Golden Deli Vietnamese

(626) 308-0803

815 W Las Tunas Dr
San Gabriel, CA 91776 34.1024 -118.1114

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Neighborhood: Rowland

GOLDENDELIRESTAURANT.COM

Price:

$

Last updated 6.04.11

Category:

Restaurants, Delis And Delicatessens

Payment Methods:

Cash

Restaurant Special Features:

People Watching, Local Favorite, Lunch Spot, Cheap Eats, Hidden Find

General Info:

Open 7 Days

Cuisine:

Vietnamese

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Golden Deli Vietnamese

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Although it's hidden in the back of a strip mall a few blocks from the busy 10 freeway, this restaurant is easily found by following the folks who rush out of their recently parked cars to get ahead of those who pulled in next to them. Once inside, the minimally decorated single dining room, steaming bowls of pho soup, slippry vermicelli noodles with peanut sauce, and boiled meats are placed in front of neighborhood families and anyone who enjoys an eating pilgrimage.

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
Try to make it an early dinner on weekend nights or bring something to occupy yourself during the long wait. Reservations are not accepted. Note also that this is not a place that lets you linger after paying your tab.
Parking:
Any spot in the strip mall is fair game, although parking in the surrounding neighborhood is usually also be available.
ambiance
50.0% positive
  1. “btw, parking there sucks and theres usually a line.”
  2. “EASILY the best pho in all of Los Angeles, in a family/fast-food style atmosphere.”
dessert
0.0% positive
  1. “Check out the array of cold dessert drinks as well - yummy!”
drinks
0.0% positive
  1. “Check out the array of cold dessert drinks as well - yummy!”
food quality
81.57999992370605% positive
  1. “The thinness of the rice paper eliminates the heaviness and the rice paper gives it a nice aroma.”
  2. “Next time I'll just order both and pretend that my 'friend' flaked on me and lord knows its bad form to waste food.”
  3. “everything on the menu is divine, and i highly recommend this place if you are looking for exotic food.”
  4. “The egg rolls are crisp and the pork/shrimp filling is amazing.”
  5. “The pho broth was very tasty!”
  6. “Best Vietnamese food in SGV (apparently good enough that people I know from South Bay and the West Side make the trip on a regular basis).”
  7. “Golden Deli is such a breath of fresh air compared to them!”
  8. “You're here to eat the best Vietnamese food in socal at amazing prices.”
  9. “EASILY the best pho in all of Los Angeles, in a family/fast-food style atmosphere.”
  10. “Excellent Vietnamese food!”
  11. “Here's a great business opportunity for enterprising folks out there - high-quality Vietnamese food.”
  12. “can't go wrong with this authentic vietnamese eatery”
  13. “Great food + cheap prices = long lines but lat least they are quick and efficient.”
  14. “Third, the Golden Deli most certainly beats most places in the San Gabriel Valley for best and authentic Vietnamese food (although, I probably wouldn't say that their Pho is the greatest in town, but I do love their egg rolls and other Vietnamese dishes).”
  15. “All I can say is- I've yet to meet a person who didn't like the food here.”
  16. “Every dish I've had here has been outstanding.”
  17. “Consistently scrumptious Vietnamese cuisine favorites like egg rolls and yummy vermicelli noodle bowls keep fans coming back for more.”
  18. “They have a very extensive, authentic menu, and you will definitely be full afterwards.”
  19. “the service was horrible- never asked us how the food was, if we needed something else, we had to ask for the check.”
  20. “They also have overpriced Viet sandwiches and the Shrimp paste also looks good (if its warm).”
  21. “this is a good first stop for some great vietnamese food.”
  22. “Was going to Pho 79 down the street for a long time just because I didn't know of any other place as authentic without going down to Orange County, but the service at Pho 79 was so bad, and the place seemed run-down and dirty, I had to boycott.”
  23. “It's customers are either fresh off the boat or retarded because they always park in our driveway or crash our cars.”
  24. “the food here is excellent!”
  25. “Egg Rolls were tasty and warm.”
  26. “Check out the array of cold dessert drinks as well - yummy!”
  27. “GD serves the best pho and rice dishes.”
  28. “Those who complain about the service probably haven't eaten at a lot of authentic Asian restaurants.”
  29. “my friend recommended this place because they have the best pho, but after frequent visits and many dishes on the menu, i became hooked.”
