Vietnamese cuisine has quietly become one of Sonoma County's most exciting food scenes. From bustling family-run spots to modern interpretations, the flavors are as diverse as the vineyards surrounding them.
These nine restaurants represent the best pho, banh mi, and beyond across wine country. Each brings something different to the table, from traditional recipes to innovative takes that pair surprisingly well with local wines.
📍 All 9 Locations
⚡ Quick List
- Simmer Vietnamese Kitchen — Modern Vietnamese Excellence
- Kettles Vietnamese Bistro — Consistent Crowd Favorite
- Simmer — Hidden Rohnert Gem
- Mai Vietnamese Cuisine — Cotati's Reliable Choice
- Saigon Cafe — Tiny but Mighty
- Lee's Noodle House — Budget-Friendly Bowls
- Pho Vietnam — No-Frills Pho Joint
- Viet House — Sebastopol's Vietnamese Haven
- Simply Vietnam Express — Quick Vietnamese Fix
1. Simmer Vietnamese Kitchen
✨ Best for: Modern Vietnamese Excellence
📍 Petaluma · ⭐ 4.2 · 595 reviews · $$
Simmer Vietnamese Kitchen elevates traditional dishes with precision and flair that would make any Petaluma local proud. Their pho broth simmers for 24 hours, creating layers of beef bone richness that coat your spoon. The bánh mì gets a local twist with house-pickled vegetables, while their lemongrass chicken practically falls off the bone. Expect a mix of young families and wine industry workers who know quality when they taste it.
Must-Order:
24-Hour Pho BoLemongrass ChickenHouse Bánh Mì
Insider Tip: Arrive before 6 PM on weekends to avoid the dinner rush – this place fills up fast with families.
View Simmer Vietnamese Kitchen →
2. Kettles Vietnamese Bistro
✨ Best for: Consistent Crowd Favorite
Tripadvisor📍 Santa Rosa · ⭐ 4.1 · 678 reviews · $$
Kettles Vietnamese Bistro has mastered the art of consistency in Santa Rosa's competitive dining scene. Their tom yum soup delivers the perfect balance of sour, spicy, and aromatic that keeps regulars coming back weekly. The grilled pork vermicelli bowls are generous enough to satisfy the heartiest appetites, topped with crispy shallots and fresh herbs. This is where local office workers grab lunch and families celebrate weekend dinners.
Must-Order:
Tom Yum SoupGrilled Pork VermicelliVietnamese Iced Coffee
Insider Tip: Ask for extra herbs and bean sprouts on the side – they're generous with fresh garnishes here.
View Kettles Vietnamese Bistro →
3. Simmer
✨ Best for: Hidden Rohnert Gem
📍 Rohnert Park · ⭐ 4.3 · 402 reviews · $$
Don't let the Rohnert Park location fool you – this Simmer outpost serves some of the most authentic Vietnamese flavors in the county. Their bún bò huế brings serious heat with tender beef shank and thick rice noodles in a lemongrass-spiked broth. The spring rolls arrive crisp and light, perfect for sharing, while their caramelized clay pot fish draws seafood lovers from miles around. College students and Vietnamese families fill the simple dining room nightly.
Must-Order:
Bún Bò HuếFresh Spring RollsCaramelized Clay Pot Fish
Insider Tip: The lunch specials run until 3 PM and include a spring roll with any noodle soup order.
4. Mai Vietnamese Cuisine
✨ Best for: Cotati's Reliable Choice
📍 Cotati · ⭐ 3.9 · 461 reviews · $$
Mai Vietnamese Cuisine anchors Cotati's small but mighty Vietnamese scene with straightforward, satisfying dishes. Their pho tai arrives steaming hot with paper-thin beef slices that cook instantly in the aromatic broth. The combination fried rice packs serious wok heat, loaded with Chinese sausage and fresh prawns. It's the kind of place where Sonoma State students bring their parents and everyone leaves happy and full.
Must-Order:
Pho TaiCombination Fried RiceVietnamese Crepe
Insider Tip: Stick to the pho and rice plates – the fusion dishes don't quite hit the same mark as the classics.
