A-Chau

This place is solid. Some of the best banh mi and Vietnamese spring rolls you can get in San Diego.
The staff isn’t the friendliest but they’re badass and hardcore… that Vietnamese for you. They know their stuff and if you ask for their help recommending stuff they’ll definitely help. This place is extremely authentic.
Things to get:
Banh mi — Vietnamese sandwiches
Egg rolls — as many as you can get! Yum!
Thai tea
Vietnamese coffee — it’s like coffee crack
Rice dishes — all good

Small little vietnamese place. Sells banh mi, egg rolls, spring rolls, drinks, also takes party orders as well. The parking lot is small. Everytime I come here they’re always nice. They only accept cash only as well. Their egg rolls are to drool for, definitely should try it! Banh mi is always fresh as well!

The best egg rolls you will ever have! Plan ahead cause they sell out and people usually order around 50 – 100 at least.

BEST EGG ROLLS!!!
Never fails in a potluck! Everyone loves them

Like what everyone says about A Chau… Their eggrolls are the best! I have tried eggrolls at different restaurants and nothing can ever ever compare to their eggrolls. I get their Banh Mi also, the special one and it’s really really good and they pack it with meat! The bread is a little on the short end, but I don’t mind at all because it’s so yummy! I have ordered 150 eggrolls for only $ 90 for my baby shower not too long ago and that came out to $.60 each eggroll which is their regular price when you buy individually. I would think that they would change the price if you order by trays, but I guess not. It’s okay though cause it is still inexpensive. Only thing is cash only, which I don’t really like because I almost never carry cash.

Their egg rolls get you HOOKED.
For every potluck, my coworker brings these in. She walks in at 8am with about 40 and the 7 of us make them disappear by 9am… if they’re lucky.
You start with one, sit at your desk, come back for eight more. As someone mentioned in a picture, they must sprinkle crack on them. They’re filled with meaty goodness in every bite. They’re normally a two to three bite egg roll which is why I feel better about eating the eight ;)
Now I’ll have to smuggle them into Minh Ky like the other cool kids do.

Vietnamese egg roll craving? Have a big party and want to bring the bestest appetizer without breaking bank? Look no further!
Tucked away on a very tight shopping center is this gem. Now, I’ve only tried their egg rolls but thats enough for us to keep going back for more. We have brought it to several parties and it’s always a hit. There’s something inside these egg rolls that are just so addicting. They make it fresh all through out the day. Make sure to call in for big order for the freshest batch.
Parking is horrible so have a friend tag along to drop you off while he looks for parking. It’s just more efficient that way!

Best egg rolls in San Diego. Great customer service. We love to bring these egg rolls to parties because they are such a big hit. We drive 30 minutes out of the way just to pick them up. Extras can be frozen and still taste delicious after being toasted in the oven. This is our absolute favorite place to pick up egg rolls!!!

I’ve been coming here for the past year and consistently purchase the same items; pork egg rolls and fresh spring rolls. The service, quality/​consistency of product are great. I will continue to return.
When ordering the pork egg rolls, based on my experience, I recommend that you order no later than 2 days prior for a large order on a holiday as the wait times tend to be a minimum of 1.5 hours during these times. If you need to place a large order on a non-​holiday, you can typically walk in and do so as the wait times are significantly shorter (if there is one) and that will also ensure that the pork egg rolls are still hot).

Located on El Cajon Blvd. around the corner from Hoover High School about a mile off of the El Cajon Blvd. exit. It’s next to an Asian supermarket (Hing La) and is of the outdoor corner strip mall type. There is dedicated parking lot directly in this mall, but it’s typically full so grab a spot on the side streets or main street if you see one nearby.
Not gonna rehash the obvious. Yes, their Vietnamese egg rolls are incredible. As of this typing (11÷27÷15) they are $ 0.60 a piece. They make them in large quantities and are under a heat lamp in a large tray in the assembly line style line-​up of food. If you order for parties, as many do, they’ll either pull them from the front line, or the back kitchen.
Good Bahn Mi sandwich too. I’ve only had the #8 Char-​broiled Pork (BBQ Pork) which was fresh, moist, and flavorful. The French Bread is fresh and jalapeño slices are perfect for you spicy lovers.
This is the perfect place for Bahn Mi and even better place for the egg rolls for take-​out for parties!
AAA+++

I must thank my co-​worker for introducing this place to me. I’ve been coming here for years now. Initially, I would just come here just for the eggrolls. Their eggrolls are wrapped in rice paper which make them more crispy versus wonton paper which is more flaky. For parties, I buy a tray (35 – 40 eggrolls) for $ 20. They are always a hit. Cheap and easy. Don’t forget to ask for nuoc mam (fish sauce).
And so you know, this place makes the BEST Vietnamese iced coffee (café sua da) in SD. The BEST! Real espresso. Right ratio of espresso to sweeten condensed milk. Just perfect.
In addition, I have tried the various soups (not phở) and banh mi sandwiches. Pretty good. They serve their purpose and satisfy my «I’m single, I don’t have time to cook, and I want real food» appetite.
**Cash only. No need to pre-​order.
Enjoi!

