My family has frequented this joint since the 80s. The decor has changed, the layout, the clientele - but one thing has not - the CHA-fuckin'-GIO. (Fried spring rolls for non-Khmer/non-Vietnamese readers.) The Cha Gio power level is, like, over 4,600. That's some Super-Saiyajin shit! They use rice paper, instead of the crappy other paper that is used everywhere else. I never really get anything other than a ton of spring rolls. When I do, it's good, but I've had better/cheaper Vietnamese food elsewhere. Seriously - solid place. Excellent Cha Gio. Eat here.
(4)
Riain S.
I enjoy Vietnam Palace (AKA the Electric Ao Dai) because it's not the ususal crap Pho-in-the-wall place. The decor is nice, the servers are attentive and they have a liquor license(!). Yes, it's more than $6 a bowl for soup. This seems to offend many people who are dead set on cheap pho, but try to remember that you're paying to sit in a place that doesn't look like someone set up a soup kitchen in the remains of a Bosnian McDonalds. Don't worry, there are still plenty of cheap pho places with dirty bowls and filthy seats around (Cafe Pho Ga Thanh Thanh in Kensington comes to mind). We've eaten here dozens of times and I can say that everything I've eaten has been good and remarkably consistent. Food-wise I'd say its a 4/5- good, craveable, but not mind-blowing. The setting pushes it up to five stars, because its the type of place where you can take a group/family/a date and get a drink, bullshit, eat and generally turn the meal into a 3 hour affair. There are better Viet places out there in terms of food, but very few in Philly have an atmosphere that is conducive to staying for more than 20 minutes. If you're in Chinatown this is the spot for Viet.
(5)
Gerald S.
We had a very good dinner here last week while in town for haircut and walkabout. The floor plan is spacious, with bamboo and other strong Asian cues. The staff was friendly and able to answer a few of my more technical questions about the dishes. The insights provided led me to try the Hue Style Noodle Soup. Turns out, this potage uses Egg Noodles rather than rice, and has a red cast due to the ground up Spicy Red Peppers and Hoisin mixed into the Beef Broth. Otherwise, the same Sprouts, Thai Basil, Jalapeno Slices, and Lime Wedges were available as desired. The taste slides up the heat scale and adds another dimension to the otherwise wonderful flavors of the traditional Pho. A lot of sliced Steak in there, too. Very satisfying. The Shrimp & Pork Roll app was fresh and delish with a sweet peanut sauce for dipping. Will definitely return to try more of the menu. Very enjoyable experience at Vietnam Palace.
(4)
Nicolas N.
I cook and grew up on Vietnamese food from all regions. This review is for the authenticity and quality of the Vietnamese food here. My friend asked me not to provide a review since it is not positive, but I must remain steadfast with being objective and true to my standards. Bad food is bad food, period. I really want to like this place since the service is decent and there is a bar! But for the food, the flavor or quality is not all there (compared with other Viet restaurants outside of Chinatown). We ate here on separate occasions (for lunch and dinner), and ordered multiple dishes from soup, noodles, fish (clay pot fish), to other rice dishes. All of the dishes seem to just have a hint of the flavor that makes Vietnamese dishes so delicious! Even the spring rolls that is so simple to make, lacked all the key ingredients and didn't taste fresh at all. The other Vietnamese restaurant directly across the street is similar in blandness and mediocrity. Sadly I am venturing south to other restaurants on Washington Ave. Go here if you are visiting Chinatown and need to have Vietnamese food. Two stars for the good service and location only.
(2)
Robert P.
I only go if the wait at Vietnam is too long. It's good . Really but I like Its neighbor more. They are less expensive. The food is always ok.
(3)
Noah F.
I noticed Vietnam Palace's mysterious women logo from blocks away so I decided to see what was inside... Visually I enjoyed the bamboo covered interior, but this was lacking in the bar area. I felt like I was visiting any old bar. Overall the inside was very clean and appealing. My Pho was tasty but authentic cuisine is tastier, so to me, this is a perfect date spot for those who are more sensitive and afraid to try new things...but want to... There were many interesting and enticing dishes to try; like Catfish in a clay pot, Papaya Salad, and Sate Beef (beef marinated in lemon grass with crushed peanuts, lettuce bean sprouts, mint & pickle radishes). The service was quick and helpful, during lunch hours at least and they have a $4 dollar discount if you use the parking garage.
(3)
J W.
Mouth watering delectable short ribs, beef satay, salt battered seafood and pork vermicelli! Don't forget to try the coconut ice cream. This restaurant is my go to place at least once a week.
(5)
Steph J.
Vietnam palace is my favorite Vietnamese food spot in the city. Their beef carpaccio, beef short ribs, and salt battered seafood are among my favorite dishes. The restaurant does a good job of mixing traditional Vietnamese worth more modern fusion type flavors so it's great for all cultures. That said, I prefer the pho at other restaurants. For sweet treats, I recommend trying the avocado shake and the warm taro dessert. So delicious!
(5)
Preet M.
Service: We rolled up to the restaurant about 30 heads deep on a Sunday around noon. The hosts were all super nice and gratuitously dealt with our constant nagging for photos to be taken and loud noise. Food came out very quickly and everyone was eating about ten minutes after placing their order(s). Free beer or wine if you check in as well! I was VERY satisfied with the organization and composure presented to myself and my friends by the staff here. Food: I ordered the pho' ...as I normally do when fighting a hangover from hell. The noodles were a bit thicker than normal, but the meat and broth were on point. I tried a few of my friends' rice dishes and they also did not disappoint. Environment: Nice cozy restaurant with a silent atmosphere. Lots of traditional decorations make the experience nice and enjoyable. I'm not sure where all of the bad reviews come from...great job Vietnam Palace!
(5)
LawVick L.
I learned that Vietnam Palace is under new ownership so we ventured over last Friday night for dinner. We were all very impressed with the food, it was authentic and absolutely delicious. We sampled several versions of bun and pho and they were all very good. The spring rolls were superb (also try the jicama roll!) I can tell the grilled meat was done on real charcoal and that gave a real BBQ flavor. All of us enjoyed the bun and pho, I will definitely go back and try other dishes too. I would recommend this place.
(5)
Jason H.
Vietnam Palace is a longtime resident of the Chinatown neighborhood, and in constant competition with their arch nemesis across the street, simply called "Vietnam." Between the two, I prefer the Palace. The food is plentiful, the service prompt and accommodating, and the food quality is very good. They also have a full bar as well as a sample of non-alcoholic Asian inspired drinks. The summer rolls are great, well...in the summer. Shrimp and pork with vermicelli noodles, basil, a side of pickled veggies, and a hoisin peanut sauce. The crispy spring rolls are what you'd expect at a great Vietnamese restaurant; crispy outside with pork and shrimp, vermicelli noodles, mushroom, and carrot on the inside. The char-grilled beef short ribs are to die for; smokey and sweet, atop a bed of greens with a side of pickled veggies. As any of you that are Vietnamese devotees know; the soup's the thing. They have a host of soups, all fairly large in portion aside from the wonton/dumpling soup, which can be ordered in an appetizer portion. They have a few different types of beef soup, both egg and rice noodles, different broths, and different proteins. I'm especially drawn to the beef noodle soup with the rice noodles, as well as the wonton pork noodles soup. Both are very flavorful, and especially good in the fall and winter, or when you're not feeling well. For dessert, they have a rice pudding which is a glutenous rice with chunks of taro, topped with sweet coconut milk. A great happy ending. They take cards, and have a pretty large restaurant; no delivery, however, which is a shame.
(4)
Adam F.
Nice but casual Vietnamese food in Chinatown. Full bar - definitely get the lychee martini. Standard array of entrees and soups --- pho, vermicelli, etc. The food isn't as great as some of the places in South Philly, but the location and the ambiance are great for a casual date night or dinner with friends.
(4)
Hardik R.
The food was pretty average. The portions are kind of not as large as I'd expect from an Asian restaurant. The tofu roll appetizer was like the Thai style tofu roll. Shocked that they charged for the bowl of rice with the entree!! The menu is too large too.
(3)
Mama O.
Cute ! Charming! Pretty easy to find parking that wasn't a hike & it was a Friday night. Loved the Seafood Maxine! Friendly fast service. We'll be back:)
(4)
Jin Z.
Went here with a friend who ordered their vegetable noodle soup. Half way through the meal he started finding pieces of chicken meat in his bowl. Then as he dug around the bottom of the bowl, lots of pieces. We brought this to the attention of the waiter who took it to the chef. Came back and told us those were dried bamboo pieces. .. um, it looked like chicken, the meat flaked like chicken, smelled like chicken, and tasted like chicken. 1 star for dishonesty.
(1)
Loc L.
Ok since this place didn't have "Pho" in its name I'm not going to score it on Pho... Otherwise I'd score it a 2 start. So I'll score it based on the item that's NOT Pho, the Vermicelli noodles for spring roles($13)... In which case... I STILL give it a 2 star. If this is the best Phili has to offer then I feel sorry for the Vietnamese of this city (the Americans don't know any better; I don't think the people here know what good Vietnamese food is). Here are some critiques: The Pho soup is priced way higher than what was offered in terms of quality& quantity. The tendons etc. in the "dac biet pho" soup was tougher and chewier than should be. The rare beef in the soup was totally cooked when it arrived at the table, which shouldn't have been the case. The vermicelli noodle dish were supposed to be 'Banh Hoi' style as the waiter stated but wasn't even the case - or they took a shortcut about it. And did i mention the bowls were totally smaller than the price suggests? Overall it doesn't deserve its current high rating unless it's a Phili scale that I'm not used to. I'm using a California scale, and there this place would not exist for long. The only solace was that, by calling itself a 'palace', it's saying a lot about what a std household Vietnamese food is, cuz if theirs is "a palace" then the typical food made in a California Vietnamese's house must be heavenly!
(2)
Kelly P.
Delicious meal, no complaints. My vegetarian spring rolls were served hot. for my entree, the beef was hot, flavorful, and served atop cool vermicelli. I wish all places served it that way now! The dining room is not the coziest but it is clean and warm in the wintertime.
(5)
AJ A.
So Ive been to a lot of pho places (nj,ny,md,pa) this is the first time I paid $9 for a pho with 3slices of meat.. Yeah 3 slices. Usually $9 is a huge bowl with tons of meat. Place is overpriced. Explore china town more and you'll see what Im talking about..
(2)
Katrina G.
Have been going here regularly since 2006. Pho noodle soup is good (7/10). Love the mussels in garlic broth on a cold winter's day. Have regular lunch specials Mon-Fri for soups and appetizers. Always play good music overhead and love the decor. Go there regularly and the staff will recongize and appreciate your business. Favorite appetizers are summer rolls, crispy spring rolls and salt battered squid. The mock chicken with curry sauce is a delicious vegetarian alternative. Fish in the claypot is also very good. Not as adventurous? Go for the broken rice combo (which you can also sub certain items in and out) or the fried rice deluxe. I particularly enjoy the the vermicelli combo but is on the more expensive side (but worth it). Drinks are hit or miss. Lychee martini is more hit than miss. Can't go wrong with a free beer or glass of wine when you check in on Yelp. Happy hour specials are good. Definitely prefer the Palace than its competition across the street.
(4)
Stephanie H.
Lots of vegetarian options at Vietnam Palace and you can't go wrong with anything you end up choosing, it's all amazing. I ended having the vegetarian pad Thai special and the mixed vegetable noodle soup. Both were exceptional. I would definitely go back and next time I would try the tofu spring rolls. Everyone seems to be talking a great deal about them on yelp.
(4)
John L.
Not liking a Vietnamese place is hard for me. But I have to say I can really only give Vietnam Palace a 3 star. Some folks may consider the food great, tasty, and decor lovely. Myself I do not count myself among those people. I find Vietnam a bit pretentious for its own good, and the clientele tends to reflect this same mentality. Vietnamese cuisine, even at the highest level is not upscale cuisine. It is comfort food, it is blending the best of Chinese and French cuisine with the freshest ingredient in all of Asia.Then making every dish an enjoyable experience for everyone involved. There is hardly any learning curve when eating Vietnamese cuisine. Yet for some reason, Vietnam Palace takes dishes turns simplified dishes to pretty, standard to extravagant, and strays away from authentic to westernized. This is one of the reasons why during the busy "Asian" days such as Sunday the restaurant is usually empty, as it is a tall tale sign that the mother culture of food has been forgotten. I never thought it be possible with Vietnamese cuisine, but alas Vietnam Palace does just this. However, the reason I gave it 3 stars is that it allows an entry point to many westerners otherwise too intimidated to enter places like 6th/11th Washington, or even Choo Choo 2 blocks away.
(3)
Melody W.
BIG fan. Along with a group of about 12 loved ones, I thoroughly enjoyed celebrating my birthday here last year. They took good care of us, and we all left incredibly tipsy, full and satisfied. (In fact, the ONLY reason I didn't celebrate here again this year is because of our tradition of going somewhere different every time.) I also frequent Vietnam Palace for unique snacks and cocktails after work, and the occasional dinner with a friend or the family. It's all about the charbroiled short ribs, the salt and pepper squid, the soft shell crab and last, but certainly not least, the sweet, cold and delicious lychee martini. The martini is so delectable, it would truly be a daily habit, if only that habit didn't suggest the onset of alcoholism... Everything in moderation (dang it!).
(4)
Khanh V.
One of the best Vietnamese restaurants in Philly. Vietnam Palace is nicely designed and is clean. (Although the decoration doesn't resemble a palace). They offer quality food. I really like the Korean inspired short ribs that are on the appetizer menu. Some things are good, but I would stay far away from hot pot. It was a letdown and the broth tastes like something from a ramen package that I made at home. For hot pot I would recommend International Smokeless BBQ on 11th and Washington. Also they have a nice bar area with flat screen tvs for sport viewing and happy hours.
(3)
Matt M.
OK so I am learnig as I go but this place is really very good and exceptionally well priced. Got the Vermicelli which is a huge bowl of thin noodles with as much stuff as you can put in it. Crispy chicken, egg rolls, shrimp, vegetables and the like. This is wonderfully good and filling yet light. Ill explore more but was very happy
(4)
Courtney J.
The food here was pretty good, but there were a lot of different things that were off during my visit. I've thought about going to Vietnam Palace or Vietnam restaurant for quite some time. However, I usually decide to go to Veggie Lovers across the street instead when I'm in China Town. I chose Vietnam Palace when I saw a lychee martini mentioned in one of the Yelp reviews. In case you don't know, lychee is this delicious fruit from China and Southeast Asia that tastes like awesomeness. That's really the only way I know to describe it. Oh, and it's sweet, but you probably already knew that since I said it was a fruit. Anyway, at 8:00 PM on a Friday evening it was easy to get a table. The atmosphere is really quite nice. Glass paneling with water running down it, lots of wood, and Vietnamese paintings and art and soft lighting. Whatever the people seated near us were having smelled really good. My significant other and I decided to get a couple of different dishes and share them. When I checked into Yelp with my phone I was pleased to see I'd unlocked a check-in offer I wasn't aware of for a free domestic beer or house wine. My boyfriend got a Yuengling and I got the lychee martini I'd read about. The martini arrived and they poured it from the shaker into the glass at the table, presumably so it wouldn't spill since the filled the glass so full. It was good, but it mostly just tasted of the Soho lichee liquor which I have at home. My boyfriend's glass for the beer had a broken piece of glass stuck to the rim of it. He saw it before he started pouring the beer into the glass and alerted the server and who took it away. He just drank the beer out of the bottle. Soon the vegetarian spring rolls arrived nicely garnished with a dipping sauce alongside a bed of lettuce topped with a few thin slices of cucumbers and pickled carrots and radish and some mint leaves. The spring rolls, were hot, crisp, and flavorful. We had ordered the salt and pepper shrimp. However, we were brought the salt and pepper squid. We got the waiter's attention and sent it back. Then about five minutes later the veggie chicken with lemongrass sauce came out. It was a bit of a disappointment. I'm pretty sure the "chicken" was Ray's Seitan. I like Ray's Seitan, but it's nothing special and I can make it at home easily for way cheap. The sauce was good, but not as lemongrassy as I was hoping for. It also didn't come with any rice! What kind of stir fry doesn't come with rice? Looking back on this, I think it might have been a mistake because when we were leaving, the server at the next table was asking the customers if they wanted white or brown rice. No one ever asked us that or even if we wanted to order any. Finally, the salt and pepper shrimp arrived on a bed of cabbage with little pieces of onion and some fresh jalapeno peppers on the side for heat. This was simple, but crispy and fresh, with big flavorful lightly breaded shrimp. It was the best part of the meal. I highly recommend it to all you shrimp lovers out there. We were still a little hungry due to the lack of carbs, but the shrimp and the spring rolls were tasty. I might go back and give them another try, but I think I'll check out their competitor across the street first.
(3)
Jenn G.
I recently went to Vietnam Palace with my friend because we wanted to stray from our usual restaurants. The atmosphere was different from what I am used to experiencing in Vietnamese restaurant. It looked way fancier than it really was. The service was quick and our waiter was very helpful. His suggestion of the lycee martini was appreciated. I loved it! It was very refreshing. We split an entree of the tofu summer rolls. They were standard summer rolls served with that delicious peanut sauce. For dinner, I got pork bun with spring rolls. The pork was cooked perfectly. The quality of it was unlike any other bun. You could tell they took their time in selecting their meat. Their portions aren't as big as other places. I felt like I got a little stiffed on the portion to cost ratio.
(4)
Hong L.
Vietnam Restaurant was closed for some random vacation, and I am glad it was. Palace wasn't as bad as I thought. It isn't authentic (very close though) but it does a good job of bringing out the Vietnamese flavors. My date and I ordered 7 courses of beef, it was $31 dollars. You should try it! I expected it to come out individually, but they had it all on a huge plate. Tasty, tasty, tasty! I haven't had the pho yet, but I will. I'm actually on a mission to find amazing Bun Bo Hue, but I don't think it'll work out here.
(4)
Frank C.
Had the chicken Pho, amazing!! Great service. Check it out is you are near the convention center.
(5)
Sopheara S.
