Nong Lá Vietnamese Cafe

"Ordering from Nong La is like watching Planet Earth until you pass out on the couch: Consistent, reliable, and gets the job done when you need it. Is it the most exciting Vietnamese food you’ll have in SoCal? No. But outside of Westminster, you’ll be hard-pressed to find better, more affordable meals than their $13 bowls of pho, bun noodle salads, and com rice plates. Both their West LA and La Brea locations are open for takeout and delivery, call, order through their website or find them on most major delivery apps." - kat hong

" At Nong La, every morsel of lemongrass-marinated pork is charred with perfect consistency. There are crunchy bits, soft bits—our mouths water just thinking about it. This all-day Vietnamese cafe with locations in West LA or Mid-City has solid grilled meats. If you’re on the Westside, this is probably your best bet for quality bánh mì. While we wish they slathered some pate onto their always-fresh baguettes, their housemade mayo keeps things moist. You have your choice of filling, but if you haven’t guessed, we like the grilled pork. " - nikko duren, arden shore, sylvio martins, brant cox

"Nong Lá is a true gathering place. From noodle aficionados to foodie families, the casual bright vibe—as well as the best bun cha in L.A.—bring the crowds back time and again. Like the best street stalls in Hanoi, the pork has that wonderfully caramelized char that gives you that hit of umami—a perfect counterpoint to the bowl of cold rice noodles, lettuce, herbs, and pickles that's all topped with a sweet and savory fish sauce dressing. Other hits include the clam and green papaya salad, filet mignon pho, and bun bo hue, which is a lemongrass beef noodle soup with pork patty, beef shank and aromatics." - Hugh Garvey, Celeste Moure, Krista Simmons

"This Vietnamese spot on La Brea (there’s one on Sawtelle too) is the perfect place for a night where you don’t feel like cooking, but also don’t really feel like eating out. There’s very little fuss involved here - you’ll find easy parking, the menu isn’t overwhelmingly big, and it’s both quick and affordable. The pho and banh mi are great here, but you’re missing out if you don’t get the cold noodle salad with pork." - brett keating

"COVID-19 Update: Open for delivery. Considering Nong Lá’s immense popularity, it’s easy to forget that it’s actually a small, family-run operation. It started with brother-and-sister duo, Elaine and Victor Phuong, and their mom Khanh Phan, who sourced family recipes and adapted them into a perfect menu of Vietnamese banh mi, egg-topped fried rice, and a light, flavorful pho that you can customize to your liking. The new La Brea location is just a smidge fancier than the Sawtelle original but the menu is for the most part identical. Tip: Treat yourself to a glass of the homemade passion fruit iced tea—it’s delicious and just sweet enough to constitute as dessert. The original location is on the West Side. COVID-19 Disclaimer: We are working hard to keep our listings as up to date as possible (deliveries, outdoor dining, etc.), but given the evolving nature of local COVID-19 restrictions, we recommend double-checking the information in this guide with any business you plan on visiting. Also, please note that we have not vetted any businesses listed within our guides for their compliance with applicable safety regulations."