Bun Bo Hue - San Jose

Great place to eat! The staff owner was very kind and welcoming. I will definitely eat here again and the Bun Bo hue is so delicious!

2022 UPDATE—NEW RESTAURANT called Bun Bo Dong Ba.May 2022. The 5 stared restaurant in my previous review is no more. Another restaurant takes its place. The food is decent but nowhere near the same as before. Last week I tried the Bún Bò Huế. The broth is still ok but the meat was cut paper thin, dried, hard without any taste. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s machine sliced from a frozen block of low quality meat. The noodles were not chewy but a bit over cooked. The number of item on the menu tripples. The price increases 50%. The bowls and chopsticks are new. The music is loud. By now you all can tell the sad disappointment I had with this new restaurant that takes the place of my most favorite bún bò restaurant in San Jose. I guess another good thing is gone from my mundane life. So normal yet so sad.MOST AUTHENTIC ‘BUN BO HUE’ 2020For over 30 years I have been enjoying the BBH and this is the only place I go to in San Jose area. Its Bun Bo is the closest to the ones I had in Hue and at home. I only took my 93 years old Mom who was a pure Hue ‘citizen’ : to this restaurant for BBH and nowhere else.Its soup broth is light not heavily salted. The hint of lemongrass is there and that’s what make the special taste of BBH. The shrimp paste deepens the broth and absent in the smell. The slices of beef shank are soft enough and thick enough. A big plus compared to the paper thin slices at other restaurants. I was there last Friday and the soup was hot, really hot.Now let’s talk about service. This is a family run and a friendly talk with the staff will help us being treated in a friendly way. Even a complaint can be done in a constructive conversation. I would not label the staff ‘professional’ but they were nice enough for me that I keep coming back year after year.I was at the restaurant 4 days ago and the place was nice and clean to me. The price is very reasonable. No complaint here either. Weekday afternoons are the best times, quiet and few customers . Weekends are busiest...so please be patient with the busy staff.This special place was handed down to the children who are doing a great job keeping the BBH authentic still. I just wish they add some Rau Răm to the soup. Just like with the lemongrass, this herb makes the taste of BBH what it is—the most famous and great tasting soup from Huế, the former imperial city in the Central of Vietnam.

New owners. Ordered cơm hến n mi quảng. Both below average. Won’t be back. The old owners was a lot better. Will go to the one on Paloma plaza next time for Hue’s foods.

Great Vietnamese noodle dishes, fresh vegetables and shrimp, delicious fish sauce. Very friendly staff and service!

This place is great, under new management. Grilled squid, and bitter melon salad pictured below. If it's your first time try the duck noodle soup (no photo because I ate it so fast).