Surprisingly this place can makes a good Mai tai drink. It's not a typical bar that you would expected its $7-8 per drink. A 7 course beef is a must try item, it comes with a nice white flours wrap that you dip in a hot water to soft it up and wrap it with lettuce, mint,....etc and beef. If you don't like fish sauce just try it first to see if you can handle it . Vermicelli deluxe also recommend it comes with shrimp, pork, spring roll and a whole bunch of lettuce. A safe dish to order is Pho ( beef noodle soup ) I love the broth it made perfectly. Short rip dish is incredibly tasty , the beef is so tender and well marinated you can get it with brown or white rice. Black been stir fired is also delicious , it can be really spicy if you can handle the hotness. Pad Thai is not a great idea to get, the texture of the noodle and the ingredient is not well come together- hey what do you expect? it's Vietnamese restaurant. Recommend : rainbow ice ( dessert drink ) really awesome ! If you are the kind of person prefers dessert before your meal like me. The service is good fast and friendly folks. Over all for the food I vote for 3.5 stars and service is 4.
(3)
Coedy G.
Had the pho here! Very good but portions were small and it was a bit higher in price than some of the other spots I've been to. Over all, friendly servers and good pho. Not the best pho I've had.. But good pho.
(4)
Sal W.
Had the Beef vermicelli ($9). The beef tasted exceptionally good, but unfortunately there wasn't a lot of it. Also disappointing was the lack of vermicelli noodles. They should triple the amount of vermicelli to make the dish actually worth it (the marginal cost is minimal, so I don't know why they are so stingy with them). There are some restaurants south of Washington that are better overall on the food side of the equation. The waiter never refilled our waters. The interior of this place looks really nice though. Food Quality/Taste = 4/5 Stars Portion Size Given Price = 2/5 Stars Service = 2 Stars Experience with Staff = 3 Stars Decor = 5 Stars
(3)
Jenny H.
I came here for take out, thinking it was Vietnam Restaurant haha...but they were really nice. I got their pork with rice, and their summer rolls. Pretty standard, good Vietnamese food.
(3)
Matthew B.
Disclaimer: I am rating them only on the bar only, not the food. Stopped here as part of a cocktail crawl on the way to Trestle Inn. I think I may have found the worst bartender in Philadelphia. After looking at the drink menu, we decided on two "specialty" martinis. I wasn't watching while she made the lemon drop, but i did catch her making the ginger martini. The ingredients were clearly labeled on the menu, so imagine my dismay as i watched here pour Popov vodka, ginger ale, and sour mix into the mixer. Did not match the menu description (absolute, Ginger liqueur, sweetened lemon juice ). When i questioned her, she became defensive claiming the menu description was wrong! While she remade the drink, her attitude sucked, and the replacement cocktail tasted like absolute with sour mix. Gave it back to her and asked for a cucumber martini (Hendricks with a cucumber slice; hows that for creative?). Frankly, the attitude baffled both of us and luckily its a rarity in my experience. But if they are willing to substitute rail liquor and lower quality ingredients in a cocktail they advertise on the menu as a high-end, $11 cocktail, what else are the subbing? Don't think i want to find out.
(1)
Jacky L.
Compared to the Vietnam restaurant across the street, this one is by far superior. However, compared to the ones in NY, this one is meh. Pho here is good, but not great, especially for the price. You can get pho in NY for cheaper, more, and better. Prices here in general is about above average for Vietnamese food, whereas the quality is only about average, so it is a little bit overpriced. However, there aren't that many options to choose from in Philly, so I guess this one will have to do. The decor here is pretty nice though, not super fancy, but wouldn't be a bad place for a casual date or something. Overall, if you need to satisfy a Vietnam cuisine craving and you're in Philly, this place will have to do.
(3)
Patience P.
This is a staple for me. Great food and great service. The spring rolls, cubed beef with lemon pepper and the shrimp with broken rice are favorites. Don't forget to get sweet rice with taro for dessert!
(5)
Kristina C.
Very fast service, conp glass with check in was a good cab and the jicama rolls were great and the sauce was tasty and a little spicy. No fresh basil, beef lemongrass soup amazing and full of beef. All in all, all of the food that we have gotten here is amazing, and you can't beat the atmosphere. I would definitely recommend the soups and appetizers! And they give Yelpers a free glass of wine for checking in....uhmmmm YES!
(4)
Brian C.
It's often just a toss up for me as to whether I should go to Vietnam Palace or Vietnam. Honestly, I feel I could write the same review for both. This is a pretty dependable place to go for Vietnamese food in Chinatown. I think that this restaurant and the restaurant across the street, Vietnam, are both comparable as far as quality of food and taste. The main reason I come here is convenience. It's in a great location, right in Chinatown. In fact, this is a great place to run out for lunch and grab a quick bite. I usually get one of the vermicelli bowls with either spring rolls or char grilled pork. I love the fish sauce that it comes with and usually just empty the sauce into my noodles before I enjoy. I think the thing that sets Vietnam Palace slightly apart from Vietnam is that the ambience is slightly better here and in my opinion the service is also slightly better. Emphasis on "slightly". In both restaurants, the ambience and service is just fine.
(3)
Karen F.
Last night I went over to Vietnam Palace to see Tracey Nguyen who is putting together a large (about 30 people) party for my child's kindergarten class. Since I was there anyway, I had some dinner - including a freshly squeezed glass of lemonade (perfect on a 77 degree and humid day) and a delicious place of extra-thin bun (rice vermicelli) and grilled beef. Tracey is terrific and will be on hand next week when we have our big dinner. I will let you know how it goes, but as of right now - and can't say enough good things about the service and food and Vietnam Palace. It's a great place for couples, singles and families with young children.
(5)
Emily C.
Great food, fabulous bartender, and excellent service. The pho is some of the best I've had in Chinatown. The crispy shrimp rolls come with the tails still attached for easy dunking and the mojito has fresh Ginger added to it. It's all in the details folks!
(5)
Marissa R.
I have loved all the food I tried - short ribs, salads, pho, curry, pad thai, etc. The lychee martini, Vietnamese mojito & 33 beer are great specialties there too. I will return - it's delicious!!!!!
(5)
Olivia J.
Pretty good food. Notes: I did not have drinks, nor have I ever been to Vietnam Restaurant (which this place inevitably gets compared to because they are across the street from each other). I got: - Spring rolls. Very tasty, but a little too high of a fried/vegetable ratio for me. - Tomato crab meat soup. Again, delicious. Maybe a little "one note" and not extremely complex in flavor, but the flavors that are there are good. How can you go wrong with a tomato-y broth filled with crab meat, noodles, sprouts and sriracha? The service was fine - nothing to complain about there. Reasonably priced.
(4)
Jess C.
Good food, and decent drinks. i recommend the mai-tai or the mojito. i've been here twice with large groups 10-12 people which can quickly overwhelm the staff despite making reservations beforehand. i recommend the shrimp & pork rolls, the satay beef, and the salt-battered tofu apps. i wasn't that impressed by the broken rice shrimp & beef combo.
(3)
Scott B.
This was horrible. I went on A sunday evening in November with my girlfriend. After walking around Chinatown for a bit we decided on this place. I hadn't eaten Vietnamese food for over a year and love the cuisine. I had spend 2.5 weeks in Vietnam a few years back and consider the food among my favorite. Most of the people in the place were white (first sign that the place was not very authentic). The service was very slow and my domestic beer tasted at least a year old. My girlfriend ordered the Chicken Pad Thai and I had ordered some spicy cubed beef dish. our food came out within 15 minutes and hers was pretty good....However it makes me question why Pad Thai (a Thai dish) is on at Vietnamese Restaurant's Special Menu. My dish was horrendous. There were 1/2 cubes of beer (4-5 oz worth) atop a bed of lettuce and tomatoes. Let's start with the bottom and work our way up...The lettuce was iceberg, and not dressed at all. Once you worked your way through an entire salad worth of dry lettuce you would be left with a sliced tomato. After these two cold vegetables (yes, I know a tomato is a fruit but just let it go) there was a disgusting meat. The beef was possibly the most tough piece of meat I've ever eaten...I've eaten every type of meat imaginable. I've eaten fried grasshoppers that tasted better. I asked for the menu and made another waiter take my entree back. By the time they came back to take my order my gf had finished her meal and I just asked for the check. I would NEVER come back to this place again. This is the most unauthentic Vietnamese food I have ever eaten and I've eaten in at least a dozen North and South Vietnamese cities in Vietnam. I'm giving it two stars because my girlfriend did enjoy her Chicken Pad Thai. SCRATCH that, it's so bad it only gets one star!!!
(1)
Kristin W.
When our planned dinner spot had a dauntingly long line, we opted to try Vietnam Palace where we could be seated immediately. We kept it simple with the Beef Noodle Soup and the Chicken Noodle Soup and agreed that we liked the flavor and the freshness of the add-ins...however, we would have liked a little more noodle to fill us up. Overall, a good spot - we'll be back to branch out beyond the pho.
(3)
Zanna H.
Their pho is great. Their vegetable spring rolls are great. Their stuffed grape leaves are great. I get something different every time I am there. Their wine selection is smaller but of good quality. The wait staff are very attentive and courteous. The ambiance is nice especially for a quiet dinner for a couple.
(4)
Kai M.
Best Vietnamese in Philly, hands down. I know precisely why this place consistently scores worse than Vietnam Restaurant across the street: it's not as "pretty" (the owners have updated some of the decorations but it doesn't have the hip feel of VR). Also, it features authentic flavors: hot, sweet, sour, grilled, smoky. VR does not--it features the Vietnamese equivalent of American Chinese take-out: tamed ghosts of flavors that used to exist. Back to the Palace. I've been coming to this place since 2001, and I've seen its transformation from hole-in-the-wall to better-heeled. That being said, there are three things that keep me coming back, when normally I'm difficult to please: impeccably fresh and tasty food every single time, exceptionally cheerful, polite wait staff, and a fantastic value for your dollar. Whether you're new to Viet food or a seasoned pro, you'll find something here for you. Their spring rolls are fantastic and a great way to ease nervous eaters in: everyone loves them. The crepe is also awesome (ground pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts). I almost always get the raw beef and lime: tender, perfectly spiced, and amazing on a hot day. For mains, they also have plenty to please: their bo luc lac is fantastic (tender cubes of seasoned tenderloin), as is their salt-battered seafood (a mix of shrimp, scallops, and squid in an air-light crust), whole fried fish, and just about anything in a clay pot (I usually urge my vegetarian friends to try the eggplant in clay pot--delicious). If it's something cold and refreshing you crave, try the bun (layered rice noodles, salad, herbs, and grilled meats), especially the "vermicelli deluxe". For soups, prepare to share: the portions are massive (not even my dad could polish a whole bowl off). Tripe pho is super tasty, as is the roast pork and wonton soup (my go-to on a blustery winter day). Desserts are fairly limited, but all very good: try the coconut ice cream, the taro pudding, or the fabulous rainbow ice. They have a full bar (the lychee cocktail is very tasty), but I don't tend to get alcohol when I'm here, short of a beer. I tend to go for the Thai iced tea or the Vietnamese coffee, both of which are awesome. Give these guys a try. Be a little open-minded and step out of your comfort zone. I think you'll find that you've discovered a new comfort food in its own right.
(5)
diane g.
Surrisingly, had some pretty bad spring rolls here last week. Vietnam was closed so I thought I'd try Vietnam Palace. Although the rolls were much cheaper, they were terrible. That being said, Ive had some very good meals here over the years...esp the seafood soup/meal for two on a cold rainy day.
(3)
Sean A.
I will always go here vs Vietnam across the street. Classic. Great food - great rpice and they actually know how to make a martini!
(4)
Marylyle M.
My tale of eating here is a bittersweet one. First time I had the mock chicken with ginger and had dreams to go back because it was so good.I had also ordered an avocado milkshake but they forgot to bring it. Next time they brought it and it was good, but later when i went to take a drink a giant insect was swimming in it. It was probably from the plant on the table, but it still rattled me a bit. I should give it another chance sometime, but I'm a bit gunshy.
(4)
Michelle C.
I'm ashamed to admit that I was a Chinatown virgin before my very first JewMas. Upon hearing this, Blake and Yuri, my hosts of the evening, made the experience special. Blake donned red and green threads and Yuri somehow fixed my stubborn blinking lights necklace, which I received in my Christmas stocking that morning. Neither seemed to mind that I wore it for the duration of the evening. My hosts were torn between Vietnam and Vietnam Palace, but the shorter wait time at Vietnam Palace made the decision an easy one. We lingered for about five minutes before we were seated. I was surprised to see such an expansive cocktail list and immediately decided on a lychee martini. It was so delish, I ended up having two (shocking, I know). We ordered charbroiled lemongrass shrimp, beef short ribs and tofu rolls to start. I'm not a tofu girl so I passed on those, but they were presented well and the peanut dipping sauce was met with much fanfare. The shrimp were lightly flavored and well prepared, but perhaps could have used a dipping sauce themselves. The short ribs had an excellent marinade but were far too fatty in my opinion. I understand it is the nature of the beast, but actual meat was hard to come by. For my main, I tried vermicelli with charbroiled chicken. The chicken was seasoned well and I liked the sauce that accompanied the dish, but overall, I found the concept to be kind of boring. Yuri offered a bite of his chicken and veggies in curry sauce, and while I wasn't crazy about the flavor, I liked the presentation. I'd probably order something similar in the future, except in either the lemongrass or ginger variation. We finished our meal with Vietnamese coffee, also new to me. When I questioned the whereabouts of cream and sweetener, Yuri instructed us to simply stir. A thick, sweet cream at the bottom of the cup mixed with the hot coffee on top. A couple sips were nice, but the sweetness was too overpowering for my liking. Our experience was a pleasant one and the staff did an excellent job. I may return in the future but I'd like to try other Vietnamese spots first, to get a better idea of the cuisine in general.
(3)
Sutanuka L.
Although we wanted to go to Vietnam restaurant,it was closed :( so we ended up going here and it was very good food !!!
(5)
Kent W.
They rennovated this place a few years back. One word: "BEEF" Hahaha. Seriously, try the 7 course beef! Make sure to bring a friend or two when you do.
(4)
Lori Z.
Love the Vietnam Palace. The vegetarian items appeal to me the most. The spring rolls are fabulous. The rice noodle dishes and sauteed vegetables with garlic are excellent. The lychee martini is delicious. I enjoy visiting Chinatown in Philadelphia and I really like trying many new places; however, the Vietnam Palace ranks #1 with me. Beautiful atmosphere. Go and enjoy!
(5)
Suzy G.
Love this place! Best value in Chinatown! The prices are great and the food is even better! My favorite is the Bun which is rice vermicelli with your choice of charbroiled chicken, shrimp or pork. I also like the vegetarian spring rolls with the yummy dipping sauce. This place offers a Great value and Excellent food. Vietnam restaurant, which is across the street is good too, but there are always long lines, slow service and higher prices there. I'll take the Palace anyday!
(5)
Vichet O.
A few words before I begin my review in earnest: I bring a lot of people here. When they step through the front door, they're usually impressed. It might be with the steam-warped wicker chairs that match the tables. Maybe it's the cozily lit interior, a combination of matte-finished dark wood paneling and earth tones. Or maybe it's the open air look of the restaurant, with floor length windows facing 11th. Whatever it is, there's something intimate, but not pretentiously so, about this standalone building at 222 North 11th. Oh, how many women have rejected me in this wonderful place? All of them? You would be right, sir! With that said, I must also mention I've been eating at the restaurant for most of my life. I might be a little fuzzy on this, but I remember back when it was a linoleum-tiled, fluorescent-lit dive that honestly looked like a rec center basement. Of course I was probably about four years old, so it may not have been that bad. But it was never really about the ambiance back then. The food was where this place always shone bright. And here we are, 2009, in the "rand of oppotunity," with a full-on gentrified, hip young clientele getting the same quick, friendly service that I do from a place that used to be my little secret. After all, across-the-street-rival Vietnam Restaurant was, and arguably still is, the more popular of the two for a long, long time. Yup, a lot of things have changed. Two renovations, a modestly more expensive menu, and lots of people crowding the place on the weekends. The food stayed the same: ball-twistingly awesome. Now for the review: If you don't eat pork for religious reasons, this restaurant is proof that God hates you. Don't worry, there's still plenty to be had at Vietnam. Just let it be known that the pig here is THAT good. I'm an amateur chef myself, and unless I've been cooking for liars, I'm doing pretty well. But not THIS well. When it comes to flaying that stuttering Looney Toon we'd all rather eat, Vietnam Palace makes a damn good pig. Try the charbroiled pork slices over rice vermicelli. Or the charbroiled porkchops over broken rice. Try the nem nuong, grill pork meatballs served with DIY rice paper wraps! If it's made of pig, go for it. Above all else, though, try the cha gio, fried spring rolls with ground pork filling. I have never been to any other place that makes them this good. As for other fare, the Pho is a good choice (albeit pricey for pho), whether you get it plain or Phnom Penh style. Great on a cold day, and made with more care than the average pho chain. Their take on Bo Luc Lac, cubed beef steak with a lime/black pepper sauce over rice, is much more zesty than I usually have it at home, but it's definitely worth trying. There are also simmering-fish-in-clay-pot type dishes that are very, very tasty and surprisingly not fishy. I've been old enough to drink for a while now, and I have to say that VP's latest attempts to cater to people like me (alcoholics) is somewhere between good and average - the prices are reasonable and they have everything you'd need to make your favorite. Because the place has a constant supply of fresh lime and mint leaves, you could even order a mojito - I don't remember if that's on the menu, but whatever. This place is a great idea for a very reasonable date. Appetizer + 2 entrees + 2 drinks for less than $45 is a pretty good deal in my opinion. Plus, you get points for bringing the other person to one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in the city.
(4)
Kent L.
Last Visit: Monday, December 21, 2009. Lunch for two. No reservations needed. Went here on a lunch date around noon. The place was surprisingly empty given how good the food was. Nice little place, which was recommended to me as a "must-eat at" restaurant while in Philly by a friend and native, and a restaurant my date and girlfriend describes as "the first place she always goes when she lands in Philly" (two separate people). Nothing too fancy, but definitely a comfortable, family-friendly atmosphere. We ordered (food photos attached): - Crispy spring rolls (appetizer) - Bowl of Pho soup w/ beef and tripe. - Vermicelli with Charbroiled Beef (+rice paper) The spring rolls were good and came with the orange dipping sauce (coconut, lime, and vinegar). They are cut in small portions and are served with veggies. The Pho soup is large and can be split between two people. I generally am not a fan of this soup (I much prefer Chinese beef noodles), but it was very good here. The Vermicelli with Charbroiled Beef w/ rice paper was new to me (can you tell I do not eat Vietnamese food often?) and very, very good. The beef was more than enough for two people. The bill for two came down to $28 including a 20% tip. Worth every penny, and leftovers too. Great service, great restaurant. Would gladly return again. In fact, I was told to go here for dinner and drinks, as they have specialty drinks that I was told are very good and the price (as you can see above) is very reasonable.
