Vietvana Pho Noodle House

Staff did not seem to understand what gluten is - really hoping I didn't get glutened after eating there. Not the first time I have experienced this. As a celiac, to other celiacs, would not recommend.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not at all

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Average

Other Characteristics

• Good for takeout
• Offers delivery
• Offers online ordering

This is one of my favorite places in Atlanta. I’ve been getting the crispy salt and pepper tofu nearly weekly for years and have never had a problem. It’s SO good! The pho is pretty good too, just never quite hot. Other reviewers mentioned the accompanying sauces containing gluten and make valid points, but I never risk eating sauces in Asian restaurants.

(I’m not confirmed celiac but am very sensitive and have a strong negative reaction to gluten that puts me on a fetal position, so I’m always extremely careful.)

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Gluten Free Folks Please Read.

I have been coming to Vietvana, all of their locations in ATL, for the past year or so very consistently. What won me over was their extensive gluten-free menu and the healthy fresh cuisine that Vietnamese food offers.

Now, I am not celiac but I have been gluten free for almost 10 years due to digestive upset that I experience after eating gluten. I’m very lucky and that I can have a little bit every now and again and it not majorly affect me. It seems to be a cumulative thing for me personally. I want to put that out there as a disclaimer before continuing with my review.

A few months back my husband and I went to the Avondale Estates location and ordered one of my favorites, the build your own pho. On this particular day our sauces came out in a bottle instead of in the traditional ramekin cups that they are usually served in. So I did what I always do with bottles, I picked it up and read the ingredients. Y’all, there is gluten in the hoisin sauce that they are serving with their gluten free pho!

When I discovered this I called the waiter over and confirmed that this is the hoisin sauce they normally put in the ramekins. As a small business owner myself, I went to the social media manager on Instagram and expressed my concerns there instead of blasting them. The person whom I had the exchange with assured me they would reach out to management with an answer. Unfortunately, the answer I received was dismissive. The contended that the pho itself was gluten-free and I didn’t HAVE to put the hoisin sauce in it. I argued back that it’s misleading to label and menu item gluten free if the sauce served with it contains gluten. They stood firm, no matter my concern. So I got off my high horse and let that go and continued to eat there but commenced to bringing my own hoisin sauce from home.

Fast forward a couple of months ahead to today, when I met friends at the same location for lunch. I ordered pho and my friend beside me ordered another gluten-free dish from the menu, the crispy tofu with pepper. We decided we were going to share our meals. When her dish came out it came with a delightful brown sauce on the side. Anytime I see a brown sauce my red flag goes up because often it’s made from soy sauce. And soy sauce, unless it’s noted as gluten free, contains gluten. I double checked with the server about the sauce because now I’m a little gun shy. Surprise, surprise, the sauce has gluten in it!

I called the manager over and expressed my concern. He offered to bring me another sauce, Again totally missing my point that they are going to make someone sick. So I asked for fish sauce and then I was told the fish sauce has gluten in it too! Y’all, the fish sauce is served with many of the items they label as gluten free on their menu.

Now I don’t know about you guys but when a sauce comes with a dish that you have ordered from the menu and that menu item is labeled as allergen friendly wouldn’t you assume that the sauce does not have that specific allergen in it either?

If you are gluten free you might want to decide to eat somewhere else. Do better Vietvana or you’re going to end up making someone very sick.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not at all

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much/None

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Average

Other Characteristics

• Good for takeout
• Offers delivery

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for dinner
• Good for kids
• Good for lunch
• Good for takeout
• Good selection of healthy options
• Good with other allergies
• Offers delivery
• Offers online ordering
• Offers outdoor seating

I was excited to see GF items marked on the menu; however, our server didn’t even know what gluten free meant. I reached out to another server as well as the hostess and they did not have any information about the menu items either. I finally went to the kitchen and found one cook who understood what gluten-free meant & what cross-contamination was & he personally made my dish. Don’t assume because the menu says something is gluten-free that it will be, you must be very careful & ask lots of questions!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not at all

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Below Average

If you don’t mind a little bit of soy sauce… I ordered all gluten free. I told them I have celiac which I explained was a “gluten allergy.” I later found out the soy sauce on the fried rice was not gluten free. Stay away if you are celiac. Also put eggs in the fried rice when I asked for it without due to an egg allergy.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not at all

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Average

Other Characteristics

• Good for takeout

Amazing food and most items are naturally GF. The waiters are knowledgeable about items and sauces that may not be. I’ve always had a great experience and I am extremely careful and sensitive!

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

I’ve eaten here many times and it’s always so delicious! The items that have gluten are clearly marked and I always feel safe eating here

Celiac friendly?

Yes

I love this place. They’re willing to customize a lot of the foods to your needs. Larger Vietnamese compare to most place. Ask for the owner and chef, he really spend is time fully explaining all the possible items. Warning he wasn’t this location 2 out of the 4 times we visited.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

This little haven of Vietnamese food heaven hasn’t been open long. Unfortunately they haven’t marked GF menu items. A shame because most if the choices are celiac safe. The only things that aren’t safe are the obvious things: fried egg rolls, bahn mi, and egg noodles. In addition to rice dishes, the rest of the noodles are potato and tapioca. Lots to choose from here! The rest of this post is more detail of my visit. The staff is definitely green, the restaurant is definitely celiac friendly - if you can speak to the correct person. After the host assured me “everything is gluten free” as he seated us, skeptical me sought to confirm this with the server. He was young and not at all familiar with celiac disease, but he sent out a manager. She was only a tad more familiar with the kitchen’s celiac strategy, but she in turn sent the chef out to explain how much of the menu is GF and the steps his kitchen takes to ensure against cross contamination. I was impressed that they will even fry tapioca battered calamari in fresh oil in a clean wok. It was a surprisingly generous portion that’d be enough for a table of four to pick at. I also ordered vermicelli with grilled shrimp. The house made fish sauce was subtle and sublime. The leftovers tasted even better a few hours later. My friend got crispy prawns, another generously portioned appetizer. Don’t be silly and peel these little sea bugs. Be brave and eat them head and all like soft shell crab for a flavor explosion. I’m holding back a star because the floor staff is still training. Our server forgot to bring my friend’s second beer and I had to chase him down to order my first drink. Happily, the management is making a concerted effort and stepping in to help out. That will improve. The food however is already on point. I can’t wait to eat my way through the menu!

Celiac friendly?

Yes