Khuu Bistro

Hidden gem. The broth is the best in the valley. Not even exaggerating. Small mom and pops place. The picture is after I ate my food 😝 I drive 30 minutes 1-2 a week to eat here.

2024.08-25/SUN_1000: We were craving Pho but didn't feel like going to our favorite spot in Santa Clarita. We wanted something more closer to home. The only problem is, not many places make my favorite dish, Bánh Xèo Nam Bộ. It's a crepe filled with pork and shrimp and veggies. It's also served with veggies to eat it with. I've always loved for Vietnamese cuisine mixes the hot and crispy with fresh veggies. We ended up finding Khuu Bistro. One of the two places within Reseda and Santa Clarita that makes Bánh Xèo Nam Bộ. We found out that it even supports our Early Bird schedule! On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, they open at 9 a.m. and during the week, they open at 10 a.m. Nestled in an inline, tiny shopping center, we found the welcome Khuu Bistro. It's the only restaurant that had a wonderful, calmly decorated exterior. You won't miss it because it's beautiful. I don't know how to explain it unless I use the word "zen". It would definitely be the only restaurant I would choose there because it's inviting. There are plants and a new burgundy awning. Just calming. When you walk in, it has nostalgic decor along with plants, a very clean restaurant and is similar to a bodega or market yet inviting. We were greeted by an older gentleman who asked us if it were our first time. The music created a warm ambiance. It was great to see elders walk in and you can tell they've been frequenting the restaurant for quite some time. This means it's going to be some real good food. We ordered the Eggrolls/Bún cha Ha Noi, to start with. It was stuffed with ground pork, mushrooms, clear vermicelli, vegetables all wrapped in spring roll skin then deep fried. The outer skin of the egg rolls were like no other Vietnamese place we've eaten at. The mushrooms in the rolls give it such a great flavor. It was out of this world authentic and delicious! We now have a new favorite spot. Completely sold. We love how authentic the flavor of the Eggrolls along with the sweetened dipping fish sauce, Nuoc Cham was also delicious! Luckily, the dish I ordered came with Nuoc Cham! We got the charbroiled pork in fish sauce, Bún cha Ha Noi and the Bánh Xèo Nam Bộ, a Vietnamese Crepe. My favorite! Oh my gosh, words cannot describe how authentic the flavors of their dishes are. It made us completely forget our favorite spot in Santa Clarita. Now we found a new spot close to home! Holy moly, the crepe came out light and crispy and the first bite was absolute heaven. The crepe is stuffed with delicious pork, shrimp, and sprinkling of mung bean, onions and bean sprouts. So different than any other Bánh Xèo Nam Bộ that we've tried. Another great fact is their menu consists of different dishes from the Northern, Middle and Southern regions of Vietnam. This is how you know it's legitimately authentic. They let you know! The other dish was the charbroiled pork in fish sauce, Bún cha Ha Noi. My husband asked how to properly consume the dish and the gentleman showed him. Generally, if you go to other restaurants, it's all thrown into a bowl and you're given a little ramekin of the Nuoc Cham. You eat the dish like cold dipping noodles by using another little bowl to place all of your items of a couple of bites inside it along with the broth/sauce and Nuoc Cham. Holy moly, we were in heaven. My husband was very happy and satisfied. He said eating it the proper way changed the flavor and experience. Another great thing was the pricing to portions. Extremely great. Along with the experience from the gentleman that served us, ambience and authentic cuisine, we now have a new place to frequent. Apparently the dish my husband has was the same fish that Anthony Bourdain had when he went to Vietnam. You definitely have to visit and just know that this is our new spot! We can't wait to try the Pho, if these dishes were excellent, I can't imagine how their broth will taste! We can't wait! #greateats #Vietnamese #BánhXèoNam Bộ #BúnchaHaNoi #khuubistro #mortimerthebear

Maria D

A hole in the wall spot with incredible food. Someone in our party said it was the best Vietnamese food he’d had growing up in LA. We enjoyed the range of harder to find dishes, such as bun beoh, a raw beef carpaccio (super tender), an bank xeo (crepes). You can tell there’s a lot of passion out in the food. We also appreciated the incredible sauces that were served with the dishes and fresh herbs. Definitely check it out if you’re in the area!

