Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Ben Tre Restaurant in Millbrae

4.2 (199) 219 El Camino Real, Millbrae, CA 94030, United States

Categories

Vietnamese restaurant
Asian fusion restaurant
Pho restaurant

Location on the map

Millbrae, San Mateo County, California, US

Phone: +1 650-689-5588
Site: http://bentrerestaurant.com/

Opening hours

Monday:10:30 AM–3:30 PM
Tuesday:Closed
Wednesday:10:30 AM–3:30 PM
Thursday:10:30 AM–3:30 PM
Friday:10:30 AM–3:30 PM
Saturday:10:30 AM–3:30 PM
Sunday:10:30 AM–3:30 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.2

199 Reviews for Ben Tre Restaurant 2024:

Review №1

2023-08-22 05:01:16

Brought family here to eat for the first time. They have a whole half page of vegetarian options on the back of the menu. The pho was delicious. The papaya salad was a tad too sweet. The bun rieu had a lot of ingredients and was very flavorful. I wish it was a bit less salty but other than that, it is still the best bun rieu Ive tried so far. Service was fast and friendly. Will definitely come back!

Review №2

2023-07-13 17:29:06

Always visit whenever I’m in SF. I usually get the pho or bun, but I got the garlic noodles this trip. Just as delish and the portions are massive. I think the price went up since my last visit though.

Review №3

2023-05-22 23:55:20

Bun Rieu is good, a different taste than what I am normally use to. The meat was soft. I recommend this.#45 - 7 spice chicken with rice. The chicken was kind of dry but flavourful. The rice is similar to the fried rice with chicken roti.

Review №4

2023-07-17 13:52:37

Some of the best chicken Ive ever had. So moist and tender. Really quick service too.

Review №5

2023-06-16 18:21:21

Good food. Service. Quick and basic. Turn the giant tvs with news off. I dont want to see that while Im eating. IMHO

Review №6

2022-09-30 04:23:19

Shrimp spring rolls to start is very refreshing, especially on a warm night. The pho is good with a clear but rich beef broth. The pho comes in only one size that is like a medium size at other pho restaurants. If you prefer a rice dish, Ben Tre does the five-spice chicken very well. The chicken is not overcooked like is common at other places. The staff are super efficient and friendly. Highly recommended.

Review №7

2023-11-02 01:12:39

They refuse to accept Apple Pay, which is a major inconvenience. When I informed the server that I hadnt finished my meal and went to retrieve my wallet, I returned to find my table completely cleared. I ended up paying the full price and left not only hungry but also absolutely furious.

Review №8

2019-04-23 00:30:50

It was good but not the best pho Ive had. Broth lacked a bit of flavor and beef in it was petty tough, possibly alluded a bit too thick... Definitely seems like a local hang out though and pretty authentic. Prices are very approachable.

Review №9

2023-05-12 20:38:38

Love the pho here, love it so much I wasn’t able to take a photo before eating.

Review №10

2023-03-24 02:10:20

What a HUGE bowl of soup. I got the bun rieu and it was good. Also had grilled pork spring roll and enjoyed that.

Review №11

2021-10-23 16:03:42

I love soup!!! I could eat it on a blazing hot day or during a cold winter storm. It doesnt matter. Its the next best thing said to be running through my being besides the running joke about gravy. If Ive got a chance for quality vietnamese then I got to Ben Tre.This amazing rich concoction shown here in this review was the Bun Bo Hue (beef lemon grass spicy vermicelli soup). I have never been disappointed when visiting a Ben Tre restaurant. Ever want to know the difference in what youre buying here vs every other Vietnamese restaurant elsewhere? Take some of the broth from Ben Tre and put it in the fridge next to anywhere else. Once its completely cooled down youll see the difference in the quality ingredients used. When a below average broth chills in the fridge you get only a small layer of delicious fats on top.From noodles to soups my family and I always enjoy takeout or dine in with Ben Tre. The service is quick despite how many people youll see inside. They have a nice bar selection on the wall and friendly staff eager to move quickly. Its quality you can taste and see.

Review №12

2023-09-18 22:02:16

Ordered the combo apetizer plate and combo rice noodle dish.. both were super flavorful and looked beautiful. I was so hungry and excited to eat i did not take fotos. I wish i lived closer to eat here often. I will be back if i can !

Review №13

2019-12-24 16:38:09

We’re from Dallas,TX and here on vacation. We wanted to compare San Fran Pho against Texas Pho. There are so many Pho places in San Fran but googling and Reddit brought us to Ben Tre. Here is our review:Food:The pho broth was well seasoned and tasted good. The meats were good. Meatballs were different than what we were used to. They were a bit chewy. The Seafood Pho was disappointing. Didn’t have crab or squid. The restaurant being near the bay we figured it would be amazing but sad to say it’s just about as good as Texas. The Rice dish we got was good too but needed more vegetables. It only came with lettuce. I’m used to seeing cucumbers,tomatoes and pickled veggies. The normal veggies that come with a Vietnamese dish. The beef was tender and seasoned well though. We also ordered chicken wings. They were crispy but over cooked so meat was dry.Service:Service was great! Food came out quickly. The Pho came out boiling hot. I’ve never had Pho this hot for so long. I was sweating eating it. Not a bad thing though. Our waiter was friendly and very accommodating.Ambience:It was 3PM on Monday and the place decently busy. It was quaint but big enough to fit a good amount of people. We’re used to Texas where all the stores are big but not always busy.Price:Everybody was telling us San Fran prices are expensive but this place wasn’t that bad. $10.95 for a large bowl. A bit more expensive than back home but nothing too bad.Would recommend this place to anyone looking for a good bowl of Pho. Being Vietnamese ourselves we wouldn’t recommend a Viet place if it wasn’t good but stick with traditional beef pho.

Review №14

2023-05-11 02:52:50

We came to this restaurant for dinner, the staff were friendly and efficient. The meal was good, some flavours were a little bland but the portion was great. I am vegan and they were super accomodating to cooking the tofu from fresh (tofu is fried alongside meat for most if not all dishes). I had the tofu stir fry with vegetables and rice. My partner had fried tofu with garlic noodles. The noodles again were a bit bland but the crispy tofu was good. Overall a good experience.

