Review Griffith Vietnamese Restaurant - Canberra

Had a quick dinner here on a freezing cold night. To me this is more of an asian restaurant than a vietnamese restaurant. Food is not very vietnamese. However the hot food warmed us up. A simple stir fried beef with veges was $23 (no rice). What do you think?

Nothing great and all the 3 dishes that we ordered were average. May be more suited for the Westerners and not Asians. But I like the posters on the walls.

Fabulous old school Vietnamese restaurant serving old school Vietnamese foods - old school meaning -prawn toast! The food was delicious, unpretentious and run by hard-working family. We had spring rolls which had a lot of filling - more filling than pasty, stir fried satay (spelt sate) chicken, beef noodles and large special fried rice. Love the retro deco. Book in advance as the book out quickly.

Crispy Calamari and Spring rolls were flavorless. Could not eat. Chicken salad was nice. Would not return

A classic non traditional Vietnamese food. Serving is hurried but not unfriendly. Mr Tam doesn't show up as much now. The flat noodles (no. 50) and hotplate beef amazing

Came to this place with family for dinner at 5pm, the area was not crowded, car park was empty, the restaurant was empty too. Then we were rejected because of no advance booking. Then we came to Co Dung Vietnamese Food, it was awesome. Co Dung Vietnamese Food is the best Vietnamese food in Canberra.

Lovely family owned and run Vietnamese food - good authentic cooking

Very friendly staff, if not a little too hard to flag down sometimes, but mostly they’re lovely and helpful. The food is reliably tasty, they cater really well to vegetarians - being vegetarian I really appreciate that they have a whole seperate menu, with a lot of dishes, that are vegetarian or vegan. But for the omnivores, the menu is very large, and from the feedback of my friends and family who aren’t vego like me, the seafood and meat dishes are, as has been my experience, reliably tasty, with food arriving quickly, very generous portion sizes, and a very affordable dinner out (or takeaway). It’s not the most glamorous interior to dine in, it gives off strong 90s inexpensive restaurant vibes, but it’s kind of a cute quirk I find. I also love reading all the messages and autographs from politicians, to touring artists, to children’s drawings. It’s fun to try to spot different people who’ve sat where you sit now.

Takeaway menu as of November 2019. Reliably tasty food, good prices, friendly staff, long opening hours, and discount offered for cash on takeaway orders. <br/><br/>If you eat in be sure to check out the walls plastered with autographs, drawings, and commendations from politicians, minor celebs, athletes, kiddies and more.

Griffith Vietnamese is an outstanding spot to relish some authentic cuisine. My partner has been a longstanding patron and I've dined here once before and was floored by the quality of cuisine.<br/>I contacted the restaurant earlier in the day to make a reservation. The Voicemail instructions were very clear and I got a call back advising me of reservation confirmation.<br/>We went light and chose a mixed entree. For our main meal we ordered the Salt and Pepper Calamari and Yummy Lamb with steamed rice. The flavours were fresh and outstanding and the meats were cooked through sufficiently. Needless to say the cuisine was excellent.<br/>My only beef with the restaurant is the quality of service. Yes we got our order right and the food was great, however the service staff lack the friendliness and warmth that Griffith Vietnamese is known for. Mr. Tan is no longer at the restaurant and the spirit of celebration that made the restaurant a favourite spot is lacking. We were still having our meal when the lady server just came over and placed the cheque in front of us. We were thinking of what to order for dessert, when this happened. Evidently they did not want us to order dessert. That left an unfortunate bad taste at the end of an otherwise excellent meal.

Had dinner here last night. They forgot our order for an hour and weren't particularly apologetic. At the end they didn't offer us any sort of discount and when we (politely) expressed unhappiness about the wait the waiter reluctantly took $3 off the bill, which was around $50. <br/><br/>The food was okay and the testimonials on the wall were interesting, but the service was apathetic at best and we probably won't be coming back.

We went as a group of four and so had the opportunity to try a selection of entrees and mains. Unfortunately is was all pretty ordinary, especially given all the hype (celebrity/politician endorsements all over the walls). The Vietnamese spring rolls were served without the expected herbs and lettuce cups which was disappointing, as that's what really makes the dish. We made the mistake of ordering an entree calamari, and the sexy squid, both of which were on the chewy side. Yummy lamb was ok, nothing special (especially given it costs $10 more than most dishes), as was a rice noodle dish. The chicken with ginger and onion was the best dish of the night, but not something worth making a return visit for.

An interesting dining experience that perhaps is more romantic in story rather than practice. The food tends to be hit and miss, often over cooked and under seasoned. Chef Tan, whilst a character can at times feel imposing, particularly when giving out birthday ice team (not ordered) and attaching to the bill. Worth a try but do keep your wits about yourself and order your favourite, rather than the chef suggested meals.