Maritza Loe

Don't mind the drive out to the Valley to go here. Food here is absolutely delicious, and the portions were generous. The service was top-notch, and the staff were welcoming and attentive. I also loved the unique touches of the antique displays and decorations. Despite being a cozy little spot, the restaurant packs a mighty punch in terms of flavor and atmosphere. Highly recommend!

John Hwang

What a hidden gem! We all really savored the food. The restaurant offers dishes that you often don't see at other Vietnamese restaurants in the area: banh beo, banh xeo. The bun bo hue broth was tasty and different from other places. We took a picture with the chef. My wife and I plan to return to try some of their northern Vietnamese dishes.

Randy

Was very surprised to find Phnom Penh style noodle soup (Cambodian version of pho)in this part of upper LA and it was very delicious. The dish itself had some unique additions to it that you normally wouldn’t see in the dish such and fried pork skin & quail eggs as well. The menu had some interesting and authentic items that I have never seen at other Vietnamese restaurants and I will come back to try them all. Definitely recommend this place if you’re looking for good and authentic Vietnamese food.

Denise Phan

We keep coming back to this tiny restaurant in the Valley because it's just so amazing. You can get some hardcore specialties of the 3 regions of VN that are hard to find even in Little Saigon. The first time we went we had the Crab roll, charbroiled pork or bun chả Hà Nội, chả cá Thăng Long or fish cake in dill, and braised pork galangal which are all specialties from the North. We had bánh bèo/ steamed rice cakes from Central, then bánh xèo/crispy crepe with shrimp and pork belly, and bánh ít trần/ sticky rice dumpling with mung bean, shrimp and pork which are specialties from the South. All we're excellent. Last night we had the Crab roll and charbroil pork again and they were just as good as we remembered. There were actually chunks of crab, shrimp and pork belly within the filling of the Crab roll which was fabulous. I also tried the fried tofu, boiled pork and shrimp paste dish which are usually served in the country side of the south. Very nice for those with more adventurous taste bud. We've traveled multiple times to Vietnam from the top/ Lao Cai to the bottom / Ca Mau, eating local foods along the way. This place has some of the best signature foods of each region, North, Central and South. Very well flavored and in most cases, taste better than the best restaurants in Vietnam. Maybe we'll try the noodle soups like pho or hu tieu or beef stew (bo kho) next time. But there are so many other interesting things on the menu. I hear the beef in lime juice, seafood papaya salad, and the chicken wings in garlic butter calling me. This restaurant is definitely worth the return trips.

Christopher Dickerson

Good Vietnamese place that sells items that are not usually common in other areas of the valley like Vietnamese crepes and crab cakes. The crepes especially satisfied a craving I had since growing up. My grandma used to make them all the time, and these full that void.

S Taku

This is a great Vietnamese joint. I still have to try Pho and others, but all the dishes looked yummy. I loved every bite of my lunch so far - large enough to make it to the dinner as well. There are plenty of vegetarian options. It’s next to Seven Eleven, but plenty of parking space.

Gregory Farmer

My wife and I decided to have lunch here after noticing it pop up seemingly out of nowhere. The ambiance and decor is very casual and relaxing. Whereas other establishments focus on just a single region, I noticed that the dishes boldly encompass the entirety of Vietnam. We ordered the steam rice cakes, chicken pho, and Phnom Penh noodle soup and I must say the experience was amazing. The presentation, aromas, tastes, and textures of the dishes were phenomenal and indicative of a mastery over Vietnamese cuisine that I haven't seen in the San Fernando Valley. The quality of the pho was on-par with Phoholic in OC, Pho 79 in Westminster, or Sup Noodle in Irvine. By far the best pho in the valley. I spoke to the owner of the establishment and he said he just recently came back to the states after living in Vietnam for 20 years and I can say it shows in the quality and authenticity of the food.

