China Beach Vietnamese Bistro

I really liked this place. I’m so sad to see it closed. They had good phở, and different specialities during different seasons. They didn’t serve alcohol, but luckily there was a liquor store next door so you could byob. I hope they relocate.

Disclosure: This review is for the customer service only.
If I could give a negative rating, I would. Extremely poor service. I mean, took this to another level. Our server mis-​took our orders and gave us attitude when we asked for something else, asking specifically, «What will you buy?» If I weren’t so desperate, I would have skipped this place entirely.

Just to confirm, they aren’t closing, they are only moving. Temporarily they will be on Washington near Marina del Rey until they find a new permanent location. At least that’s what they told me.
SO, that’s the good news! Because they really do have the best phở on the west side. I always thought Phở Show in Culver was the best, but they don’t even come close.

*CHINA BEACH IS CLOSING**
Landlord doubled rent and China Beach will be closing! = (Any recommendations for a new location (preferably in the same area) please get in touch with them! I want my phở back.
Ok so review: Best Phở on the westside! Generous portions and the staff is always really nice. I love the summer rolls. They are affordable and deliver!
They make their own spicy chili sauce that’s pretty bomb too. My bf and I eat here and get delivery often. I’ll be sad to see them go.

Pretty good phở for the westside. But really what are you doing looking for authentic Asian food in Venice anyways?!
My sister and I came here after we had a craving one day (oh wait that’s every day). I got the beef phở and it was delish. Spicy and strong broth.
A couple parking spots out front which always helps. And funny celebrity headshots on the walls.
Service was fine. I actually prefer kind of slow, casual service to really attentive, overly cheerful staff. Probably because I’m half-​Asian and Asian service is like, «Oh wait– you’re hungry?»
I’ll be back!

I ordered online for take-​away. Good thing I double checked the order because they forgot one of my veggie summer rolls.
The summer rolls were really nice and light. I got the beef phở which was a hearty bowl full of noodles and meat. I stuck all the bamboo shoots and mint that i wanted and spiced it up to my liking. Overall a very nice bowl of phở.
The food was nice but the service slow. I only came to pick up a meal but it still took them a good 5 minutes to recognise that I was standing there and then a bit longer to process payment and pack up the food.

Unilocal confession:
I had an hour before a meeting in Culver and was on the hunt for Chicago Nick’s Italian Beef. I even paid for parking. That’s how much I love Italian Beef, and how rare it is in this damn town. Really the only other location outside of Portillo’s that I know of is Taste of Chicago in Burbank. And I’ve heard great things about Chicago Nick’s, if Unilocal serves the truth Nick’s has better reviews than Taste
So why, you ask, am I babbling about Italian beef in a phở joint review? I’ll tell you why: it was only to my humiliation that I went WAY out of my way only to find Chicago’s Nicks closed (cue Linus music)…and then was walking back to my expensive parking in work close, annoyed at the free spirited a-​holes not weighed down working for the man and in a beef-​less environment like me and I spied China Beach, which I remember from my days in Venice (only had the Phở in those days).
So I went right in, feeling a good consolation prize at hand. I ordered the house special vegetarian noodles.
The noodles tasted like one of those freeze dried pad thai deals from the asian section in your grocery store. And to boot, the woman behind the counter was arguing about her phone bill on the phone the whole time and forgot to bring out my food until I asked (seeing it in the window). She even brought it first to the wrong dude.
All of this, by the way, would be very charming normally. That «mom and pop type phở place» type charming where the owner mothers you and the family is yelling at each other.
But it was def NOT charming to me in my italian beef pity party. I’d def still recommend their phở.
(cue Linus music)

This is my go-​to phở place in the neighborhood. It’s small and you’ll almost miss it driving by. The staff is always very nice and remembered me and my «usual order» after a couple of visits. My «usual order» consists of the phở with beef and meatballs, with extra lime and sriracha sauce… Mmmmm! Perfect for a colder night!
I’m particularly amused by the magna doodle that the staff uses to write down your order on.
Pro tip: Don’t forget they’re closed on Mondays! Also, if you think you’re being ignored, they’re simply waiting for you to push the button underneath the table for service.

I love their phở. Super yummy plus it’s not hard to screw it up but this place is great because it’s walking distance.
But I have to say that the service kind of sucks. Most of my reviews not only take in just the food quality but the whole experience.
I come in here a lot because it’s the closest Phở place but the service is tolerable. I think it’s a great yummy spot but for as small as it is, the service can get slow and the woman behind the counter can come off as rude sometimes.
PLUS there’s a buzzer they have under the table for when you’re ready to order it makes this really loud annoying noise. For such a small place it’s quite annoying, What makes it worse, one time there were only three tables and we rang the buzzer and no one came. So of course we had to ring it again. I mean I could have walked three steps away from our table to get someone’s attention faster.
I love their food here, but the experience is not always the best.

