Vietnam House in Columbia: Vietnamese Cuisine and Community Gathering

What Vietnam House Offers

Vietnam House is a Vietnamese restaurant in Columbia that serves pho, banh mi, vermicelli bowls, and other dishes from Vietnamese home cooking. The menu centers on broths simmered for hours, fresh herbs added at the table, and proteins you choose—beef, chicken, shrimp, or vegetarian. The space functions as both a neighborhood restaurant and a gathering place for the Vietnamese community in the Midlands.

The restaurant is located on Devine Street, a stretch of Columbia known for ethnic restaurants and independent shops. Vietnam House fits into that corridor as a casual, family-run spot where you order at the counter and find a table. Prices are moderate—most entrees fall in the $10 to $15 range—and portions are substantial.

Key Takeaways

• Vietnam House serves traditional Vietnamese dishes including pho, banh mi sandwiches, and vermicelli bowls with fresh herbs and your choice of protein.
• The restaurant is located on Devine Street in Columbia, in a neighborhood known for independent restaurants and shops.
• You order at the counter and seat yourself, making it a casual, quick-service experience rather than table service.
• The menu includes vegetarian options alongside meat and seafood dishes, and you can customize most bowls and soups to your preference.

The Pho and Broth-Based Dishes

Pho is the centerpiece of the menu. Vietnam House makes the broth in-house, simmering beef bones or chicken with star anise, cinnamon, and other spices for many hours. You choose your protein—rare beef that cooks in the hot broth, well-done beef, chicken, or a combination—and the bowl arrives with fresh herbs on the side: Thai basil, cilantro, and lime wedges. You tear the herbs into the soup and squeeze the lime as you eat.

Beyond pho, the menu includes other broth-based soups. Hu tieu (clear tapioca noodle soup) and bánh canh (thick tapioca noodle soup) offer different textures and are often ordered by people who want something lighter than pho or who are familiar with regional Vietnamese cooking. These dishes are less common in American Vietnamese restaurants, so they signal that Vietnam House draws on broader regional knowledge.

Banh Mi Sandwiches and Vermicelli Bowls

Banh mi sandwiches are made on crispy French-style baguettes with pickled vegetables, cilantro, and your choice of filling: grilled pork, chicken, shrimp, or tofu. The contrast between the crispy bread, cool pickled vegetables, and warm protein is the point of the sandwich. Vietnam House makes these to order, so the bread stays crisp and the fillings are fresh.

Vermicelli bowls (bun) are served cold or at room temperature, with thin rice noodles as the base, lettuce, cucumber, and herbs, topped with grilled meat or shrimp and a fish sauce-based dressing. These are popular as lunch dishes because they are filling but not heavy, and you can customize the protein and vegetable additions. Many people order them with extra herbs and vegetables on the side.

Vegetarian and Customizable Options

Vietnam House accommodates vegetarian diets throughout the menu. Tofu appears in pho, banh mi, and vermicelli bowls. Vegetable-only versions of many dishes are available, and the kitchen will modify broths or dressings on request. If you have allergies or strong preferences about ingredients, asking at the counter before ordering is the best approach—the staff can tell you what is in each dish and what can be changed.

Most bowls and soups allow you to choose your protein and vegetable additions, so you can build a dish that matches what you want to eat that day. This flexibility is one reason Vietnam House works for both people ordering the same thing every visit and people who like to experiment.

Hours, Location, and Parking

Vietnam House is located on Devine Street in Columbia, in the same neighborhood as other Vietnamese and Asian restaurants. Street parking is available along Devine, though it can fill during lunch and dinner hours. There is no dedicated parking lot, so arriving during off-peak times (mid-afternoon or early evening) makes parking easier.

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner most days, though hours vary by season and day of the week. Calling ahead or checking their hours online before visiting is a good idea, especially if you are planning to go on a weekend or holiday. The space is small and can get crowded during peak meal times, so expect a short wait if you arrive at noon or 6 p.m.

What to Expect When You Visit

Vietnam House operates as a counter-service restaurant. You walk in, look at the menu board or printed menu, order at the counter, pay, and then find a seat. Staff bring your food to the table when it is ready. The dining room is casual—simple tables and chairs, minimal decoration—which keeps the focus on the food and the people eating it.

The restaurant draws a mix of customers: people from the Vietnamese community, families, students, and people exploring the Devine Street restaurant corridor. It is a neighborhood spot rather than a destination restaurant, so the atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious. Bringing friends or family who want to try Vietnamese food for the first time works well here because the menu is straightforward and the staff are accustomed to answering questions about dishes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is pho and how do you eat it?

Pho is a Vietnamese soup made with a long-simmered broth, rice noodles, and your choice of protein. You eat it with chopsticks and a spoon, using the chopsticks to lift noodles and the spoon to drink the broth. Fresh herbs arrive on the side—tear them into the bowl as you eat, and squeeze lime over everything. It is meant to be interactive and customized to your taste.

Do I need to know Vietnamese to order here?

No. The menu is in English, and the staff are used to explaining dishes to people who are new to Vietnamese food. If you are unsure what something is, ask—the counter staff can describe it and suggest what to try based on whether you like spicy food, broth-based dishes, or lighter options.

Can I get my food without fish sauce or with less spice?

Yes. Fish sauce is a base ingredient in many Vietnamese dishes, but you can ask for it on the side or request that it be reduced. Spice level can also be adjusted—let the counter staff know if you prefer mild, medium, or hot. They will pass that information to the kitchen.

Is there seating for large groups?

The dining room is small, so very large groups may not fit comfortably at one time. If you are planning to bring eight or more people, calling ahead to let them know is a good idea. They may be able to push tables together or suggest a time when the restaurant is less crowded.

What should I order if I have never had Vietnamese food before?

Start with pho or a vermicelli bowl—both are approachable and let you taste the core flavors of Vietnamese cooking. Pho is more interactive and theatrical; a vermicelli bowl is simpler and faster. Either one gives you a sense of how fresh herbs, fish sauce, and lime work together in Vietnamese cuisine.