Viet Kitchen

Reviews

• Mike L.

  star star star star star 19 June 2026

  How refreshing to find a new, fresher Vietnamese eatery in the Central Coast!!  Initially headed to an adjacent burger place, we spied this little treasure in the same sparsely populated shopping center, on our way back from Orcutt.
  First off, parking is very easy, as this center is only about half occupied.  The menu is very short, which is usually a good sign, especially for a newer establishment.  There are the requisite appetizers (totally recommending the Goi Cuon, or spring rolls).  The Goi Cuon was freshly made on order, and the peanut sauce was far above average in flavor, freshness and content (lots of peanuts, marinaded carrot and some nice little 'crunchy bits').
  There were 3 lunch specials on the white board, and my wife tried the Pan-Fried Ramen w/Tofu..very good!!  As with any Viet place, I needed to give the Pho' a try...and, unusual for me, I went vegetarian on that.  So glad I did!  The broth was great, not salty and the noodles were loosely set on the bottom of the bowl.  Many places store their noodles in semi-frozen balls, rendering the pho lukewarm and the noodles in a lump.  This Pho was also packed with a good variety of vegs, such as jicama  cabbage, carrots, green onions, and the added basil, coriander, bean sprouts and sliced jalapeno...hungry yet?  Surprisingly filling and delicious.
  At other places that don't bear mentioning, the pho' broth is often much like old dishwater...not here!
  My wife and I are very familiar with Vietnamese cuisines, north and south, as well as many other Asian cuisines.  We are recent refugees from Orange County.  We find this little place well worth the drive from Nipomo, and we'll definitely be back!!

• Paul M.

  star star star star star_border 18 June 2026

  Decent rendition of "real" Vietnamese eats in an area relatively devoid of good Asian eats.  While I generally agree with fellow Yelper Suzy G., I gave an extra star for friendly service, pleasing atmosphere {complete with genuine lanterns}, decent eats [some not traditional], and to support a rare Vietnamese eatery in either SLO or SB county.
  
  The location of this place seems to be on the "border" between Santa Maria and Orcutt, so it is rather isolated, especially since the complex that they are in is relative new.  Even with my iPhone, I thought I was going the wrong way since, the complex is new, but lacks residents, and this place has yet to put a sign on the street.  If you drive by, it is easy to miss.  If you need bearings, it is close to a tiny Dollar Tree store, which is near the corner of Orcutt Expressway and Skyway Drive, which morphs into Lakeview Rd, at that intersection.  Even getting here from the 101 is a bit hard.  Fortunately, I frequent the rare nearby, 24 hr. Walgreens, so a close snack is welcomed.
  
  As for the eats, I did try & stuff myself with what should be the main signature items of a Vietnamese place.  This included:
  
  1) Vietnamese [Chicory, Condensed Milk] Ice-Coffee,
  
  2) Fried Pork Spring Rolls,
  
  3) Pho [I never pronounce right] with extra tender Tendons & fixings,
  
  4) Pork Banh Mi [I always misspell],
  
  and finally
  
  5) Flan.
  
  The total damage to my wallet was reasonable and I was overstuffed.  I did take 1/2 of the sandwich home for a snack.
  
  The service was impeccable & the atmosphere was spacious & serene...which I never felt in congested Vietnamese places like on Story Rd. in the Vietnamese SF Bay area.
  
  Ironically, the Vietnamese COFFEE was the "best", especially since I had not had a decent one in years.  It was tasty, sweet, cold, refreshing, and had the ideal balance of both Coffee
  & CHICORY flavors.
  
  PHO came almost hot.  The fixings were fresh & included fair amounts of Basil, Cilantro, Sprouts, Lime, & green leafy vege..  While it may not have been as generous as in SF Bay Area, Garden Grove [Orange], or Honolulu, it was adequate, & importantly, it was green and not wilted.
  
  The TENDON, which is my fav, was tender and gelatinous. They honored my request for extra, and they delivered in spades!  The beef was already in the broth, which I would have preferred on the side, to "cook" on my own.  That would likely have been a mistake since the broth was not near "boiling" hot, so that items would not have cooked much.  Since I ordered the smaller version, it was likely that the cold noodle to hot broth ratio was "off", so the end result was a sub-optimal temp.
  
  What many Vietnamese neophytes do not know, is that the skilled addition of several flavors/leaves/spices to the hot broth is an art developed by having eaten hundreds of bowls of Pho, at many dozens of places, over many years.  The broth is the base, to which you add your desired amount of about a dozen fixings, some of which you have to ask for...like the
  
  INFAMOUS ULTIMATE STINKY SAVORY FISH SAUCE!
  
