet and gives us greeting and warm welcomes. The TV plays confusing but entertaining oriental shows and music which adds too the already foreign experience. About half of the time if we ask in advance they will bring out tiny hot red chilies that are dried, and MAN are they spicy! They only enhance the hot noodle soup. The tables are filled with Hoisin sauce, fish sauce, hot chili paste, Sriracha garlic chili sauce and soy sauce. Chop sticks, forks, and spoons accompany as utensils as well as napkins. They have a few appetizers, but the rice paper spring rolls are too die for, they are made with pork, shrimp, bean sprouts, lettuce, and fresh mint. They are served with a "plum" sauce. This sauce is like a sweet and sour peanut laced hoisin/oyster sauce base. Mmm! They serve a variety of cold vermicelli noodle bowls that are refreshing on a hot day. These are served with a sweet chili fish sauce, and bean sprouts, along with cold cucumber slices and carrot, fried spring roll, grilled shrimp, and sometimes (like i said, sometimes they will add stuff) a fried egg. The rice plates are very similar to this ^ Anyway, this is the best place, i highly recommend it to anyone who loves hot/cold noodle soup, or just good food that will make you SATISFIED!.
(5)Huntting B.
So I went a second time and I gotta, unfortunately, say that it left a lot to be desired. The fish sauce no longer had peanuts. The Pho was really greasy and the coffee just didn't hit the spot. This place, unfortunately, is apparently a very hit or miss place
(2)Carbfriendly T.
I know I have been on an Asian food kick lately. But when a Vietnamese friend recommends a Vietnamese restaurant you have to try it out. For starters I had spring rolls with plum sauce with vermicelli noodles shrimp and pork an odd combination but it worked ...very crisp and tasty. I was going to order something else but my friend recommended PHO. It is basically a beef broth with vermicelli noodles, beef and mint and god knows what else but it was amazing ...the only thing keeping this place from five stars is my one pet peeve... No alcohol.
(4)Regina G.
Summary: BEST Vietnamese restaurant in town. Authentic from food to service to atmosphere. Don't be alarmed by servers yelling at each other. That is the Vietnamese way. Also, cash only. Taste (5 stars): The taste and selection are excellent and authentic. You will not be disappointed with their rice and pork dishes. Service (3 stars): The service is as Vietnamese as the food. Do NOT expect the American way of service. Your waiter will take your order quickly, probably be slow on filling drinks, and yell a lot in the kitchen. Do not take offense. It is simply a cultural difference. I promise you nobody is mad in the kitchen; Vietnamese tend to take on a very informal (but endearing) way of speaking to one another. So my advice is to enjoy and learn about the different style of service, or try your best to ignore it. Atmosphere (3 stars): Nothing special about the interior, but it is spacious. Their customers are mostly Vietnamese-Americans, but the crowd has become increasingly diverse. Sundays attract a sizable crowd.
(4)Victoria T.
Well. We are sitting in the White Castle parking lot while Sexy Beast eats sliders and I apologize for dragging him out on New Year's Eve to eat subpar pho. I've had better. Sexy Beast declared it atrocious. There was way too much pepper and not enough of anything else in the broth. The noodles were in a clump in the bottom of the bowl when the soup arrived. There was also someone in the dining area who was wearing more cologne than should be legal. I'm surprised that we could taste anything other than Eau de Cheap Asshole. ***CASH ONLY***
(1)H W.
Pho and service are just what I experience when I am in Vietnam. The Pho is spot-on and flavorful. The only difference is the cars whizz buy outside the windows instead of scooters. I've had 'watery' pho at a couple of places here in LV, and two other places had nice pho, but lacked the rich ginger/anise/ect depth of flavor. Pho Ga is not on the menu, but it can be ordered. no credit/debit cards accepted -- Cash only.
(5)Thuy T.
Went along with some friends to Louisville over a year ago and stop here for some lunch. Wow did not expect the food to be this good. We order Ca Kho To (Caramel braised catfish), Mi Do Bien (Seafood egg noodle soup), and Pig Ear Lotus Salad. Everything turned out great! I'm pretty picky with Vietnamese food especially at restaurants, but this place did real good. The cook is a sweet old Vietnamese lady, and she even came out to greet us. We complimented on the food and she smiled and said she prepare everything herself.
(4)Thao T.
The best Vietnamese restaurant in Louisville as far as taste and authenticity (I've been eating Vietnamese food since birth!). Chances are you'll be the only foreigner in this off the beaten path place. If you are tired of the standard pho and vermicelli dishes (which are always great and full of flavors), create your own an authentic family style dinner with sweet and sour soup and braised catfish in clay pot. You can ask them to make it for any number of people. If its a busy day they might not do it because it takes a while. People tend to forget dessert, they got the best Che Ba Mau (three color pudding)! It's an amazing combination of three types of bean (hence 3 colors), coconut milk, crush ice and condensed milk. Mix well and enjoy! The only downside to this restaurant is their smaller selection. They also only accept cash.
