Cafe Thanh Truc

There is a certain quiet sorrow to a great thing unobserved. By three in the afternoon on a Monday, the tables at Café Thanh Truc sit mostly empty, a stillness settling over the room that feels entirely undeserved. One could travel the country and pay twice the price for a bowl of Bun Bo Hue—a perfunctory, flavorless rendition, perhaps, a culinary simulacrum served with a corporate smile—but it would be a poor trade. The bowl here is a thing of profound substance, a broth rich with the depth that speaks of a dish tended to with meaning and a reverence for its origins. To sit with it is to recall another time, another place. It brought to mind those afternoons in an older Philly, with my grandparents, where a modest meal was a considerable event. They were not people of means; their genero

This spot absolutely rules. They have the best tofu bahn mi in South Philly (spongy on the inside and crispy on the outside). Authentic as you can get and they’re very kind and quick with service. Tiny inside if you plan to sit in but they do have tables and do take out. Highly recommend!

The bun bo hue here is amazing! I can’t say that I am an expert on Vietnamese food/flavors, but I’ve had a loooot of good Vietnamese food over the years and this is definitely one of the best bun bo hues I’ve had. My husband ordered the bbq pork banh mi, which he also really enjoyed. Parking is difficult in this area, but I’m so glad we gave this place a try!

This is one of the best place to get Hu Tieu Nam Vang (Phnom Penh Style Noodles). This place reminds me of the little noodle stall in SaiGon with the smell of stove cooking and warming foods in the back. We tried the infamous dry noodles, egg rolls, and meatball soup. All came out super warm and delicious. They also have a great variety of Banh Mi and Vermicelli Noodles dishes as well. Will definitely come back for more homestyle noodles dishes!

Fantastic food - fresh ingredients, delicious recipes and courteous service. I got the #40 vermicelli and shrimp - deliciously seasoned and grilled - unbelievable flavor. My friend got the steak pho - broth was amazing and the meat was delicious. My other friend got vermicelli with short rip and shrimp - also great. We got the summer roll for the table - everything was super fresh and good. Light and flavorful but filling.