  Which you never want to spill onto your clothes.  While it is iconic & vital in several Southeast Asian cuisines, it is basically fermented raw seafood juice, thus the "stink".  If you can get over what it really is, you will discover that more than likely, you have already eat lots of it in most Thai Curries and other dishes.  Most FISH/SHRIMP/ANCHOVY fermented rare sauces also contain anti-thiamin compounds, as does Sushi.
  
  After complimenting the Pho broth with various sauces, spices, and aromatic citrusy Lime, it was ready to eat.  The resulting broth was almost too tasty, so it was likely that they OD'ed a bit on MSG...which later gave me a stomach ache.
  
  In any case, the overall Pho was excellent in this virtual Oasis of Vietnamese food on the Central Coast.  As compared to the best in Vietnamese enclaves, it was only adequate.  It was likely an Americanized version.
  
  The ROLLS were one of the high points of this solo feast.  They were fried to an nice crisp, and were drained well.  After breaking one in half, it had a nice savory ratio between Pork, noodles, and some veges..  The waitress, who was very pleasant, also brought out a requested dish of somewhat dilute fish sauce dip.  This was a good representation of what better Vietnamese cuisine represented.
  
  Sadly, the Sandwich/ BANH MI, was only filled with savory Pork and some Cilantro perhaps.  I always want any version of Banh Mi to also contain the vital pickled crunchy slivered vegetables [e.g. daikon].
  
  The FLAN was tiny.
  
  I did walk up to pay at the counter & gave some of the above feedback to the manager....while the owner, who sat nearby, also heard me, but ignored me.  I am unclear as to why some places ignore even polite well intentioned feedback.  
  
  In any case, I will likely be back for either ROLLS or PHO!
  In the tiny universe of the Central Coast, this is likely the best.

• Ron Y.

  star star star star star_border 16 June 2026

  I love soup and I love noodles.
  I've been wanting to come here since it first opened and finally on a whim I was passing by and said to myself go grab lunch.
  
  The business has nice looking decor and customer service was excellent. I got help from the associate on deciding what to order and I got Pho Tai.
  
  I can report that everything was fresh great and a healthy serving, I had to share with my wife because there was no way I could eat by myself, but I couldn't get that famous broth taste of pho like I normally get.
  
  If I go back out I will need to spice it up a bit, but I'm sure I'll be back.

• Carelle V.

  star star star star star_border 29 May 2026

  Almost 5 stars, I just needed more choices on food selection? But sometimes simple menus are a good thing as well so this is more of a personal preferrability.
  FOOD:
  Good enough for the price. It tasted delicious but was not extraordinary. My dad had the special pho which was pretty good. I had the chicken curry and loved it. I could have the broth and rice just by itself, it was that good. My mom (who's a very picky eater and meticulous with new places) had the combo pan fried ramen and she loved it although she wanted more noodles in her plate. Portions were fantastic for the price!
  
  SERVICE:
  The service was perfect. The waitresses were quick and very helpful with us first timers with answering our questions. The food did not come out too long nor too fast that it seemed like it was already made to just preheat, so that was a good sign. The owner as I would assume kept checking on his customers and making conversation to make you feel at home and like family which was a very nice touch. We felt very welcome.
  
  LOCATION/AMBIANCE:
  The location is pretty far from the center of the city so it would be a drive for some people but I would say pretty worth a drive if its just a couple of minutes away. Maybe a better signage outside of the little "plaza" area would be nice for other people passing by to see because the location almost looks hidden.
  As for the ambiance inside the restaurant, it's very nice and welcoming. The white walls and high ceiling makes it bright on the inside and not claustrophobic. The lanterns both paper and light fixtures by the bar are a cute touch. Plenty of seats and tables and not too crowded either. Perfect for families, couples, singles or groups.
  
  Overall, good food with good portions for a great price. I would recommend it for anyone who is in the area or closeby. The vietnamese coffee is also delicious and a must try! :)

• Heidi C.

  star star star star star 28 May 2026

  I'm sorry no pictures but this place is so great!
  The Pho.... so good.  Chili sauce hot!!!! Made my lips numb and my nose well, let's just say, cleared my sinuses.  Delicious flavor.  We call in our orders from work and ready upon arrival for pick up.  Everyone I've spoken with that has gone said the best and I concurs