Brandon Martin

Hidden gem. The broth is the best in the valley. Not even exaggerating. Small mom and pops place. The picture is after I ate my food 😝 I drive 30 minutes 1-2 a week to eat here.

Mortimer Thebear

2024.08-25/SUN_1000: We were craving Pho but didn't feel like going to our favorite spot in Santa Clarita. We wanted something more closer to home. The only problem is, not many places make my favorite dish, Bánh Xèo Nam Bộ. It's a crepe filled with pork and shrimp and veggies. It's also served with veggies to eat it with. I've always loved for Vietnamese cuisine mixes the hot and crispy with fresh veggies. We ended up finding Khuu Bistro. One of the two places within Reseda and Santa Clarita that makes Bánh Xèo Nam Bộ. We found out that it even supports our Early Bird schedule! On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, they open at 9 a.m. and during the week, they open at 10 a.m. Nestled in an inline, tiny shopping center, we found the welcome Khuu Bistro. It's the only restaurant that had a wonderful, calmly decorated exterior. You won't miss it because it's beautiful. I don't know how to explain it unless I use the word "zen". It would definitely be the only restaurant I would choose there because it's inviting. There are plants and a new burgundy awning. Just calming. When you walk in, it has nostalgic decor along with plants, a very clean restaurant and is similar to a bodega or market yet inviting. We were greeted by an older gentleman who asked us if it were our first time. The music created a warm ambiance. It was great to see elders walk in and you can tell they've been frequenting the restaurant for quite some time. This means it's going to be some real good food. We ordered the Eggrolls/Bún cha Ha Noi, to start with. It was stuffed with ground pork, mushrooms, clear vermicelli, vegetables all wrapped in spring roll skin then deep fried. The outer skin of the egg rolls were like no other Vietnamese place we've eaten at. The mushrooms in the rolls give it such a great flavor. It was out of this world authentic and delicious! We now have a new favorite spot. Completely sold. We love how authentic the flavor of the Eggrolls along with the sweetened dipping fish sauce, Nuoc Cham was also delicious! Luckily, the dish I ordered came with Nuoc Cham! We got the charbroiled pork in fish sauce, Bún cha Ha Noi and the Bánh Xèo Nam Bộ, a Vietnamese Crepe. My favorite! Oh my gosh, words cannot describe how authentic the flavors of their dishes are. It made us completely forget our favorite spot in Santa Clarita. Now we found a new spot close to home! Holy moly, the crepe came out light and crispy and the first bite was absolute heaven. The crepe is stuffed with delicious pork, shrimp, and sprinkling of mung bean, onions and bean sprouts. So different than any other Bánh Xèo Nam Bộ that we've tried. Another great fact is their menu consists of different dishes from the Northern, Middle and Southern regions of Vietnam. This is how you know it's legitimately authentic. They let you know! The other dish was the charbroiled pork in fish sauce, Bún cha Ha Noi. My husband asked how to properly consume the dish and the gentleman showed him. Generally, if you go to other restaurants, it's all thrown into a bowl and you're given a little ramekin of the Nuoc Cham. You eat the dish like cold dipping noodles by using another little bowl to place all of your items of a couple of bites inside it along with the broth/sauce and Nuoc Cham. Holy moly, we were in heaven. My husband was very happy and satisfied. He said eating it the proper way changed the flavor and experience. Another great thing was the pricing to portions. Extremely great. Along with the experience from the gentleman that served us, ambience and authentic cuisine, we now have a new place to frequent. Apparently the dish my husband has was the same fish that Anthony Bourdain had when he went to Vietnam. You definitely have to visit and just know that this is our new spot! We can't wait to try the Pho, if these dishes were excellent, I can't imagine how their broth will taste! We can't wait! #greateats #Vietnamese #BánhXèoNam Bộ #BúnchaHaNoi #khuubistro #mortimerthebear