(5)
Diana K.
This place has a similar menu to Vietnam Restaurant across the street, possibly slightly cheaper. What does differentiate it from it's neighbor is the amazing Wonton Soup. You are probably thinking that this is the most boring soup in existence, BUT they make it so incredibly tasty, with delicious broth, loads of cilantro and chinese broccoli, and yummy pork and shrimp dumplings. We can also always count on the Deluxe vermicelli dish for a hot/cold/smokey/sweet dinner.
(4)
Jeff G.
Was just there for dinner with friends. I liked the resturant soo much I might go back there again. Bathrooms were small, but clean. Wait service was friendly. Food came out relatively quick.
(4)
Allison T.
The prices are very reasonable, the food is fresh, and the staff is very friendly and helpful. I have never had Vietnamese food before. My first visit I tried a bunch of appetizers and had the lemongrass chicken. Very tasty. The second visit, I had the Stir Fried Wide Noodles with Sate Beef. The sauce was delicious and had tons of veggies, which was nice. The drinks are nice and pretty strong, I only needed one martini and i was good to go. The only downside is the parking, make sure that you arrive a bit early to circle a few times if you have a set dinner time.
(4)
Bill M.
And you thought Pat's and Geno's had a rivalry against one another. I mean on this street there are two very similar Vietnamese restaurant s directly across the street from one another. so similar that it can be nearly impossible to tell the difference between the two. I tended to favor this one a little bit more the last time around. but it's a constant cycle.
(4)
Marian R.
they get 4.5 stars from me, only because i've gotten older and i don't think that anything is as good as it gets anymore. ;) it's been well over a year since i've written a review, but vietnam palace, specifically tracy, deserves a lot of good 'press'. i've dined at vietnam palace many times in the past and already knew that i was a fan of the food. i don't have a marked preference for it over vietnam restaurant (both are delicious), but VP definitely has better pho and grilled meat. anyway, my organization hosted an 80 person banquet in their upstairs private dining room, and not only was the food amazing, not only was the service amazing (people went out of their way to complement the service at a banquet, where people are varying degrees of tipsy and usually only paying attention to their own conversations. amazing), but the event coordinator is also a top notch human being. she patiently coordinated all sorts of business details and last minute changes and couldn't have been more pleasant or accommodating. the event went off without a hitch and people are still telling me how much they enjoyed the food. well done, and thank you! highly recommended dishes: any appetizer (seriously), papaya salad, pho, hue style soup, i prefer vermicelli to broken rice, but they do both dishes very well, stir fried flat noodles, country style beef and their salt battered seafood is not heavy and very nice. and they can sub tofu in almost anywhere (my favie dish at the banquet was a tofu stirfry. excellent and clean).
(4)
Peter L.
My favorite vietnamese restaurant in Philadelphia. Order this and you won't be disappointed: Goi Cuon, Cha Gio, and Broken rice with charbroiled pork. You'll definitely leave this place like a happy camper. And the price is ridiculously cheap for the quality and quantity of food you get. Perfect for a date if you're trying to impress her with Vietnamese food. The decoration and ambiance are pretty nifty since I've last come here which was in 1995.
(4)
Jay D.
i can't think of a more vegan-friendly vietnamese restaurant in philadelphia, except for possibly nam phuong. but this place offers mock duck and they do not. super good.
(5)
Chantul D.
This place was ok. The food wasn't that good but the service and the ambience made up for it. Maybe I am spoiled by all the good Vietnamese restaurants in south Philly and in VA but I found the food here kind of awful. I came here a few days ago on a date with my bf and I ordered the Crispy spring rolls and the beef pork-chop with rice. The crispy spring rolls were too Crispy and didn't have any flavor. I felt like I was eating cardboard. My entree wasn't that much better. My pork-chop was too sweet and the rice was mushy. I had high hopes for this place but they let me down. Three stars because our waiter was awesome and it looks so beautiful in there
(3)
Olena S.
This place was yummy and the atmosphere was great! I wouldn't recommend bringing kids or anything like that, but the overall experience was a good one and the food was delicious and filling. Will definitely be returning!
(4)
Steve G.
I found Vietnam Palace while scanning the area on Google maps, looking for parking (I'm staying at a local hotel). Being on the edge of Chinatown, the place is convenient to the Philly Convention Center area. The decor inside is really nice. It has a pretty bar area, a lovely water feature toward the back of the room, and the dining area is comfortable and attractive. For an appetizer, I ordered the fresh shrimp and pork rolls (these are called spring rolls in my neck of the woods). The filling and/or the dipping sauce had a little spicy kick, which was refreshingly different. The wrappers were a little tough, though. My main dish was - what else? - a bowl of beef pho. The dish was a little on the small side, but it turned out that with the appetizer, it was really plenty of food. The beef was fresh, rare, and tender. The broth was tasty, and it all came together nicely. The price was okay, especially for a Philadelphia restaurant. I'll definitely keep Vietnam Palace on my list for places to visit again!
(4)
Sophia S.
I was a loyalist to Vietnam, across the street, until I went here for lunch the other day. Has all that Vietnam has to offer, but also has a surprisingly delicious yellow curry and other saucy sauteed dishes that have more of a thai influence, but can really round out a meal. Plus, I went there with my father who was in a wheelchair and all the staff were really helpful navigating some tight turns and making sure our table was well positioned for his chair.
(4)
Charles K.
My buddy and I arrived just as they were preparing to close the kitchen for the night so I was a little concerned that my first meal at Vietnam Palace would not live up to the hype he has been giving the food here. Happily, my concerns unwarranted, because the food was both beautifully prepared and delicious and the service was quick and very friendly. Despite the fact we were the last customers of the night we never felt rushed in any way. The Pho was fragrant and yummy; loaded with good quality meat and noodles cooked just right. Our appetizers of jicama rolls, and spring rolls were fresh and served with an excellent dipping sauce which was just a little different then the other versions of this same sauce I've tried at other Vietnamese restaurants. The beef rolls were served with fresh lettuce, carrots and jicama slices, and a light vinegar dipping sauce that complimented the rich flavor of the beef very well. I'm looking forward to coming back to explore the menu further since there were quite a few items that I wanted to try.
(4)
Chrissy R.
Vietnam Palace is still pretty good, but I like Vietnam Restaurant better. Palace is a bit too dark inside, and that the first time we went here we didn't get the best service. The food is about the same as across the street, I just like the service and atmosphere better there.
(3)
Charles S.
My Wife has been going here sense she was 12. I have been going here sense I've met my wife. They have the greatest Crispy Spring Roll that I have ever placed in my mouth. It is the only reason we go. They are reasonably priced and have a huge selection of other good food. I can't keep track of anything but the Spring Roll.
(4)
VJ k.
I've eaten at Vietnam Palace several times (at least 7) over the past 2 or so years and up till this point have really enjoyed the food & atmosphere here. Many good times and has always been consistent, until now. I came here on a Tuesday & Wednesday night while working nearby. On the wednesday visit, while the food was it's usually very tastyness, I discovered a fairly large insect (cockroach) in my drink. I understand it may be hard to control a stray in the city but it was in my water and I had already drank it and was eating the ice when I discovered the little guy. They seemed concerned and offered me a free drink which I accepted, Leeche Martini (delicious) however I think that was hardly enough to prevent me from feeling not taken care of. I think a round of drinks for my table and my meal removed from the bill would have been a sincere apology. In addition, after I informed them of the bug issue and they presented the drink, the wait staff was quite scarce around my table, furthering the feeling that we were not receiving good service. Oh well, lack of proper service, cleanliness prompted this review and I think I'll take a hiatus from here for awhile now. The Chinese place across the street, while doesnt have a bar, is super delicious as well.
(2)
texas w.
All yall haters stop hatin. This meal was perfect. I wish I had like one more piece of charbroiled beef. But for a red meat eater this place rocks. Seafood in philly is questionable to begin with. If you're seeking the best prawn of your life in Chinatown, good on you. The Shrimp Bun was bangin, tho. Short ribs....bomb. So all you jabroni's with a whole lot to say, ZIP IT, or you'll have me to deal with. That dump across the street could hold VP's chop sticks. Drinks, spot on. No overly on love with the mojito, but they get down for theirs. So go to Vietnam Palace and tell 'em Big Texas sent you. Update: I get why people like the spot across the srteet, but I still prefer VP.
(5)
Mike L.
I love this place for their food, services, and atmosphere. Never had a bad meal there, and this place could possibly be ranked as one of the better Asian restaurants in Philly!
(4)
Felicia C.
Delicious and very cheap food. All kinds of pho and great entrees. The spring rolls are great, and the Charbroiled beef is to die for.
(4)
Hank C.
A slight correction, thanks to Marissa, I should've written Vietnam Restaurant, not Palace, and so I went back to visit to see if anything's changed. And a second try here revealed a much better group of service staff than before.... perhaps they've managed to hire new people entirely, but they certainly were nicer than the last bunch, and that, while the food didn't change too much, makes the place earn one more notch.
(3)
Bruce B.
I went to The Vietnam Palace one Sunday evening just before the Flyers were about to have a showdown with The Blackhawks. My niece the new Doctor, named Dr. Tanisha, accompanied me for dinner. We arrived there around 5:30 pm and the spot was empty except for 2 older ladies. We got a nice table near a window and couldn't help but to admire the beautiful decor. Our server came over and filled our water glasses and left us menus to look at. Dr Tanisha ordered for an appetizer called 'Jicama rolls and for her entree, Seafood Island Pan Soup, with a glass of Thai Iced Tea to wash it down. I ordered Beef Short Ribs for an Appetizer and a big, steaming bowl of Deluxe Beef Pho` and a glass of Delicious French Iced Coffee with Condensed Milk. The Beef Ribs were great and very flavorful and reminded me of Korean style Kalbi ribs mmmmm! The Ribs were accompanied wit lots of fresh veggies, cucumbers, red onion, tomato's, and some delightful pickled carrots and crispy, white turnips. My entree was also great, with the tenderloin beef, meatballs and beef tendon in a delicious broth with noodles. I was provided with all the extras, Hoisen sauce, Bean Sprouts, Fresh Thai Basil and the ever-present bottle of Chinese Hot sauce. This dish is unique because it's hot and steamy, sweet, spicy, crunchy, savory and the noodles slid down soooo easy.! Perfection in a bowl. My Niece, Dr Tanisha, declared her meals were very good and she can't wait to come back. The spot started to fill up, and it was time to move on to Tazia in the next block to have a couple of adult beverages and watch the Flyer's game. Hopefully our boys in orange can pull one out on the road. Go Flyers!!!!
(4)
Mairead H.
Food is excellent and CHEAP. I don't mind dropping $$ on a lychee martini (which was delicious) when my entree is $10! This place looks (and tastes) much more expensive than it is.
(5)
Yoshi F.
My wife and I just had a really good dinner here tonight. We have always thought about stopping in, but always went across the street to Vietnam Restaurant. Our daughter, who will be a year next month, was with us tonight and Vietnam Restaurant did not have a high chair, so we ended up across the street at Vietnam Palace. Service was really good and the menu was very similar to across the street. We got the spring rolls, vermicelli with spring roll, pan fried noodles with chicken, and chicken friend rice. Yes, we had a lot of doggie bags, but that was fine. The highlight was my vermicelli with spring rolls.
(4)
shazza f.
I love the food here. I am very picky about my Vietnamese food, having lived in 2 areas with large Vietnamese immigrant communities (Albuquerque & New Orleans), I have been exposed to a lot of Vietnamese food. This one suits my palate better than any other in the Philly area. & the service is fantastic - always friendly & prompt. I highly recommend!
(5)
Dredge K.
Possibly the nicest looking Viet restaurant in town, but the food was very mediocre. My "jumbo" shrimp were just regular shrimp. I was really expecting it to be prawn size. The shaky beef was cut too thin and thus was dry. The papaya salad was tough. But I experience this at Nam Phuong as well, so maybe Philly just doesn't have good green papaya?
(2)
audrey p.
I've eaten at both Vietnam Palace and its archrival across the street, Vietnam. Both places have very good food, but the service is better at Vietnam. A friend and I went to Vietnam Palace last week. It was early and there were only three tables seated. With three waiters you'd think we would have had great service, but they stood around talking to each other instead. We finished our drinks before the appetizers arrived, but were never asked if we wanted more; that loses money for the restaurant and detracts from the tip base, guys! A person at the next table actually got up and went over to the waiters to ask for more water. It was a long time before we could place our order and a long time for the check to arrive, even when we asked for it. We were at the restaurant plenty early to make it to an 8:00 pm appointment, but we wound up being late. This is particularly egregious when there is a rival right across the street. The next time I'm in the area I'll definitely be going to Vietnam instead. That said, the food here is great. Every dish we had was superb. I had beef carpaccio and ginger beef; my friend had fried tofu and pho, and at other visits I've tried different appetizers. Always had great food here. Yummm! It's a large menu with many variations allowed and a good selection of vegetarian and seafood choices. There's also a full bar. So the kitchen is holding up their end, but the staff is not good, at least not on the night we were there.
(4)
rich k.
I don't know why Anyone would rate this restaurant lower than four stars, unless they didn't like Asian cuisine in the first place. The food is wonderful and the prices are reasonable. Yes, the decor is a little odd but who cares. You slurp those noodles anyways.
(4)
Catherine A.
The other day I went here with a date because Vietnam, across the street, was closed, and this place was open. We decided to give it a try because we were committed to the idea of Vietnamese food. What a mistake! To start, we had a grilled shrimp appetizer special, and steamed dumplings with shrimp filling. The dumplings were pretty bad: the filling was too dense, and eating one was like chewing on a massive, rubbery lump of ground-up shrimp. Because essentially, that's what it was. Ugh. Moving on to the shrimp, they were not that big, kind-of charred on one side only (as if it had not been turned over on the grill), but somehow soggy, and the main flavor seemed to be salt. On the plus side, it was more edible than the dumplings. Next, I had a bowl of beef pho, and my date had bun with sliced beef. His beef was really good! I wish I had ordered it. That beef is the reason this place gets two stars, instead of just one. The pho was only OK. There's actually not that much more I can think to say about it, which I don't think is a good sign. After we got the check, the waiter informed us that they had taken a couple of dollars off of the shrimp, because they were out of the jumbo ones they usually grill, and apparently had just grilled whatever ones they had on hand. Ummm...thanks for letting us know? Shouldn't you maybe have told us you were out when we ordered, or at least, before, you know, serving it to us? So we could maybe get something else instead? Instead of the crap you served us?
(2)
Brian N.
I also can see this restaurant from my apartment window. Needless to say, I've ordered from here a lot. Would I say that it's the most amazing place? No. However, their dishes are quite solid. I've tried everything from the satay skewers and pad thai to the pho and fried rice. The dishes are very good. However, I found their vegetable rolls (wrapped in rice paper, not fried) less than appetizing. The texture was dry even with the peanut sauce, and the vegetables did not seem very fresh. That said, in the competitive world of the Philadelphia Chinatown restaurant scene, the workers are quite kind and check up on you quite often to make sure the dining experience is going swell. It is also quite pricey as it is a sit-down restaurant, but it's worth it every once in a while.
(4)
Julia N.
It's funny that this place's average is 3.5 stars, because that's exactly how I'd rate it. I ate here with 17 other people, though, and deft service for a big party bumped me up to a 4. Given how often service issues crop up when you're out with just a few people, it is really commendable that such a big group had such a smooth, fun experience, even with several other mob-sized parties in the dining room. We started off at the bar with 33 Export and Tsingtao, the Vietnamese and Chinese equivalents of Budweiser. OK, Tsingtao is better than Bud, but next time I'm having a cocktail. It takes a long time to organize and seat 18 people, and our waiter was on it with the drink orders as soon as we settled in. I was happy to see a whole page of veggie options in the lengthy menu. Appetizers started arriving shortly thereafter, and the fresh, minty summer rolls and crispy, flavorful spring rolls made everyone happy. My vermicelli stir fry was either lightly flavored or underseasoned, depending on how you look at it (I'm inclined toward the latter), but the basil mock chicken I tried was good. All in all, I found the food to be tasty and satisfying, but nothing really made me rave. I would come back to Vietnam Palace any time nonetheless.
(4)
Cynthia R.
I walked in and what did I see? Vietnamese people eating. Lots of people and lots of food. I had the Shrimp Spring Rolls which came with tails on and wrapped in a great crispy pastry. The diping sauce was a sweet chili sauce. They were served with delicately pickled carrots and raddish, lettuce and fresh cilantro. Then I had the Char-broiled pork and broken rice with a sweet watery vinegar dipping sauce. The sauce could have had more flavor, but the pork was perfect, grill marks, char flavor, tender meat. And the tab was $11.
(4)
Jana V.
LOVE this place: Drinks: Coconut Juice (so good with chunks of coconut inside) Lychee martini - very nice, girly, and strong Food: I always get the charbroiled pork with whatever: broken rice or vermicelli - it's always a hit I think it's their best food. I also like the spring rolls and the pork meatballs as appetizers. I come here at least once every two months.
(5)
Becky S.
mmmmm pho... Lots of choices, the papaya salad was great, the PHO I'm used to has egg in it, and more various veggies and sauces to add, where this place didn't offer that, but overall my craving was satisfied!
(4)
Erin F.
I had a naughty idea on Friday night. We've been going to Vietnam Restaurant since before I lived here. Two years ago, within the walls of Vietnam Restaurant, the idea to move to Philly was hatched. I love it there. But on Friday, instead of going to our longtime favorite, I wondered what would happen if what if we went to Vietnam Palace, DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET? I felt like we were performing some weird act of restaurant betrayal, but I had to know. I had to cross into the bizzaro world. And it was good there. Was it better than Vietnam? I can't say. There were things I liked more (the sauce that came with my vermicelli and the seafood dumplings) and things I liked less (the decor & general ambiance, the spring rolls - which were good, but I prefer Vietnam's). There were things that were identical (the cans of soda, the MENU for most part). Ultimately, it was a good experience and I liked it there. I enjoyed my vegetarian spring roll vermicelli immensely and Mike enjoyed his non-vegetarian springroll vermicelli + shrimp. We ordered essentially what we typically order across the street to compare. Although I have somewhat of an emotional attachment to their rivals (are they rivals? I'm guessing they're rivals) across the street, as far as the food, service, and space go, it's pretty much a draw between the two.
