Ly Heng

GET THE BEEF SATAY (with large egg noodles, wonton, and extra sauce). I honestly can’t get enough of it. The beef is always so tender, and the spicy level is spicy enough for me to handle without upsetting my stomach.
My mom gets the fish fillet noodle soup (dry version) and that’s pretty good and light as well. The fish fillet is so yum, I also recommend the fish fillet chow fun? idk what it’s called in English but the fish was crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside and oh so delicious.
The soup they both come with is so tasty, the meat is super tender too.
I love this restaurant! Definitely a hole in the wall, I’ve been coming here ever since I was little (when it was owned by other owners) and I’m so glad the recipe has passed onto the new owners. love love love and will def keep coming back!

Living in Kensington we rarely think El Cajon Blvd or University Ave for restaurants, I’m determined to change my thinking; City Heights is on our doorstep and there is an abundance of international flavours just waiting for us. Last night we ventured out of our bubble… Glad we did and while walking there (we parked a couple of blocks away) we passed a take out Chinese BBQ — Tom’s BBQ that we will next be trying.
Back to Ly Heng — a simple restaurant, fresh, clean & friendly, a place you want to go for a delicious tasty meal without all the fuss. We inquired, they’ve been open a couple of years; the restaurant looks brand new.
The food:
Appetizers first — Salt & Pepper Calamari — deep fried large pieces, very tasty. Also ordered the Deep Fried Tofu, delicious, though overkill with the calamari, same preparation and both dishes are adequate as the only appetizer, serving sizes here are generous.
Main course — Lemon Grass Chicken — very flavorful, stir fried. This dish was excellent, though a little spicy for my taste, ate as much as I could, my partner delighted in what I did not eat, more for him. Next up the
Beef Noodles, choice of noodles, we went for the recommended thin noodles, a wise decision, always pays to listen to the hostess.
Excellently priced, not budget breaking, we’ll be back, so many more items on the menu we want to try. Ly Heng also has a full selection of Phở to try. This restaurant is Asian Fusion, Chinese & Vietnamese — they made it work. Thank you.

Omg. Omg. This place is more than 5 stars. The food is sooooo flavorful and huge portions. The fried calamari is bomb! Must try. I also got the fried tofu, it was good but I prefer it as crunchy as the calamari lol. We also got the seafood and combination ladna. HUGE. We asked for a side of beef bone soup, I forgot what it was on the menu but the meat was just falling off and the broth was soooooooo good. Since this was my first time here I actually didn’t choose the food option so I ordered the chicken porridge as a safe dish since and I didn’t even touch it, well I tasted it and good as always. I ended up taking that too go since there was so much food.

My cousin took me here for the first time, and I had a great experience! The place was recently remodeled so it looked brand new and clean. I heard that it’s usually packed on weekends, so we came at a good time. Cinny was our server, and she was absolutely wonderful and sweet. She made me feel super welcome! If you’re reading this, it was great meeting you!
I ordered the salt & pepper calamari, and it was delicious. I loved that it wasn’t overly chewy or hard hard to bite into. It also came with a bowl of soup, which I was pleasantly surprised with because it was a bigger portion than I thought it’d be. My cousin ordered seafood fried rice and my friend got lemongrass chicken. I tried both dishes, and everything was so flavorful. I can’t wait to visit again!

I just ordered some Yang Chow Fried Rice, Salt & Pepper Chicken as well as Salt & Pepper Calamari. I gotta say I love the Yang Chow Fried Rice ! I get it literally every single time I come and I love how they top off the fried rice with a Sunny Side Up Egg. We recently ordered a very large portion of it for my brothers bday and it was all gone within a matter of minutes ! Now that’s how you know it’s good. This is actually my third time trying Calamari ever and the Calamari was so delicious, my brother and I want more already and we’re still in the middle of finishing what we have. There’s so much flavor and it’s so nice and tender inside !! Not super chewy like most Calamari you get. This restaurant is family owned and ran and everybody here is extremely polite and respectful. I went in today for a pickup since I ordered over the phone and as I was waiting for my food I watched customers who were already eating before I got there leave satisfied and that just goes to show that not only do I love the food here but so does everyone else !
P. S. Everything comes with a GENEROUS amount and you won’t regret stopping by for some Asian Dishes.