David G

I am very impressed. The best pho I've had in LA... And I've had a lot of pho... There was a Vietnamese couple that found three place there night before and brought their entire family... They all kept saying how delicious the food was... They were even saying it was better than some of the other highly rated Vietnamese... I agree... Fairly new yet impressively good. Thanks Khuu bistro, I'm coming back

Martin Courtney (Openplzdds)

Found this place by accident and will return. I ordered the Ha Noi grilled pork with vermicelli noodles. It is served in separate bowls as the owner explained Northern Vietnamese style. It was excellent, lots of heat with subtle star anise and not heavy on the fish sauce. Also ordered the egg rolls, can get them every visit!

Mara Do

I'm in the area for work and I started coughing today. I wanted either bun bo hue or pho tai to hopefully help boost my immune system and health. Luckily I found this place. Even though it's a holiday and they were about to close, they still graciously let me sit and eat. I had good pho tai with tendon - and the tendon was very soft! The owners are very nice.. so if you ever have a bad comment or think they lack service - remember how damn tired they probably are as a mom + pop shop. Just be grateful you get to eat there 🙏🏻🙏🏻

Food was on point, vibe was off the charts. Bun bo hue done right. Broth hit the spot, like the chef has had some from the homeland (hue). Vibe was like a cafe from before the war. Only one chef so be patient. Other diners were viet speaking families. Viet coffee was accurate, the coffee was buttery and nutty, the right way imo. Feels like the chef left the game to open up their own small thing and its amazing. Try it before... this spot isn't gonna be around for another generation.

Yum yum yum! Every dish was thoughtfully cooked. Love how cozy and cute the place was! Both rice and soup noodles dishes were amazing. Loved the appetizers too! Sweet owners!

This place a no brainer for a fellow Vietnamese - it’s done with more care than any other Viet place in the entire Valley. She’s dedicated and it shows in her food. It tastes like home and better. We ordered (as first timers!) Bun Bo Hue, Pho Dac Biet, Banh It, Banh Beo, Nem Cua Be, Bun Cha Hanoi - everything is homemade, with all the herbs and sauces. Broths are rich, perfectly balanced. Texture and taste of the Banh It + Banh Beo is so much better than what you normally get in store. Even the noodles for Bun Bo Hue were texturally perfect. Worth a drive, worth the wait. This is one of the small businesses you have to support!!

Danielle Russell

This is one of the best meals I've had in a long time. The egg rolls were absolutely fire. I got the beef rice paper roll ups and my bf got the charred pork in fish sauce. Really cute atmosphere and super friendly service. I will definitely be back again.

Chris K

Food was on point, vibe was off the charts. Bun bo hue done right. Broth hit the spot, like the chef has had some from the homeland (hue). Vibe was like a cafe from before the war. Only one chef so be patient. Other diners were viet speaking families. Viet coffee was accurate, the coffee was buttery and nutty, the right way imo. Feels like the chef left the game to open up their own small thing and its amazing. Try it before... this spot isn't gonna be around for another generation.

Located on the northeast corner of Sherman Way and Wilbur in a small strip mall. Parking is free but does get crowded. This little restaurant is a gem. Not a huge menu but the food is amazing. Their Pho broth is among the best I’ve ever had. Other than water, all the drinks available are bottled or canned.

Super happy this new Vietnamese restaurant just opened near us - Food is delicious! The meat and shrimp were super flavorful and grilled/charred well. Excited to try the pho next time - The inside of the restaurant is homey, nice lighting and comfortable tables - Parking is easy and the place is easy to find

Let me start out with "What the Pho!" Rare steak pho is excellent. Recommend it to any one who think they had real Pho. Vegetables and beef are fresh. The dried noodle has the right flavor and the side of broth is excellent with the right vegetables to complement it. The pork is slightly on the sweet side. The star of the pork plate is the pickled vegetables. Nicely done! They are under staff but the food came out quickly. Staffs are friendly and prompt. Space is small but I wouldn't change it if the food is great people will wait! This place is "A diamond in the rough." A must try!