(4)
Kayte Y.
My fiance and I go to Vietnam palace all of the time. It is one if our favorite places in Philadelphia. The lychee martini is fantastic. First of all. The food is delicious. The beef cubes may have a lackluster name, but they make up for that in every other way. The chicken pad Thai is a must. Any of the broken rice or vermicelli dishes are great. I was not the biggest fan of the seven beef appetizer, but that doesn't mean you won't like it. This place is great. I go all the time
(5)
Toby Y.
Amid the standard and unimpressive Vietnamese Pho shops, Vietnam Palace came a refreshing surprise in taste. I went there with a group of friends, we had several common Vietnamese dishes, including shrimp and pork spring roll, broken rice and vermicelli combo, a steamed fish and a raw beef salad for starter. Although the shrimp and pork rolls were mediocre, the raw beef salad was a true delight. It was very well marinated in lemon juice and went really well with the coriander leaves as well as the sesame seeds. The combo was really delicious, presenting some of the tastiest beef, fried pork wrap and grilled shrimp. All in all, I would give it a five and would go back again. Lastly, the place is cheap. I think without drinks, you pay between 15-20 per person incl. tax and tips.
(5)
Seth S.
It seems that its arch rival across the street has its devotees, but I am a big fan of Vietnam Palace. I'm not sure what classifies VP as "expensive"... $7 for Pho is only a dollar more than at PHO 75 - not a back breaker for the quality and atmosphere. The most expensive meal on the whole menu (which is as long as a Greek Diner menu) is $12, and the quality of all of their dishes is really top-notch. The Beef Carpaccio is the unsung hero of the appetizer menu. Amazing stuff, especially along with a staple like the shrimp & pork rolls. I gave it 4 stars on account of the service - often times, I've had the waiter forget about us for a long spell when we were trying to order or pay. But other than that, I can't ever complain here.
(4)
Felicia K.
This place was truly the embodiment of the word "mediocre"... I'm surprised it got such good reviews on here. The atmosphere, service, food... everything was mediocre. I got the green tea martini, which was tasty and not too sweet, but not out of this world. We split the lemongrass chicken skewers, which were truly lacking in flavor. Kudos to them at least for having a nice vegetarian selection. However, my vermicelli with vegetarian spring rolls was just OK. I've had an identical dish at another Vietnamese place that was incredible, but this place's version was lacking in flavor. Boyfriend's seafood entree was good, but as he said, "it's pretty hard to mess up a big platter of seafood since it's just good by itself." Waitstaff was not unfriendly, but wasn't particularly available either.
(3)
Zoe P.
We had bun, a soup, charbroiled squid and the crispy vegetable crepe (which they very nicely served as an appetizer - it's located on the vegetarian section - the crepe that appears with the apps has pork and shrimp and the crepes are quite eggy, which is how I like 'em, but they aren't, you know, vegan or anything). All the food was fresh, with strong, distinct flavors. It was copious and came quickly. For the price, this place really delivers. It was a busy Thursday night and we waited at the bar for just a few minutes to sit down. I don't love the decor, but I don't mind it either. My major problem was with the clientle. The women to my left played with their chopsticks. The lady to my right emphatically insisted that she didn't want anything with peanuts or fish sauce, while her date tried to hide under the table. The waiter nervously asked if she was allergic - because no way is that kitchen peanut-free - but she said she wasn't. So maybe the tables are a little close. Back when we lived in Philly, we always went to "Phil's" for excellent Vietnamese food. The restaurant was, I think, on the Chinatown block with the Holiday Inn (??), and it was a long, white, bare-bones corridor. We haven't been able to find it recently. So my question for you, Philadelphia Yelpers, is what happened to Phil?? He was an excellent restaurateur who served great food and we wish him the very best.
(4)
Damon J.
I cant say enough good things about this place.. Great food, ambiance is great, even how they put the food on the plate look great. Affordable, this place has never let me down. Take a cutie pie with you and you're definitely getting some that night...lol
(5)
Shelly N.
This was a recommendation by a friend and it didn't let me down. I usually stick to pho since I love it so much but tried the Summer Rolls and Beef Cubes Sate for my entree. I've had more flavorful Summer Rolls elsewhere so my only comment for those are "meh". The Beef Cubes Sate was tasty and the serving size was perfect for me. I'd definitely eat here again if I'm in Philly.
(4)
David C.
This is a very beautiful restaurant to be inside for lunch or dinner. I love the service and the quality of everything here. As for food it's no different from other generic vietnamese restaurants but I've never had a bad experience here. You'll always get great service here. :)
(4)
Huiling Z.
THE WORST dining experience, and unfortunately on the night of my graduation. I discussed with Tracey before hand to settle a 3 apps, 2 entrees and 1 veggie menu lineup for $32 for a 29 ppl banquet. 5 Graduates with families flown in from Somali, Kenya, China, Ghana to celebrate this moment and unfortunately were treated poorly. I emphasized several times to have No pork or squid in any dishes because of religion and allergies. And of course, the first app was shrimp and pork! (WTF) The dishes were sent back, and the rest of the 2 apps arrived. For a total of 27 attendees, they served only 5 plates (each of double a la carte portions) to the entire group. At this moment, the kitchen was so desperate to throw food out there, they even served 3 plates for the second app and about 8 people did not even get a lick of that. 20 minutes later, the other 2 LOST plates of the 2nd apps arrives awkwardly. The waaaiiiittt beginnsss.....we waited for 40 minutes for the entrees to arrive after the app. At this point, all you foodies should know under basic restaurant etiquette soo many rules have been broken, the pork; the half served dishes; the incredibly embarrassing wait, wondering if any food's gonna make it here before we starved to death. First entree arrives, pan-fried seafood noodles. Okay...remember the pork deal, now its the squid too. NO PORK OR SQUID! I just died when i saw those white lil curly things in there. The two things I've begged the restaurant to avoid has all been thrown my way. FML. 2nd entree was a beef basil. I would LOVE to tell you it was delicious, but guess what, about 5, 6 guests did not even get a bite of that! The portions were sooo stingy it was embarrassing. I ended up asking for white rice for the beef and the rice, like everything else...arrives fashionably late when the beef's almost gone. So....just like that, a graduation dinner turns into a night of guests stuffing themselves on white rice because of the lack of food. I asked Tracey to serve up another 3 plates of beef because everyone feels we did not get our money's worth with the bad food and lack of attention. Mind you, not only was I REJECTED, I was told to pay for the original plan of 29 ppl instead of the 27 ppl that actually made it. I explained that the 2 ppl missed their flights and for 27 ppl, the food was not enough, so I'm DEFINITELY not going to pay for 29 portions when the rest 27 are starving. Sigh....I tried really hard to make everyone happy, again...reality is quite a bitch. For my four other graduating friends and myself, this was not what we wanted and expected. It was a mentally exhaustive, embarrassing, awkward, and upsetting night. Gladly, the conversation and company made up for the shittiness of the restaurant. I will NEVER return to that land of unprofessionalism, rip-off and just purely bad business standards.
(1)
Tram T.
Excellent service, beautiful atmosphere (there's a cute little cacti pot hidden in the restaurant- how cool is that??), excellent variety of items on the menu. I had the fried rice with chicken and it was excellent- i can not wait to come back and try the Pho. My sister had the Pho and she said - unlike other Pho shops, Pho at this particular restaurant has the authentic taste (you don't taste the msg- it's like Mom's bowl of Pho). My friend has the stir fried noodle and he loves it. The beef was very tender and the veggies that came with it was steamed just right. Over all we had an excellent time at Vietnam Palace and will definitely come back next time we are in Philly.
(5)
Yi H.
It's a good Vietnamese restaurant but for some reason I opt to go somewhere else. It's not the best but it's a lot better than most. I think the reason being, it's not one of my favorites. I've been going there for a while now and I love how easy and organize their menu is. Example, If you're in the mood for chicken, they will list all the option on how you would like it cooked and with what. The one thing that they stand apart from other Viet restaurant is their mini bar with two flat screen TVs. I have to say, I've never seen something like that in a Viet restaurant. It's pretty lay back with people having a few drinks and watching the games. I'll have to try that one of these days.
(4)
Linda S.
We booked VP for our rehearsal dinner and the food was amazing. Prices are much more reasonable than other restaurants in the CC/OC area, and the ambience is so romantic and lovely.
(5)
Ivy L.
I am so surprised to see this getting a decent review. This place looks great but the food is slimy Chinese. I was very disappointed being the restaurant is so cute. They do have a good bar.
(2)
Morgan P.
Consistently good food, and a few bucks per item more reasonable than the place across the street. I recommend some of the grilled items--the meats with broken rice are very tasty, especially with the delicious sweet/spicy sauce. Good value!
(4)
Sara L.
I have had several meals at Vietnam Palace, all occurring when Vietnam across the street was unexpectedly closed. None of them have been terrible, they just weren't great - slowish service, awkward table layout, overcooked chicken and fish (obviously better than undercooked, but still...). I probably would not go back unless a dining companion was really pushing for it AND Vietnam was closed.
(2)
Yuna P.
You won't find me at a Vietnamese restaurant too often. I don't really like the traditional rice noodles, or vermicelli. (I guess I never was a big fan of noodles all together.) But my sister was dying to try this restaurant, so we decided to see what they had to offer. The wait was quite long. The restaurant was simply packed with people! So I thought it might take a long time for the food to come out. But once we got seated, the server came and took our orders rather quickly, and the next thing I know, my dish was right in front of my face. We ordered Vermicelli with Charbroiled Shrimp, Vermicelli Combo, and Stir-Fried Vermicelli with Chicken. My boyfriend, who also came along, flipped over the Stir-Fried Vermicelli with Chicken dish. He actually claimed the dish as his, when we clearly ordered it to share. At the same time, I didn't find the restaurant too special: Not a place where I want to stop by whenever I'm in Philadelphia.
(3)
steven e.
The old joke is that this place shares a kitchen with Vietnam, located right across the street, and that this kitchen below 10th street pumps out the same exact food to each restaurant, except that Vietnam costs about 2 dollars more per dish. This is why I like Vietnam Palace better. It is cheaper, and you usually don't have to wait in line to get in. Now that smoking is banned, it also no longer smells like an underground Vietnamese gambling den.
(4)
Sibil M.
I ate at Vietnam Palace on a Friday night while nursing an upset tummy from recent air travel. To say I was hesitant about eating spicy cuisine was an understatement. However, I was pleasantly surprised that the cuisine didn't upset my stomach further and that the items I ordered were well spiced and comforting. I ate with a group of six, two couples, both who have babies. The restaurant is very accomodating to larger groups of families or people with children. We were seated upstairs in the spacious dining room. The only downside to this was that the waiter occasionally forgot to check on us from time to time. For appetizers, we started with one chicken pho and one beef. We also had crispy shrimp rolls and the veggie spring rolls. All of it was tasty and met with satisfaction by the group. I ordered the Charbroiled Beef with Broken White Rice as an entree. My dish arrived piping hot with razor thin slices of well cooked beef and sticky broken white rice. It was simple yet well flavored. An accompanying bowl of red chili oil was ignored by me because of my stomach, but usually it would be appreciated and savored! My husband ordered a chicken dish in a thai basil sauce. He instead got a ginger sauce that the waiter insisted he ordered. He told him there was basil in there as well and didn't seem to want to take it back. My husband, hungry at this point and not wanting to make a fuss since we had other couples with babies to think about, decided to try the dish and if he really disliked it, he would then send it back. The entree wasn't his most favorite thing in the world, but he ate it anyway. I thought the waiter was very rude and pushy to insist to a customer that he indeed did order something he did not. If we were dining alone, I would insist the order by changed. The harried waiter looked like he was just overworked in the upstairs understaffed portion of the dining room that was fast filling up with large groups of people. Another vegetarian dining companion got a dish with tofu and vegetables and found it to be satisfactory but nothing truly memorable. It seems like veggie options are an afterthought at this spot. The rest of the party had entrees like Curried Chicken and Pad Thai w/ Chicken which they both find to be fine. The one stand out entree, beside my beef one, was the Tilapia Clay Pot that our friend got. She said the curry stew was flavorful and the fish flaky and well cooked. We skipped dessert and when it was time to pay the bill, we noticed jimaca rolls were mistakenly added to our bill. A quick word with the waiter cleared that up and we paid the bill without any other incident. One of the couple's dining with us had tried the place across the street with a similar name and found it be a tastier option. Overall, I thought it was a pretty okay experience for a group outing. To be honest, I'm used to excellent Vietnamese cuisine in NYC that is notable for it's spiciness and well flavored cuisine. I found this restaurant to be an Americanized safe version of Vietnamese food. It also seemed to have a variety of different Asian (Thai, Chinese) cuisine on the menu, maybe to appeal to a broader clientele.
(3)
Nichole J.
It has been my newest tradition over the last two Christmases to dine at Vietnamese Palace. I absolutely love the food. The beef carpaccio has the most vibrant, fresh, spicy flavor. The Vietnamese pork meatballs are perfect for a light lettuce wrap and the noodle soups and wontons were made for the cold weather. I also think they did a great job on the Pho. Definitely visit Tracey at the bar, she's lovely!
(5)
Lucy B.
I am still dreaming of Vietnam Palace's Vegetarian Spring Rolls. If I had to select my last meal.....those spring rolls would be a part of it! Crisp without grease....bursting with ingredients and flavor...they are addictively delicious. Vietnam Palace is our vietnamese food stalwart on our trips to Philadelphia. The food is always impressive and as a vegan, i especially appreciate their long and varied Vegetarian menu section. We were in Philly recently and I had my usual Vermicelli with Vegetarian Spring rolls for lunch - amazing..the slices of pickled radish with it are delicious and refreshing. We returned the next evening and because I was suffering from a head cold, I ordered the Sweet and Sour Tofu Soup. Amazing depth of flavor and very nourishing - my husband indulged too. The service is so lovely at this restaurant - the wait staff are attentive without being pushy. The room with its water features and natural colors is very relaxing. Truly a very special restaurant. Highly recommend it.
(5)
Jenn H. H.
literally across the street from vietnam restaurant, its mortal enemy, is this slightly bigger and less swanky, but still sort of fancy vietnamese spot. i've always been a vietnam restaurant loyal, but did have a chance to eat here once. and you know what? the food here is good too. damn it, i really wanted to hate it, but i couldn't. the downstairs has a bar and is a bit cheesy and lacquered looking, and the upstairs has a large dining area. the service is just fine. so if you wanted to go to vietnam restaurant across the street but can't get in, then you'd do just fine trying to hop in to the palace.
(4)
Timothy D.
This is a nice inexpensive stop b4 going to the Troc 4 a concert. Good food, decent service, very fairly priced. Attractive decor, with a general welcoming feel to the restaurant. This & Vietnam across the street are well rated on Zagat, and deserve it. Nothing extraordinary, but a success nonetheless, and I would say most people would leave with a good impression.
(4)
Joseph L.
Tonight was my second visit to VP and it was just as good as the first. Our server was wonderful and described entries in much detail and even offered suggestions. The atmosphere is upscale. Our server, a young man, was very concerned about our satisfaction with the food and I would want him to serve our table the next time we go there. The only problem was with the desert. I ordered a coconut ice cream in a shell and it seemed like it was old. The ice cream had ice crystals in it and the shell along with the ice cream was frozen rock solid. I beat it with the edge of the spoon and it was like hitting a bowling ball. My guess is that most people don't order desert because the appetizers and main courses left us full. I would recommend this restaurant in a heartbeat because the food is great and all comments are taken seriously quickly. I still was very impressed with our young handsome server. There is something about a male server that makes dinner extra special, and women servers are more common anyway, and most women make a nice place seem like a diner.
(4)
Laura S.
Vietnam Palace is amazing. I am impressed everytime I go. My favorites are the spring rolls, the squid appetizer, and the rice vermicelli with your choice of meat.
(5)
dc h.
Try not to make the mistake of going to this one instead of the Vietnam Restaurant across the street; they are a world apart! I was meeting a business associate at Vietnam Restaurant and she mistook Vietnam Palace for the place. When she called my cell, I told her I'd just walk over to that one (no wait). The food was not very good but the big deal was the cockroaches. Three different ones (the smaller kind) interrupted our meal, two of them by crawling up the wall next to our table. Pay the extra money and go across the street.
(1)
Derek L.
On my last day here in Philly, my sister takes me to her favorite Vietnamese restaurant. The decor is a step up from the usual scene, so I order my usual stuff, terriyaki chicken, the Beef Pho and Seafood Pho for the wife. The chicken terriyaki was huge! Around a pound of it and not really what I usually get. But it was tasty and the best value overall for the place. The fried spring rolls were as good as I have ever had. The Beef Pho was pretty good, but for the money a bit paltry for the meat. The Seafood Pho was very good, but again the portions were rather small, especially considering the price. But I think that might just be what they charge down in these parts. Even with all those gripes, this is one of the better Vietnamese restaurants I have been to this year. I eat at these places because the average is usually pretty good, and the only complaints for most of these places recently, is that their portions have seemed to have gotten smaller.
(4)
Kaylie D.
huh? expensive vietnamese food?!?! that's almost like an oxymoron to me. i guess if you're into the vietnamese "fine dining" this is the place to go. but i come to eat, not for the ambiance. I'm still peeved that I paid 4 bucks for 2 vegetarian spring rolls.
(2)
Kay Y.
I first visited Vietnam Palace in the fall of 1996, and boy has it changed a lot since then. It was a Chinatown hole in the wall in those days, but since Vietnam Restaurant opened up across the street, they've had a hell of a reason to renovate and brighten the place up. The decor is pretty, they put plants in there, have a nice bar with a TV where you can watch a baseball game, I think there's even one of those glass wall fountains. I usually order 'bun' (vermicelli noodles) when I go to Vietnamese restaurants, and this place does their bun well, as well as pho. The service has gotten better over the years. The waiters are attentive, especially for an Asian restaurant, and last time I went (last week), our waiter was actually a *little* overly attentive. But I didn't feel that "get em in, get em out" feeling as I do at other Chinatown establishments. The best thing about Vietnamese food is not just the fresh taste of it but also the prices. And Vietnam Palace is definitely affordable.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Vuthy O.
