Pho Tau Bay Ltt Restaurant

I honestly had very low expectations only based on the visual exterior but was i surprised food is delicious and well loved tons of flavors and good service menu is short and simple highly recommend this establishment

Be sure to enter “Pho Tau Bay Ltt Restaurant” when you look them up, not just “Pho Tau Bay”, there are a few other restaurants with similar names, and only this one includes “Ltt.” I know what LLC stands for, but to this day, I still have no idea what Ltt means… and forgot to ask. Need-to-know tips for your first visit: -If you pay cash, leave your tip on the table. -If you pay credit card, they will automatically add a 15% tip to your total (minimum $3), including on to-go orders. -Prices are subject to change without notice. I came here on Saturday, 7/19, on a mission for good Bánh Cuốn, thanks to my sister’s strong recommendation. According to her, this is the only place she likes to eat it, her favorite, hands down. My son and I arrived just before 12:30pm and were seated right away. Since we already knew what we wanted, we ordered without needing the menu, $35 (same price $17.50 each) total paid with cash: Two Bánh Cuốn Đặc Biệt, one with everything (including pork floss) for my son, and one without the floss for me. I tend to avoid the usual thịt chà bông since most places don’t season it well; I have a go-to spot in San Jose just for that alone. The food came out quickly, though it was a bit colder than I prefer. They serve their rice sheets folded flat, not rolled, a style choice that can spark debate, depending on which region of Vietnam you ask. For the record, “cuốn” literally means “coil” or “roll,” but it’s a hill I’m not dying on. The rice sheets were thinner than the ones we later tried at Bánh Cuốn Thanh Trì. No bells and whistles here, just classic OG bánh cuốn with chả lụan and chả chiên. (Both were sliced super thin, only 3 slices each. I personally preferred the chả chiên for its added flavor.) The dried shallots were reasonable in portion, but the herb plate (bean sprouts, cucumber, and basil) was smaller than what you’d typically expect. Their sweet fish sauce came in a super shallow, tiny dish, so we asked for more. The filling was standard: ground pork and wood ear mushroom, nothing fancy but traditional. This is a small, family-run spot, with a really warm, down-to-earth vibe. If you speak Vietnamese, they’re even more talkative, They were super friendly and funny with us once we started chatting. From what I observed, they seem to know many of their regulars by name and face. Located in a shared strip plaza, so parking can be tight, but available.

The food has some quality, but the overall experience is frustrating and the business practices are questionable. Customer service is poor, and the billing issues are unacceptable. We were charged tip twice, and items were grouped incorrectly to raise the total. We ordered 4 regular bánh cuốn and 4 special, but were charged for 8 special instead. That is not a minor mistake — it significantly inflates the bill. They also automatically add a tip, even on takeout orders, with a minimum of $3, and charge $0.50 for tap water. None of this is communicated clearly. As for the food itself: the bánh cuốn wrappers are nicely thin, which is a plus. However, the portion of toppings and fillings is very light, making the dish feel underwhelming and weaker compared to other restaurants that serve the same dish. Good food basics cannot make up for poor service and billing practices that feel deceptive. Check your receipt carefully if you choose to eat here.

My meal here was totally delicious. I found the pho broth to be incredible and very nourishing. There was a $3 charge on my card for tip but I had no issues with that. If I am in the area again I will definitely be back to eat here again.

This is a supposed to be an authentic Pho restaurant that was originally from Saigon, Vietnam. They are famous with their Pho and Banh Uot. We found the Pho was OK, not too bad but not a wow using the original Vietnamese pho standards. The Banh Uot was really good. The portion was not as much as other places but the taste was better. The restaurant is quite large and has many inside seats. Plenty of parking spaces. This is a handicap friendly facility.