Review №15

2021-09-21 00:34:10

Top tier Vietnames restaurant! 5 spice chicken my favorite always in combo with Spring rolls and Pho. Great fast service and affordable. Will definitely come back. Until next time! 😊

Review №16

2017-03-14 02:47:02

Very decent Vietnamese pho, garlic noodle, and raw beef. Definitely would recommend this place if you are looking for some Vietnamese food close to the airport. Would definitely come visit again.

Review №17

2022-09-19 05:21:50

Wonderful place, speedy service and high quality food. Ordered number 15 and 29. Really enjoyed both dishes. We forgot our backpack when we left the restaurant and a staff chased outside to give it back to us. Strongly recommend this place!

Review №18

2022-08-16 20:57:13

The food was very good and the staff were helpful.

Review №19

2021-12-25 22:05:09

I flew from Vietnam to SFO and stayed there in several days as a pilot. It took around 30 minutes to walk from the hotel. The restaurant was crowded when I came. The food was okay. Staffs were nice. Will come back.

Review №20

2023-08-05 01:16:14

My go-to restaurant when Im craving Garlic noodles, 5 spice chicken, or a great bowl of Pho.My go-to list:Pho: This is a classic Vietnamese noodle soup made with beef broth, rice noodles, and your choice of beef.Bun bo hue: This is a spicy noodle soup made with beef broth, rice noodles, pork, and shrimp.Mi quang: This is a turmeric noodle soup made with chicken or shrimp, bean sprouts, and peanuts.Goi cuon: These are fresh spring rolls filled with pork, shrimp, and vegetables.These dishes are all popular for a reason. They are delicious, authentic, and reasonably priced. If you are looking for a great Vietnamese meal, Ben Tre is the place to go.

Review №21

2022-08-20 12:22:46

Great, authentic Vietnamese restaurant! We did a takeout before our flight out of SFO (this is 1 exit before the airport and good to fill up your rental car). Flavors were original and restaurant was nice and clean. Vietnamese coffee looks great too.

Review №22

2023-10-01 00:07:56

Not a friendly place specially when you order to go they want to charge you extra for everything, I asked for an extra cilantro and pepper because I had bought 2 #21 soups unfortunatelyThey said it was an extra $2 for the bag of cilantro I asked for 3 siracha sauce they gave me 1 sauce I’m guessing they were planing to charge me $1 for each extra sauce 🙈🚫Place is so dirty, kitchen looks messyI saw a waiter smoking outside the parking lot and went inside the restaurant with washing hands 🤢🤮

Review №23

2022-08-18 03:22:47

ATMOSPHERE:⭐️⭐️⭐️SERVICE:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️FOOD:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️VALUE FOR MONEY:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Comments:Ordered it to go for the airport, and the food was great. Tasted very fresh and good flavors, and felt authentic. Would definitely recommend to anyone.

Review №24

2022-10-22 02:02:48

Delish!! Spring rolls were perfect and fresh, and pho was such a huge portion with all the right flavors!! Yum!!

Review №25

2022-03-27 21:19:57

Seafood noodle soup was good. Com suing nuong was a bit bland for my taste

Review №26

2018-02-18 20:19:36

Absolutely delicious food and fast service. Place was very busy but we were seated within Minutes, like most other Pho restaurants in the area It is absolutely delicious and everything else on their menu looks very good

Review №27

2022-11-09 06:20:12

Steak and brisket pho was pretty good! Location was packed and bathroom was yucky. Good prices.

Review №28

2023-06-18 05:28:08

Great food, fair pricing, great portion sizes. Got the vermicelli combo with meatballs, pork meat, and spring rolls. Meat was well marinated, A+ will be coming back

Review №29

2022-04-07 04:29:38

One of the best Pho 🍜 I’ve had in the bay. Perfect recipe and dining was very ambient.

Review №30

2023-10-23 04:07:05

Quite disappointed, the cá kho to costs almost $23 but just a few tiny slices.

Review №31

2022-04-16 20:16:58

As a bit of a Pho connoisseur I found this place to be amazing!!!! Highly recommend.

Review №32

2023-12-02 23:49:44

Good servicedVery good food.Price is good

Review №33

2018-11-04 05:42:59

They didnt have what I wanted from the menu but my alternative was still good. #18 and shrimp spring roll.

Review №34

2018-08-02 00:11:43

Really good food. I googled for a place to eat in that area and this had one of the higher ratings. Checked it out and it didn’t disappoint! I love for and they had what I was looking for with great taste. Stop by..

Review №35

2022-07-03 01:48:20

5-spice chicken and BBQ pork with garlic noodles - delicious and just the right portion.

Review №36

2018-05-24 05:37:09

Ordered the crispy crepe and pho beef with tendons. Pretty tasty. Place was busy so we waited to get a table

Review №37

2018-10-13 20:26:28

Wanna have something soupy after touchdown and found this nearby SFO. Soup is good but beef is over cooked to be nice.

Review №38

2022-10-15 20:19:03

Ordered off the veggie section. Papaya salad and lemongrass tofu. Two standard dishes I order often. It was very very disappointing, some of the worst Vietnamese I’ve had in memory. Also the lemongrass tofu had one small piece of meat in it. On the plus, food came quickly and portions were solid.The restaurant was pretty busy and other people seemed to be enjoying their food so maybe we just ordered wrong.

Review №39

2023-08-14 03:34:13

Good food but the lemonade tastes very artificial, get something else to drink.

Review №40

2023-02-05 07:05:15

Great pho and Vietnam dish.

Review №41

2019-12-23 06:36:10

After the lunch your clothing its very smelly, no condition on ?foods its fine, smile its not seen.

Review №42

2023-07-24 16:35:45

Really enjoyed my Fathers Day lunch here today. Excellent Vietnamese cuisine. Thanks family. Enjoyed garlic noodles and pho very much.

Review №43

2022-10-28 17:04:26

One of the best vietnamese restaurants in peninsula. This is not a typical Vietnamese, but an upgrade. Food is very delicious and has so many varieties. Their signature pho is very yummy! I went for dinner there several times, I havent seen any wait lines. Whenever I go around Millbrae, I dont lose a chance to visit this restaurant.

Review №44

2017-05-30 00:18:42

There were some good dishes, but over all okay quality.