My family has frequented this joint since the 80s. The decor has changed, the layout, the clientele - but one thing has not - the CHA-fuckin'-GIO. (Fried spring rolls for non-Khmer/non-Vietnamese readers.) The Cha Gio power level is, like, over 4,600. That's some Super-Saiyajin shit! They use rice paper, instead of the crappy other paper that is used everywhere else. I never really get anything other than a ton of spring rolls. When I do, it's good, but I've had better/cheaper Vietnamese food elsewhere. Seriously - solid place. Excellent Cha Gio. Eat here.
(4)Riain S.
I enjoy Vietnam Palace (AKA the Electric Ao Dai) because it's not the ususal crap Pho-in-the-wall place. The decor is nice, the servers are attentive and they have a liquor license(!). Yes, it's more than $6 a bowl for soup. This seems to offend many people who are dead set on cheap pho, but try to remember that you're paying to sit in a place that doesn't look like someone set up a soup kitchen in the remains of a Bosnian McDonalds. Don't worry, there are still plenty of cheap pho places with dirty bowls and filthy seats around (Cafe Pho Ga Thanh Thanh in Kensington comes to mind). We've eaten here dozens of times and I can say that everything I've eaten has been good and remarkably consistent. Food-wise I'd say its a 4/5- good, craveable, but not mind-blowing. The setting pushes it up to five stars, because its the type of place where you can take a group/family/a date and get a drink, bullshit, eat and generally turn the meal into a 3 hour affair. There are better Viet places out there in terms of food, but very few in Philly have an atmosphere that is conducive to staying for more than 20 minutes. If you're in Chinatown this is the spot for Viet.
(5)Gerald S.
We had a very good dinner here last week while in town for haircut and walkabout. The floor plan is spacious, with bamboo and other strong Asian cues. The staff was friendly and able to answer a few of my more technical questions about the dishes. The insights provided led me to try the Hue Style Noodle Soup. Turns out, this potage uses Egg Noodles rather than rice, and has a red cast due to the ground up Spicy Red Peppers and Hoisin mixed into the Beef Broth. Otherwise, the same Sprouts, Thai Basil, Jalapeno Slices, and Lime Wedges were available as desired. The taste slides up the heat scale and adds another dimension to the otherwise wonderful flavors of the traditional Pho. A lot of sliced Steak in there, too. Very satisfying. The Shrimp & Pork Roll app was fresh and delish with a sweet peanut sauce for dipping. Will definitely return to try more of the menu. Very enjoyable experience at Vietnam Palace.
(4)Nicolas N.
I cook and grew up on Vietnamese food from all regions. This review is for the authenticity and quality of the Vietnamese food here. My friend asked me not to provide a review since it is not positive, but I must remain steadfast with being objective and true to my standards. Bad food is bad food, period. I really want to like this place since the service is decent and there is a bar! But for the food, the flavor or quality is not all there (compared with other Viet restaurants outside of Chinatown). We ate here on separate occasions (for lunch and dinner), and ordered multiple dishes from soup, noodles, fish (clay pot fish), to other rice dishes. All of the dishes seem to just have a hint of the flavor that makes Vietnamese dishes so delicious! Even the spring rolls that is so simple to make, lacked all the key ingredients and didn't taste fresh at all. The other Vietnamese restaurant directly across the street is similar in blandness and mediocrity. Sadly I am venturing south to other restaurants on Washington Ave. Go here if you are visiting Chinatown and need to have Vietnamese food. Two stars for the good service and location only.
(2)Robert P.
I only go if the wait at Vietnam is too long. It's good . Really but I like Its neighbor more. They are less expensive. The food is always ok.
(3)Noah F.
I noticed Vietnam Palace's mysterious women logo from blocks away so I decided to see what was inside... Visually I enjoyed the bamboo covered interior, but this was lacking in the bar area. I felt like I was visiting any old bar. Overall the inside was very clean and appealing. My Pho was tasty but authentic cuisine is tastier, so to me, this is a perfect date spot for those who are more sensitive and afraid to try new things...but want to... There were many interesting and enticing dishes to try; like Catfish in a clay pot, Papaya Salad, and Sate Beef (beef marinated in lemon grass with crushed peanuts, lettuce bean sprouts, mint & pickle radishes). The service was quick and helpful, during lunch hours at least and they have a $4 dollar discount if you use the parking garage.
(3)J W.
Mouth watering delectable short ribs, beef satay, salt battered seafood and pork vermicelli! Don't forget to try the coconut ice cream. This restaurant is my go to place at least once a week.
(5)Steph J.
Vietnam palace is my favorite Vietnamese food spot in the city. Their beef carpaccio, beef short ribs, and salt battered seafood are among my favorite dishes. The restaurant does a good job of mixing traditional Vietnamese worth more modern fusion type flavors so it's great for all cultures. That said, I prefer the pho at other restaurants. For sweet treats, I recommend trying the avocado shake and the warm taro dessert. So delicious!
(5)Preet M.
Service: We rolled up to the restaurant about 30 heads deep on a Sunday around noon. The hosts were all super nice and gratuitously dealt with our constant nagging for photos to be taken and loud noise. Food came out very quickly and everyone was eating about ten minutes after placing their order(s). Free beer or wine if you check in as well! I was VERY satisfied with the organization and composure presented to myself and my friends by the staff here. Food: I ordered the pho' ...as I normally do when fighting a hangover from hell. The noodles were a bit thicker than normal, but the meat and broth were on point. I tried a few of my friends' rice dishes and they also did not disappoint. Environment: Nice cozy restaurant with a silent atmosphere. Lots of traditional decorations make the experience nice and enjoyable. I'm not sure where all of the bad reviews come from...great job Vietnam Palace!
(5)LawVick L.
I learned that Vietnam Palace is under new ownership so we ventured over last Friday night for dinner. We were all very impressed with the food, it was authentic and absolutely delicious. We sampled several versions of bun and pho and they were all very good. The spring rolls were superb (also try the jicama roll!) I can tell the grilled meat was done on real charcoal and that gave a real BBQ flavor. All of us enjoyed the bun and pho, I will definitely go back and try other dishes too. I would recommend this place.
(5)Jason H.
Vietnam Palace is a longtime resident of the Chinatown neighborhood, and in constant competition with their arch nemesis across the street, simply called "Vietnam." Between the two, I prefer the Palace. The food is plentiful, the service prompt and accommodating, and the food quality is very good. They also have a full bar as well as a sample of non-alcoholic Asian inspired drinks. The summer rolls are great, well...in the summer. Shrimp and pork with vermicelli noodles, basil, a side of pickled veggies, and a hoisin peanut sauce. The crispy spring rolls are what you'd expect at a great Vietnamese restaurant; crispy outside with pork and shrimp, vermicelli noodles, mushroom, and carrot on the inside. The char-grilled beef short ribs are to die for; smokey and sweet, atop a bed of greens with a side of pickled veggies. As any of you that are Vietnamese devotees know; the soup's the thing. They have a host of soups, all fairly large in portion aside from the wonton/dumpling soup, which can be ordered in an appetizer portion. They have a few different types of beef soup, both egg and rice noodles, different broths, and different proteins. I'm especially drawn to the beef noodle soup with the rice noodles, as well as the wonton pork noodles soup. Both are very flavorful, and especially good in the fall and winter, or when you're not feeling well. For dessert, they have a rice pudding which is a glutenous rice with chunks of taro, topped with sweet coconut milk. A great happy ending. They take cards, and have a pretty large restaurant; no delivery, however, which is a shame.
(4)Adam F.
Nice but casual Vietnamese food in Chinatown. Full bar - definitely get the lychee martini. Standard array of entrees and soups --- pho, vermicelli, etc. The food isn't as great as some of the places in South Philly, but the location and the ambiance are great for a casual date night or dinner with friends.
(4)Hardik R.
The food was pretty average. The portions are kind of not as large as I'd expect from an Asian restaurant. The tofu roll appetizer was like the Thai style tofu roll. Shocked that they charged for the bowl of rice with the entree!! The menu is too large too.
(3)Mama O.
Cute ! Charming! Pretty easy to find parking that wasn't a hike & it was a Friday night. Loved the Seafood Maxine! Friendly fast service. We'll be back:)
(4)Jin Z.
Went here with a friend who ordered their vegetable noodle soup. Half way through the meal he started finding pieces of chicken meat in his bowl. Then as he dug around the bottom of the bowl, lots of pieces. We brought this to the attention of the waiter who took it to the chef. Came back and told us those were dried bamboo pieces. .. um, it looked like chicken, the meat flaked like chicken, smelled like chicken, and tasted like chicken. 1 star for dishonesty.
(1)Loc L.
Ok since this place didn't have "Pho" in its name I'm not going to score it on Pho... Otherwise I'd score it a 2 start. So I'll score it based on the item that's NOT Pho, the Vermicelli noodles for spring roles($13)... In which case... I STILL give it a 2 star. If this is the best Phili has to offer then I feel sorry for the Vietnamese of this city (the Americans don't know any better; I don't think the people here know what good Vietnamese food is). Here are some critiques: The Pho soup is priced way higher than what was offered in terms of quality& quantity. The tendons etc. in the "dac biet pho" soup was tougher and chewier than should be. The rare beef in the soup was totally cooked when it arrived at the table, which shouldn't have been the case. The vermicelli noodle dish were supposed to be 'Banh Hoi' style as the waiter stated but wasn't even the case - or they took a shortcut about it. And did i mention the bowls were totally smaller than the price suggests? Overall it doesn't deserve its current high rating unless it's a Phili scale that I'm not used to. I'm using a California scale, and there this place would not exist for long. The only solace was that, by calling itself a 'palace', it's saying a lot about what a std household Vietnamese food is, cuz if theirs is "a palace" then the typical food made in a California Vietnamese's house must be heavenly!
(2)Kelly P.
Delicious meal, no complaints. My vegetarian spring rolls were served hot. for my entree, the beef was hot, flavorful, and served atop cool vermicelli. I wish all places served it that way now! The dining room is not the coziest but it is clean and warm in the wintertime.
(5)AJ A.
So Ive been to a lot of pho places (nj,ny,md,pa) this is the first time I paid $9 for a pho with 3slices of meat.. Yeah 3 slices. Usually $9 is a huge bowl with tons of meat. Place is overpriced. Explore china town more and you'll see what Im talking about..
(2)Katrina G.
Have been going here regularly since 2006. Pho noodle soup is good (7/10). Love the mussels in garlic broth on a cold winter's day. Have regular lunch specials Mon-Fri for soups and appetizers. Always play good music overhead and love the decor. Go there regularly and the staff will recongize and appreciate your business. Favorite appetizers are summer rolls, crispy spring rolls and salt battered squid. The mock chicken with curry sauce is a delicious vegetarian alternative. Fish in the claypot is also very good. Not as adventurous? Go for the broken rice combo (which you can also sub certain items in and out) or the fried rice deluxe. I particularly enjoy the the vermicelli combo but is on the more expensive side (but worth it). Drinks are hit or miss. Lychee martini is more hit than miss. Can't go wrong with a free beer or glass of wine when you check in on Yelp. Happy hour specials are good. Definitely prefer the Palace than its competition across the street.
(4)Stephanie H.
Lots of vegetarian options at Vietnam Palace and you can't go wrong with anything you end up choosing, it's all amazing. I ended having the vegetarian pad Thai special and the mixed vegetable noodle soup. Both were exceptional. I would definitely go back and next time I would try the tofu spring rolls. Everyone seems to be talking a great deal about them on yelp.
(4)John L.
Not liking a Vietnamese place is hard for me. But I have to say I can really only give Vietnam Palace a 3 star. Some folks may consider the food great, tasty, and decor lovely. Myself I do not count myself among those people. I find Vietnam a bit pretentious for its own good, and the clientele tends to reflect this same mentality. Vietnamese cuisine, even at the highest level is not upscale cuisine. It is comfort food, it is blending the best of Chinese and French cuisine with the freshest ingredient in all of Asia.Then making every dish an enjoyable experience for everyone involved. There is hardly any learning curve when eating Vietnamese cuisine. Yet for some reason, Vietnam Palace takes dishes turns simplified dishes to pretty, standard to extravagant, and strays away from authentic to westernized. This is one of the reasons why during the busy "Asian" days such as Sunday the restaurant is usually empty, as it is a tall tale sign that the mother culture of food has been forgotten. I never thought it be possible with Vietnamese cuisine, but alas Vietnam Palace does just this. However, the reason I gave it 3 stars is that it allows an entry point to many westerners otherwise too intimidated to enter places like 6th/11th Washington, or even Choo Choo 2 blocks away.
(3)Melody W.
BIG fan. Along with a group of about 12 loved ones, I thoroughly enjoyed celebrating my birthday here last year. They took good care of us, and we all left incredibly tipsy, full and satisfied. (In fact, the ONLY reason I didn't celebrate here again this year is because of our tradition of going somewhere different every time.) I also frequent Vietnam Palace for unique snacks and cocktails after work, and the occasional dinner with a friend or the family. It's all about the charbroiled short ribs, the salt and pepper squid, the soft shell crab and last, but certainly not least, the sweet, cold and delicious lychee martini. The martini is so delectable, it would truly be a daily habit, if only that habit didn't suggest the onset of alcoholism... Everything in moderation (dang it!).
(4)Khanh V.
One of the best Vietnamese restaurants in Philly. Vietnam Palace is nicely designed and is clean. (Although the decoration doesn't resemble a palace). They offer quality food. I really like the Korean inspired short ribs that are on the appetizer menu. Some things are good, but I would stay far away from hot pot. It was a letdown and the broth tastes like something from a ramen package that I made at home. For hot pot I would recommend International Smokeless BBQ on 11th and Washington. Also they have a nice bar area with flat screen tvs for sport viewing and happy hours.
(3)Matt M.
OK so I am learnig as I go but this place is really very good and exceptionally well priced. Got the Vermicelli which is a huge bowl of thin noodles with as much stuff as you can put in it. Crispy chicken, egg rolls, shrimp, vegetables and the like. This is wonderfully good and filling yet light. Ill explore more but was very happy
(4)Courtney J.
The food here was pretty good, but there were a lot of different things that were off during my visit. I've thought about going to Vietnam Palace or Vietnam restaurant for quite some time. However, I usually decide to go to Veggie Lovers across the street instead when I'm in China Town. I chose Vietnam Palace when I saw a lychee martini mentioned in one of the Yelp reviews. In case you don't know, lychee is this delicious fruit from China and Southeast Asia that tastes like awesomeness. That's really the only way I know to describe it. Oh, and it's sweet, but you probably already knew that since I said it was a fruit. Anyway, at 8:00 PM on a Friday evening it was easy to get a table. The atmosphere is really quite nice. Glass paneling with water running down it, lots of wood, and Vietnamese paintings and art and soft lighting. Whatever the people seated near us were having smelled really good. My significant other and I decided to get a couple of different dishes and share them. When I checked into Yelp with my phone I was pleased to see I'd unlocked a check-in offer I wasn't aware of for a free domestic beer or house wine. My boyfriend got a Yuengling and I got the lychee martini I'd read about. The martini arrived and they poured it from the shaker into the glass at the table, presumably so it wouldn't spill since the filled the glass so full. It was good, but it mostly just tasted of the Soho lichee liquor which I have at home. My boyfriend's glass for the beer had a broken piece of glass stuck to the rim of it. He saw it before he started pouring the beer into the glass and alerted the server and who took it away. He just drank the beer out of the bottle. Soon the vegetarian spring rolls arrived nicely garnished with a dipping sauce alongside a bed of lettuce topped with a few thin slices of cucumbers and pickled carrots and radish and some mint leaves. The spring rolls, were hot, crisp, and flavorful. We had ordered the salt and pepper shrimp. However, we were brought the salt and pepper squid. We got the waiter's attention and sent it back. Then about five minutes later the veggie chicken with lemongrass sauce came out. It was a bit of a disappointment. I'm pretty sure the "chicken" was Ray's Seitan. I like Ray's Seitan, but it's nothing special and I can make it at home easily for way cheap. The sauce was good, but not as lemongrassy as I was hoping for. It also didn't come with any rice! What kind of stir fry doesn't come with rice? Looking back on this, I think it might have been a mistake because when we were leaving, the server at the next table was asking the customers if they wanted white or brown rice. No one ever asked us that or even if we wanted to order any. Finally, the salt and pepper shrimp arrived on a bed of cabbage with little pieces of onion and some fresh jalapeno peppers on the side for heat. This was simple, but crispy and fresh, with big flavorful lightly breaded shrimp. It was the best part of the meal. I highly recommend it to all you shrimp lovers out there. We were still a little hungry due to the lack of carbs, but the shrimp and the spring rolls were tasty. I might go back and give them another try, but I think I'll check out their competitor across the street first.
(3)Jenn G.
I recently went to Vietnam Palace with my friend because we wanted to stray from our usual restaurants. The atmosphere was different from what I am used to experiencing in Vietnamese restaurant. It looked way fancier than it really was. The service was quick and our waiter was very helpful. His suggestion of the lycee martini was appreciated. I loved it! It was very refreshing. We split an entree of the tofu summer rolls. They were standard summer rolls served with that delicious peanut sauce. For dinner, I got pork bun with spring rolls. The pork was cooked perfectly. The quality of it was unlike any other bun. You could tell they took their time in selecting their meat. Their portions aren't as big as other places. I felt like I got a little stiffed on the portion to cost ratio.
(4)Hong L.
Vietnam Restaurant was closed for some random vacation, and I am glad it was. Palace wasn't as bad as I thought. It isn't authentic (very close though) but it does a good job of bringing out the Vietnamese flavors. My date and I ordered 7 courses of beef, it was $31 dollars. You should try it! I expected it to come out individually, but they had it all on a huge plate. Tasty, tasty, tasty! I haven't had the pho yet, but I will. I'm actually on a mission to find amazing Bun Bo Hue, but I don't think it'll work out here.
(4)Frank C.
Had the chicken Pho, amazing!! Great service. Check it out is you are near the convention center.
(5)Sopheara S.