A Canberra icon. The Sexy Squid is one of the best dishes in the city and the entire 'sexy' menu is amazing. The free and compulsory dessert the end is an institution. A must do.

Still serving authentic mum&dad-style Vietnamese food after all these years. The flavours are wholesome and strong and memorable. Definitely a Canberra favourite.

I've been here at least 3 times now and each time the food quality has remained the same. I.e. great!<br/>Customer service was great too.<br/>A la carte items are good.<br/>But if you're feeling adventurous and with friends. Ask the chef to do up a special banquet for all of you. The dishes served may or may not be something on the menu but you'll certainly be in for a treat!

This place is nothing to look at, but the food is incredible. This is the best asian food you will get anywhere. Even my friends from Singapore say it's the best they have had. The menu is huge, but you don't need it. Just ask the owner to surprise you and you will get a selection of amazing food. This place is like no other. 12/10

My sons & I love this place. The food is tasty and Mr Tan's personality & sense of fun makes dining here very enjoyable. The food is tasty and comes out quick. It's noisy because it is always full. It's a great atmosphere to break bread in with family. It's unpretentious and welcoming. Highly recommend it. It's our favourite place in Canberra to eat.

Service was fantastic. If only service alone were enough! Large menu which did not feature the raw, fresh dishes for which Vietnam is renowned. <br/><br/>I ate with a large group, and the meals appeared to fall into one of these groups: braised, flaming or sizzling flesh. I had braised, and apart from the protein, it was indistinguishable from a fellow diner's braised.<br/><br/>Endorsements from public servants line the walls, and according to one of those, the flaming fish is good. The beef curry was not particularly; the crumbed fried Sexy Squid was. (Well of course it was, it was crumbed and fried.) <br/><br/>No carpet, no tablecloths, couldn't hear a word, including the waiter trying to deliver our meals.

I searched Urban Spoon – my go to place to locate restaurants and searched the best in Manuka and Griffith in ACT – the one that caught my eye was GRIFFITH VIETNAMESE – so off I went.   

Love this place!. I absolutely love this place for a good cheap eat. They are so quick and unpretentious and the messages on the walls from various politicians often make for hilarious conversation starters. Even better, they are super accommodating with any dietary requirements (like being gluten free). Never fail to deliver!

Terrible food. I really wanted to like this place but it was the worst vietnamese takeaway we've ever had. We struggled to finish it. Rice paper rolls were all rice noodles and a few pickled carrots, quail was dry and overcooked, salt and pepper squid tasted like leather and the special fried rice was just rice and egg. Next to nothing else in it. Will not go back.

My boyfriend and I are both on a low FODMAP diet, which isn't very fun when it comes to dining out. BUT... This restaurant is always really accommodating to us when we list the things we can't eat. Somehow they manage to pack in buckets of flavour even though we can't eat onions or garlic!! I unreservedly recommend this place for anyone and for any occasion.

Dont believe the hype. I think all that congratulatory laminated paper on the walls has fogged the owners judgment a bit. There are much tastier, more generous, vietnamese places in cbr for the same price. try something else. Sure lots of pollies love this place. but after giving it a second chance, it just continued to disappoint. deep fried wonder white bread with a spread of shrimp paste (we had to ask as we couldnt taste anything but the fried bread and old oil) topped with sesame seeds is not prawn toast, neither is it appetising. sure shrimp toast doesnt jump to mind when thinking Vietnamese, but we went looking for pho but they didnt have that so we tried some starters, the rice paper rolls were very dull also, no mint, neither and taste or texture, so both a good example of their laziness. then- uncooked onions mainly filled both the mains we had, pretty tough to stomach.

Good food, good price. The food here is great and their prices are quite reasonable.<br/><br/>Quite a wide variety of dishes on offer and they are all great.<br/><br/>Interesting decor inside with many ex and current politicians who have filled out and signed pieces of paper for them to hang on the walls.

Simply delicious. Great food at great prices. Food bursts with flavour that is balanced and not overpowering. Griffith Vietnamese restaurant offers excellent value for good food and is now another regular and favourite for the wife and I. And now that it is a regular, with a plethora of dishes to entice and satisfy the palate, we've taken to trying out new dishes each time. We've tried:<br/>- lemongrass grilled chicken (highly recommend!)<br/>- crispy calamari but without the sauce (would avoid it, tasted of old oil and not much calamari), <br/>- 'drinking' pork (recommended!)<br/>- muc xao ot aka hot and spicy calamari dish with chilli sauce (highly recommend, love the smoky flavour juicy calamari rings)

Weird Service. The food is delicious but our evening was overshadowed by the bizarre outburst that came from the owner when he saw my child attempting to eat with chopsticks. My children have a lot of exposure to restaurants and chop sticks. The owner charged over a took away their chopsticks ranting about a child in Sydney who got stabbed through the mouth, in front of my children. I don't care if the business closed down and he has a legal liability at this moment, I care that he gave a graffic and horrific account of a chopstick accident in front of my children. I felt a bit dump struck and then managed to have a laugh about just how very bizarre that interaction was. We will not be returning.