  30. “To start with, their egg rolls (cha gio) are delicious.”
  31. “The food is consistently fresh and tasty.”
  32. “Love the food, clean environment, and the prices can't be beat.”
  33. “had the Rice Vermacelli (Bun) with pork and the pork was cold.”
  34. “Is it just me or does it seem like Golden Deli isn't as authentic as it used to be?”
  35. “Order the eggrolls --they're heavenly when wrapped in lettuce leaves and herbs and dipped in the sauce--they never disappoint!”
  36. “good food”
  37. “The food is excellent.”
  38. “If you're a serious pho fan, you'll enjoy the soup.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “everything on the menu is divine, and i highly recommend this place if you are looking for exotic food.”
  2. “normally don't like to try different things on the menu (in case it's not that great), but I've tried several at this place, and NOT one of them have been less than perfect.”
  3. “They have a very extensive, authentic menu, and you will definitely be full afterwards.”
  4. “my friend recommended this place because they have the best pho, but after frequent visits and many dishes on the menu, i became hooked.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “This is definitely THE best overall Vietnamese restaurant in southern california.”
  2. “this is by far the best vietnamese place in la!”
  3. “Golden Deli is hands down the best Vietnamese restaurant in the entire LA area.”
  4. “normally don't like to try different things on the menu (in case it's not that great), but I've tried several at this place, and NOT one of them have been less than perfect.”
service
72.7299976348877% positive
  1. “Best Vietnamese food in SGV (apparently good enough that people I know from South Bay and the West Side make the trip on a regular basis).”
  2. “Those who complain about the service probably haven't eaten at a lot of authentic Asian restaurants.”
  3. “these people are really nice and honest.”
  4. “The service is excellent.”
  5. “As for vanessaar91, if you don't like the Asian people in your neighborhood YOU NEED TO MOVE!”
  6. “Was going to Pho 79 down the street for a long time just because I didn't know of any other place as authentic without going down to Orange County, but the service at Pho 79 was so bad, and the place seemed run-down and dirty, I had to boycott.”
  7. “the service was horrible- never asked us how the food was, if we needed something else, we had to ask for the check.”
  8. “Even the busboy is very friendly and likes to joke around with customers, especially when you order the asian "taquitos.”
  9. “The service was great.”
  10. “Oh yeah, service is good too.”
  11. “great customer service!”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “You're here to eat the best Vietnamese food in socal at amazing prices.”
  2. “Great food + cheap prices = long lines but lat least they are quick and efficient.”
  3. “They also have overpriced Viet sandwiches and the Shrimp paste also looks good (if its warm).”
  4. “recommended this place if you are in a hurry and want to save a dollars.”
  5. “Love the food, clean environment, and the prices can't be beat.”
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. “Great food + cheap prices = long lines but lat least they are quick and efficient.”
  2. “Was going to Pho 79 down the street for a long time just because I didn't know of any other place as authentic without going down to Orange County, but the service at Pho 79 was so bad, and the place seemed run-down and dirty, I had to boycott.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/14/10

It's worth the wait.

by ronnielee

Being sick for the past week, I was in dire need of good pho, which means choosing to drive to the south bay or hit up the SGV. The SGV obviously being the better choice. Now, the Chineser in me tells me all Asian places in the SGV close at 2am right? So imagine my surprise when the recommended Saigon Flavor was CLOSED! CLOSED at 8:30pm! Who eats this early?! In a mad panic, we detour to Golden Deli barely slipping in the door at 8:59.

I seriously felt like such a jerk. Everyone else is wrapping up their meal. Who goes and orders two bowls of pho with extra beef balls and extra noodles, a side of charbroiled pork, AND eggrolls 2 minutes after closing? Luckily this place is quick. Within 3 minutes of ordering, all our food was served piping hot. I got the #1 special pho with tripe, tendon, rare beef, beef balls, etc. Thank you pho gods for granting my wish. Two other people got turned away 5 minutes after we sat down. Ouch. Enjoy your del taco tonight.

