Van’s Restaurant

Reviews

• Linh N.

  star star star star star_border 18 July 2026

  The Banh Xeo here is good! Pretty big! We got that as an appetizer to share with everyone (7 people)
  This place is really cheap too $7
  
  I got Ca Kho To it came with rice and Rau Chua. Generous portions. Crowded too on a Sunday. 08/11/19
  
  The bill was $100 for 12 dishes! So cheap!
  
  Banh Khot (2)
  Banh Beo
  Bun Bo Hue (4)
  Pho Ga
  Pho Bo
  Ca Kho
  Canh Bun
  1 passion fruit drink
  
  The restaurant is really crowded. Across from Tip Top. In a white and blue building complex.
  
  I'll definitely pay another visit here again when I'm craving some inexpensive Banh Xeo.

• Beckie J.

  star star star star star_border 17 July 2026

  Quick. Fast service. Big portions. Fresh. Cheap!
  
  Been coming here with my family since I was a kid. Nothing has changed, but the fact it is just crowded. Food is always reliable here, and the veggies has always been clean. If you want authentic food, this place is it. Vietnamese crepes, bun ho hue, bun tieu, and etc. type foods are served here. Everything is tasty and refreshing!
  
  Must try if you haven't!

• Chris V.

  star star star star_border star_border 8 July 2026

  If your reputation is based off one dish and you don't deliver, it stands to reason that you will have dissenting opinions. Here is one such occasion.
  
  Van's Restaurant is an old restaurant in an old strip mall in the greater Little Saigon area of Westminster / Garden Grove. Somehow, I had managed not to try this over my many years visiting the area. I finally found the occasion this week during a meal with family friends.
  
  Word of mouth and word of Yelp strongly suggested that the Banh Xeo ($6.50), a Vietnamese stuffed crepe named after the sound of sizzling batter, is the must-try dish at this restaurant. What it doesn't lack are size and crunchy texture. It's more appropriate for sharing than for a solo endeavor, and you'll want to portion out the lettuce wrap and fragrant herbs appropriately. It does have a reasonable amount of protein inside as well, so that's not an issue.
  
  The problems start with the thickness. The shell should be way thinner. As a result, even though the exterior remains crispy for long enough, the inside becomes a little undercooked, and the overall feel is just a touch too heavy. Also, I don't seem to recall much coconut milk flavor in the batter, whereas most recipes traditionally incorporate it. Lastly, there is a lack of mung beans and, more importantly for me, an overabundance of bean sprouts. I would rather be able to enjoy a balance of all of the ingredients.
  
  I did not eat just this dish, of course. I also ordered a go-to fave, Com Bo Luc Lac ($7.95). This appears to be extraordinarily cheap for this sort of dish, and the reason becomes apparent as soon as you see it. The beef portion is way too small. Just bump the price up and give me enough of that surprisingly tender meat, please! I had over half of my rice remaining by the end. And although the sauce is quite delicious, the meat itself should be properly seasoned.
  
  The last dish to arrive, Banh Tom Co Ngu ($6.50), is ironically also more appropriately used as an appetizer or shared course. It's actually quite enjoyable if you're looking for a properly executed stack of crispy and fluffy sweet potato fries, with a bonus helping of fried shrimp. However, the dish should be a cohesive nest of sweet potato, so minus points for form factor. If they did try to pan-fry this dish, then they missed the mark because the batter was low. On the other hand, if they threw everything into a deep-fryer, then they might as well go all-out and Americanize the recipe with a truffle aioli.
  
  Frankly, Van's Restaurant is actually a great place for cheap lunch dishes with texture and flavor. Service was fast too. Locals on a budget should definitely give it a try! However, I am an out-of-towner looking for can't-miss experiences. Van's is not a bastion of authentic, top-quality Vietnamese dishes. Therefore, ultimately, I don't really plan to return.

• Tracey N.

  star star star star star_border 5 July 2026

  I mustve been here a dozen times but surprised I havent review it yet. This is your typical Vietnamese restaurant, come for the food, no gimmick. This Plaza is a bit tough to find parking especially on the weekend. If you're looking for a modern, sparkling clean, decorative restaurant then this is not for you. However, if you are looking for good cheap Vietnamese bánh xèo without the wait, then give this place a chance. Bánh xèo is crispy, flavorful, with a good amount of filling. The dipping fish sauce is well balanced. They give you a good assortments of vegetables to eat w your banh xeo. This is my go to for banh xeo craving

• Shirley H.

  star star star star star_border 2 July 2026

  My FAVORITE place for Vietnamese crepes, or banh xeo. The crepes always come out fresh and crispy with a good amount filling (pork, onions, and bean sprouts) inside. The dish is served with a generous plate of mint and lettuce. You get a huge amount of food for cheap!
  
  Service is quick and to the point. Cash only.