A legend. This is one of Canberra's most famous restaurants. Very yummy food, no no-sense, friendly service and the meals are in the order of $12. Fantastic. I wish Canberra had more of these no-pretension, utilitarian places.

Always great food and fantastic, friendly service!

Can't believe I haven't been here before when visiting daily that live around the corner. Loved my pork with chili & lemongrass, spring rolls also good but really disappointed they weren't served with lettuce and Vietnamese mint. Will be back to try some other dishes.

Fabulous all 'round. This restaurant is a fabulous place to eat - the food is fresh and fast, the flavours tasty every time. The bill is never too big - and the service is attentive. An all 'round great evening.

Why deserve 4 star?. I was thrilled to read all the good reviews for this place and excited to finally can walk in the place to try the food yesterday. It was first disappointed with no pho or noodle soup menus. Then came down with no fresh chili! The meals was bland, plain and dry. Out of 4 menus we order, only 1 that is acceptable and it was also just average. The place should only be rated 2 stars based on my experience.

Show me the Pho!. This place needs Pho soup. The chicken was a little overcooked. The place didn't live up to expectations.

RBH from Melbourne. Surprised and disappointed that there was no Pho and no beef salad or Vietnamese salads of any sort ! Rice paper rolls lacked the usual good helpings of herbs/ mint etc.. the Squid was good, however the meal size serve of soup was bland and expensive. I would not see this as a Vietnamese restaurant but more akin to a type of Chinese style. The service was quick however if you are a lover of Vietnamese food this is NOT the place for you as nothing I had was in the Vietnamese style.

I love this place - been going regularly for about 4-5 years. Mr Tahn is a real character, the food and atmosphere are terrific - don't order off the menu, just get Tahn to bring you "something yummy"! Highly recommended.

Go to great meal. Come here quite often, awesome quick service have to get the quail and yum yum chicken.

Vietnawha?. As long as you don't have any illusions that you're eating authentic Vietnamese food, you might have a pleasant experience here. The menu is a pan-Asian but limited assortment of stir-fried dishes, varied through rearranging the combination of main ingredients and sauces (is that a lemongrass, garlic, chilli or curry sauce with your chicken/pork/beef/prawn dish?) Looking for phở? you won't find it here; absent too are any rice/egg noodle or soup-based dishes. Cheap, quick and crowded, it's a cheerful alternative to a large fried rice and sweet and sour pork at your local Chinese, but nothing more.

Stop comparing it to Victoria St! This is just average Vietnamese food which is cheap for Canberra and quick enough. Totally agree with the aggrievous lack of pho, where is the pho?!? This place does not deserve the rave reviews. An don't let Tan have free reigb on ordering for you and swindle you out of your money.

Not so great anymore.... This used to be my fav place to eat in canberra but after leaving for a year and coming back it's definatly changed for the worse. My hot tip would be head for Kingston Vietnamese or thai. This just isn't great food. Soggy and burnt salt and pepper squid...(not sure how you actually do this!) and very average chicken dishs. <br/><br/>Oh and it is nothing like Victoria st in Richmond or Footscray! I've lived in Footscray and worked on Victoria st and nothing in canberra will ever compare to those places!

Disapppointing. Recommened but didn't live up to the expectation

So so food and no pho. A Viet restaurant with no pho. What!

I dont care if Obama ate there!. No its not Melbourne's Victoria St or any takeout place on Victoria.Given this place is one of the highest rated in Canberra, heck why not I'll give it ago...<br/>Oh what a disappointment. The salt and pepper calamari was dry and over fried to a rubbery crunch with a weird splash of Vinaigrette. The prawns/seafood stir fried veg was overdose clag stand out and the fried rice was a mere standard flavour/colourless dish. The spring rolls were just bout the only thing that was Victoria Street. <br/>Oh what a disappointment especially with the un- Victoria St prices. Think what you pay in Vic Street and add about a 5'er on to it each dish, but sub standard in the overpriced Capital.

This place reminds me of the Vietnamese restaurants in Footscray or Richmond back home in Melbourne. Cheap, cheerful, noisy, colorful decor and excellent food. One thing those restaurants don't have is the wall of signed tributes from satisfied and usually famous diners. A lot of parliamentarians have visited here and given their praise. The best Vietnamese in Canberra. The lemongrass grilled chicken is a favourite.