(4)Lynn D.
My first time being here was a good experience. Everything I tried was delicious. I had the rice special and it tasted a lot like my mom's cooking! The place isn't fancy and the wait staff takes a while, but the food is worth it. Being Vietnamese, I find this place to be more authentic than other places that serves Vietnamese foods.
(4)Emily Y.
3 1/2 stars. Pretty tasty. Authentic. The Pho is good. The banh mi is a bit over priced. We will go again. *Cash only.
(3)Tj P.
I'm writing this based on a visit that occurred a couple years ago, but I have a pretty fantastic memory. It is both a boon and a curse. No matter what the day, although apparently it's always Wednesday, I seem to have no luck catching Vietnam Kitchen open. And while Vietnam Kitchen seems to be the end all be all to excellence in ethnic cuisine in the South End, if it were me I think I'd take Cafe Thuy Van in an instant. The cafe was not crowded as we were the only guests on a quiet spring afternoon. I appreciated that because all the attention was now upon me and my companion. We were welcomed immediately and told to sit where we pleased. Now, I'm no expert, my experience with Vietnamese food is limited (dad didn't bring any home during his visit in the 70s), but my initial reaction to seeing a menu that generally has more vowels (Y included) than my tongue is accustomed to is ask the server. She did not disappoint. The soup was a wonderfully flavorful broth and the noodles were excellent. Great suggestions on both. The wonderful thing about having great food is it spurs lively conversation. The conversation was I think, some of the liveliest I've ever had. Heck, two years later, I'm still thinking about it.
(4)Peidan L.
Walked in around 10:40am, no one greeted us even though there was a doorbell that ringed. It was a good five minutes when a young man realized we were here. He handed us menu and asked what we wanted to drink. It was our first visit and he seemed to sense that and made sure we had cash cuz they only accept cash. We ordered #22 and #27. 22 is pho and I had steak in it, the broth was tasty but the steak was way over-cooked even though I ate it quickly. My bf had 27 which is egg noodle and the pho noodle with pork, shrimp, and some seafood. He loved the shrimp but thinks that there is supposed to be more seafood in there (2 pieces of crab meat, 2 tiny pieces of squid, and 2 meat ball looking thing). But the broth is very flavorful. I'll do a second visit at a later time to see how it goes.
(3)Thuy N.
This is the go-to place for most Vietnamese foodies in town! Give it a try if you want a close taste of authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Don't expect good service, but come for great food!
(5)Cinimod S.
I found Vietnam in a south end strip mall near light industry. So next time you feel adventurous and then go to Vietnam kitchen only to find it packed, go here. No, scratch that. GO HERE. The food, ambiance, and patrons (largely Vietnamese) all took me back to HCMC. This place lacks the kitch of Vietnam kitchen but makes up for it in the feel of an authentic noodle shop. The food is excellent. The pho was right on the mark, great for a cold February night. I will go back and try some other items. It's a hike for many people but it's well worth it, plus there is a karaoke bar next door. No beer.
(5)Chris D.
Food was mediocre. Service was horrible. Server never brought out our drinks. Got our appetizers after our meal. When we asked for boxes he just brought the check. Had to ask for the boxes again
(2)Lynn L.
Food here is A-OK, but I found the menu much more limited than Pho Binh Minh (which I had visited just a few days before). Only two types of pho, one banh mi, and far fewer bun and noodle dishes. I got the shredded pork/egg roll bun, and it was good. The avocado shake was a good portion, and I didn't finish it all. My friend (who also went to PBM with me) got the pho, and she thought the broth at PBM was much better. Here, there are many more tables (and they look like they are expanding), but the service was quite slow! The chef was very sweet and came to our table to check on us and make sure everything was tasting okay. I don't envision coming back here given some of the other options in the area, but give it a try if you like Vietnamese! Bring cash - no credit cards accepted.
(3)Lianna N.
Decent try their banh mi and com tam.
(3)G D.
This is by far the tastiest pho I've had. Not that I'm a pho connoisseur or something but I've tried a lot from different places, but this place stands out. Service can be better, there's usually just one guy who takes your order, takes a while to get your food so just get those spring rolls, they're good specially with their own mix of hoisin and something sauce. Place can be better, looks like the usual viet restau I see in the East Coast. It's clean. Dish I'd recommend is their pho and THE NUMBER 27! The broth in that soup is the ish. Good if you're hungover the night before or trying to sober up so your wife/gf won't be upset if you drive home tipsy. BTW, they don't accept credit cards.
(5)