Review №45

2022-02-19 01:26:06

The bun bo hue was too bland and the flavors werent there. Needs to be more rich and missing the fermented shrimp paste and chili oil.The place was clean and the staff was very nice and attentive. They also have outdoor seating. They also take card (debt/credit) unlike most authentic Asian restaurants that take cash only.

Review №46

2023-04-15 20:44:09

Im town, passing through and I was looking for a nice bowl of Phó. Ben Tre did not disappoint. The iced coffee was also excellent and Ill return if Im ever in the area again.

Review №47

2023-01-25 18:03:21

I thought the phos were ok, needs more flavor and less bugs flying around the restaurant. Also the hot tea was nothing special and they don’t have chili oils for the food. Expected more from this restaurant.

Review №48

2023-01-13 04:16:35

It’s a very popular restaurant in the neighborhood, and we finally gave it a try. Ordered basil tofu with garlic noodles and Ben Tre house pho. Two dishes were both okay, but not good enough to keep me coming back.

Review №49

2022-10-13 03:54:17

This food and wait time were perfect. We had a larger party and ensure that the eight of us could pay separately. She waitress then got upset with us at the end for paying separately. It was a bit frustrating and hopefully a one off experience.

Review №50

2023-02-22 01:48:52

Delicious #15 Pho Ben Tre Dac Biet, beef noodle and #3 Imperial roll, my favorites.I go to the one in MIllbrae, I live nearby, friendly staff, cleanliness, quality of food and menu variety are excellent!

Review №51

2019-07-14 01:39:24

Fantastic place. Greeted as soon as we walked through the door and immediately seated. Ordered our food shortly after and it was not long before ready. Had one of the best bowls of Pho I have ever had. The 5 spice combo also had amazingly tender quarter chicken. Definitely recommend this restaurants

Review №52

2023-02-04 17:08:59

The staff are very pushy. Not the place to go unless your ready to eat fast and get out of there. They are more concerned about the turnover then the customer service. Great place to get take out

Review №53

2020-10-13 01:21:09

I had garlic noodles with 5 spice chicken, large portions with chicken grilled very nicely 😋 and one of the best grilled chicken legs Ive had so far. Garlic noodles were tasty and plentiful but I prefer more garlic. Service no complaints, friendly and soft spoken. Sidewalk seating felt comfortable, clean and not cramped.

Review №54

2022-06-23 05:31:18

Food is okay. Female server never disappoints to give you the bill while you are still eating. This same female server never understands customer service. UPDATE: Really love to support local businesses, but this place has zero people skills. Same female server with no smile servd my daughter her meal with a hair in it. Of course, we brought it to their attention, the female server just looked at it, picked it up, brought it to the kitchen, returned with a replacement order (hope they didnt just remove the hair), put it on the table and walked away. Not even an apology. I wish I work for the health department and can shut this dirty place down. Absolutely lousy service. Honestly dont know how this place stays in business. I guess if you really want good authentic Vietnamese food, just drive to San Jose, better food and much better service.

Review №55

2019-08-24 23:02:57

Efficient traditional Vietnamese food place and the food is delicious. The Vietnamese crepe was really good.

Review №56

2021-03-23 16:47:08

Running errands and stopped in with a friend for a quick bite. Had the appetizer platter, curry soup, fried fish with garlic noodles and ordered short ribs with stir fry to go for husband. All food was very good - especially fish with garlic noodles. Service was a little spotty but hey were not talking fine dining here. Critical thing to know - the portions are huge! Everything we ordered could have easily fed two people, so we did have leftovers to take home. Highly recommend.

Review №57

2023-04-16 19:50:10

Service always great but Pho has not been good the last few visits. Flavor changed or less flavor.

Review №58

2022-11-13 07:35:05

Pho here is amazing, the price and the portion size are good. Egg rolls are crispy. I pretty much go here every month.

Review №59

2022-05-07 22:36:59

Very disappointed in the flavor of the food here. The mixed veggies w tofu had no flavor. It tasted like steemed bok choi & bracolli w a huge heap rice drizzled w oil w zero spices or sauce.Cc accepted.

Review №60

2017-10-05 04:49:39

Friendly staff, delicious food, and fast service.We came in on a Wednesday evening while the place was not crowded. I ordered the Pho Ga (chicken noodle soup) and my husband had their 5 spice chicken with garlic noodles- everything was delicious. Our plates we served within 10 minutes of ordering 😀😀😀😀!

Review №61

2018-05-21 02:47:22

The food was good, and the shared seating for a party of two was interesting since when we got there, most of the place was empty, but yet they sat us at a table with two others. The servers were nice and efficient. Read that as didnt spend any time at all with the pleasantries. At all. By the time we left, the place was busy. Pretty sure they are coming for the good food and not the service. I would say this place is a great place to come with friends or family, but I wouldnt bring a date - unless of course you are ok with the forced double date you will get when seated.

Review №62

2019-10-10 22:16:45

A really good tasty and delicious restaurant with amazing five spice chicken, papaya salad, and spring rolls. The minute we entered, the staff greeted us with warm smiles and served us immediately. I also appreciated how an extremely diverse set of people visited this restaurant and enjoyed the food! It’s definitely one place that I will come back to often!

Review №63

2018-09-27 04:58:11

Great Vietnamese food, probably the best in the area. Not overly priced, not too big, kind of low keyed and family friendly atmosphere. Great appetizer platter, rice platters are pretty good too. Overall good for both lunch and dinner.

Review №64

2018-04-28 07:05:11

My friend took me here for my first time trying Vietnamese food. I had the garlic noodles with chicken and it was amazing! It was so much food that I took the left overs home and my fiance loved it as well. I will definitely be coming back.

Review №65

2021-03-26 15:38:12

Very nice and clean. Friendly service and flavorful food. We had combination starter plare, seafood pho, chefs pho, and garlic noodles with 5spice chix. The starter had mix of grilled and fried appetizers, there was only one piece of a certain kind but being that it was so tasty you can tell it was a hint that everything would meet you expectations.The pho was spot on...broth was addicting. The cuts of meat were fresh and tender...beef balls included. The garlic noodles with chix was great combo and so savory with crispy chix skin.