It is a long due to review this place. We’ve been to this place many time when they used to be a tiny hole on a wall next to the laundromat… up till now, after they took over the laundromat and extending the restaurant!
It is always our favorite Vietnamese restaurant in the area!
They have small menu but everything is a presentation of foods from different province in Vietnam. Take it from me, who grew up eating phở and banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich for breakfasts, lunches and dinners. It is hard to go wrong with phở, clear tasty broth, with either chicken, seafood or briskets… My other favorites are bun Bo hue (spicy beef soup), bo luc lac (cube steak), mi quang (yellow noodles), and curry stew…
I’m salivating while writing this review!!! I’m heading over there right at this movement… What are you waiting for !

This is definitely my new take-​out addiction. The chicken phở is un-​phở-​gettable! Seriously addicted to the stuff.
I just love assembling my noodle soup lunch. Plop the rice noodles in. Add the sprouts. A pinch of that spicy-​ass-​pepper shit. Not only is it delicious but it’s fun.
I usually add more and more spicy-​ass-​pepper shit as I go along. And then by the last drop my nose is running and my face is red. Awesome.
Everyone else in my office is addicted too. My boss, I kid you not, orders the chicken phở at least 3 times per week. I wish I could afford to eat out that much!
I just salivate thinking about eating here. Avoid Mao’s down the street and just go to China Beach!

Vietnamese soup, oh my vietnamese soup… Where phở art my Vietnamese soup?!
I moved to LA recently from San Diego, where phở restaurants are as common as Starbucks, so I’ve been a bit spoiled. That being said, this place was… well, it was okay.
The soup had decent flavor, but I didn’t get a chance to try the rare beef (phở tai), which is the real test. I did, however, order the vegetable version… and oddly there was no broccoli and very few mushrooms, which seemed odd. Regardless, the flavor was good.
However…the fresh spring/​summer rolls (you know, the rice paper ones with shrimp and pork on the inside) were NO bueno. You’d need razor sharp teeth to rip through the rice paper without straining your neck. Unimpressive.
If you need phở (like I did yesterday, when I had a cold and wanted a giant bowl of sodium-​filled goodness to cure it) and you’re in the area, there really aren’t any other choices. If another phở place opened, it wouldn’t have to do much to give this place a run for their money.

Good phở. Large sizes about $ 2 more than usual, medium sizes $ 1 – 1.50. Above-​average size portions. They routinely throw in 2 – 3 free bricks of rice with a $ 20 order.
All of the dishes I’ve ever ordered are simple, 3 – 4 ingredients as opposed to slightly more complex arrangements you might sometimes find and other places. I don’t ask for embellishments so I’m not bothered by this, and everything is very well-​seasoned and not just salty.
Fresh/​snappy vegetables and rolls. Friendly staff. Quick service is probably the main selling point here. The food is good, there’s better available, but this place delivers 15 – 30 minutes quicker and has yet to get one of my orders wrong. I pick up here too between work and a friend’s, everything has always been ready on time.

Mmmmmmmmmmm…
man. I really wanted this place to be my one stop «OMFG» place for Phở. I was hoping for magic and inspiration in my mouth, but instead I got a bowl of «just okay» Phở.
The portion was a great size for me. Everything tasted fresh and was delivered by a friendly server. But once I added the greens and sprouts and all the other sauces I like to add on to it… I popped it in my mouth and nada. Zilch yaaaaawn. Oh well at least its priced fairly (for west LA anyhow).
My shoulders dropped and I proceeded to finish my meal. A broken man.
Another let down is the parking situation. In this part of Venice finding a parking spot is a blood sport. Unless your willing to pay for a premium spot way far away or something.
I dunno I think Im aiming to high when it comes to Phở (Phở Ga).
Overall I think CBVB has other great food to offer, but I can only see myself coming back if I happen to be in the neighborhood. The search continues. Peace.

Wow, so since I wrote my review so many months ago, a lot of people have pointed out my ignorance concerning the name China Beach. Ok, I’m ignorant. So I got it! I researched it and I now know the full history of China Beach. Which honestly was good to know.
But guess what, it still doesn’t change the taste of the food and the fact that the only real Vietnamese restaurant you should eat at, is a Vietnamese restaurant with a Vietnamese name. Like Phở Thang or Nha 79. So all you hipsters in Venice stop emailing me to show off how much more you know than me when in fact, your judgement in food still sucks. Yep, welcome to the Gourmet World.