Excellent cheap food, especially the grilled chicken. But it was incredibly noisy, almost too loud for a conversation.

Cheap and cheerful. Feels like I'm on Victoria St, Richmond, every time I come here. The queuing for a table, the wobbly laminex, the shouting kitchen hands and the crash and flash of the flames coming from the woks. Best Vietnamese in Canberra.

A great place for a group. We went here for a work dinner. Totally fantastic and really good value too. We just told them the number of people and they "invented" a delicious banquet for us to suit the budget and the few things we said we did not want to eat. It feels like customised cooking just for you and everything they recommended was great to suit a wide range of tastes. It's a bit noisy and does not win any prizes for decor, but the food says it all. As Canberrans we found the political placemats etc on the walls very interesting reading too - a bit of a who's who of the last 10 years or so. A great place for a weeknight when you just CBA cooking!

Having travelled extensively in Vietnam, I consider myself a bit of a snob with Vietnamese food (which I love). But this place is AMAZiNG!! Just ask the staff for the special banquet - tell them a couple things you like, and let them work the rest out. You won't regret it. The food is wonderful, the staff are lovely and I couldn't recommend more highly in ALL of Australia!!

Been twice so far and will certainly not be the last. The service is spectacular, the food is sublime, the atmosphere is unbeatable. Tan, you are a Legend with your restaurant. And of course, you can choose for me next time and all other times! Thank you for the wonderful times, may there be many to come! Rob Thomas

Warm and Welcoming. We went looking for something quick and easy for an early Friday dinner (without a reservation), and was warmly welcomed into Griffith Vietnamese. We were asked to finish our meals before the next sitting and were done well within the time thanks to the speedy delivery of our delicious food. Yummy chicken was a highlight and so was the sizzling beef. Would thoroughly recommend for those seeking a cheap and delicious meal.

Could not ask for better Vietnamese!!!!. Order the 'Yummy Chicken' and 'Sexy Squid'. AMAZING!!!! You will never find a host like Tan. He's amazing!!!!! The restaurant has recently had a facelift and no longer has 'the wall'. Very busy at all times but the meals and prices and service just cannot be beat!!!

Visiting Canberra from Melbourne and found this place on Urbanspoon. What a surprise - just like a real Victoria St Richmond deal!! We ordered nearly the same as we would in Victoria St at home and were sooooooo happy :) Tom Yum soup was authentic, yummy chicken wings were a dream, a chicken and a veg dish and rice finished us off. Make sure you book - we saw people being turned away. BYO was nice. The highlight ... Tan, our host - spent a good 10 mins talking to us and sharing his stories with us. Who'd go to Vietnam when you can get an experience like this in Australia! Try this place - you won't be unhappy :) :) :)

Tan is the man. Just rocked up and ask Tan what's good to eat. The food is always great.

Cheap. It's noisy, it has laminex tables but I wouldn't change a thing. The food is fantastic value for money and Tan the host is both entertaining and obliging. The walls are festooned with penned endorsements of the restaurant by appreciative guests many of whom are well known to us. Make sure you ask Tan for the "special calamari". Restaurant is BYO and you must book. My favourite casual dining venue without doubt!

The couple of times I've been here has been with a group and inevitably, as is the done thing here, we ask the kitchen to simply give us a few dishes and some rice to share. These tend to be Chinese-Vietnamese style stir fries which are mostly very tasty. Personally, though, I prefer more Vietnamese-Vietnamese fare. I've always found it odd that they don't serve pho. Do try the caramel pork, though, it's delicious.

he Griffith Vietnamese Restaurant is located on the main strip of the Griffith Shops, near Rubicon, and is fronted by large windows. The restaurant is modestly decorated; basic tables and chairs, a kitchen towards the back and a feel that it hasn’t been touched in decades. It’s quite a nice, refreshing change, within Canberra’s trendy restaurant scene but something that I suspect pretty much every local shops contains – it’s old school. There’s a hustle and bustle about this place, lots of take-away orders and the tables are all full – it has a great atmosphere. The walls of the Griffith Vietnam

The Griffith Vietnamese Restaurant has a great reputation in Canberra. The walls are covered in laminated pages with notes and messages from local identities and Australian politicians. Some of them are humorous, some are boring and some are self promoting. This place is fun and a little quirky but there is a buzz when you enter the front door. The lighting is good, that is, it’s bright. We had a table near the front door and through the evening the wait staff were constantly kicking the door closed to stop the icy cold draught of Canberra’s evening air. For an entrée we chose a serving (4) Vietnamese spring rolls. These were light and crispy and delicious. Some internet reviewers were a little unkind in referring to them as containing mainly bits of carrot and cabbage. I really li