Review №66

2015-11-17 02:05:11

This place is dirty and not what I had expected. Felt like a hole in the wall, dirty Chinese restaurant. The food wasnt bad, but wasnt superbly good either. Everything was pretty average. The fried shrimp I had was heavily battered. The batter wasnt the problem. Biting into the shrimp and seeing that the shrimp wasnt deveined was a little discouraging. Their 5 spice chicken with garlic noodles was average I would say. The noodles were good in that it wasnt nearly as greasy as the places like Thanh Long. The chicken was cooked well and tasty. I wouldnt go back there, but was expecting much better given the number of rave reviews here on yelp.

Review №67

2017-09-08 04:23:35

Another great Vietnamese place to eat on the peninsula. Great customer service unlike nearly all the other Vietnamese restaurants that serve great food. Always consistent service and food quality.I usually order the Rice vermicelli with Grilled bbq pork with imperial roll. Always a solid choice in the cold or heat. Refreshing salad with crispy imperial rolls and sizzling with great aroma meats.

Review №68

2022-07-16 02:19:21

Amazing Vietnamese food for a great price!

Review №69

2021-12-31 23:11:28

Came in at lunch around 2pm. We were seated quickly but no one came to take our order. The person who seated us kept looking towards us and blatantly ignoring us while stuffing his face with food. 25 minutes later we walked out after he came to help the table next to us who came 15 minutes after we did. Not coming here again.

Review №70

2016-04-02 22:20:12

This place is much better than the one in South San Francisco, be it the taste, the atmosphere or the service. The five spice chicken is very well flavored and goes very well with their garlic noodles. The BBQ short ribs doesnt go well with the garlic noodles as they suggested. The ribs will be much more flavorful when eating with rice.

Review №71

2020-03-05 19:04:30

Theres better Vietnamese restaurants in California, but this is convenient and have long working hours. Their garlic noodles with 5 spices chicken is so good! And very generous portions. Pho is average but hits the spot when you need it!

Review №72

2015-09-01 18:29:56

The pho is reliable here, but it seems like their specialty is the garlic noodles. The garlic noodles are a must try and I would highly recommend it with the five-spice chicken. Their spring rolls are also really good, as are the vermicelli bowls. They are really accommodating, especially to my friends cilantro allergy (which is hard to avoid in Vietnamese dishes).

Review №73

2017-11-01 21:24:08

Food is great, fast service and at an unbeatable price. This is our go to place for Pho. Only down side is that once you get your food, which is super fast, dont expect the waiter/ waitress to come back. We dont usually need them anyway, were too busy enjoying the amazing food!

Review №74

2017-12-01 21:20:34

This place is great. Super delicious and friendly service!

Review №75

2023-05-08 01:40:21

The worst restaurant. Foods are suck. Customer services are horrible. Recommend to avoid this place.

Review №76

2022-02-11 00:23:22

Been waiting to try this place for awhile, finally got the chance last week.Egg rolls were good, pho was good, bun rieu was ok but No Tomatoes. That was one of the main ingredients.

Review №77

2018-07-26 03:07:41

Do not eat here. We ate here many times before. Now they have new staff. My wife ordered a #29 Bun Rieu tomato crab pork vermicelli soup. The pork meat is raw and cold. When we reported to the waitress, she confronted with us & took away the noodle soup. All this time we thought they would cook another bowl for my wife. Finally, we had to order a different dish for my wife. What a terrible customer service and poor quality food preparation. They added 16% tip on the bill. I disputed with the owner insisting that he should take out that force tip. My sister tip them $10 anyway Avoid this place

Review №78

2018-03-25 23:43:12

5 stars for the food, 3 for the service. My dad asked for no onions, which they forgot. They also forgot my bun Bo hue. Then when I asked for it, I think they rushed to make it and they forgot all the meat! I was just eating plain noodles in soup for awhile wondering why it was so lackluster before I realized. Despite these mix ups, the staff tried their best to correct everything and the food was actually good.

Review №79

2017-01-15 16:28:21

Service was ok. Food was on the salty side. My order was noodle with grilled pork came out with noodle still cold. It was cold not as in room temperature but cold as in just got out of the refrigerator. And cleanliness was 0 star by the way. Tea cups came out and was oily both time both cups.

Review №80

2019-03-06 03:03:24

It can be a bit of wait on weekend especially during lunch time, but you will be seated eventually. It is worth the wait!The service is fast and food comes out on time. The food menu has authentic vietnamese dishes such as the sweet and sour soup with fish.

Review №81

2015-09-09 04:24:59

This is a perfect spot for cheat eats especially if you get off the flight at SFO near rush hour and dont want to go through SF city traffic. I really enjoyed my Grilled pork chop over rice special dish here. It has so much food I cant finish all at once. Their Stir Fry Beef over rice is also delicious. The service is also fast so you dont need to wait forever to get your food.There are tons of customers when we were here and I can see why!

Review №82

2021-07-02 23:25:18

The food is good, but the service is absolutely terrible! Will stand at the front for 5-10min before anyone acknowledges you for either a pick up or dine in. Only have five in once and they were rude! The only reason why I keep going is the food. I refuse to dive in and give a tip for sub par service. Go to the location on Grand. They are really nice and assertive there.

Review №83

2019-08-27 21:30:03

Vegan pho is pretty good - wish it had fake meat! Would like to have a vegan spicy noodle soup (bun bo hue) on the menu. Great place to grab a bite for a group of omnivores and herbivores!

Review №84

2019-04-25 18:49:57

A friend recommended it. When I got there I was welcomed and given a glass of ice water. Then I went through their menu and later on someone came to take my order. My dish was number 74 in their menu: Rau Xao Tofu. After a very short wait I think I waited for less than 25min then again it was 10a.m on Thursday 25th April 2019.After my meal arrived I didnt need to look for utensils, sauces, napkins and chop sticks they were all there. This was very convenient to me. I added chilli, soy and a sauce I didnt know the name. The meal was amazing even without the sauces and I left feeling good and more energetic. The meal was also quite affordable spent $14.68 for it. Vietnamese food is really good especially from this restaurant. I hope I can go again.

