Vietnamese food in Miami for Family

[tthuynvy]

I'll be staying at the Marriott oceanfront for a week with my parents and 5 year old daughter. Am requesting suggestions of restaurants for good, authentic VN food for my parents and my kid. (I'll be stuck at the office).

Also, if you have suggestions for them to drive around to see or check out, feel freel to add. Thanks so much.

[ciao_hound]

Go to Hy Vong, go early, and you won't be disappointed (take 836 to Douglas Road exit, go left, go to 8th Street, go left, it's on the right a few hundred yards.) Other places of interest are Miss Yip Chinese Cafe on Lincoln Road, with pretty authentic Chinese. Best Thai in town, I have no idea.

[Frodnesor]

Miss Yip? Authentic? Always struck me as pretty generic and underwhelming.

[tthuynvy]

How far of a drive are the more authentic vietnamese restaurants outside Miami - I hear Tamarac, etc...30mins?

[Frodnesor]

From Miami Beach where you're staying, Tamarac is probably closer to an hour rather than 1/2 hour.
Pho Tang down south would probably be 45 minutes +.

[mialebven]

Additionally, I wouldn't drive to Tamarac just for food that may be marginally better, if anything. The ones in Miami are good enough even if most of them may not be as authentic as you may see in California or Texas. Even with Miss Saigon in Coral Gables, I was happy with the food.

[tthuynvy]

I hear about Broward county? How far is that?
Saigon city? Pho Nam Do? Have you heard of these places?

[lax2mia]

I really think you should introduce your family to the wonders of Cuban food. It'll be much easier to find in Miami.

[tthuynvy]

I actually would love to try some - let me know where...I'll go try it.

But for my parents, you are talking about OLD people who are set in their ways and in a different city so they want the comfort of familiar food.

[yomyb]

I honestly think they would truly enjoy Hy Vong. It is worth the wait and if you go early (before 7pm) you probably will be seated quickly. It is also right on Calle Ocho by Versailles, a very well known Cuban restaurant in Miami. You can take them for pastelitos and cafe con leche after dinner at Versailles.

[mialebven]

There's also Green Papaya Vietnamese Restaurant in Miami Lakes - good to know if you're around Northwestern Miami-Dade and not wanting to drive long distances for Vietnamese.

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Green Papaya
16893 NW 67th Ave, Hialeah, FL 33015

[yomyb]

I second Hy Vong. However be aware that you will wait for a table on weekends. People happily wait for over and hour for a table many times. Service is very good but laid back, so a meal will take a LONG time. I don't mind that. No point in rushing a great meal. We usually go before 7 pm to ensure we get a table fast if it is the weekend.

[tthuynvy]

Thanks EVeryone!

[Frodnesor]

I was remiss in not mentioning the time factor at Hy Vong. It's a small place, service is kind but quite slow, and consequently if you're not the first seating you can be waiting a long time for a table. Possibly not the perfect place to take a 5 year old.

[Frodnesor]

Vietnamese, particularly authentic Vietnamese, is not a strong suit in Miami.
Best of the bunch is probably Hy Vong on 8th Street
http://www.hyvong.com/
After that your options are somewhat limited. Not terribly authentic (by my taste buds), but still a decent meal, is Miss Saigon in Coral Gables
http://www.misssaigonbistro.com/
There is a place on South Beach called Sushi Saigon which I was underwhelmed by, but in fairness have not tried frequently or recently. I will say that having just taken a look at the online menu I'm thinking I may need to give it another chance.
http://www.sushisaigon.com
There is also a place off NE 163rd Street just a bit east of I-95 whose name escapes me - Little Saigon? - but where I had a passable pho.

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Miss Saigon Bistro
148 Giralda Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134

Hy-Vong Vietnamese Cuisine
3458 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135

Sushi Saigon
1131 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Little Saigon Vietnamese Restaurant
16752 N Miami Ave, North Miami Beach, FL 33169

[taiga]

If you want something authentic, you could try the Pho Thang on SW 160th which has all the atmosphere of a roadside joint in Ho Chi Minh City.

I am not crazy about Hy Vong.

[Frodnesor]

SW 160th? That is a schlep.
I used to love Hy Vong, but my most recent visit was a bit of a letdown.

[mialebven]

I too have heard good things about Pho Thang!

[tarepanda]

Hy Vong is good but even on weekdays I would arrive before 7 and still have to wait.

Miss Saigon is definitely not what you want if your parents want authentic food. There is another one, Saigon City in Coral Gables as well. But I would recommend neither.

Little Saigon Vietnamese in NMB is pretty authentic, but the place is really run down and not very hygienic. However, on the same street, a few blocks away, there is a very good Chinese restaurant, King BBQ. They may be happier with that. In fact, there are quite a few Chinese restaurants on that 163 St strip.

There are indeed better choices up in Ft Lauderdale, but I do agree it's not worth the hour-long drive. But here are some of my favorites:

Dong Huong (iu think the name has changed...)
6672 NW 57 St
Tamarac
954-726-9728

Pho Hoa
5435 N State Rd 7 (n of Commercial)
Tamarac
954-729-9888

The best Vietnamese in Florida is to be found in Orlando. They even have a Ba Le sub shop!

(and oh Frodnesor, I agree w you about the comment on Miss Yip!)