Reviews & Ratings for Golden Deli Vietnamese

01/14/10

It's worth the wait.

by ronnielee at Citysearch

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

12/22/09

can't go wrong with this authentic vietnamese eatery

by charlespham at Citysearch

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

04/13/09

Vietnamese Icon

by veeveeun at Citysearch

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"

12/24/08

There will always be ignorant people like Vanessaar91!

by vanessaar91isstupid at Citysearch

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

12/16/08

Thumbs up from the neighborhood!

by everyoneelse at Citysearch

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.

07/07/08

DO NOT EAT HERE!

by vanessaar91 at Citysearch

I and everyone else in the neighborhood HATES the golden deli! They must move somewhere for many reasons.

1. It stinks up the neighborhood with God knows what they're cooking.

2. Parking is horrible, we feel like we won the lottery when we are able to park in front of our own house.

3. It's customers are either fresh off the boat or retarded because they always park in our driveway or crash our cars.

4. They always block the driveway.

5. They come up to our gate to either pet our dog or possibly steal it.

6. Some even urinate on our tree.

7. They dump their Asian language newspapers where ever they feel like it and it always ends up on our lawn.

• Pros: Nothing
• Cons: I takes away the nighborhood feel in the residentual streets.

05/19/08

great spring rolls and pho...great customer service!

by schroe at Citysearch

The place was packed w/ Vietnamese customers...which is usually a good sign. The cha gio (fried spring rolls) were great! They were larger than usual and came with a generous heap of lettuce, mint, basil, cucumber, bean sprouts and even shiso. The pho broth was very tasty! The service was great. I ordered the rice cake with pork for the first time and was not sure how to eat it. The older gentleman who might have been the owner, must've noticed and stopped by the table to show me how it's usually eaten. One last thing...these people are really nice and honest...I forgot my purse there and when I went back the next morning to get it, it was still there and they 'd wrapped it up in a package and set it aside for me.

• Pros: authentic, fast service, great prices
• Cons: a bit crowded

01/04/08

Beats Pho 79 hands down!

by lichee1123 at Citysearch

This restaurant has a long history in this town as being a well-loved authentic Vietnamese noodle house, and I am so glad to have discovered it! 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. Golden Deli is such a breath of fresh air compared to them! The owner and his son are so nice and pleasant, and they always make sure customers are being taken care of, no matter how busy they are. Even the busboy is very friendly and likes to joke around with customers, especially when you order the asian "taquitos." The whole restaurant has a very good vibe. Order the eggrolls --they're heavenly when wrapped in lettuce leaves and herbs and dipped in the sauce--they never disappoint! Love the food, clean environment, and the prices can't be beat. Highly recommend.

• Pros: Good pho, Eggrolls are amazing; very pleasant owners; quick service and great prices
• Cons: Parking crowded; usually busy so be prepared to wait a little; they need to expand their dining room to accommodate all their customers

09/11/07

Previously Best Vietnamese Pho Restaurant

by ckaix38 at Citysearch

Is it just me or does it seem like Golden Deli isn't as authentic as it used to be? Pho tastes watered down, a little bland, and from my entrepreneurial experience in Chinese restaurants, that's what happens when you start to have an influx of non Asian customers, you can downplay your menu without the customers noticing a change in recipe.

• Pros: Egg Rolls remain consistent
• Cons: Parking

08/26/07

Good place

by bctang88 at Citysearch

Great food + cheap prices = long lines but lat least they are quick and efficient. this is a good first stop for some great vietnamese food. if the line is long, go to pho 79 on garfield where the portions are even larger but the taste is not quite as good (still very good to us)

• Pros: food
• Cons: parking, long lines