Review №85

2019-05-21 05:00:43

If I could give this place zero stars I would. I don’t know how they got all these good reviews but I will describe my experience here in depth and othersCan judge from there.I came here with my Son on a Monday evening—I had came up to pick my son up from SFSU to come home for the summer (we live in San Diego), so before heading back down, we stopped here because of all the good reviews. We were seated fast, but from there it went downhill fast. My son ordered well done steak and well done brisket pho—he got raw meat instead. I ordered a hot tea—the table across from us had ordered some and I saw that they got it in a tea pot. Mine, however was served in a tall drink glass so since it was glass, it quickly heated up and burned my hand when I even tried to pick up the glass, let alone drink from it. I had to ask for a mug or something with a handle in order to get something appropriate. They finally brought out the tea pot like the other table, but only after I burned myself and asked. My son’sLemonade was 3 sips of lemonade and the restIce. We also saw that our table didn’t have hoisin sauce like the other tables did—we had to ask for it TWICE before getting any. When my soup came, the bowl was sitting on old torn order Receipts from the night—basically they sat my bowl of soup on top of their trash and served it to me. I don’t know where that would have been appropriate ANYWHERE. I also had to ask for the rice that came with my meal rather than it being served with my meal.Lastly, I noticed that every other table didn’t have the same issues as we did and the service to those tables was up to par, despite how we were being treated—-which deeply concerns me. My son and I were the only non-Full Asian or non-white customers there and the service to us was below sub-par.It’s really a shame because in San Diego, we frequent Thai and Vietnamese restaurants a LOT and have never experienced a restaurant treating us this way. By the way, we are half Asian, half African American so it was extremely disappointing.So I’m posting this review as a STRONG WORD OF CAUTION TO ANYONE WHO THINKS ABOUT FREQUENTING THIS PLACE ESPECIALLY IF THIS TREATMENT WOULD BE UNSATISFACTORY TO YOU IF IT WAS YOU AND YOUR CHILD.

Review №86

2021-10-02 21:35:45

I was waiting all week to go to Ben Tre. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed. Admittedly, I ordered the food to go so I didnt get the full experience. My favorite thing was the lemon-grass spicy tofu. I really cant give high marks for anything else though I really wanted to.

Review №87

2021-12-01 19:44:13

Today I got the number 31 and the imperial rolls were rotten! The stink up my whole bowl! I finally was able to flag a server down being that mine was nowhere to be found and be brought me new ones but still they were very rotten. Not sure what’s going on here at this place. Disappointed

Review №88

2019-05-25 02:47:51

So far, the best Pho i ever had. The crew guided me on the menu, i could only remember Pho no. 30 (she was talking very fast). It was spicy, but not thay spicy.Of course, the first itwm i looked for the menu is beer - found the Saigon beer. And i was surpeit was imported from Vietnam. I like the taste.

Review №89

2022-05-22 04:42:23

Chicken pho was really good. Will go back to try different dishes for sure. Note: they dont accept gpay or apple pay.

Review №90

2022-03-06 21:22:50

Very clean place i like the food 😋 the best Vietnam food

Review №91

2017-03-16 20:20:24

Good food, serving a wide variety too, modest prices; their garlic noodle dishes are as good as fancier SF Embarcadero Vietnamese restaurant. Pleasant wait staff who dont hover & put down the check too soon.

Review №92

2016-10-29 03:32:36

This is my go to Vietnamese place when Im in Millbrae. I always get the Chicken Pho and its delicious. The chicken is sliced chicken breast which makes it easier to eat. Ive also ordered their rice plates (BBQ Beef is my favorite) and their vegetarian fried egg rolls (absolutely delicious you wont miss the meat) plus it comes with a soy sauce based dipping sauce.

Review №93

2017-12-18 06:18:34

No complaints about the food or service but when we got our check, the number of items and price of each is correct but the total somehow added another $30 or so. Maybe its an honest mistake but I would suggest you add up your items to make sure, especially if you are in a group. If I wasnt splitting the check with my friends, I would have just paid what was indicated on the check.

Review №94

2013-12-20 06:18:25

Yummy. Friendly and professional service with superb food in an attractive neighborhood restaurant. Reasonable prices too. How many Vietnamese or Chinese restaurants can claim all of these traits? This will be my new go-to spot when I land at sfo. Cant wait to go back.

Review №95

2018-08-21 17:26:33

Good food, especially the garlic noodles and the pork/eggroll vermicelli. They did forget one party members Pho Tai though and we needed to remind them twice before they brought it out... I also thought the 5 spice chicken was a tiny bit overrated, though it was fine.

Review №96

2019-02-26 19:07:41

Love the 5 spice chicken and pho combo! They serve a lot of people at a fairly quick pace and interiors are to par with Vietnamese Pho Restaurant. Great place to go on a cold day for some good old pho or rice dish.

Review №97

2016-09-20 15:00:01

The food was good but the service was not. The staff never checked to see if we needed anything. It was very difficult to get their attention to ask for water or tea. Also more than 30 minutes before closing they set up a cleaning station on the table behind us. They had containers of hot water that reeked of bleach. Not something you want to smell while you are eating. Best to get take out.

Review №98

2016-10-03 03:26:40

This place is no joke, the food is delicious. From the aromatic pho to the vermicelli noodles, the flavors dont miss a beat. Just wish the portions were smaller. Note its cash only for orders under $10.

Review №99

2016-07-08 05:48:04

My family and I enjoy going to both Ben Tre locations. The huge portions of food is delicious and at a very good price. Ive had both lunch and dinner plates at this location and always leave happy!For lunch, Ive had:[+] vermicelli w/ imperial rolls & BBQ pork[+] garlic Noodles w/ five spice chicken[+] pho Dac Biet[+] pho w/ five spice chicken (the chicken comes out separately on a plate)[+] Pho bowl is HUMONGOUS! Its more than filling and will happily satisfy you if youre super hungry.[+] Five spice chicken is huge, tender, and full of flavor.[-] The clear noodle soup is a no go for me though. The noodles were undercooked and it really wasnt that good.For dinner, Ive had:[+] rare beef w/ lemon[+] shrimp papaya salad[+/-] beef papaya salad (plenty of beef, but its a bit too salty)[+] hot & sour catfish soup[+] catfish claypotand loooveeee it! It helps that this place is consistently delicious and affordable. But I must admit, Vietnamese food is one of my favorites (:

Review №100

2022-12-29 04:14:09

Great food!

Review №101

2022-02-08 03:02:29

We have been eating here since they have opened. We find the food very good with great variety of dishes. We always come here for our Vietnamese food fix.