This has only been my second time at this restaurant but I am now officially a life long patron. The first time I ate at this place, I had the Phnom Penh noodles (dry) and I must say it’s the best in San Diego so far. It’s the closest you can get to the homemade goodness! So much flavor.
The reason I’m giving this five stars is far beyond their delicious food. When I first ate at this restaurant, we came right after my grandma’s prayer services and I unknowingly left my scarf there. My mind clearly wasn’t there cause I don’t even remember having it on in this restaurant. This wasn’t just a regular ol’ scarf. I had wore it all week long for my grandma’s funeral services and prayers. There was sentimental value in this scarf! I thought I had left it at the mortuary and when they couldn’t find it, I thought that it was long gone. Fast forward a month, my family and I came for dinner on a Tuesday afternoon, the nice lady that worked at this place recognized us and asked if we left a scarf there the last time we were there! I was ecstatic and wanted to give her a big hug. They had put it in a bag and kept it for me. The crazy part is she remembered our faces considering this was only our second time there. I was so happy and so very thankful!
But back to the food, this time we ordered the Phnom Penh noodles again (yum), the fried «lot» noodles with beef, and house fried rice. Everything was delicious. Everyone else at the table had chow fun noodles and said it was tasty and flavorful!
Can’t wait to go back! Phnom Penh noodles and a cup of ice Vietnamese coffee will make any weekend great!

I really like the spacious atmosphere of this place. My friend and I came on a Saturday morning around 10; lucky for us it wasn’t too packed. We were seated right when we entered and got our order taken within 5 minutes after being seated. It took about 10 – 15 minutes for us to get our food, which is really not a wait at all!
I ordered…
VEGETABLE & TOFU NOODLE SOUP: I tried the broth before I added anything to the soup & it was already flavorful! For being only $ 7 – 8 dollars the portion size is generous & they were not stingy about the amount of tofu they gave me like most other places would be. As for the vegetables in the soup, I was expecting a variety of vegetables but there was only bok choy in my soup; I didn’t mind though because it was really tasty & there was a lot of it as well.
My friend ordered…
THE CALAMARI RICE DISH: This came with a bowl of soup that had a bunch of meat inside. The actual rice dish came with multiple calamaris, jalapeños, and side sauces. She raved about the calamari!
CUSTOMER SERVICE: This place has a family/​home feel to it because other than the fact that it is family ran, the workers are super friendly. Definitely recommend!

The restaurant can cater large groups. I just drove by and noticed the placed is packed! Wow! Funny part is that the hipsters from North Park are discovering little gems like this restaurant.

The food is great here. The customer service is excellent. My favorite bowl is the Phnom Penh noodle. The restaurant is very clean and bright. I’ve tried their phở bowls also and it’s very good.

I was looking for a place that not only had Phở noodles, but also had other Asian foods like fried rice, chow fun, etc. I found this mom and pop shop while driving and the appearance of the place is clean and welcoming. They had just opened and had the place remodeled about a week before I’m posting this. I ordered the thin fried rice noodles, fried rice with chicken, and Lok Lak. The food is fresh and very delicious. Even the bean scouts were white and fresh. The Vietnamese ice coffee is very good. While sitting there and eating, I over heard the server offered to deliver, no charge, the order that a customer ordered because she was on a lunch break. Now that’s true family business and customer service. I’m happy to have found this place and seeing that it’s not just another Asian restaurant, rather a genuine Cambodian restaurant that has pride in their service.

Love their wonton noodle soup with thin egg noodles! Broth was great and the wait wasn’t long at all. My friend ordered #1 which was an assortment of seafood with beef on a bone that was given on the side. That beef fell off the bone SO Easily and was so nice and tender. I’ll be trying the beef noodle soup next time just because of that.

A nice, small corner restaurant on Highland and University Avenue. It has a great family vibe and they even remodeled! It’s great to see Ly Heng get the expansion they deserve.
I usually get the Phở Bo Vien, Phở with meatballs, and salt and pepper chicken and it’s always delicious! With different seasonings and toppings at every table, it’s east to customize your bowl of phở after you get it.
Ly Heng is a mix of Vietnamese and Cambodian food. I see many people come in during the early afternoon on weekends, so pick your time of arrival carefully!

This place has it all excellent service authentic rice porridge just all around deliciousness

Fried tofu is tops.
The combo always comes with pork bones soup that’s so good. Can’t go wrong with Mongolian beef and ginger chicken.
Service is nice and there’s no wait ever.
Looking to try porridge next.

This is a mom and pops vietnamese joint. Fresh dishes and good selection.
Location however is not the best and parking is not great either.
Fair prices and good flavors though. Probably be back to try some of their other menu items.
Definitely worth a try!

Must order seafood me ka thang. their customer service is exceptionally well! Plus, u can always order ahead of time over the phone bc they do get busy during lunch hours.

This place is a hidden gem. There are not too many places that have this kind of southeast Asian fusion but yet still remain authentic in flavor. When I worked close by, this was definitely my stop once or twice a week for lunch. Portions are huge and dishes are on point!
My go-​to is the ginger chicken rice, and dry phnom penh noodles with bone soup on the side. This places does dry noodles right!