Surprisingly this place can makes a good Mai tai drink. It's not a typical bar that you would expected its $7-8 per drink. A 7 course beef is a must try item, it comes with a nice white flours wrap that you dip in a hot water to soft it up and wrap it with lettuce, mint,....etc and beef. If you don't like fish sauce just try it first to see if you can handle it . Vermicelli deluxe also recommend it comes with shrimp, pork, spring roll and a whole bunch of lettuce. A safe dish to order is Pho ( beef noodle soup ) I love the broth it made perfectly. Short rip dish is incredibly tasty , the beef is so tender and well marinated you can get it with brown or white rice. Black been stir fired is also delicious , it can be really spicy if you can handle the hotness. Pad Thai is not a great idea to get, the texture of the noodle and the ingredient is not well come together- hey what do you expect? it's Vietnamese restaurant. Recommend : rainbow ice ( dessert drink ) really awesome ! If you are the kind of person prefers dessert before your meal like me. The service is good fast and friendly folks. Over all for the food I vote for 3.5 stars and service is 4.
(3)Coedy G.
Had the pho here! Very good but portions were small and it was a bit higher in price than some of the other spots I've been to. Over all, friendly servers and good pho. Not the best pho I've had.. But good pho.
(4)Sal W.
Had the Beef vermicelli ($9). The beef tasted exceptionally good, but unfortunately there wasn't a lot of it. Also disappointing was the lack of vermicelli noodles. They should triple the amount of vermicelli to make the dish actually worth it (the marginal cost is minimal, so I don't know why they are so stingy with them). There are some restaurants south of Washington that are better overall on the food side of the equation. The waiter never refilled our waters. The interior of this place looks really nice though. Food Quality/Taste = 4/5 Stars Portion Size Given Price = 2/5 Stars Service = 2 Stars Experience with Staff = 3 Stars Decor = 5 Stars
(3)Jenny H.
I came here for take out, thinking it was Vietnam Restaurant haha...but they were really nice. I got their pork with rice, and their summer rolls. Pretty standard, good Vietnamese food.
(3)Matthew B.
Disclaimer: I am rating them only on the bar only, not the food. Stopped here as part of a cocktail crawl on the way to Trestle Inn. I think I may have found the worst bartender in Philadelphia. After looking at the drink menu, we decided on two "specialty" martinis. I wasn't watching while she made the lemon drop, but i did catch her making the ginger martini. The ingredients were clearly labeled on the menu, so imagine my dismay as i watched here pour Popov vodka, ginger ale, and sour mix into the mixer. Did not match the menu description (absolute, Ginger liqueur, sweetened lemon juice ). When i questioned her, she became defensive claiming the menu description was wrong! While she remade the drink, her attitude sucked, and the replacement cocktail tasted like absolute with sour mix. Gave it back to her and asked for a cucumber martini (Hendricks with a cucumber slice; hows that for creative?). Frankly, the attitude baffled both of us and luckily its a rarity in my experience. But if they are willing to substitute rail liquor and lower quality ingredients in a cocktail they advertise on the menu as a high-end, $11 cocktail, what else are the subbing? Don't think i want to find out.
(1)Jacky L.
Compared to the Vietnam restaurant across the street, this one is by far superior. However, compared to the ones in NY, this one is meh. Pho here is good, but not great, especially for the price. You can get pho in NY for cheaper, more, and better. Prices here in general is about above average for Vietnamese food, whereas the quality is only about average, so it is a little bit overpriced. However, there aren't that many options to choose from in Philly, so I guess this one will have to do. The decor here is pretty nice though, not super fancy, but wouldn't be a bad place for a casual date or something. Overall, if you need to satisfy a Vietnam cuisine craving and you're in Philly, this place will have to do.
(3)Patience P.
This is a staple for me. Great food and great service. The spring rolls, cubed beef with lemon pepper and the shrimp with broken rice are favorites. Don't forget to get sweet rice with taro for dessert!
(5)Kristina C.
Very fast service, conp glass with check in was a good cab and the jicama rolls were great and the sauce was tasty and a little spicy. No fresh basil, beef lemongrass soup amazing and full of beef. All in all, all of the food that we have gotten here is amazing, and you can't beat the atmosphere. I would definitely recommend the soups and appetizers! And they give Yelpers a free glass of wine for checking in....uhmmmm YES!
(4)Brian C.
It's often just a toss up for me as to whether I should go to Vietnam Palace or Vietnam. Honestly, I feel I could write the same review for both. This is a pretty dependable place to go for Vietnamese food in Chinatown. I think that this restaurant and the restaurant across the street, Vietnam, are both comparable as far as quality of food and taste. The main reason I come here is convenience. It's in a great location, right in Chinatown. In fact, this is a great place to run out for lunch and grab a quick bite. I usually get one of the vermicelli bowls with either spring rolls or char grilled pork. I love the fish sauce that it comes with and usually just empty the sauce into my noodles before I enjoy. I think the thing that sets Vietnam Palace slightly apart from Vietnam is that the ambience is slightly better here and in my opinion the service is also slightly better. Emphasis on "slightly". In both restaurants, the ambience and service is just fine.
(3)Karen F.
Last night I went over to Vietnam Palace to see Tracey Nguyen who is putting together a large (about 30 people) party for my child's kindergarten class. Since I was there anyway, I had some dinner - including a freshly squeezed glass of lemonade (perfect on a 77 degree and humid day) and a delicious place of extra-thin bun (rice vermicelli) and grilled beef. Tracey is terrific and will be on hand next week when we have our big dinner. I will let you know how it goes, but as of right now - and can't say enough good things about the service and food and Vietnam Palace. It's a great place for couples, singles and families with young children.
(5)Emily C.
Great food, fabulous bartender, and excellent service. The pho is some of the best I've had in Chinatown. The crispy shrimp rolls come with the tails still attached for easy dunking and the mojito has fresh Ginger added to it. It's all in the details folks!
(5)Marissa R.
I have loved all the food I tried - short ribs, salads, pho, curry, pad thai, etc. The lychee martini, Vietnamese mojito & 33 beer are great specialties there too. I will return - it's delicious!!!!!
(5)Olivia J.
Pretty good food. Notes: I did not have drinks, nor have I ever been to Vietnam Restaurant (which this place inevitably gets compared to because they are across the street from each other). I got: - Spring rolls. Very tasty, but a little too high of a fried/vegetable ratio for me. - Tomato crab meat soup. Again, delicious. Maybe a little "one note" and not extremely complex in flavor, but the flavors that are there are good. How can you go wrong with a tomato-y broth filled with crab meat, noodles, sprouts and sriracha? The service was fine - nothing to complain about there. Reasonably priced.
(4)Jess C.
Good food, and decent drinks. i recommend the mai-tai or the mojito. i've been here twice with large groups 10-12 people which can quickly overwhelm the staff despite making reservations beforehand. i recommend the shrimp & pork rolls, the satay beef, and the salt-battered tofu apps. i wasn't that impressed by the broken rice shrimp & beef combo.
(3)Scott B.
This was horrible. I went on A sunday evening in November with my girlfriend. After walking around Chinatown for a bit we decided on this place. I hadn't eaten Vietnamese food for over a year and love the cuisine. I had spend 2.5 weeks in Vietnam a few years back and consider the food among my favorite. Most of the people in the place were white (first sign that the place was not very authentic). The service was very slow and my domestic beer tasted at least a year old. My girlfriend ordered the Chicken Pad Thai and I had ordered some spicy cubed beef dish. our food came out within 15 minutes and hers was pretty good....However it makes me question why Pad Thai (a Thai dish) is on at Vietnamese Restaurant's Special Menu. My dish was horrendous. There were 1/2 cubes of beer (4-5 oz worth) atop a bed of lettuce and tomatoes. Let's start with the bottom and work our way up...The lettuce was iceberg, and not dressed at all. Once you worked your way through an entire salad worth of dry lettuce you would be left with a sliced tomato. After these two cold vegetables (yes, I know a tomato is a fruit but just let it go) there was a disgusting meat. The beef was possibly the most tough piece of meat I've ever eaten...I've eaten every type of meat imaginable. I've eaten fried grasshoppers that tasted better. I asked for the menu and made another waiter take my entree back. By the time they came back to take my order my gf had finished her meal and I just asked for the check. I would NEVER come back to this place again. This is the most unauthentic Vietnamese food I have ever eaten and I've eaten in at least a dozen North and South Vietnamese cities in Vietnam. I'm giving it two stars because my girlfriend did enjoy her Chicken Pad Thai. SCRATCH that, it's so bad it only gets one star!!!
(1)Kristin W.
When our planned dinner spot had a dauntingly long line, we opted to try Vietnam Palace where we could be seated immediately. We kept it simple with the Beef Noodle Soup and the Chicken Noodle Soup and agreed that we liked the flavor and the freshness of the add-ins...however, we would have liked a little more noodle to fill us up. Overall, a good spot - we'll be back to branch out beyond the pho.
(3)Zanna H.
Their pho is great. Their vegetable spring rolls are great. Their stuffed grape leaves are great. I get something different every time I am there. Their wine selection is smaller but of good quality. The wait staff are very attentive and courteous. The ambiance is nice especially for a quiet dinner for a couple.
(4)Kai M.
Best Vietnamese in Philly, hands down. I know precisely why this place consistently scores worse than Vietnam Restaurant across the street: it's not as "pretty" (the owners have updated some of the decorations but it doesn't have the hip feel of VR). Also, it features authentic flavors: hot, sweet, sour, grilled, smoky. VR does not--it features the Vietnamese equivalent of American Chinese take-out: tamed ghosts of flavors that used to exist. Back to the Palace. I've been coming to this place since 2001, and I've seen its transformation from hole-in-the-wall to better-heeled. That being said, there are three things that keep me coming back, when normally I'm difficult to please: impeccably fresh and tasty food every single time, exceptionally cheerful, polite wait staff, and a fantastic value for your dollar. Whether you're new to Viet food or a seasoned pro, you'll find something here for you. Their spring rolls are fantastic and a great way to ease nervous eaters in: everyone loves them. The crepe is also awesome (ground pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts). I almost always get the raw beef and lime: tender, perfectly spiced, and amazing on a hot day. For mains, they also have plenty to please: their bo luc lac is fantastic (tender cubes of seasoned tenderloin), as is their salt-battered seafood (a mix of shrimp, scallops, and squid in an air-light crust), whole fried fish, and just about anything in a clay pot (I usually urge my vegetarian friends to try the eggplant in clay pot--delicious). If it's something cold and refreshing you crave, try the bun (layered rice noodles, salad, herbs, and grilled meats), especially the "vermicelli deluxe". For soups, prepare to share: the portions are massive (not even my dad could polish a whole bowl off). Tripe pho is super tasty, as is the roast pork and wonton soup (my go-to on a blustery winter day). Desserts are fairly limited, but all very good: try the coconut ice cream, the taro pudding, or the fabulous rainbow ice. They have a full bar (the lychee cocktail is very tasty), but I don't tend to get alcohol when I'm here, short of a beer. I tend to go for the Thai iced tea or the Vietnamese coffee, both of which are awesome. Give these guys a try. Be a little open-minded and step out of your comfort zone. I think you'll find that you've discovered a new comfort food in its own right.
(5)diane g.
Surrisingly, had some pretty bad spring rolls here last week. Vietnam was closed so I thought I'd try Vietnam Palace. Although the rolls were much cheaper, they were terrible. That being said, Ive had some very good meals here over the years...esp the seafood soup/meal for two on a cold rainy day.
(3)Sean A.
I will always go here vs Vietnam across the street. Classic. Great food - great rpice and they actually know how to make a martini!
(4)Marylyle M.
My tale of eating here is a bittersweet one. First time I had the mock chicken with ginger and had dreams to go back because it was so good.I had also ordered an avocado milkshake but they forgot to bring it. Next time they brought it and it was good, but later when i went to take a drink a giant insect was swimming in it. It was probably from the plant on the table, but it still rattled me a bit. I should give it another chance sometime, but I'm a bit gunshy.
(4)Michelle C.
I'm ashamed to admit that I was a Chinatown virgin before my very first JewMas. Upon hearing this, Blake and Yuri, my hosts of the evening, made the experience special. Blake donned red and green threads and Yuri somehow fixed my stubborn blinking lights necklace, which I received in my Christmas stocking that morning. Neither seemed to mind that I wore it for the duration of the evening. My hosts were torn between Vietnam and Vietnam Palace, but the shorter wait time at Vietnam Palace made the decision an easy one. We lingered for about five minutes before we were seated. I was surprised to see such an expansive cocktail list and immediately decided on a lychee martini. It was so delish, I ended up having two (shocking, I know). We ordered charbroiled lemongrass shrimp, beef short ribs and tofu rolls to start. I'm not a tofu girl so I passed on those, but they were presented well and the peanut dipping sauce was met with much fanfare. The shrimp were lightly flavored and well prepared, but perhaps could have used a dipping sauce themselves. The short ribs had an excellent marinade but were far too fatty in my opinion. I understand it is the nature of the beast, but actual meat was hard to come by. For my main, I tried vermicelli with charbroiled chicken. The chicken was seasoned well and I liked the sauce that accompanied the dish, but overall, I found the concept to be kind of boring. Yuri offered a bite of his chicken and veggies in curry sauce, and while I wasn't crazy about the flavor, I liked the presentation. I'd probably order something similar in the future, except in either the lemongrass or ginger variation. We finished our meal with Vietnamese coffee, also new to me. When I questioned the whereabouts of cream and sweetener, Yuri instructed us to simply stir. A thick, sweet cream at the bottom of the cup mixed with the hot coffee on top. A couple sips were nice, but the sweetness was too overpowering for my liking. Our experience was a pleasant one and the staff did an excellent job. I may return in the future but I'd like to try other Vietnamese spots first, to get a better idea of the cuisine in general.
(3)Sutanuka L.
Although we wanted to go to Vietnam restaurant,it was closed :( so we ended up going here and it was very good food !!!
(5)Kent W.
They rennovated this place a few years back. One word: "BEEF" Hahaha. Seriously, try the 7 course beef! Make sure to bring a friend or two when you do.
(4)Lori Z.
Love the Vietnam Palace. The vegetarian items appeal to me the most. The spring rolls are fabulous. The rice noodle dishes and sauteed vegetables with garlic are excellent. The lychee martini is delicious. I enjoy visiting Chinatown in Philadelphia and I really like trying many new places; however, the Vietnam Palace ranks #1 with me. Beautiful atmosphere. Go and enjoy!
(5)Suzy G.
Love this place! Best value in Chinatown! The prices are great and the food is even better! My favorite is the Bun which is rice vermicelli with your choice of charbroiled chicken, shrimp or pork. I also like the vegetarian spring rolls with the yummy dipping sauce. This place offers a Great value and Excellent food. Vietnam restaurant, which is across the street is good too, but there are always long lines, slow service and higher prices there. I'll take the Palace anyday!
(5)Vichet O.
A few words before I begin my review in earnest: I bring a lot of people here. When they step through the front door, they're usually impressed. It might be with the steam-warped wicker chairs that match the tables. Maybe it's the cozily lit interior, a combination of matte-finished dark wood paneling and earth tones. Or maybe it's the open air look of the restaurant, with floor length windows facing 11th. Whatever it is, there's something intimate, but not pretentiously so, about this standalone building at 222 North 11th. Oh, how many women have rejected me in this wonderful place? All of them? You would be right, sir! With that said, I must also mention I've been eating at the restaurant for most of my life. I might be a little fuzzy on this, but I remember back when it was a linoleum-tiled, fluorescent-lit dive that honestly looked like a rec center basement. Of course I was probably about four years old, so it may not have been that bad. But it was never really about the ambiance back then. The food was where this place always shone bright. And here we are, 2009, in the "rand of oppotunity," with a full-on gentrified, hip young clientele getting the same quick, friendly service that I do from a place that used to be my little secret. After all, across-the-street-rival Vietnam Restaurant was, and arguably still is, the more popular of the two for a long, long time. Yup, a lot of things have changed. Two renovations, a modestly more expensive menu, and lots of people crowding the place on the weekends. The food stayed the same: ball-twistingly awesome. Now for the review: If you don't eat pork for religious reasons, this restaurant is proof that God hates you. Don't worry, there's still plenty to be had at Vietnam. Just let it be known that the pig here is THAT good. I'm an amateur chef myself, and unless I've been cooking for liars, I'm doing pretty well. But not THIS well. When it comes to flaying that stuttering Looney Toon we'd all rather eat, Vietnam Palace makes a damn good pig. Try the charbroiled pork slices over rice vermicelli. Or the charbroiled porkchops over broken rice. Try the nem nuong, grill pork meatballs served with DIY rice paper wraps! If it's made of pig, go for it. Above all else, though, try the cha gio, fried spring rolls with ground pork filling. I have never been to any other place that makes them this good. As for other fare, the Pho is a good choice (albeit pricey for pho), whether you get it plain or Phnom Penh style. Great on a cold day, and made with more care than the average pho chain. Their take on Bo Luc Lac, cubed beef steak with a lime/black pepper sauce over rice, is much more zesty than I usually have it at home, but it's definitely worth trying. There are also simmering-fish-in-clay-pot type dishes that are very, very tasty and surprisingly not fishy. I've been old enough to drink for a while now, and I have to say that VP's latest attempts to cater to people like me (alcoholics) is somewhere between good and average - the prices are reasonable and they have everything you'd need to make your favorite. Because the place has a constant supply of fresh lime and mint leaves, you could even order a mojito - I don't remember if that's on the menu, but whatever. This place is a great idea for a very reasonable date. Appetizer + 2 entrees + 2 drinks for less than $45 is a pretty good deal in my opinion. Plus, you get points for bringing the other person to one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in the city.
(4)Kent L.
Last Visit: Monday, December 21, 2009. Lunch for two. No reservations needed. Went here on a lunch date around noon. The place was surprisingly empty given how good the food was. Nice little place, which was recommended to me as a "must-eat at" restaurant while in Philly by a friend and native, and a restaurant my date and girlfriend describes as "the first place she always goes when she lands in Philly" (two separate people). Nothing too fancy, but definitely a comfortable, family-friendly atmosphere. We ordered (food photos attached): - Crispy spring rolls (appetizer) - Bowl of Pho soup w/ beef and tripe. - Vermicelli with Charbroiled Beef (+rice paper) The spring rolls were good and came with the orange dipping sauce (coconut, lime, and vinegar). They are cut in small portions and are served with veggies. The Pho soup is large and can be split between two people. I generally am not a fan of this soup (I much prefer Chinese beef noodles), but it was very good here. The Vermicelli with Charbroiled Beef w/ rice paper was new to me (can you tell I do not eat Vietnamese food often?) and very, very good. The beef was more than enough for two people. The bill for two came down to $28 including a 20% tip. Worth every penny, and leftovers too. Great service, great restaurant. Would gladly return again. In fact, I was told to go here for dinner and drinks, as they have specialty drinks that I was told are very good and the price (as you can see above) is very reasonable.