Review №102

2021-07-14 17:48:58

Excellent pho. Rare beef steak pho is delicious! Secret, if U haven’t tried pho before, squeeze some hoisin sauce into your pho broth to make it even tastier!

Review №103

2021-08-28 22:40:06

Worst service ever!!! Rude!I have been going to this restaurant for 5 years now. I am a loyal customer. The service changed tremendously. The waitress was very very rude.Also: The restaurant was relatively full and outside seating was closed. Shouldnt outside seating should be always available when the restaurant offers outside seating?

Review №104

2018-07-17 19:08:37

Good food, great service!

Review №105

2018-03-08 17:18:29

Went to this restaurant for the first time and was pleasantly surprised. Millbrae now has a glut of Chinese restaurants, so it is a pleasant change of pace finding a Vietnamese cuisine restaurant. I found it to be a bit pricey but the portion sizes were excellent.

Review №106

2023-04-11 02:43:24

Food and service are still the same, just the business a little slow, not that busy as 3 years ago.

Review №107

2019-11-18 01:05:38

Just ordered rice plate and they recycle their rice!!! My ball of rice has broken carrots in it🤮. I wonder whos left over I got to eat today.Oh and their caramelized pot is never caramelized. They might as well call it watered down sauce pot instead of caramelized pot.Theyre getting really sloppy here and food just isnt as tasty as before.

Review №108

2022-09-22 02:47:23

Nice ambience. I ordered the spring rolls, the ends were really chewy, like really chewy, not like any other spring role I’ve had

Review №109

2014-12-13 09:25:11

Listen after having some seriously delicious pho in San Jose, I can honeslty say that the one at Ben Tre isnt as great but it is still pretty damn good. I think their best is everything else. Dont get me wrong I always end up sharing a pho with my husband ( as the portion are huge! ) along side other dishes.For starters the bbq pork rice rolls are a must trust me! Just go and order them. The quail is also quite good. Their combo starter platter is really good, but if you are going the healthy path pick something else as it is mostly fried.The 5 spice chicken is spectacular. I personally prefer the rice 5 spices chicken over the noodles one, but the noodles is delicious too.The place is usually quite full, specially during lunch hours, so there might be a little wait sometimes but nothing crazy.

Review №110

2023-08-06 08:32:42

My favorite viet food in sfo

Review №111

2016-06-20 00:58:25

*** In Short ***Unexpectedly tasty five spice chicken pho ga!*** In Depth ***Millbrae wasnt a city I ventured much into until my girlfriend moved into the neighborhood she grew up in, with the restaurants she grew up eating at, which, unlike SF, dont seem to change nearly as often. So, while Im the one showing her about up in the city, I defer to her repertoire of experience when it comes to her cozy little part of suburbia.In the mood for soup noodles (which is a mood Im usually in, if were being honest), but not quite feeling the heaviness of actual pho, I ended up going with the lighter pho ga option, with a side of heavier five spice roasted chicken, of course.And, unlike the five spice chicken at my much beloved Golden Star up in SF, Ben Tres was seasoned just about right to pair with the pho ga, such that the flavors balanced out, and the chicken itself was not too, too salty (it still was a bit, but not as much). Flavors aside, it was cooked perfectly as well, with a nicer outer crisp, and a deliciously moist interior.***Accessibility Info***Venue - A spacious venue with plenty of seating, composed of a mixture of high top and regular height tables. Some of them might be set a bit too close to be comfortably seated at when the place is crowded, but there should be enough options for accessible seating otherwise.Bathroom - Didnt try them.

Review №112

2018-11-29 17:04:07

Excellent vegetarian pho. Bok choy, basil, bean sprouts, jalapenos and great broth. A dash of soy sauce and some Sriracha and this is my perfect comfort food! We always get it to-go so that we can customize the quantity of noodles, and the ingredients as per our taste..

Review №113

2017-11-05 03:07:28

Garlic noodles ok, sizzling beef--not so much. Suppose to be filet mignon--if thats the case it was like no other mignon I ever tasted. Fatty with a strange spoiled taste--decided to stop after a few pieces. Agree with prior comment about potential for food poisoning. Let waitress know and she adjusted bill upon my request after a little hassle, overall was courteous but didnt seem concerned about the feedback. Pho might be a safer option.

Review №114

2020-10-04 17:22:40

Whenever we drive up to the peninsula and are in the mood for Pho, we come here. So happy they have a cute and lovely outdoor seating area, we missed eating out here!

Review №115

2022-08-22 01:26:50

I got the Pork Vermicelli. The meat was good, the noodles were fine but the vegetables were not fresh.

Review №116

2015-12-15 06:10:11

My go-to Vietnamese restaurant in the Peninsula area. Ben Tre offers a wide selection of popular Vietnamese dishes, from pho to bun bo hue to imperial rolls. The price is reasonable, the service is efficient, and the food is tasty. The restaurant is modern and clean. During dinner hours, there is often a short line, so be prepared to wait 15 mins or so on a normal night.

Review №117

2017-01-17 18:29:41

Typical Vietnamese restaurant. Standard service and cuisine. A dish I consider their signature is the 5-spice chicken with rice. It is flavorful, yet the meat is moist and tender.

Review №118

2013-11-06 23:59:42

The five spice chicken (with garlic noodles) is amazing. Dish portions are generous and flavorful. My kids especially love the pho options available.

Review №119

2023-05-08 01:45:15

This place is very bad. Save your money for a better Vietnamese restaurant.

Review №120

2017-11-22 02:11:52

Delicious garlic noodles with several choices for entree. My favorites are the tiger shrimp or 5-spice chicken. The papaya salad is very good too.

Review №121

2019-03-12 09:26:43

I was here 2 days ago I got the steak brisket pho I got it to go and they properly packaged everything separately made sure I didnt miss out on anything I was recently dealing with a cold and felt instantly cured after eating this very delicious Pho Ive already recommended this place to my friends.

Review №122

2020-02-10 12:42:51

Very good food, excellent flavor. Surprised the service was very poor. There were plenty of staff just standing around. They brought my drink when my food was nearly gone.

Review №123

2018-02-08 02:08:08

Its my go to spot... If I need my pho fix I come here. I have ventured and tried more of their dishes but Im just in love with pho and they always make it good. Fast service and great price as well!

