There are quite a few well-liked Vietnamese restaurants that you can probably name off the top of your head, like Super Saigon and Pho Vietz. While many of them claim to have the most authentic Vietnamese food (I call this ‘The Battle Of The Authentics’), my unpopular personal opinion is that the most authentic food to you will always be the one that tastes the most nostalgic or comforting.
Similarly, oftentimes you’ll find some places have better pho than others, or you’d prefer a particular banh mi from that one place. With that said, here are some restaurants we love, but of course, it’s up to you to decide which one you think is best!
1. Rasa Viet, multiple locations
Admittedly, Rasa Viet is my one true love when it comes to Vietnamese food. Their Smoked Duck Banh Mi is so flavourful, and their pho is extremely comforting on chilly days. If you’d like something rice-based, the Grilled Chicken Rice will not disappoint.
During non-peak hours, try making your own spring rolls with their Sizzling Pancake DIY. For a special ending to your meal, dig into an indulgent combination of Fried Cempedak with Coconut Ice Cream.
Rasa Viet is a Muslim-friendly restaurant, as they don’t serve pork and alcohol, and their meats are procured from halal-certified suppliers. Visit them at The Sphere Bangsar South, or Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya!
Address: Unit No. G-3A, Level Ground, The Sphere, 59200 Kuala Lumpur; 79, Jalan SS 20/11, Damansara Kim, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Contact: +603 2242 1880; +603 7732 9880
2. Gold Standard Pho, Sri Hartamas
Can you believe the broth used for the beef pho here takes 30 hours to prepare? That is true dedication, and the reason they’re called Gold Standard Pho. Made with halal-certified Australian beef, this exclusive recipe called the GS Pho Beef Broth keeps patrons coming back — the comfort of a lovingly-made broth.
Address: No. 5, Jalan Sri Hartamas 7, Taman Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Contact: +6017 352 0711
3. Banh Mi Cafe, Puchong
This Vietnamese cafe is no stranger to the Puchong neighbourhood. With its humble beginnings of only four tables back in 2013, it has grown into an establishment loved by the community for its fresh ingredients, feel-good food, and great service. Whenever I’m in the Puchong area, I’ll have my fix of Vietnamese food here.
Dishes you have to try at Banh Mi Cafe are: Banh Mi Bo Kho (stewed beef with Vietnamese baguette), Hu Tieu Suon (pork rib kway teow soup), and Banh Uot Thit Nuong (Vietnamese chee cheong fun with grilled pork and ham).
Address: 1 Jalan Puteri 7/10, Bandar Puteri, 47100 Puchong, Selangor
Contact: +603 8060 0127
4. Pho King, Petaling Jaya
Of course, we have to seize the opportunity to say that the food here is Pho King good! At Pho King, the dedication to quality comes down to the husband and wife team, who both love Vietnamese food. The wife hails from Ha Long Bay and personally tests the food to ensure its authenticity.
Their ingredients are sourced carefully, using premium meats like Australian beef, pork from Sanbanto, and fish sauce imported from Phu Quoc. Even the fried shallots and roasted peanuts are prepared in-house from scratch!
Address: 153, Jalan SS 2/6, SS 2, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Contact: +603 7865 3290
5. Ruyi One.Cafe, Ampang
During the pandemic, parents Kenny and Vanessa wanted to keep their son, Ruyi, engaged in activities. Since they were apart from Vanessa’s family in Vietnam, food became a way to help Ruyi learn about his mum’s heritage. As time passed, family and friends started ordering food from Vanessa and Ruyi One.Cafe became a reality.
You’ll have to try their pho, as the bone broth is cooked for over 12 hours, and the homemade beef balls are delicious. For something special and different, try the Rice Paper Mango Salad — once you start, you can’t stop! For the parents, fret not, as they have a Kids’ Menu!
Address: Suite G.01, Level Ground Floor, The Grange @ Ampwalk, 218, Jln Ampang, Kampung Datuk Keramat, 55000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Contact: +6012 608 2805
6. Jane’s Nem, Petaling Jaya
The mastermind behind this restaurant is Jane, who hails from Hanoi. This is why at Jane’s Nem, you’ll find authentic northern Vietnamese cuisine. Here, their joy is in making food with love and from scratch. This is evidenced by their 16-hour beef bone broth, freshly-baked banh mi, and crispy roasted pork. Their signature nem (spring rolls) are also sold frozen, so you can air-fry them at home whenever cravings hit!
Address: Happy Mansion, AG5, Block A, Jalan 17/13, 46400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Contact: +6012-331 1835
7. Pho Ngon, Ara Damansara
This humble, family-owned Vietnamese restaurant is one of Ara Damansara’s best-kept secrets and the best spot to get affordable and authentic Vietnamese dishes. Their broth definitely reigns supreme, with their best dishes being the Special Australian Premium Beef Noodles Soup, Tender Beef Noodles Soup, and Australian Beef Rice. Don’t miss out if you’re in the area and craving some Vietnamese staples.
Address: I-G-5, Block I, Jalan PJU 1a/1, Taipan Damansara 2 Ara Damansara, 47301 Petaling Jaya
Contact: +6011 2828 1482
8. Super Saigon, multiple locations
For an un-pho-gettable Vietnamese cuisine experience, Super Saigon is a great start. With recipes inspired by Vietnamese restaurants in Melbourne and Ho Chi Minh, each dish is hearty and satisfying. What is especially great about Super Saigon is the option to choose from a regular-sized bowl of pho to a small one, which is perfect for those who aren’t big eaters.
It goes without saying that their beef bowls are definite best-sellers, but the Shredded Chicken & Chicken Meatballs pho bowl from their menu is surprisingly flavourful and worth a try! Other notable dishes: Fresh Tiger Prawns & Veggies Spring Roll, Vegetarian Banh Mi, and Bun Cha with XXL Crispy Chicken Chop.
Contact: +6018 223 7755
9. Sao Nam, Bukit Bintang & Subang Jaya
Sao Nam in Bukit Bintang beckons food lovers seeking upscale Vietnamese dining. Situated nearby Jalan Alor, it’s hard to miss its bright yellow colonial-style home exterior. The family-owned restaurant has maintained the quality of food and service since its opening day, which keeps loyalists coming back for more.
While just about every single dish packs a punch, we especially enjoy their phở bò — rice noodle soup with sliced beef. It’s as flavourful as you’d imagine it to be as the broth itself is painstakingly made for 10 hours! It also recently made it on the MICHELIN Bib Gourmand list, so walk-ins are risky.
Good news for those on the other side of town! Sao Nam has recently opened a second outlet at Empire Shopping Gallery in Subang Jaya.
Address: 25 Tengkat Tong Shin, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur; Lot 28 Empire Shopping Gallery, Section 16, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor
Contact: +603 2144 1225; +603 5022 2123
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on 25 November 2022 and has been updated to include more locations.
