Golden Deli - San Gabriel

Came here with a friend after they suggested coming here for the pho and egg rolls. The weather has been pretty gloomy so it was a perfect day to come and let me tell you this place did not disappoint.The service here is fast, they are very friendly. We ordered number 8 with some egg rolls. The order of eggs rolls came with 5 large crispy ones! The egg rolls were so delicious and a 10/10 for me! The pho was also delicious I love getting tripe and tendons in my pho and they were extremely generous with the meat and the broth was full of flavor.Overall I would come back!

Golden Deli sits at the top of my 626 staples. The pho is always fantastic and hits the spot. When it rains, I think of Golden Deli. My favorite, the pho, is generously portioned, tasty, and hearty. Their sides are great, but a bit inconsistent.The location itself is always bustling, lively, and loud. The service is quick but getting seated is a battle.

This spot is a staple for authentic Vietnamese Chinese fusion flavored food. There's always a line on weekends, but the fast and efficient service makes the wait worth it. Chả Giò - Their famous Vietnamese fried spring rolls--crispy, flavorful, and a must-order. Cà Ri Gà - A warm and homey chicken curry, served with your choice of French bread, vermicelli noodles, or steamed rice. Cơm Chạo Tôm & Egg roll & Chả - A comforting plate of shrimp paste, egg roll beef, and baked egg with steamed rice--simple but packed with flavor. Service: Fast and efficient, even during busy hours. Ambiance: Always a line on weekends, but that just proves how good it is.A go-to spot for Vietnamese comfort food in SGV!

Golden Deli serves some of the best pho I have ever had. The broth is rich and flavorful, with perfectly cooked noodles and meat. Their spring rolls are delicious. The staff are friendly and very attentive. While the wait can be annoyingly long, it's worth it.

tl;dr this famous SGV cafe may not have lived up to its legendary status, but the signature cha gio will highlight a nonetheless pleasant mealOne of Los Angeles' most iconic dishes is hidden within an unassuming strip mall that straddles the border between Alhambra and San Gabriel. Many Angelenos might scratch their heads, but those in the know will immediately recognize Golden Deli for its crispy cha gio. These hot dog-sized egg rolls are stuffed with pork, mushrooms, and vermicelli; deep-fried until golden brown; and served beside nuoc cham (fish sauce for dipping). Any day after 5PM, the wait at Golden Deli will surely trail out the door, and nearly every party opts for at least one order of cha gio.The clean restaurant sports gaudy, retro diner-style finishes. Forest green upholstered booths line the walls, while plexiglass-separated tables are carefully crammed into the center of the room. Glasswork chandeliers repaired with masking tape cast a warm glow across the mishmash of framed Golden Deli achievements and blown-up photographs of a waterfall. The contemporary pop radio, complete with advertisements, feels out of place among the non-English speaking staff and clientele.During my first visit, my partner and I opted for the classics -- the #2 Pho Tai (ribeye pho), the #89B Com Chạo Tom (sugarcane shrimp paste) & Bo Nuong (marinated grilled beef) & Cha Gio, and a side of Cha Trung (baked egg cake). Our consensus favorite bite was the crispy, beef-forward egg roll. We also enjoyed the thinly cut slices of beef, but the remaining food was less exciting. The light fluffy egg cake and sliced, chewy shrimp paste were one-dimensional; the pho was simply standard.On a return visit, we focused on our favorites -- the #35 Bun Thut Nuong & Cha Gio (sliced pork and egg rolls served over a bowl of vermicelli and vegetables) and the #53 Banh Hoi Bo Nuong & Cha Gio (grilled beef & egg rolls served with lettuce wraps and soft vermicelli noodle square). The former was more plug-and-play (just mix in your desired sauces), while the latter afforded more flexibility to mix and match toppings and condiments.Service was a no-frills masterclass in teamwork and efficiency. A staff member approached us within seconds of opening our menus. While we had no trouble getting a booth during the pre-dinner service, the restaurant was entirely full by the time we departed. Our bill worked out to $40 (after tax and tip), and, even though the protein portions felt moderately skimpy, we left feeling comfortably full. It's no wonder that Golden Deli has remained in business for over 40 years -- the cha gio is a must-try. However, nowadays the long queue, smaller portions, and higher prices will keep me from becoming a regular.

Golden Deli has always been my go-to spot to meet up friends and bring Pho craving friends to. Tease has been so consistent every time I go. I always get the Vietnamese eggrolls to share. Spring rolls and the broken rice are both delicious choices there. Staffs are always tentative and I never had a bad service. I do say that the parking lot sometimes gets a little packed during peak time and there will be people waiting outside the restaurant . So definitely go early to beat the crowd.

So, let me complete my review from the last visit where we had a peanut situation. After asking the waiter which dishes have peanut... Then saying, "NO PEANUT". Peanuts we served to out table. . This isn't a trendy diet fad, this is a LIFE THREATENING situation. What did the manager say when we told him? "You should have told us..." Basically, we're not listening, it's your fault, not ours. What rating would you give it?

Golden Deli has become my favorite comfort food after a long weekend/week. The restaurant is small but the staff are kind.The food is amazing as always and I highly recommend ANYTHING with the eggrolls (even if it's just on the side).

Golden Deli has my heart. I dropped by for lunch and maybe 15 min later the restaurant was PACKED with people. Asian people! That's how you know this restaurant is elite. We ordered the egg rolls and the bun rieu. Both were 10/10. The egg rolls I've had before, but never fresh from dine-in. The outer skin is BEYOND crispy and the inside filling is sooo juicy and succulent. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. The egg rolls come with your standard fixings of lettuce, pickled veggies, and fish sauce. The bun rieu has to be in the top 3 bun rieu I've tried. The broth was perfection. Not too pungent seafoody, but not bland either. It was well balanced and light but still very flavorful. The noodles were perfect - I usually never finish my noodles but I did that day! My only complaint is I wish they had more variety in the dish - the only meat was the homemade meat balls/loaf which I absolutely loved, but I wish there was more! Maybe pork loaf or shrimp balls, etc. I will be back ASAP to try everything else on their menu. Thank you Golden Deli!

Finally visited the famous golden deli and I definitely see why it is so well known in the SGV. The interior was cozy and had a familiar Vietnamese restaurant vibe. Curtains were drawn but inside was well lit. The sauces were on the table and utensils were passed out instead of being set on the table.Moving on to the food. Egg rolls were delicious and appreciated how they give a lot of veggies (including those herb mint) to compliment! (Some places are stingy T_T). I also got the beef pho with everything and it was very flavorful with good amount of meat inside. The rib eye was very tender; while the brisket was on the leaner side for me, I like how the the different cut of meat's taste contrasted! Overall a great dining experience and would come again. My advice tho, eat the egg rolls before they get cold or else the skin might be too chewy.