(5)Diana K.
This place has a similar menu to Vietnam Restaurant across the street, possibly slightly cheaper. What does differentiate it from it's neighbor is the amazing Wonton Soup. You are probably thinking that this is the most boring soup in existence, BUT they make it so incredibly tasty, with delicious broth, loads of cilantro and chinese broccoli, and yummy pork and shrimp dumplings. We can also always count on the Deluxe vermicelli dish for a hot/cold/smokey/sweet dinner.
(4)Jeff G.
Was just there for dinner with friends. I liked the resturant soo much I might go back there again. Bathrooms were small, but clean. Wait service was friendly. Food came out relatively quick.
(4)Allison T.
The prices are very reasonable, the food is fresh, and the staff is very friendly and helpful. I have never had Vietnamese food before. My first visit I tried a bunch of appetizers and had the lemongrass chicken. Very tasty. The second visit, I had the Stir Fried Wide Noodles with Sate Beef. The sauce was delicious and had tons of veggies, which was nice. The drinks are nice and pretty strong, I only needed one martini and i was good to go. The only downside is the parking, make sure that you arrive a bit early to circle a few times if you have a set dinner time.
(4)Bill M.
And you thought Pat's and Geno's had a rivalry against one another. I mean on this street there are two very similar Vietnamese restaurant s directly across the street from one another. so similar that it can be nearly impossible to tell the difference between the two. I tended to favor this one a little bit more the last time around. but it's a constant cycle.
(4)Marian R.
they get 4.5 stars from me, only because i've gotten older and i don't think that anything is as good as it gets anymore. ;) it's been well over a year since i've written a review, but vietnam palace, specifically tracy, deserves a lot of good 'press'. i've dined at vietnam palace many times in the past and already knew that i was a fan of the food. i don't have a marked preference for it over vietnam restaurant (both are delicious), but VP definitely has better pho and grilled meat. anyway, my organization hosted an 80 person banquet in their upstairs private dining room, and not only was the food amazing, not only was the service amazing (people went out of their way to complement the service at a banquet, where people are varying degrees of tipsy and usually only paying attention to their own conversations. amazing), but the event coordinator is also a top notch human being. she patiently coordinated all sorts of business details and last minute changes and couldn't have been more pleasant or accommodating. the event went off without a hitch and people are still telling me how much they enjoyed the food. well done, and thank you! highly recommended dishes: any appetizer (seriously), papaya salad, pho, hue style soup, i prefer vermicelli to broken rice, but they do both dishes very well, stir fried flat noodles, country style beef and their salt battered seafood is not heavy and very nice. and they can sub tofu in almost anywhere (my favie dish at the banquet was a tofu stirfry. excellent and clean).
(4)Peter L.
My favorite vietnamese restaurant in Philadelphia. Order this and you won't be disappointed: Goi Cuon, Cha Gio, and Broken rice with charbroiled pork. You'll definitely leave this place like a happy camper. And the price is ridiculously cheap for the quality and quantity of food you get. Perfect for a date if you're trying to impress her with Vietnamese food. The decoration and ambiance are pretty nifty since I've last come here which was in 1995.
(4)Jay D.
i can't think of a more vegan-friendly vietnamese restaurant in philadelphia, except for possibly nam phuong. but this place offers mock duck and they do not. super good.
(5)Chantul D.
This place was ok. The food wasn't that good but the service and the ambience made up for it. Maybe I am spoiled by all the good Vietnamese restaurants in south Philly and in VA but I found the food here kind of awful. I came here a few days ago on a date with my bf and I ordered the Crispy spring rolls and the beef pork-chop with rice. The crispy spring rolls were too Crispy and didn't have any flavor. I felt like I was eating cardboard. My entree wasn't that much better. My pork-chop was too sweet and the rice was mushy. I had high hopes for this place but they let me down. Three stars because our waiter was awesome and it looks so beautiful in there
(3)Olena S.
This place was yummy and the atmosphere was great! I wouldn't recommend bringing kids or anything like that, but the overall experience was a good one and the food was delicious and filling. Will definitely be returning!
(4)Steve G.
I found Vietnam Palace while scanning the area on Google maps, looking for parking (I'm staying at a local hotel). Being on the edge of Chinatown, the place is convenient to the Philly Convention Center area. The decor inside is really nice. It has a pretty bar area, a lovely water feature toward the back of the room, and the dining area is comfortable and attractive. For an appetizer, I ordered the fresh shrimp and pork rolls (these are called spring rolls in my neck of the woods). The filling and/or the dipping sauce had a little spicy kick, which was refreshingly different. The wrappers were a little tough, though. My main dish was - what else? - a bowl of beef pho. The dish was a little on the small side, but it turned out that with the appetizer, it was really plenty of food. The beef was fresh, rare, and tender. The broth was tasty, and it all came together nicely. The price was okay, especially for a Philadelphia restaurant. I'll definitely keep Vietnam Palace on my list for places to visit again!
(4)Sophia S.
I was a loyalist to Vietnam, across the street, until I went here for lunch the other day. Has all that Vietnam has to offer, but also has a surprisingly delicious yellow curry and other saucy sauteed dishes that have more of a thai influence, but can really round out a meal. Plus, I went there with my father who was in a wheelchair and all the staff were really helpful navigating some tight turns and making sure our table was well positioned for his chair.
(4)Charles K.
My buddy and I arrived just as they were preparing to close the kitchen for the night so I was a little concerned that my first meal at Vietnam Palace would not live up to the hype he has been giving the food here. Happily, my concerns unwarranted, because the food was both beautifully prepared and delicious and the service was quick and very friendly. Despite the fact we were the last customers of the night we never felt rushed in any way. The Pho was fragrant and yummy; loaded with good quality meat and noodles cooked just right. Our appetizers of jicama rolls, and spring rolls were fresh and served with an excellent dipping sauce which was just a little different then the other versions of this same sauce I've tried at other Vietnamese restaurants. The beef rolls were served with fresh lettuce, carrots and jicama slices, and a light vinegar dipping sauce that complimented the rich flavor of the beef very well. I'm looking forward to coming back to explore the menu further since there were quite a few items that I wanted to try.
(4)Chrissy R.
Vietnam Palace is still pretty good, but I like Vietnam Restaurant better. Palace is a bit too dark inside, and that the first time we went here we didn't get the best service. The food is about the same as across the street, I just like the service and atmosphere better there.
(3)Charles S.
My Wife has been going here sense she was 12. I have been going here sense I've met my wife. They have the greatest Crispy Spring Roll that I have ever placed in my mouth. It is the only reason we go. They are reasonably priced and have a huge selection of other good food. I can't keep track of anything but the Spring Roll.
(4)VJ k.
I've eaten at Vietnam Palace several times (at least 7) over the past 2 or so years and up till this point have really enjoyed the food & atmosphere here. Many good times and has always been consistent, until now. I came here on a Tuesday & Wednesday night while working nearby. On the wednesday visit, while the food was it's usually very tastyness, I discovered a fairly large insect (cockroach) in my drink. I understand it may be hard to control a stray in the city but it was in my water and I had already drank it and was eating the ice when I discovered the little guy. They seemed concerned and offered me a free drink which I accepted, Leeche Martini (delicious) however I think that was hardly enough to prevent me from feeling not taken care of. I think a round of drinks for my table and my meal removed from the bill would have been a sincere apology. In addition, after I informed them of the bug issue and they presented the drink, the wait staff was quite scarce around my table, furthering the feeling that we were not receiving good service. Oh well, lack of proper service, cleanliness prompted this review and I think I'll take a hiatus from here for awhile now. The Chinese place across the street, while doesnt have a bar, is super delicious as well.
(2)texas w.
All yall haters stop hatin. This meal was perfect. I wish I had like one more piece of charbroiled beef. But for a red meat eater this place rocks. Seafood in philly is questionable to begin with. If you're seeking the best prawn of your life in Chinatown, good on you. The Shrimp Bun was bangin, tho. Short ribs....bomb. So all you jabroni's with a whole lot to say, ZIP IT, or you'll have me to deal with. That dump across the street could hold VP's chop sticks. Drinks, spot on. No overly on love with the mojito, but they get down for theirs. So go to Vietnam Palace and tell 'em Big Texas sent you. Update: I get why people like the spot across the srteet, but I still prefer VP.
(5)Mike L.
I love this place for their food, services, and atmosphere. Never had a bad meal there, and this place could possibly be ranked as one of the better Asian restaurants in Philly!
(4)Felicia C.
Delicious and very cheap food. All kinds of pho and great entrees. The spring rolls are great, and the Charbroiled beef is to die for.
(4)Hank C.
A slight correction, thanks to Marissa, I should've written Vietnam Restaurant, not Palace, and so I went back to visit to see if anything's changed. And a second try here revealed a much better group of service staff than before.... perhaps they've managed to hire new people entirely, but they certainly were nicer than the last bunch, and that, while the food didn't change too much, makes the place earn one more notch.
(3)Bruce B.
I went to The Vietnam Palace one Sunday evening just before the Flyers were about to have a showdown with The Blackhawks. My niece the new Doctor, named Dr. Tanisha, accompanied me for dinner. We arrived there around 5:30 pm and the spot was empty except for 2 older ladies. We got a nice table near a window and couldn't help but to admire the beautiful decor. Our server came over and filled our water glasses and left us menus to look at. Dr Tanisha ordered for an appetizer called 'Jicama rolls and for her entree, Seafood Island Pan Soup, with a glass of Thai Iced Tea to wash it down. I ordered Beef Short Ribs for an Appetizer and a big, steaming bowl of Deluxe Beef Pho` and a glass of Delicious French Iced Coffee with Condensed Milk. The Beef Ribs were great and very flavorful and reminded me of Korean style Kalbi ribs mmmmm! The Ribs were accompanied wit lots of fresh veggies, cucumbers, red onion, tomato's, and some delightful pickled carrots and crispy, white turnips. My entree was also great, with the tenderloin beef, meatballs and beef tendon in a delicious broth with noodles. I was provided with all the extras, Hoisen sauce, Bean Sprouts, Fresh Thai Basil and the ever-present bottle of Chinese Hot sauce. This dish is unique because it's hot and steamy, sweet, spicy, crunchy, savory and the noodles slid down soooo easy.! Perfection in a bowl. My Niece, Dr Tanisha, declared her meals were very good and she can't wait to come back. The spot started to fill up, and it was time to move on to Tazia in the next block to have a couple of adult beverages and watch the Flyer's game. Hopefully our boys in orange can pull one out on the road. Go Flyers!!!!
(4)Mairead H.
Food is excellent and CHEAP. I don't mind dropping $$ on a lychee martini (which was delicious) when my entree is $10! This place looks (and tastes) much more expensive than it is.
(5)Yoshi F.
My wife and I just had a really good dinner here tonight. We have always thought about stopping in, but always went across the street to Vietnam Restaurant. Our daughter, who will be a year next month, was with us tonight and Vietnam Restaurant did not have a high chair, so we ended up across the street at Vietnam Palace. Service was really good and the menu was very similar to across the street. We got the spring rolls, vermicelli with spring roll, pan fried noodles with chicken, and chicken friend rice. Yes, we had a lot of doggie bags, but that was fine. The highlight was my vermicelli with spring rolls.
(4)shazza f.
I love the food here. I am very picky about my Vietnamese food, having lived in 2 areas with large Vietnamese immigrant communities (Albuquerque & New Orleans), I have been exposed to a lot of Vietnamese food. This one suits my palate better than any other in the Philly area. & the service is fantastic - always friendly & prompt. I highly recommend!
(5)Dredge K.
Possibly the nicest looking Viet restaurant in town, but the food was very mediocre. My "jumbo" shrimp were just regular shrimp. I was really expecting it to be prawn size. The shaky beef was cut too thin and thus was dry. The papaya salad was tough. But I experience this at Nam Phuong as well, so maybe Philly just doesn't have good green papaya?
(2)audrey p.
I've eaten at both Vietnam Palace and its archrival across the street, Vietnam. Both places have very good food, but the service is better at Vietnam. A friend and I went to Vietnam Palace last week. It was early and there were only three tables seated. With three waiters you'd think we would have had great service, but they stood around talking to each other instead. We finished our drinks before the appetizers arrived, but were never asked if we wanted more; that loses money for the restaurant and detracts from the tip base, guys! A person at the next table actually got up and went over to the waiters to ask for more water. It was a long time before we could place our order and a long time for the check to arrive, even when we asked for it. We were at the restaurant plenty early to make it to an 8:00 pm appointment, but we wound up being late. This is particularly egregious when there is a rival right across the street. The next time I'm in the area I'll definitely be going to Vietnam instead. That said, the food here is great. Every dish we had was superb. I had beef carpaccio and ginger beef; my friend had fried tofu and pho, and at other visits I've tried different appetizers. Always had great food here. Yummm! It's a large menu with many variations allowed and a good selection of vegetarian and seafood choices. There's also a full bar. So the kitchen is holding up their end, but the staff is not good, at least not on the night we were there.
(4)rich k.
I don't know why Anyone would rate this restaurant lower than four stars, unless they didn't like Asian cuisine in the first place. The food is wonderful and the prices are reasonable. Yes, the decor is a little odd but who cares. You slurp those noodles anyways.
(4)Catherine A.
The other day I went here with a date because Vietnam, across the street, was closed, and this place was open. We decided to give it a try because we were committed to the idea of Vietnamese food. What a mistake! To start, we had a grilled shrimp appetizer special, and steamed dumplings with shrimp filling. The dumplings were pretty bad: the filling was too dense, and eating one was like chewing on a massive, rubbery lump of ground-up shrimp. Because essentially, that's what it was. Ugh. Moving on to the shrimp, they were not that big, kind-of charred on one side only (as if it had not been turned over on the grill), but somehow soggy, and the main flavor seemed to be salt. On the plus side, it was more edible than the dumplings. Next, I had a bowl of beef pho, and my date had bun with sliced beef. His beef was really good! I wish I had ordered it. That beef is the reason this place gets two stars, instead of just one. The pho was only OK. There's actually not that much more I can think to say about it, which I don't think is a good sign. After we got the check, the waiter informed us that they had taken a couple of dollars off of the shrimp, because they were out of the jumbo ones they usually grill, and apparently had just grilled whatever ones they had on hand. Ummm...thanks for letting us know? Shouldn't you maybe have told us you were out when we ordered, or at least, before, you know, serving it to us? So we could maybe get something else instead? Instead of the crap you served us?
(2)Brian N.
I also can see this restaurant from my apartment window. Needless to say, I've ordered from here a lot. Would I say that it's the most amazing place? No. However, their dishes are quite solid. I've tried everything from the satay skewers and pad thai to the pho and fried rice. The dishes are very good. However, I found their vegetable rolls (wrapped in rice paper, not fried) less than appetizing. The texture was dry even with the peanut sauce, and the vegetables did not seem very fresh. That said, in the competitive world of the Philadelphia Chinatown restaurant scene, the workers are quite kind and check up on you quite often to make sure the dining experience is going swell. It is also quite pricey as it is a sit-down restaurant, but it's worth it every once in a while.
(4)Julia N.
It's funny that this place's average is 3.5 stars, because that's exactly how I'd rate it. I ate here with 17 other people, though, and deft service for a big party bumped me up to a 4. Given how often service issues crop up when you're out with just a few people, it is really commendable that such a big group had such a smooth, fun experience, even with several other mob-sized parties in the dining room. We started off at the bar with 33 Export and Tsingtao, the Vietnamese and Chinese equivalents of Budweiser. OK, Tsingtao is better than Bud, but next time I'm having a cocktail. It takes a long time to organize and seat 18 people, and our waiter was on it with the drink orders as soon as we settled in. I was happy to see a whole page of veggie options in the lengthy menu. Appetizers started arriving shortly thereafter, and the fresh, minty summer rolls and crispy, flavorful spring rolls made everyone happy. My vermicelli stir fry was either lightly flavored or underseasoned, depending on how you look at it (I'm inclined toward the latter), but the basil mock chicken I tried was good. All in all, I found the food to be tasty and satisfying, but nothing really made me rave. I would come back to Vietnam Palace any time nonetheless.
(4)Cynthia R.
I walked in and what did I see? Vietnamese people eating. Lots of people and lots of food. I had the Shrimp Spring Rolls which came with tails on and wrapped in a great crispy pastry. The diping sauce was a sweet chili sauce. They were served with delicately pickled carrots and raddish, lettuce and fresh cilantro. Then I had the Char-broiled pork and broken rice with a sweet watery vinegar dipping sauce. The sauce could have had more flavor, but the pork was perfect, grill marks, char flavor, tender meat. And the tab was $11.
(4)Jana V.
LOVE this place: Drinks: Coconut Juice (so good with chunks of coconut inside) Lychee martini - very nice, girly, and strong Food: I always get the charbroiled pork with whatever: broken rice or vermicelli - it's always a hit I think it's their best food. I also like the spring rolls and the pork meatballs as appetizers. I come here at least once every two months.
(5)Becky S.
mmmmm pho... Lots of choices, the papaya salad was great, the PHO I'm used to has egg in it, and more various veggies and sauces to add, where this place didn't offer that, but overall my craving was satisfied!
(4)Erin F.
I had a naughty idea on Friday night. We've been going to Vietnam Restaurant since before I lived here. Two years ago, within the walls of Vietnam Restaurant, the idea to move to Philly was hatched. I love it there. But on Friday, instead of going to our longtime favorite, I wondered what would happen if what if we went to Vietnam Palace, DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET? I felt like we were performing some weird act of restaurant betrayal, but I had to know. I had to cross into the bizzaro world. And it was good there. Was it better than Vietnam? I can't say. There were things I liked more (the sauce that came with my vermicelli and the seafood dumplings) and things I liked less (the decor & general ambiance, the spring rolls - which were good, but I prefer Vietnam's). There were things that were identical (the cans of soda, the MENU for most part). Ultimately, it was a good experience and I liked it there. I enjoyed my vegetarian spring roll vermicelli immensely and Mike enjoyed his non-vegetarian springroll vermicelli + shrimp. We ordered essentially what we typically order across the street to compare. Although I have somewhat of an emotional attachment to their rivals (are they rivals? I'm guessing they're rivals) across the street, as far as the food, service, and space go, it's pretty much a draw between the two.
