Nong Lá Vietnamese Cafe

Saved this place from my recent google map hunt for good finds and came across this shop! So glad to be able to try it on a rainy cold day because it hit the spot! Better than most Vietnamese food stalls nearby and inexpensive! Perfect rainy weather food to eat! I was impressed with the quality of the food being super good despite it being located in a non-Asian community neighborhood. Worth the trip! I always crave for Bon Bo Hue and I’m so happy they serve it here! Their chef special was super good too! The soup base tasted authentic and no msg to it!! The beef was so tender in the soup! Definitely worth coming back tho!!!

Good soup, good bahn mi. Solid food, rough outside dining experience. Don’t eat outside at night unless you’re outta options. Traffic zoomed across the street, high levels of honking and VROOMing motorists. Stopped conversation multiple times because it was so loud. A trio in the seats behind us were so loud, I accidentally picked up pieces of their life stories (RIP Jeff). Someone was smoking and it smelled like it. Service was friendly and quick. Bahn mi bread was flaky without being hard. Meat was a little dry and thin. Soup was yummy. Dipping the bahn mi into the soup added flavor to the sando and softened the bread, would recommend. I would go back and eat inside, or earlier in the day, when traffic is light.

This Nong Lá location has been consistently great every time we’ve visited. The pho is always flavorful, and the broth tastes just right — rich, balanced, and comforting. It’s a great spot for a family meal, with friendly service and a relaxed vibe. Definitely our preferred location when we’re craving Vietnamese comfort food.

*Delayed post from Jan ‘25 Super impressed with this restaurant! Came here on a whim with a small group and loved the high quality service and the freshness of the ingredients. Only hiccup was that our egg rolls came out after our main entrees, but they were so good, I honestly didn’t care. Be careful though, they are HOT when they first get to the table. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious and well executed. I also loved how many fresh vegetables came with our meals. Totally worth trying this place.

I went to Nong La on La Brea and ordered the Bo Nuong (grilled lemongrass & sesame steak). It came out quickly, and the presentation was clean and simple. The flavors were fresh, and the steak had a nice balance of seasoning without being too salty or heavy. The service was great — my waiter was friendly, checked in without overdoing it, and the vibe was relaxed and welcoming. It’s a good place to sit down and enjoy your meal without feeling rushed. There’s metered street parking right out front — I paid $3 for an hour, which was enough for a full meal without stress. That alone makes it more doable compared to other LA spots. The restaurant was clean and had a calm, comfortable feel. I’d come back for sure — might try the pho or one of the noodle salads next time. Drinks and desserts l