Maybe it's because I had my mind set on pho. Maybe it's because I felt so accomplished for making it here on time but the broth was absolutely mind-blowing. I was sweating and slurping down the noodles as fast as I could. Felt like I was detoxing. The side of pork was delicious with green onions and garlic bits. The egg roll was greasy but equally amazing. And guess what? All that food for less than 25 bucks? Where else can you find this kind of satisfaction?

My only dilemma is I can never decide if I want pho or try something else since the pho is so good and I know I'm hardly in the area so my choice is crucial. Next time I'll just order both and pretend that my 'friend' flaked on me and lord knows its bad form to waste food.

  • Pros: Fast service, large portions
  • Cons: There's a line even at 3pm on a Sunday, closes too early
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/22/09

can't go wrong with this authentic vietnamese eatery

by charlespham

you can't go wrong with the golden deli. everything on the menu is quality. the downside is that if you go during peak times, there will be a bit of a wait.

avoid "vietnam house restaurant" across the street, it's not even close to being the same as golden deli. with that said, if golden deli is packed and you can't wait, try "vietnam restaurant" about .5 miles east on las tunas. "vietnam restaurant" is run by the brother of golden deli. remember, do NOT confuse "vietnam house restaurant" and "vietnam restaurant". vietnam house = bad; vietnam restaurant = good.

  • Pros: vietnamese egg rolls, beef stew (bo kho), and pho dac biet
  • Cons: there is typically a wait
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

04/13/09

Vietnamese Icon

by veeveeun

Firstly, the neighborhood that this restaurant is in is San Gabriel, NOT Rowland. It would've been closer if the contributor put in "Alhambra".

Secondly, the Golden Deli is NOT open on Wednesdays and is usually closed in the first two weeks of September (this has been their schedule for as long as I can remember).

Third, the Golden Deli most certainly beats most places in the San Gabriel Valley for best and authentic Vietnamese food (although, I probably wouldn't say that their Pho is the greatest in town, but I do love their egg rolls and other Vietnamese dishes). Their sister-restaurant is Saigon Flavor, which is on Las Tunas (also pretty darn delicious). It's rather insulting for anyone to compare it to places like Pho 79.

As for vanessaar91, if you don't like the Asian people in your neighborhood YOU NEED TO MOVE!!! If you haven't noticed, the ENTIRE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY is ASIAN!

  • Pros: Egg rolls
  • Cons: Non-Vietnamese "Foodies"
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/24/08

There will always be ignorant people like Vanessaar91!

by vanessaar91isstupid

I made this account especially for the ignorant person name Vanessaar91, since your review has nothing to do with the actual restaurant, I'll make my review the same. Your obviously a retard and extremely uneducated. If you don't like the neighborhood cause too many asian people are pissing on your yard then move. If you can't afford to move (which for an uneducated bum, I understand) then quit your b*tch**g. So since you live in asianville you better just shut it, cause they are going to take over the world soon anyhow. Btw, Happy Holidays!

  • Pros: It's Pho!
  • Cons: Vanesaar91
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/16/08

Thumbs up from the neighborhood!

by everyoneelse

I live in the neighborhood and eat at Golden Deli regularly. Best Vietnamese food in SGV (apparently good enough that people I know from South Bay and the West Side make the trip on a regular basis). Parking problem is the fault of the City of San Gabriel who allowed 4 or 5 restaurants to exist in that little mini mall.

The Details on Golden Deli Vietnamese

Place Categories:

  • best vietnamese food
  • highly recommend vietnamese place
  • best pho
  • delicious egg rolls
  • great customer service
  • great fried spring rolls
  • best overall vietnamese restaurant
  • very extensive authentic menu
  • delicious cha gio
  • nice owner
  • amazing prices
  • bad service
  • not as authentic golden deli
  • really nice people
  • retarded customers
  • nice son
  • too much msg
  • pretty big eggrolls
  • clean environment
  • good shrimp paste
  • favorite o
  • great spring
  • best bun
  • never disappoint order
  • cold dessert

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