08/10/09

food not fresh, rude staff

by foodlady09

Kim Phung was the first place I was introduced to after moving to Austin in 1997. The food/prices were great. After a few years, I noticed the quality going downhill. I stopped dining there. A co-worker suggested we go there today. I thought "Why not, I'll give it another try!" My mistake. Initially, the waitress hovered and rushed us. The spring rolls had wilted lettuce, mushy shrimp. The chicken vermicelli was okay, yet the meat was tough. I was willing to overlook the food issues, again, but not the service. I ordered a thai coffee to go. The coffee was packed with ice so getting the staw in was difficult. I ended up puncturing the cup. It went all over my shirt, pants, table, purse...everywhere! Though the cup was flimsy, the leak was mainly my fault. I apologized for the mess once the waitress came back, but she just left ONE napkin and left. The cashier witnessed this and asked if I wanted another coffee. I said yes, but not as much ice. She said "There was no problem with the cup, it's your fault." I thought this was VERY rude. It was an accident and we even tried to clean up the mess with our ONE napkin. The staff is just plain rude and, even with the food being okay at best, I wouldn't return or recommend this due to the attitudes of the staff.

• Pros: price is okay
• Cons: food not fresh, rude staff

02/24/09

Only if you're looking to purge

by miasmomma

Since the old owners sold the restaurant, the quality has definitely gone down. My husband and I went there twice after the new owners bought it & we both got sick those 2 times. I do NOT recommend eating here. It's sad because it was such a great place before!

• Pros: It USED to be the best!
• Cons: It's not anymore

02/09/07

Best Pho and Bun Anyhere!!!

by devls24

I first visited the Lamar location a couple of years ago and was impressed with the quality of the food. Just recently, they have opened up another store by the Super Target across from Lakeline Mall. The food tastes even better here. The atmosphere is great, the service is great. I recommend the iced jasmine tea with lime - incredibly refreshing. In addition, they have a large Chinese menu available, if you aren't hungry for Vietnamese. I have been known to go at least 2 times a week! Hands down the best.

Inexpensive pho soups, vermicelli noodles, Chinese dishes and no frills.

by Contributor

In Short
The restaurant's decor is utilitarian: strip-mall Asian with red lanterns and mass-produced artwork. A tiny altar sits by the front door. The place is always crowded with Austin's dedicated pho and noodle fans. The egg rolls feature charcoal-broiled pork with vermicelli noodles and spring rolls are packed with shrimp and veggies. Pho comes with meat, garlic, hot pepper, lemon grass and a heavy sauce.

07/06/05

Thumbs Up

by kitiany

I recall when there was always a 30-60 minute wait at Kim Phung. In 2005, there is no waiting line. The reason is because other noodle places have sprung up. Kim Phung may not have the most "traditional Vietnamese" flavors, but as a non-Vietnamese, I prefer it that way. But this is a very good resaturant. Good spring rolls. The cellophane noodles with seafood is very tasty. The noodle soup with duck is awesome. Their #1, biggest bowl of beef pho with everything in it has gone down in quality but is still pretty good (some of you might want them to skip the tripe. I actually like it.) Big bowl of hot noodle soup with basil, jalepeno, lime, cilantro, and sprouts -- hmmm. I don't mind eating that for lunch every day for the rest of my life.

• Pros: Inexpensive, Very good, Workers have been the
• Cons: Ugly Strip Mall, decor

06/15/05

The Best!!!

by lzarosky

This is the best asian food around. I drive from Slaughter on a regular basis to enjoy everything KimPhung has to offer. There is no other place like it in Austin. I don't know what they do to their dishes to make them taste and smell so good, but I love it! I get their fried tofu and broccoli flavored with lemongrass and chili pepper. I'm not vegetarian by any means, but this dish is phenomenal!!! The smell alone is guaranteed to make your mouth water.

• Pros: friendly, tasty, cheap
• Cons: closes early

08/13/03

Kim Phung is Awesome!!!

by jmatteson

My wife and I try to go at least once a week. We really enjoy #63 on their menu which is charbroiled pork w/ lemon grass, hot pepper & garlic on rice vermicelli. Their vermicelli bowls are why my friends and I continue to come back for business lunches and casual dining. Their waitstaff is extremely friendly and helpful. Kim Phung's should have a South Austin location someday. (Hint, Hint)

• Pros: Inexpensive, Great Food, Friendly Waitstaff
• Cons: Nothing

07/02/03

Too smelly for me

by gogonguyen

Kim Phung's food is pretty good, albeit not terribly authentic, but it's the smell I can't get past. It's not the smell of the food, it's the smell of the place--a cross between disinfectant and bathroom--that makes the experience just that side of unappetizing. I've been to many a strip mall Vietnamese restaurant in the "Little Saigon" area in Westminster, CA, and they're mostly cheap and utilitarian--nothing fancy. But they still manage to keep the potty smell out of the dining area.

• Pros: Inexpensive, Large portions
• Cons: Smelly, Parking's a nightmare

05/20/03

a steal

by nevernowforever

The food is so amazing and the price so low, I feel like I'm stealing....and it's a great feeling!

01/27/03

Not for Vietnamese

by vo_dang

This is the most overrated, worst Vietnamese place in town. Do any of you notice that there are few Vietnamese who actually eat there? I would guarantee you the people giving the rave review/voting for "Best Noodle House" are not Vietnamese!

Go to where the Vietnamese eat (Pho Hoang, Pho Cong Ly).

• Pros: cheap
• Cons: dirty, unauthentic vietnames