Ive been going to this restaurant ever since I was little. The old restaurant owners sold it to the current ones a few years ago, but pretty much the same menu.
Try the Beef Satay! (satay mein) The old owners used to make it extremely spicy but these ones use a good amount so that my stomach isn’t on fire/I’m not dying haha. I get Beef Satay With large white AND large egg noodles with extra wonton. The soup it comes with is tasty and the meat in it is tender. My dad and I ALWAYS order this.
But If I don’t feel like satay I get the fish fillet rice noodles (fried) the fish is just soo tasty and the perfect amount of crunch. My mom gets the fish fillet noodle soup and it’s good as well.
My only complaints are that sometimes food is inconsistent. today there wasn’t as much sauce as I had hoped for the satay, waiter is super slow, and as always Chinese food can be oily. BUT I will still keep coming bc I haven’t had any better satay in sd!

Great food, great service, great prices. Bone soup is a must! Salt and Pepper Calamari, and chicken phở! I will go back whenever I can.

I just had brunch here with my friends and it was sooo delicious! Our server was Cinny and she was so great! Best service of my life. She was so polite and friendly, very knowledgeable about the menu, and prompt with our food and refills. She did a great job seating everybody as it got even busier. When a fifth friend joined us, she offered him a menu, but we decided just to split our food with him. She was super nice about it and gave us 2 extra bowls to split our food. Sorry for the extra mess, Cinny! You bet I tipped her extra!
As for the food, it was delicious! I ordered the dry phnom penh noodles and my friends ordered the lad nah, kun pao chicken, and fried calamari (which was a great recommendation from Cinny, esp with the creamy dipping sauce!!). Cinny informed us about the differences between the types of soups and noodles, which really helped us figure out what we wanted to order. I like the phnom penh noodles with the pickled peppers, sweet chili oil, bean sprouts, and lime that are provided as condiments with the food. My friend Billy is usually really picky but he loved the Kung pao chicken with rice, which also came with soup.
Overall, a great family-​friendly atmosphere. I love supporting mom and pop shops like this in my community. And the bill ended up being so cheap! I’ll be coming here often! :)

I have never had phnom penh noodles prior to eating here.
Boy I was missing out on some good shit!
This place is a small little restaurant but the food packs a big punch. The soup that comes with the noodles on the side has a bone with meat that is literally falling off. Sooooo good! The salt and pepper squid is also one of the better ones I’ve had in SD.
Super cheap prices for this super amazing food

3 stars for the food. The food here is good, don’t get me wrong. The calamari is great! The rice noodle dishes are delicious and full of flavor. But the service was messed up today.
Next time give customers attention, don’t make them wait 15 – 20 minutes to the point they want to stand up and leave to finally give attention. Place wasn’t even packed. Bye!

Family-​owned, Asian hole in the wall restaurant with a solid menu and great value. I’ve never left Ly Heng unsatisfied.
If it’s your first time here, get any entrée that includes the Beef Bone Broth. This soup is what separates Ly Heng from all the other Asian restaurants found in City Heights.
I’ve attached pictures of it but it doesn’t do the broth justice. It’ll come out to the table a few minutes before the main entrée and really stimulates your appetite with the steaming, umami aroma. Each comes with a huge piece of beef bone, stewed for who knows how long. The bone gives in to the touch. The meat falls off the bone, tender and so flavorful. Memorable, homey, comforting, and delicious.
I usually get the Bo Luc Lac, the Shaken Beef rice plate. Pieces of filet in a black pepper soy sauce, not overly salty. Tender and soft, easily chewable. One of my favorite Vietnamese dishes in San Diego.
I always take friends out to this restaurant to give them a taste of Vietnamese food. So far I’ve taken about a dozen of my friends to eat out here and they’ve all had wonderful things to say about the food.

Just your average Asian soul food! The family is very kind.
ALWAYS GET SALT AND PEPPER CALAMARI.
The reason why it’s not a 5 is because of parking. If there was a parking lot for this place, it’d be poppin’ !

Came back for a second time and still not disappointed! This time I got the seafood crispy fried noodles and man!!! It is absolutely worth it. For under 10 $ a plate, you definitely get a portion that looks 20 $!

Been here twice and I will go back again and again and again. The food is good and cheap, great place for lunch or if you just don’t feel like cooking. Might be hard to find parking sometimes due to location but hey a little walk won’t kill ya. I love the beef bone soup they give you on the side. Seriously both times I ate mine and my girlfriends soup and just took my food home. I always get the beef lok lak. Creature of habit, but hey who knows might get something different next time. Then again she always gets something different so I always try whatever she gets.

Not a fan. Maybe I ordered the wrong items but the beef and broccoli had pretty much no flavor. I am not a veggie eater and I preferred the broccoli to the beef. The beef also had a few chewy pieces. I also ordered the salt and pepper calamari. The flavor is awesome but personally I think the pieces are too thick so it was kind of chewy. Probably will not be back.

