Top Baguette – Westminster – 714-379-7726

Top Baguette – Westminster – 714-379-7726 or 714-310-0363

9062 Bolsa Ave, 92683, Mon to Sat: 5AM to 7PM, www.topbaguette.com

Small take-out sandwich shop specializing in Banh Mi (Bun Me), a sandwich on a French baguette with meat, cilantro, shredded carrots. There a many sandwich shops around like Lee’s Sandwich which is a fast-food chain. Banh Mi is similar to the American hamburger in terms of a popular fast food. Top Baguette makes one the best tasting Banh Mi’s in the Little Saigon Orange County area.

Hanoi Restaurant – Westminster – (714) 901-8101

Hanoi Restaurant – Westminster – (714) 901-8101, 9082-9086 Bolsa Ave, 92683
Hanoi is the Northern capital city in Vietnam with a name like that you know they specialize in Northern cusine like Bun Cha Ha Noi (Boon Ja Ha Noy) which is cold vermicilli noodle, Vietnamese greens, and beef and pork where you mix it up yourself. There is also Cha Ca Thanh Long (Ja Ka Ton Long) which is the sizzling curry fish served with fresh fragrant dill herbs where you also mix yourself with vermicilli noodle, greens. Bun Oc (Boon Oak) here is also good which is snail vermicilli soup.

Sing Sing Bakery – Westminster (714) 775-8307

Sing Sing Bakery – Westminster (714) 775-8307 – 9600 Bolsa Suite A, 92683

Many Vietnamese bakeries in Orange County that make French influenced pastries such as ban pate chaud (bun patty soul) which is like an empanada, flaky crust with meat patty inside. There’s also ban bao (bun bow) which is a fluffy white flour ball with meat/egg patty inside which is a popular breakfast food. For parties, many people like to buy the ban trai cai (bun try kay) which is a fruit pie, a flaky crust topped with cream and then on top of that fresh fruit like strawberries, kiwi, oranges in a clear gelatin sauce. It is not too sweet so many older folks enjoy it.

I bought my wedding cake from Sing Sing Bakery and they did a very nice job, tasty and looked great but half the price of that other overpriced Vietnamese cake specialist, Final Touch.

Pho Vie II – Garden Grove (714) 539-5224

Pho Vie II – Garden Grove (714) 539-5224 – 10120 Westminster Ave, 92843

Another Pho shop that seems to be related to Pho Thanh. It is notable because it was one of the first to have the 50% Pho Ga special. A good deal for a bowl of Vietnamese style chicken noodle soup. Still, my favorite hands down is Pho 86 since the broth doesn’t seem to be as oily there.

Binh Minh – Garden Grove (714) 636-7103

Binh Minh – Garden Grove (714) 636-7103 – 9908 Westminster Ave, 92844, closed Wednesdays.

Specializing in Northern Vietnamese dishes like Bun Cha Ha Noi (Boon Jaa Ha Noy) and Bung (Boong). Located in the 99 cent store complex.

Pho Thanh – Westminster (714) 839-9882

Pho Thanh – Westminster (714) 839-9882 – 9625 Bolsa Ave, 92683

This Pho noodle restaurant opens 24 hours so late night party’ers can come here if they are craving a bowl of Pho. Usually Pho late at night is saltier than a fresh batch in the morning because the broth has been stewing for quite a while. Watch that sodium intake! Recently a number of Pho shops are offer a 50% off deal since there are a gazillion Pho restaurants in Westminster. This place offers 50% off of Pho Ga (Fuh Gaah) which is the Chicken Noodle soup from 8 am to 8 pm. Still, my favorite Pho Ga shop is still Pho 86.

Pho Bach Yen – Garden Grove – (714) 636-3016

Pho Bach Yen, Garden Grove – (714) 636-3016, 9786 Westminster, 92844

One of the best deals for Pho around, free drink, nuoc mat, (nook mak), free appetizer rolls: Nem Nuong (Num Noong) – Spring rolls (not fried egg rolls). Rice paper sheets wrapped around lettuce, mint, pork with a peanut dipping sauce, and finally free sweet bean dessert, che (jair) 

Pho (Fuh) – Most popular noodle soup of Vietnam. Rice noodle with meat usually beef, onion, ginger broth, beansprouts, lime, and basil. There are hundreds of Pho noodle shops and each one depends on personal tastes.

A common misconception is that you have to drink all the broth in the entire soup thus Pho is too filling of a meal. But in reality most people just eat the noodles and meat and leave a large portion of the broth uneaten. Pho broth is very fatty by the way so it is unhealthy to drink it in large amounts on a daily basis.

Phuong Restaurant – (714) 534-3339 – Garden Grove

Phuong Restaurant – (714) 534-3339 – Garden Grove, 10722 Westminster Ave, 92843

Known for it’s hu tieu (who tew) noodle soup. There are 2 kinds of noodles to choose from, the regular white rice noodle, ban mem (Bun ma’am) or the clear, chewy transparent noodle, ban dai, (Bun yai). Most people order it dry, kho (hoe), so that there the soup base is separate and a shrimp, tomato sauce is provided. The noodles are in a separate bowl with pork slices, shrimp, egg, squid.

Uyen Thy Bistro – Westminster – (714) 898-9889

Yen Thy Bistro – Westminster – (714) 898-9889 – 9030 Bolsa Ave #101, 92683 (Behind the 7-11 store)

One of many French-Vietnamese cafes in Orange County serving French influenced Vietnamese food like steak and wine chicken. Located in the former place of well-known french/viet Tai Buu restaurant. Nothing particular stands out as awesomely good but not bad either. The Com Ga Xe Phai (kum gahh sair fye) shredded chicken & rice here is good but a little on the sweet side, they must have a heavy hand with the sugar. I also like the bamboo shoot and chicken noodle soup cause it seems healthy but a little tasteless for those who don’t like bamboo shoots which is an acquired taste imho.

Royal Capital Seafood – Garden Grove – (714) 638-8315

Royal Capital Seafood – Garden Grove – (714) 638-8315 – 10911 Westminster Blvd, 92843 – www.royalcapitalseafood.com

Family style Chinese-Vietnamese meals. Lobster in a savory sauce. There are a number of Chinese-Vietnamese restaurants serving large family style banquet meals with a majority of the specialty in seafood dishes. Kung Pao Chicken is also a favorite here.