J C

Located on the northeast corner of Sherman Way and Wilbur in a small strip mall. Parking is free but does get crowded. This little restaurant is a gem. Not a huge menu but the food is amazing. Their Pho broth is among the best I’ve ever had. Other than water, all the drinks available are bottled or canned.

Siqi Jean Yang

Super happy this new Vietnamese restaurant just opened near us - Food is delicious! The meat and shrimp were super flavorful and grilled/charred well. Excited to try the pho next time - The inside of the restaurant is homey, nice lighting and comfortable tables - Parking is easy and the place is easy to find

Tuan Le

Let me start out with "What the Pho!" Rare steak pho is excellent. Recommend it to any one who think they had real Pho. Vegetables and beef are fresh. The dried noodle has the right flavor and the side of broth is excellent with the right vegetables to complement it. The pork is slightly on the sweet side. The star of the pork plate is the pickled vegetables. Nicely done! They are under staff but the food came out quickly. Staffs are friendly and prompt. Space is small but I wouldn't change it if the food is great people will wait! This place is "A diamond in the rough." A must try!

Do not come here. Save your money and your sanity. Eat literally anywhere else. Overall a very regrettable experience that made me question why I gave this place a cent of my hard earned money. The food was barely passable, just edible enough to remind you that you’re eating, but nothing worth remembering. The real issue is the owner’s attitude. It is a husband and wife operation and the husband acts like customers are an inconvenience rather than the reason his doors are still open. Every request was met with a grunt or an eye roll. He demanded we order everything at once because there is “only one cook,” barked constantly at his employee, and hovered over her while she cleaned tables, creating a miserable atmosphere for everyone in the room. The hostility was so thick it ruined any chance of enjoying the meal. This restaurant isn’t surviving because it’s good. It’s surviving because there’s no competition nearby. If another decent place opened within a few blocks, this one would be finished.

I asked the guy (owner?) when I called to cook the meat and he said it would be better raw but I said no I’m sorry I don’t like it that way. He said ok and still gave it to me raw. He was very unfriendly barely spoke to me when I went in to pick it up. Safe to assume he was like I don’t care I’m giving it raw anyway and not a mistake. I’ve eaten dozens of pho places and they happily will give you cooked meat. The broth was also not warm. Will never go here again. What a disappointment.

Jane

I asked the guy (owner?) when I called to cook the meat and he said it would be better raw but I said no I’m sorry I don’t like it that way. He said ok and still gave it to me raw. He was very unfriendly barely spoke to me when I went in to pick it up. Safe to assume he was like I don’t care I’m giving it raw anyway and not a mistake. I’ve eaten dozens of pho places and they happily will give you cooked meat. The broth was also not warm. Will never go here again. What a disappointment.

Long Nguyen

Do not come here. Save your money and your sanity. Eat literally anywhere else. Overall a very regrettable experience that made me question why I gave this place a cent of my hard earned money. The food was barely passable, just edible enough to remind you that you’re eating, but nothing worth remembering. The real issue is the owner’s attitude. It is a husband and wife operation and the husband acts like customers are an inconvenience rather than the reason his doors are still open. Every request was met with a grunt or an eye roll. He demanded we order everything at once because there is “only one cook,” barked constantly at his employee, and hovered over her while she cleaned tables, creating a miserable atmosphere for everyone in the room. The hostility was so thick it ruined any chance of enjoying the meal. This restaurant isn’t surviving because it’s good. It’s surviving because there’s no competition nearby. If another decent place opened within a few blocks, this one would be finished.