5. Saigon Cafe
✨ Best for: Tiny but Mighty
📍 Cotati · ⭐ 4.7 · 157 reviews
Saigon Cafe proves that size doesn't matter when it comes to delivering explosive flavors. This tiny Cotati spot turns out bánh mì that rival anything in San Francisco, with crusty baguettes that shatter at first bite. Their grilled beef pho features charred meat that adds smoky depth to the already complex broth. Despite limited seating, locals pack in here for lunch, creating an atmosphere that feels authentically Vietnamese.
Must-Order:
Grilled Beef PhoCrispy Bánh MìLemongrass Pork
Insider Tip: Call ahead for bánh mì orders during lunch rush – they sell out of the good stuff by 2 PM.
6. Lee's Noodle House
✨ Best for: Budget-Friendly Bowls
📍 Santa Rosa · ⭐ 4.0 · 326 reviews · $
Lee's Noodle House strips away the frills to focus on what matters: perfect bowls at prices that won't break the bank. Their pho ga features free-range chicken that falls apart with gentle prodding, swimming in golden broth that tastes like pure comfort. The pad thai gets a Vietnamese twist with tamarind that adds tangy complexity. Expect construction workers, students, and budget-conscious families who appreciate honest, filling food.
Must-Order:
Pho GaVietnamese Pad ThaiGrilled Pork Chops
Insider Tip: The large pho sizes are truly enormous – the regular feeds most people just fine.
7. Pho Vietnam
✨ Best for: No-Frills Pho Joint
Tripadvisor📍 Santa Rosa · ⭐ 3.6 · 620 reviews · $$
Pho Vietnam keeps things simple in their Santa Rosa storefront, letting their 20-year-old recipes do the talking. The pho dac biet arrives loaded with every cut of beef imaginable, from rare slices to chewy tendon. Their broken rice plates showcase grilled meats with the char marks that signal serious wok skills. It's not fancy, but the Vietnamese community considers it their neighborhood canteen for good reason.
Must-Order:
Pho Dac BietBroken Rice PlateVietnamese Spring Rolls
Insider Tip: Cash only on weekdays, but they take cards on weekends when the college crowd comes in.
8. Viet House
✨ Best for: Sebastopol's Vietnamese Haven
📍 Sebastopol · ⭐ 4.1 · 214 reviews · $$
Viet House brings unexpected sophistication to Sebastopol's laid-back dining scene. Their curry dishes feature coconut milk richness balanced with lemongrass brightness that pairs surprisingly well with local Pinot Noir. The shaking beef arrives sizzling on cast iron, cubes of tender filet mignon tossed with watercress and red onions. Wine country professionals often end up here after tastings, drawn by the elevated takes on Vietnamese classics.
Must-Order:
Vietnamese CurryShaking BeefLemongrass Tofu
Insider Tip: Their wine list features local bottles that actually complement the spicier dishes surprisingly well.
9. Simply Vietnam Express
✨ Best for: Quick Vietnamese Fix
📍 Santa Rosa · ⭐ 3.5 · 483 reviews · $$
Simply Vietnam Express delivers exactly what the name promises: quick, straightforward Vietnamese food without pretense. Their combination pho bowls feed two people easily, packed with meatballs, brisket, and noodles in MSG-free broth. The grilled pork banh mi satisfies late-night cravings with perfectly marinated meat and crisp vegetables. It's takeout food done right, perfect for busy Santa Rosa families on the go.
Must-Order:
Combination PhoGrilled Pork Bánh MìVermicelli Bowl
Insider Tip: The spring rolls are made to order, so add 10 minutes to your pickup time if you order them.
Tips for Finding Great Vietnamese Food in Wine Country
Skip the Fusion: The best Vietnamese spots in Sonoma County stick to traditional preparations. Look for restaurants where Vietnamese families eat regularly.
Lunch is Prime Time: Most Vietnamese restaurants prepare their best broths and freshest ingredients for the lunch rush. Evening service can be hit-or-miss.
Ask About Specials: Weekend specials often feature dishes like bún bò huế or bánh xèo that aren't on the regular menu but showcase the kitchen's true skills.
Bring Cash: Many family-run Vietnamese spots prefer cash transactions, especially for smaller orders under $20. Call ahead to confirm payment options.
Frequently Asked Questions
How We Picked These Spots
We selected these restaurants based on consistent local reviews, authentic flavor profiles, and community reputation among Sonoma County's Vietnamese population. Each spot was evaluated for food quality, service consistency, and value.
Every restaurant on this list has a full profile on our site with photos, hours, reviews, and insider tips.
Last updated: February 2026