Jackpot! Mom & Pop family style slinging incredible food at a steal. Ran with the 1000 egg pork porridge, salt & pepper calamari and an iced tea. While I’m waiting watching TV and noticing all the perfect array of condiments on the tables. Love to see this in places and kept up clean and orderly.
The porridge was delicious. Throw in a large chili dollop, mix in some sprouts and stir it up. Perfect ratio of ingredients and tons of flavor coming out of this bowl. Ground pork and fresh lemon grass put this bowl in one of my favorite porridge bowls for SD. Salt & pepper calamari was very good. Nice clean batter, perfect texture and crunch with the perfect amount of spices. Great place and incredible prices. Tough to get in on the weekends due to crowd. I recommend taking advantage of off hours. I’m coming back soon for some bo loc luc and beef bone soup. Great addition to the neighborhood.

Seriously, every time I come to San Diego my family loves to take me here. It is not that I asked to come here, they just LOVE this place so much that they don’t want to cook at home any more. Shake my head. LOL.
Our family usually come in a group cause that’s how we roll. We usually ordered the same thing, Phnom Penh noodles or Mee Ka Thung (Chow fun noodles). I really enjoyed Phnom Penh noodles, the broth is tasty and a little different. It comes with a side of soup. It was delicious to the point where I had to eat it off from my relative’s bowl. Family is all about sharing, right?:)
Everything on the menu is less than $ 9.99, definitely a deal! They serve bobao tea, too! If you don’t see what you want on the menu, ask the server if they could make you a special meal. I am sure the cook would love to do it for you.
The place is small and the parking space is tight, too. Since there is only one cook I would definitely wait because the food is WORTH IT!

First and foremost I am Cambodian so you can pretty much see why I love this place! I am definitely a regular here and it is all because of the true southeast Asian dishes they serve.
The restaurant is fairly small; it’s family owned and have about 8 – 10 tables available. This place can get ridiculously packed. The crazy part is that the days are random! There used to be only one cook, but he taught his son the ways to cooking up some amazing dishes. They now have TWO COOKS! Yes, you read that right. Hopefully that helps with the crazy wait time for the food to come out. They do have more helpers now with taking orders as well. If the mother is taking your order don’t be afraid to ask the other workers for help if she can’t comprehend what you ordered.
Now for the food… I’ve pretty much tried everything on the menu. I would say the best dishes are the stir fried rice noodles and any rice plates. The soup dishes can be a hit or miss. If you want to be on the safe side, the chicken phở, dry noodle with soup on the side, and the wonton noodles w/​ground pork are the best options. The stir fried noodles are very tasty and you can have it dry or wet. All the rice plates come with soup on the side. The beef bone soup is to die for! I would catch myself finishing my friends’ and girlfriend’s beef bone soup. They are very generous with the portion size and are priced very cheap! (They can charge more for their plates if they wanted to and I’d still come here!)
This place is definitely one of the best local southeast asian restaurants to experience when you’re on this side of town. You can’t expect a lot from service or wait time for food, but you can expect one of the best Asian dishes around, especially for such low price.
Give it a try! You won’t regret it.

This place replaced what used to be Hao Vi (好味). The food is pretty much still the same (Teo Chew/​Chiu Chow style noodles).
The only thing is the quality of the food went down quite a bit since it changed ownership. But overall it’s still relatively decent and I’d totally come here for a bowl of noodles.
If you’re lost over what to try, get their Phnom Penh noodles, served dry with the soup on the side. You’ll get a mixture of two different types of noodles and a ton of different meat cuts. The soup is just lovely as you’ll get much of the flavor from the bone marrow (enjoy the meat from the bone as well).
Enjoy!

Of all the Asian restaurants, Ly Heng is by far my favorite on this side of town. It is a local family-​owned restaurant that serves many southeast Asian dishes on the menu. To name a few: phở, beef/​seafood noodles, fried rice, rice plates with various meats, etc. Parking is small and there are only about 10 tables, so it can get quite busy, especially for breakfast on the weekends.
For starters, I love getting the salt and pepper calamari, which is also seasoned with fried garlic and jalapeños with a side of their homestyle spicy mayo sauce. To. Die. For. This can also be a dish with rice and soup on the side, if you ask for it. The soup on the side is beef bone soup. I wish I can put into words how good this soup is, but you just have to try it yourself! I’ve tried their Beef noodles, chicken phở and also their dry phở noodles with chicken and soup on the side. I love their chicken phở because of their flavorful broth. These are the reasons why I always find myself back here.
The food here is consistently delicious and never disappointing. The best parts are the affordable prices (everything is less than $ 10!) and the generous portions. Since this restaurant is run by the family, be patient; I promise it is worth every second.