If you like finding small neighborhood restaurants that feel a little off the radar, Ben Thanh Vietnamese Bistro deserves a look. The restaurant describes its journey as beginning in Saigon and eventually bringing it to Watervliet, where it serves Vietnamese dishes made with fresh ingredients and plenty of personality.
This isn’t a huge, sprawling restaurant with an endless menu. Instead, you’ll find a lineup that makes choosing lunch fun: bánh mì sandwiches, pho, rice noodles, spring rolls, summer rolls, Vietnamese coffee, fruit drinks, and a surprisingly interesting collection of homemade-style sweets.
One particularly tempting choice is the Ben Thanh Specialty Bun Cha, made with rice noodles, char-siu pork, baked Vietnamese meatballs, fresh greens, and pickle sauce. Sandwich fans have several bánh mì options, including beef, chicken, char-siu pork, and the house special with ham, Vietnamese ham, char-siu pork, and pâté.
Save some room for something sweet, too. The menu gets playful with items such as pineapple cookies, coconut macaroons and Gummy Pie, a Vietnamese steamed layer cake made with mung bean, tapioca flour, coconut milk and pandan.
Coffee drinkers aren’t forgotten. Ben Thanh serves Vietnamese coffee hot or iced, including versions with milk, along with boba tea, matcha drinks, smoothies and fruit teas.
One important thing to know before making the trip: Ben Thanh is currently open Saturdays and Sundays only, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The restaurant says the weekend- only schedule began June 30, 2026, because of staffing limitations. Pickup and delivery are also available through its secure online ordering site.
For anyone who enjoys independently owned restaurants, affordable food, and discovering something a little different from the usual neighborhood lunch lineup, Ben Thanh Vietnamese Bistro makes an interesting Watervliet find.
It’s also earning some serious appreciation from diners. Ben Thanh currently carries a 4. 4.9 out of 5 consumer rating from more than 120 reviews, while most meals fall comfortably into the roughly $10–$20 range. Ben Thanh Vietnamese Bistro
10 Interesting Ben Thanh Vietnamese Bistro Menu Choices
- Ben Thanh Specialty Bun Cha — Rice noodles with char-siu pork, baked Vietnamese meatballs, fresh greens, and pickle sauce.
- Vietnamese Bánh Mì Special — Ham, Vietnamese ham, char-siu pork, and pâté with mayonnaise, pickled carrot, daikon, cucumber, cilantro, and jalapeño.
- Beef Pho — Rice noodles and beef in broth with bean sprouts, basil, hoisin and hot chili sauce.
- Crispy Meat Phyllo — A crisp pastry filled with pork, carrot and Vietnamese black pepper.
- Char-Siu Pork Bánh Mì — Char-siu pork and pâté with the traditional pickled vegetables, cilantro and jalapeño.
- Shrimp Summer Rolls — Rice-paper rolls filled with shrimp, lettuce, rice noodles, carrot, cucumber and basil, served with dipping sauce.
- Steamed Noodles with Beef or Char-Siu Pork — Steamed rice noodles with lettuce, pickled vegetables, scallions, roasted peanuts, fried onions and homemade sauce.
- Three-Color Dessert — Red beans, mung beans and white kidney beans with coconut milk and cane sugar.
- Gummy Pie — A gluten-free Vietnamese steamed layer cake made with mung bean, tapioca flour, coconut milk, cane sugar, and pandan leaf.
- Vietnamese Iced Milk Coffee — A sweet, strong Vietnamese-style coffee that’s a natural partner for a bánh mì or dessert.
View the complete, updated Ben Thanh Vietnamese Bistro menu.