The location of china beach makes for a great place to grab a bite on the way or from the beach. as I often do. They have some amazing soups. My favorite is the chicken curry. It’s nothing like a thai or indian curry but instead is something unique and amazing. It has huge chunks of veggies and chicken and a unique broth. The service is always fast and friendly. I have also had the phở which is quite good, and the fried rice that I really love… they hit it with some pepper and onions right on top. I will continue to be a regular here as everything about this place is good.

Dropped by here after my morning jog along Venice beach and before heading to the Getty for the day —
My friends were starving and of all the eatery options around, we felt like something fresh, healthy and tasty. Well we sure lucked out — China Beach actually had parking (three spots right in front), and parking in this area, as you know, is typically non existent. Was able to pull right up to the front of the restaurant. The host greeted us and seated soon after. I’d been here once when I was in college, and they’ve since expanded the place — it’s bigger, more spacious now with plenty of seating. I ordered one of their «healthy» teas — that hit the spot.
I ordered a Vietnamese chicken salad and it was just what I wanted — healthy but filling. The bo la lot (wild betal leaf wrapped meat) was excellent — the nice host shared he drives every week to OC to buy these leaves (imported from Vietnam) for the authentic taste.
Given the location (near the beach, touristy), the prices are quite reasonable — if you are expecting Westminster prices, make the 1 hour drive (and pay the $ 20 in gas) to get the prices. But if you’re in LA, by the beach, and want some legit Viet cuisine, this is the place for it!
Oh and bathroom was CLEAN! Always a plus :) :) :)

Ruuuuuude.
I used to come here every once in a while with a few girlfriends because it’s one of the few places along the beach that you can get Vietnamese food. The phở is decent but all of the portions here are SUPER SMALL and the prices are high for the small portions. Also, the service kinda sucks.
I also called for delivery one time and my house is less than 5 miles away from this place. It took OVER 1.5 HOURS to deliver. When I called they kept telling me it was on the way. When it arrived it was COLD and I called to tell them it was cold. The answer was «oh, JUST HEAT IT IN THE MICROWAVE.» Excuse me?! Heat the food I just ordered in the muthafuckin microwave?! When I told him that was completely unacceptable, and I didn’t want to pay for the crap meal, I was told, oh, I made an exception to have it delivered to your house. I was like, thanks, but the food is fucking cold. They gave me «10%» off but sadly, I will never eat here again.
Appalling service. Truly, truly appalling.

Ah yes it’s pretty amazing how after almost one year from my earlier review, China Beach Bistro has won my heart and tummy.
Service has made a 360 turn-​around and it’s all because of the owner’s brother Duke! As a creature of habit, I usually stick with a few favorite restaurants within the area. I frequent China Beach so much that Duke remembers me… it’s a little embarrassing actually.
China Beach has literally saved me during countless rainy days when I was in need of comfort and sustenance. Yes… PHO does my body good. I haven’t ventured out past my bowl of phở and I have no plans to do so.
La Lot Chay (update): I have grown to love it and was addicted to it UNTIL… they took it off the menu.
*Parking is really dangerous and tight. They share a small lot with a liquor store next door… and there is literally 3 spaces in the front.

China Beach Bistro gives the Beach crowd a chance to satisfy our Vietnamese appetite where Venice meets the Pacific … actually where Venice Blvd. meets Pacific Avenue. This small restaurant shares a free (yes, FREE in Venice) parking lot with a liquor store (anybody say BYOB?) on the corner.
Since this is the West Side and not Westminster, the prices are more than what you may be used to forking over for quality not quite up to the standards of Little Saigon. On the plus side, it’s convenient and it has some common Vietnamese dishes like Phở, Banh Mi, Soups, Rice, and Vegetables.
Olivia and I split an appetizer of Cha Gio (Fried Spring Rolls). The lightly fried rolls had Shrimp, Pork, and Sauteed Veggies. At least, that’s what the menu says. They were warm and ready to eat. Just ok for $ 5.
She was in the mood for a Banh Mi ($ 6!!!) and got the Beef version. The meat was juicy and tender and the oven-​baked Baguette was warm. With some sliced Chili Peppers added for oomph, the Banh Mi turned out alright despite being double/​triple what you are probably used to paying for a Banh Mi sandwich in Garden Grove.
I got a Ca-​Ri Ga Soup. This $ 10 Lemongrass Chicken Curry Soup was loaded with huge chunks of Sweet Carrots and Potatoes. The dark chicken meat was chunky and the soup really needed several scoops of Thai Spice to balance the coconut. My favorite part of the soup was adding a $ 3 Baguette to the order. Sure it’s overpriced, but at least it was warm, soft, and fresh.
Did China Beach pacify my Vietnamese cravings? Yes. Would I drive out of my way for it? Probably not. It’s a good choice for convenience when you absolutely must have Asian/​Vietnamese food in Venice.