(4)Kayte Y.
My fiance and I go to Vietnam palace all of the time. It is one if our favorite places in Philadelphia. The lychee martini is fantastic. First of all. The food is delicious. The beef cubes may have a lackluster name, but they make up for that in every other way. The chicken pad Thai is a must. Any of the broken rice or vermicelli dishes are great. I was not the biggest fan of the seven beef appetizer, but that doesn't mean you won't like it. This place is great. I go all the time
(5)Toby Y.
Amid the standard and unimpressive Vietnamese Pho shops, Vietnam Palace came a refreshing surprise in taste. I went there with a group of friends, we had several common Vietnamese dishes, including shrimp and pork spring roll, broken rice and vermicelli combo, a steamed fish and a raw beef salad for starter. Although the shrimp and pork rolls were mediocre, the raw beef salad was a true delight. It was very well marinated in lemon juice and went really well with the coriander leaves as well as the sesame seeds. The combo was really delicious, presenting some of the tastiest beef, fried pork wrap and grilled shrimp. All in all, I would give it a five and would go back again. Lastly, the place is cheap. I think without drinks, you pay between 15-20 per person incl. tax and tips.
(5)Seth S.
It seems that its arch rival across the street has its devotees, but I am a big fan of Vietnam Palace. I'm not sure what classifies VP as "expensive"... $7 for Pho is only a dollar more than at PHO 75 - not a back breaker for the quality and atmosphere. The most expensive meal on the whole menu (which is as long as a Greek Diner menu) is $12, and the quality of all of their dishes is really top-notch. The Beef Carpaccio is the unsung hero of the appetizer menu. Amazing stuff, especially along with a staple like the shrimp & pork rolls. I gave it 4 stars on account of the service - often times, I've had the waiter forget about us for a long spell when we were trying to order or pay. But other than that, I can't ever complain here.
(4)Felicia K.
This place was truly the embodiment of the word "mediocre"... I'm surprised it got such good reviews on here. The atmosphere, service, food... everything was mediocre. I got the green tea martini, which was tasty and not too sweet, but not out of this world. We split the lemongrass chicken skewers, which were truly lacking in flavor. Kudos to them at least for having a nice vegetarian selection. However, my vermicelli with vegetarian spring rolls was just OK. I've had an identical dish at another Vietnamese place that was incredible, but this place's version was lacking in flavor. Boyfriend's seafood entree was good, but as he said, "it's pretty hard to mess up a big platter of seafood since it's just good by itself." Waitstaff was not unfriendly, but wasn't particularly available either.
(3)Zoe P.
We had bun, a soup, charbroiled squid and the crispy vegetable crepe (which they very nicely served as an appetizer - it's located on the vegetarian section - the crepe that appears with the apps has pork and shrimp and the crepes are quite eggy, which is how I like 'em, but they aren't, you know, vegan or anything). All the food was fresh, with strong, distinct flavors. It was copious and came quickly. For the price, this place really delivers. It was a busy Thursday night and we waited at the bar for just a few minutes to sit down. I don't love the decor, but I don't mind it either. My major problem was with the clientle. The women to my left played with their chopsticks. The lady to my right emphatically insisted that she didn't want anything with peanuts or fish sauce, while her date tried to hide under the table. The waiter nervously asked if she was allergic - because no way is that kitchen peanut-free - but she said she wasn't. So maybe the tables are a little close. Back when we lived in Philly, we always went to "Phil's" for excellent Vietnamese food. The restaurant was, I think, on the Chinatown block with the Holiday Inn (??), and it was a long, white, bare-bones corridor. We haven't been able to find it recently. So my question for you, Philadelphia Yelpers, is what happened to Phil?? He was an excellent restaurateur who served great food and we wish him the very best.
(4)Damon J.
I cant say enough good things about this place.. Great food, ambiance is great, even how they put the food on the plate look great. Affordable, this place has never let me down. Take a cutie pie with you and you're definitely getting some that night...lol
(5)Shelly N.
This was a recommendation by a friend and it didn't let me down. I usually stick to pho since I love it so much but tried the Summer Rolls and Beef Cubes Sate for my entree. I've had more flavorful Summer Rolls elsewhere so my only comment for those are "meh". The Beef Cubes Sate was tasty and the serving size was perfect for me. I'd definitely eat here again if I'm in Philly.
(4)David C.
This is a very beautiful restaurant to be inside for lunch or dinner. I love the service and the quality of everything here. As for food it's no different from other generic vietnamese restaurants but I've never had a bad experience here. You'll always get great service here. :)
(4)Huiling Z.
THE WORST dining experience, and unfortunately on the night of my graduation. I discussed with Tracey before hand to settle a 3 apps, 2 entrees and 1 veggie menu lineup for $32 for a 29 ppl banquet. 5 Graduates with families flown in from Somali, Kenya, China, Ghana to celebrate this moment and unfortunately were treated poorly. I emphasized several times to have No pork or squid in any dishes because of religion and allergies. And of course, the first app was shrimp and pork! (WTF) The dishes were sent back, and the rest of the 2 apps arrived. For a total of 27 attendees, they served only 5 plates (each of double a la carte portions) to the entire group. At this moment, the kitchen was so desperate to throw food out there, they even served 3 plates for the second app and about 8 people did not even get a lick of that. 20 minutes later, the other 2 LOST plates of the 2nd apps arrives awkwardly. The waaaiiiittt beginnsss.....we waited for 40 minutes for the entrees to arrive after the app. At this point, all you foodies should know under basic restaurant etiquette soo many rules have been broken, the pork; the half served dishes; the incredibly embarrassing wait, wondering if any food's gonna make it here before we starved to death. First entree arrives, pan-fried seafood noodles. Okay...remember the pork deal, now its the squid too. NO PORK OR SQUID! I just died when i saw those white lil curly things in there. The two things I've begged the restaurant to avoid has all been thrown my way. FML. 2nd entree was a beef basil. I would LOVE to tell you it was delicious, but guess what, about 5, 6 guests did not even get a bite of that! The portions were sooo stingy it was embarrassing. I ended up asking for white rice for the beef and the rice, like everything else...arrives fashionably late when the beef's almost gone. So....just like that, a graduation dinner turns into a night of guests stuffing themselves on white rice because of the lack of food. I asked Tracey to serve up another 3 plates of beef because everyone feels we did not get our money's worth with the bad food and lack of attention. Mind you, not only was I REJECTED, I was told to pay for the original plan of 29 ppl instead of the 27 ppl that actually made it. I explained that the 2 ppl missed their flights and for 27 ppl, the food was not enough, so I'm DEFINITELY not going to pay for 29 portions when the rest 27 are starving. Sigh....I tried really hard to make everyone happy, again...reality is quite a bitch. For my four other graduating friends and myself, this was not what we wanted and expected. It was a mentally exhaustive, embarrassing, awkward, and upsetting night. Gladly, the conversation and company made up for the shittiness of the restaurant. I will NEVER return to that land of unprofessionalism, rip-off and just purely bad business standards.
(1)Tram T.
Excellent service, beautiful atmosphere (there's a cute little cacti pot hidden in the restaurant- how cool is that??), excellent variety of items on the menu. I had the fried rice with chicken and it was excellent- i can not wait to come back and try the Pho. My sister had the Pho and she said - unlike other Pho shops, Pho at this particular restaurant has the authentic taste (you don't taste the msg- it's like Mom's bowl of Pho). My friend has the stir fried noodle and he loves it. The beef was very tender and the veggies that came with it was steamed just right. Over all we had an excellent time at Vietnam Palace and will definitely come back next time we are in Philly.
(5)Yi H.
It's a good Vietnamese restaurant but for some reason I opt to go somewhere else. It's not the best but it's a lot better than most. I think the reason being, it's not one of my favorites. I've been going there for a while now and I love how easy and organize their menu is. Example, If you're in the mood for chicken, they will list all the option on how you would like it cooked and with what. The one thing that they stand apart from other Viet restaurant is their mini bar with two flat screen TVs. I have to say, I've never seen something like that in a Viet restaurant. It's pretty lay back with people having a few drinks and watching the games. I'll have to try that one of these days.
(4)Linda S.
We booked VP for our rehearsal dinner and the food was amazing. Prices are much more reasonable than other restaurants in the CC/OC area, and the ambience is so romantic and lovely.
(5)Ivy L.
I am so surprised to see this getting a decent review. This place looks great but the food is slimy Chinese. I was very disappointed being the restaurant is so cute. They do have a good bar.
(2)Morgan P.
Consistently good food, and a few bucks per item more reasonable than the place across the street. I recommend some of the grilled items--the meats with broken rice are very tasty, especially with the delicious sweet/spicy sauce. Good value!
(4)Sara L.
I have had several meals at Vietnam Palace, all occurring when Vietnam across the street was unexpectedly closed. None of them have been terrible, they just weren't great - slowish service, awkward table layout, overcooked chicken and fish (obviously better than undercooked, but still...). I probably would not go back unless a dining companion was really pushing for it AND Vietnam was closed.
(2)Yuna P.
You won't find me at a Vietnamese restaurant too often. I don't really like the traditional rice noodles, or vermicelli. (I guess I never was a big fan of noodles all together.) But my sister was dying to try this restaurant, so we decided to see what they had to offer. The wait was quite long. The restaurant was simply packed with people! So I thought it might take a long time for the food to come out. But once we got seated, the server came and took our orders rather quickly, and the next thing I know, my dish was right in front of my face. We ordered Vermicelli with Charbroiled Shrimp, Vermicelli Combo, and Stir-Fried Vermicelli with Chicken. My boyfriend, who also came along, flipped over the Stir-Fried Vermicelli with Chicken dish. He actually claimed the dish as his, when we clearly ordered it to share. At the same time, I didn't find the restaurant too special: Not a place where I want to stop by whenever I'm in Philadelphia.
(3)steven e.
The old joke is that this place shares a kitchen with Vietnam, located right across the street, and that this kitchen below 10th street pumps out the same exact food to each restaurant, except that Vietnam costs about 2 dollars more per dish. This is why I like Vietnam Palace better. It is cheaper, and you usually don't have to wait in line to get in. Now that smoking is banned, it also no longer smells like an underground Vietnamese gambling den.
(4)Sibil M.
I ate at Vietnam Palace on a Friday night while nursing an upset tummy from recent air travel. To say I was hesitant about eating spicy cuisine was an understatement. However, I was pleasantly surprised that the cuisine didn't upset my stomach further and that the items I ordered were well spiced and comforting. I ate with a group of six, two couples, both who have babies. The restaurant is very accomodating to larger groups of families or people with children. We were seated upstairs in the spacious dining room. The only downside to this was that the waiter occasionally forgot to check on us from time to time. For appetizers, we started with one chicken pho and one beef. We also had crispy shrimp rolls and the veggie spring rolls. All of it was tasty and met with satisfaction by the group. I ordered the Charbroiled Beef with Broken White Rice as an entree. My dish arrived piping hot with razor thin slices of well cooked beef and sticky broken white rice. It was simple yet well flavored. An accompanying bowl of red chili oil was ignored by me because of my stomach, but usually it would be appreciated and savored! My husband ordered a chicken dish in a thai basil sauce. He instead got a ginger sauce that the waiter insisted he ordered. He told him there was basil in there as well and didn't seem to want to take it back. My husband, hungry at this point and not wanting to make a fuss since we had other couples with babies to think about, decided to try the dish and if he really disliked it, he would then send it back. The entree wasn't his most favorite thing in the world, but he ate it anyway. I thought the waiter was very rude and pushy to insist to a customer that he indeed did order something he did not. If we were dining alone, I would insist the order by changed. The harried waiter looked like he was just overworked in the upstairs understaffed portion of the dining room that was fast filling up with large groups of people. Another vegetarian dining companion got a dish with tofu and vegetables and found it to be satisfactory but nothing truly memorable. It seems like veggie options are an afterthought at this spot. The rest of the party had entrees like Curried Chicken and Pad Thai w/ Chicken which they both find to be fine. The one stand out entree, beside my beef one, was the Tilapia Clay Pot that our friend got. She said the curry stew was flavorful and the fish flaky and well cooked. We skipped dessert and when it was time to pay the bill, we noticed jimaca rolls were mistakenly added to our bill. A quick word with the waiter cleared that up and we paid the bill without any other incident. One of the couple's dining with us had tried the place across the street with a similar name and found it be a tastier option. Overall, I thought it was a pretty okay experience for a group outing. To be honest, I'm used to excellent Vietnamese cuisine in NYC that is notable for it's spiciness and well flavored cuisine. I found this restaurant to be an Americanized safe version of Vietnamese food. It also seemed to have a variety of different Asian (Thai, Chinese) cuisine on the menu, maybe to appeal to a broader clientele.
(3)Nichole J.
It has been my newest tradition over the last two Christmases to dine at Vietnamese Palace. I absolutely love the food. The beef carpaccio has the most vibrant, fresh, spicy flavor. The Vietnamese pork meatballs are perfect for a light lettuce wrap and the noodle soups and wontons were made for the cold weather. I also think they did a great job on the Pho. Definitely visit Tracey at the bar, she's lovely!
(5)Lucy B.
I am still dreaming of Vietnam Palace's Vegetarian Spring Rolls. If I had to select my last meal.....those spring rolls would be a part of it! Crisp without grease....bursting with ingredients and flavor...they are addictively delicious. Vietnam Palace is our vietnamese food stalwart on our trips to Philadelphia. The food is always impressive and as a vegan, i especially appreciate their long and varied Vegetarian menu section. We were in Philly recently and I had my usual Vermicelli with Vegetarian Spring rolls for lunch - amazing..the slices of pickled radish with it are delicious and refreshing. We returned the next evening and because I was suffering from a head cold, I ordered the Sweet and Sour Tofu Soup. Amazing depth of flavor and very nourishing - my husband indulged too. The service is so lovely at this restaurant - the wait staff are attentive without being pushy. The room with its water features and natural colors is very relaxing. Truly a very special restaurant. Highly recommend it.
(5)Jenn H. H.
literally across the street from vietnam restaurant, its mortal enemy, is this slightly bigger and less swanky, but still sort of fancy vietnamese spot. i've always been a vietnam restaurant loyal, but did have a chance to eat here once. and you know what? the food here is good too. damn it, i really wanted to hate it, but i couldn't. the downstairs has a bar and is a bit cheesy and lacquered looking, and the upstairs has a large dining area. the service is just fine. so if you wanted to go to vietnam restaurant across the street but can't get in, then you'd do just fine trying to hop in to the palace.
(4)Timothy D.
This is a nice inexpensive stop b4 going to the Troc 4 a concert. Good food, decent service, very fairly priced. Attractive decor, with a general welcoming feel to the restaurant. This & Vietnam across the street are well rated on Zagat, and deserve it. Nothing extraordinary, but a success nonetheless, and I would say most people would leave with a good impression.
(4)Joseph L.
Tonight was my second visit to VP and it was just as good as the first. Our server was wonderful and described entries in much detail and even offered suggestions. The atmosphere is upscale. Our server, a young man, was very concerned about our satisfaction with the food and I would want him to serve our table the next time we go there. The only problem was with the desert. I ordered a coconut ice cream in a shell and it seemed like it was old. The ice cream had ice crystals in it and the shell along with the ice cream was frozen rock solid. I beat it with the edge of the spoon and it was like hitting a bowling ball. My guess is that most people don't order desert because the appetizers and main courses left us full. I would recommend this restaurant in a heartbeat because the food is great and all comments are taken seriously quickly. I still was very impressed with our young handsome server. There is something about a male server that makes dinner extra special, and women servers are more common anyway, and most women make a nice place seem like a diner.
(4)Laura S.
Vietnam Palace is amazing. I am impressed everytime I go. My favorites are the spring rolls, the squid appetizer, and the rice vermicelli with your choice of meat.
(5)dc h.
Try not to make the mistake of going to this one instead of the Vietnam Restaurant across the street; they are a world apart! I was meeting a business associate at Vietnam Restaurant and she mistook Vietnam Palace for the place. When she called my cell, I told her I'd just walk over to that one (no wait). The food was not very good but the big deal was the cockroaches. Three different ones (the smaller kind) interrupted our meal, two of them by crawling up the wall next to our table. Pay the extra money and go across the street.
(1)Derek L.
On my last day here in Philly, my sister takes me to her favorite Vietnamese restaurant. The decor is a step up from the usual scene, so I order my usual stuff, terriyaki chicken, the Beef Pho and Seafood Pho for the wife. The chicken terriyaki was huge! Around a pound of it and not really what I usually get. But it was tasty and the best value overall for the place. The fried spring rolls were as good as I have ever had. The Beef Pho was pretty good, but for the money a bit paltry for the meat. The Seafood Pho was very good, but again the portions were rather small, especially considering the price. But I think that might just be what they charge down in these parts. Even with all those gripes, this is one of the better Vietnamese restaurants I have been to this year. I eat at these places because the average is usually pretty good, and the only complaints for most of these places recently, is that their portions have seemed to have gotten smaller.
(4)Kaylie D.
huh? expensive vietnamese food?!?! that's almost like an oxymoron to me. i guess if you're into the vietnamese "fine dining" this is the place to go. but i come to eat, not for the ambiance. I'm still peeved that I paid 4 bucks for 2 vegetarian spring rolls.
(2)Kay Y.
I first visited Vietnam Palace in the fall of 1996, and boy has it changed a lot since then. It was a Chinatown hole in the wall in those days, but since Vietnam Restaurant opened up across the street, they've had a hell of a reason to renovate and brighten the place up. The decor is pretty, they put plants in there, have a nice bar with a TV where you can watch a baseball game, I think there's even one of those glass wall fountains. I usually order 'bun' (vermicelli noodles) when I go to Vietnamese restaurants, and this place does their bun well, as well as pho. The service has gotten better over the years. The waiters are attentive, especially for an Asian restaurant, and last time I went (last week), our waiter was actually a *little* overly attentive. But I didn't feel that "get em in, get em out" feeling as I do at other Chinatown establishments. The best thing about Vietnamese food is not just the fresh taste of it but also the prices. And Vietnam Palace is definitely affordable.
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