Review №124

2016-04-14 02:36:34

Accessibility (Parking / Wait Time)1/1 Star: parking is ok, some times its not easy but I normally find a spot. No wait._____Service (Waiter / Cleanness / Ambiance)1/1 Star: normal service. Nice big TV. Clean._____Taste (0=Not Edible / 1=Edible / 2=Good (average) / 3=Must Try!)3/3 Stars: there BBQ Pho is a MUST TRY!_____Overall Experience5/5 Stars_____Last WordsI wish more places serve BBQ Pho.

Review №125

2018-03-30 23:02:43

Great food at a fair price, and fast.

Review №126

2019-10-26 02:27:46

Brought me the wrong order. I told them they brought the wrong order. Waitress insisted I had ordered a dish with a protein I cant eat. Noodles were fine. Overall, a disappointment.

Review №127

2015-12-07 21:42:17

I love vietnamese food and ben tre does a nice, fresh and clean pho broth. their five spice chicken is also a must try. look around the restaurant and youll see almost every other table order the five spice chicken. have it with garlic noodles, over vermicelli or rice...should not disappoint.

Review №128

2019-06-06 21:31:09

Pho broth is good and they have other stuff a lot of other Vietnamese places dont have. They herbs and veggies are super fresh also.

Review №129

2017-10-13 19:13:49

Food was good and service was fast. If you would like to dine here...make sure you arrive early and reserve for seats, especially for big groups. 2aitung can be quite long. Parking is also a problem during peak hours.

Review №130

2017-02-05 06:21:56

This is the worst restaurant ever!! We were first served a non veg dish when we clearly asked for veggie rolls. Later the soup we ordered had human hair in it . When we complained, the manager instead of apologizing he had the audacity to ask us to leave the restaurant. Horrible service!

Review №131

2016-07-07 20:08:48

Ben Tre offers some of the best pho in the Bay Area. Very flavorful broth and a hearty helping of beef, veggies, and noodles. Definitely worth a try if you find yourself hungry at the Milbrae BART station.

Review №132

2016-10-08 18:39:04

Popular and delicious Vietnamese restaurant. Great place to go if you want more than just pho. They have a lot of tables, but there is often a line out the door.

Review №133

2022-04-26 05:22:58

For some reason, noodle felt a bit off compared to what I had before. Veges and the protein were good though

Review №134

2021-09-03 00:20:06

IIRC the original Ben Tre is superb, but this one... the garlic noodles were just okay and the bun bo hue was clearly having an off day.

Review №135

2017-06-23 00:29:24

Very good Vietnamese. BBQ pork usually has a nice char on it. Excellent egg rolls. I usually get 32a which is Bun Cha Gio Thit Nuong and has both.

Review №136

2016-01-06 16:58:35

Im in love with this place! Its my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in the bay. Everything Ive tried is out of this word especially the 5spice chicken, is out of this world and portions are big.

Review №137

2018-12-29 04:07:02

Very large portions, everything is amazing. The food is flavorful and the service is fast. Usually a wait but it’s worth it. Very reasonable prices

Review №138

2019-11-12 17:56:22

The best pho I have ever had. The soup is not salty and meat bone based. The noodle is silky.

Review №139

2017-02-05 06:14:06

We were served a soup that had human hair in it. When we pointed it out the waitress was clueless about. The manager came over and never apologized and was extremely rude at us for pointing out their mistake! Shocking and regressive behavior in this day and age. A person of that age should act like a grown up and own up to the mistake.

Review №140

2019-01-28 15:03:49

Im vegetarian so shy away from Vietnamese food often. But this place has a whole vegetarian menu! And its fast and as yummy as I could hope for!

Review №141

2016-09-05 15:38:53

Always solid food, wait can be a little long. Would recommend the classic pho or the five spice chicken with pho on the side if youre a first-timer.

Review №142

2016-07-26 14:20:56

We went there for my little sister BIRTHDAY.We are from Sacramento and my little sister just move there about 2 months now. We wanted to try the pho at Ben Tre. It was our first time there and sure will BE OUR LAST! It was a family day out. All of us was done eating and we paid. All of us was having fun and enjoying everything. The owner came up YELLING AND HAD THE NERVE TO ASK ME YOU DIDNT TIP CERTAIN AMOUNT. THERE NO SIGN OR ANYTING SAYING YOU HAVE TO TIP CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PARTY FOUR OR MORE.HES EVEN LUCKY I GIVE THEM TIP BEFORE ALL OF THIS HAPPEN! HE WANTED MORE TIPS! I NEVER BEEN TO A PLACE WHERE THEY ASK YOU FOR MORE TIPS. IT WAS A BAD EXPERIENCE FOR US AND THIS WILL BE OUR LAST!

Review №143

2016-09-06 05:48:01

Good food especially Pho and BBQ chicken. Staff is friendly, dinner time gets really busy so be prepared to wait 10min or longer to be seated.

Review №144

2017-06-16 00:50:41

A solid choice if you are in the mood for Vietnamese. The place can get pretty loud sometime. Good for larger parties but not so much for intimate date night.

Review №145

2015-04-03 03:45:16

Garlic noodles are fine and satisfying but the star of the meal is, hands down, the five spice chicken. Luscious, juicy, flavorful.

Review №146

2021-04-13 00:54:18

Best place ever wish the Thai tea is sweeter and less ice it would be great but so far.10/10 Its my favorite lunch place now!

Review №147

2022-01-03 19:43:53

Some of the finest quality meals!First time just love the foodHighly recommend.

Review №148

2018-01-14 21:34:26

Best pho between Milbrae and San Mateo. Decent pho thats really just premade and poured over with soup. The soup stock is nice and hot.

Review №149

2019-07-24 16:44:21

Food was fast and delicious here! We had pho special bowl, fried calamari, and stir fried garlic noodles.

Review №150

2023-11-11 04:43:17

Excellent food & service 😊

Review №151

2016-02-27 04:03:21

Good customer services and great great food. I always enjoy no 53, combo of fish claypot and sweet and sour soup. Hard to get a parking spot though.

Review №152

2016-12-04 00:56:45

We live nearby and love Ben Tre. I think its the best food in Millbrae. Beef pho is awesome, as are the spring rolls.

Review №153

2016-11-20 05:26:18

I always get the combo bun, which is generous in its toppings and the meat is grilled to flavorful perfection. The Viet crepe is also fantastic!

Review №154

2017-09-16 05:36:02

Great food! During busy hours service staff are literally everywhere and its hard for them to keep up, but they are great!

Review №155

2019-09-18 05:43:22

Yes, they have Pho and it is edible! Stay away from some other dish, they can be greasy, like their garlic noodle dishes...ohhhhh.

Review №156

2017-07-21 23:57:09

Pho is heavy on msg. I am sensitive and can feel the drowsiness after drinking the broth. First and last time I visit.

Review №157

2014-12-01 03:03:56

Great garlic noodles.Great pork chop combo.Good sized portions.Just fantasticBut beware of food poisoning...

Review №158

2018-08-31 22:11:44

Had Bun with BBQ pork, shrimp and imperial roll, 2 stars off the shrimp still had vein attached and fried on all 3 shrimps, back was cut so just one step missing screwed up the whole thing, hopefully will improve

Review №159

2016-08-31 00:16:24

Good value for the price. Tasty food. But Ill go to another Vietnamese restaurant just across the street for better food and serving.

Review №160

2021-04-18 22:49:06

Outdoor dining available. Food is delicious! Love their BBQ chicken pho

Review №161

2019-07-08 23:50:47

Food was delicious! Place was full but not overly crowded. Friendly service. Will definitely come again.

Review №162

2018-04-01 04:33:42

Large servings of tasty food in a family friendly restaurant.Loved the garlic noodles with 5 spice chicken.

Review №163

2019-02-07 05:20:36

Pretty good bun bo hue.

Review №164

2020-10-29 05:02:22

First place I ever had pho and it was fire af!! Definitely bring somebody who knows how it works and what everything is but it’s fuegoooo

Review №165

2016-10-02 00:23:20

The foods are great in this place however it gets so busy that its difficult to have direct contact with the server. But The waiter and waitress at Friendly.

Review №166

2017-08-30 15:38:58

Food is great here and feels authentic. Broth in pho is delightfully savory, aromatic and delicious!

Review №167

2021-06-20 02:43:07

Great and Fast service! These waitress and waiter are like “SUPERMAN/SUPERWOMEN”! Will come back again on my next trip!!!

Review №168

2022-11-28 00:11:37

Best Vietnamese food, staffs are kind and efficient.

Review №169

2022-05-09 04:33:01

Great Vietnamese cuisine restaurant, the pho is money but the clay pots are fire !

Review №170

2018-04-08 00:42:51

Solid Vietnamese cusine, Ive tried a few dishes and the yellow rice clay pot is by far my favorite. Gets crowded so get there early!

Review №171

2020-12-13 17:14:02

Good food. Especially beef soup.Special roll w bbq beef, pork and chicken. Hot pot yellow rice with chicken and shirmp. A much try.

Review №172

2018-06-28 04:39:43

Disappointed!!!! Orient your waiters to make sure he gets the correct order. We waited so long and just left because he said the kitchen was closed already and cant do our correct order anymore..

Review №173

2016-03-02 17:36:13

One of my favorites in millbrae. High quality food, great service, and a pleasant ambiance. No parking lot and near El Camino.

Review №174

2022-05-12 00:06:59

I always get the tomatoes crab vermicelli bowl. Cant go wrong with it.

Review №175

2017-09-27 23:26:04

Another place with good pho but also other Vietnam dishes. Great place to stop for dinner while transferring from Bart to Caltrain

Review №176

2018-08-12 05:10:37

Delicious vietnamese restaurant, super fast service even when they pack...super friendly and the food fantastic, price unbelievable affordable!!! WOW

Review №177

2017-07-14 20:40:05

Nice restaurant and good service. My appetizers came almost immediately. Plus, the food its very good.

Review №178

2018-01-24 07:28:29

Service was slow. Was disappointed with the taste.. never went back since there are so many good place to eat.

Review №179

2022-02-15 03:32:33

Food is great, but is this what I should expect for a light ice Vietnamese coffee? Half cup???

Review №180

2019-05-03 05:46:17

This place is always full but the waitlist moves quickly. I hit up this place for lunch many a times and highly recommend it.

Review №181

2018-03-16 02:37:39

Food is good and healthy. The furnishing older and not so nice. But this restaurant is worth a visit

Review №182

2017-12-27 19:17:26

Everything is very tasty! you cant go wrong with their recommended menu choices.

Review №183

2016-08-14 08:18:06

The beef carpaccio is the best appetizer. They have good portions for reasonable prices.

Review №184

2017-06-14 14:34:17

Very good Vietnamese food, and not expensive. Great first stop after a long flight.

Review №185

2019-09-11 19:17:05

This is So good !!

Review №186

2019-09-07 03:12:57

Americanized Vietnamese. Wont be returning

Review №187

2019-04-12 20:05:06

Always great food, friendly servers and very quick to get their yummy food in front of you!

Review №188

2022-10-07 23:48:54

Great Pho and Five Spice chicken!

Review №189

2019-01-28 04:30:31

Weve been here many times. Never been disappointed. Great food and service.

Review №190

2017-10-01 15:21:48

Very good food, large portions, good prices, fast service, could be friendlier, parking very limited

Review №191

2018-02-07 08:28:24

Garlic noodles A+ best in the bay. The pho is okay. But the garlic noods. Get those

Review №192

2018-08-04 02:01:35

Nice little Vietnam’s food with numerous selection. Not bad for the price.

Review №193

2018-01-07 21:19:54

Decent Viet food. Try their Bun Bo Hue if you like pho n spicy food

Review №194

2016-08-14 03:10:01

Great local eats. Pho, garlic noodles, and the clay pot catfish are awesome.

Review №195

2017-01-13 22:30:45

Our go-to Vietnamese spot in the Bay. Great food and portion size. Great value.

Review №196

2019-01-16 18:20:16

Noodles are great!

Review №197

2016-11-29 19:47:04

Yum garlic noodles.

Review №198

2016-12-27 02:48:29

Five spice chicken is delicious here. Also had the bun rieu which was great.

Review №199

2016-10-03 00:23:16

Great food, garlic noodles are awesome. Pho is decent.