This restaurant serves my version of fast food. Service is speedy and efficient, even at lunchtime when it gets fairly crowded. I always order the sugar cane bahn mi (not sure where else I can get it) and it always hits the spot. On the counter to the left of the register are some styrofoam trays of spring rolls and other foods that piqué my curiosity. I love discovering homestyle Vietnamese foods that are made with rice flour, crumbled dried shrimp and sometimes mung bean paste. Could they be banh cuon (rice crepes)? Banh beo – plain-​looking steamed rice cakes? No idea; I am totally out of my league. Some of these treats come with a side of nuoc cham, fish sauce flavored with lime juice, sugar, and chilies.
Unfortunately, I am really not a fan of the sauce they serve with their spring rolls. Sometimes, II bring home the spring rolls and use my own peanut/​plum sauce, if I have any in the fridge.

— Cash only
— $ 15 for 25 pieces Vietnamese style egg rolls. Difference between Filipino lumpia and their egg rolls are the glass noodles and less veggies.
— Open early in the morning
— «Turo turo» or point point type of place where the food is displayed in a lunch line and you choose the items you want.
— Small parking lot; location within Little Saigon in El Cajon

Always can count on this place. It’s been here for over 20 years. Consistent food and it’s always busy. Parking can be kinda hard.
They only accept cash here.

Egg rolls and egg rolls is what I had from here and I will say they were delicious. This place is not pretty inside nor is it in a pretty area, but don’t let that discourage my friends. The pork egg rolls wrapped in rice paper are the best I’ve ever had. They are on a deafening crispy level. Soooooo good. Please try them and thank me later.
*Make sure you get the rice paper wrapped roll (very bumpy texture and pinkish, not smooth like traditional brown egg rolls)

Best whole in the wall Vietnamese mom and pop shop in town! It’s cash only so make sure you stop by an ATM before coming here. If you’re wondering what to bring to your next potluck, holiday gathering or other special event, you can’t go wrong with the Vietnamese deep fried spring rolls. These are the rolls that look deformed. The wrappers are made from the same rice paper that is used to make fresh spring rolls. When they’re deep fried they tend to break a bit or «deform.»
The Banh Mi (Vietnamese Sandwiches) is also good here.
Definitely the best value for fried spring rolls.

I read the reviews and was slow to believe. but these egg rolls are now my favorite egg rolls in San Diego. It’s a humble, family-​owned joint in an area of San Diego with many vietnamese folks. Hubster who is OG Viet from SD is very familiar with this place but failed to share (perhaps in strong knowledge that egg rolls are my kryptonite).
They use a different type of egg roll wrapper (rice. not egg based). which makes for an «ugly to look at but fun to eat «exterior (bubbled and crunchy looking). It’s also more chewy texture instead of crispy. The inside is a delicious log of cured meat. (kind of like the pork sausage). that is paired with light veggies.
We ordered a tray of 50 that was counted out Asian style (aka: you just have to trust the man that he put 50 in there). but these were the highlight of the party. 50 egg rolls for about $ 27.50 (about 55 cents each). made for an easy and reasonable priced party food that arrived at the party sans 2. we had to try as soon as we got to the car.
The parking in this tiny lot is horrible… try to find parking on the residential street. It is definitely cash only so come prepared. The guy at the counter does speak English. which can be a godsend when you’re in this ethnic part of San Diego.
Daymn they were good. Would recommend and return for the egg rolls. Didn’t try anything else there. but I hear that the egg rolls are pretty much their key featured item.

Got the pork meatloaf sandwich, spring roll, 2 egg rolls, and 2 iced coffee, all ~$ 16.
Spring roll is not bad, we got the one with the shrimp paste and an fried egg roll in it. I still like it better at phở ban mai, though it’s $$.
egg rolls: the filling is tasty, the exterior looked liked they’ve been dipped into something because it’s not smooth like those egg rolls that looked more like the traditional ones, which they also sell. These are fresh because they go through’em like toilet paper! I was there for a good 30 minutes, and there were about 2 – 3 people who picked up party sized trays of these. I also saw through their door their assembly line for «the making of …» good stuff.
the sandwich was shared, with the pickles, jalapeño, mayo, and meatloaf, it is pretty good.
ice coffee: very intense coffee if you slurp through it in 15 minutes: it’s got lots of ice but I wish it melted so it thins down the coffee, I had to add a bit of water when I brought it home.

Á Châu is an almost-​cafeteria, a cozy, somewhat friendly hole-​in-​the-​wall serving Vietnamese foods that I don’t understand.
Of course, my ignorance is my failing. And I don’t judge Á Châu’s owners poorly for catering to their countrymen. I get it. On Sundays, when I was a kid, I’d tag along with my dad to the «Arabic store,» to buy treats, supplies and spices for my Teta’s kitchen, and we’d chat with friends and have a meal while we were there. Ethnic communities need these niches, as much for the meeting places they provide as for the foods they sell.
So I go in, squeezing a ten dollar bill, appreciative and respectful of Á Châu’s place and purpose. I wait to order, peering through the steam table’s glass at the day’s offerings, wishing the place offered a flyer or an instructional video. Sometimes I luck out and find an English-​speaking customer who’ll translate for me as I make inquiries. My Vietnamese friends are rightfully proud of their food culture, and have always been willing to help.
Á Châu’s line moves fast, and I don’t want to hold up the show, so I ponder, then panic, then order what I know… plus some egg rolls, because they’re the best egg rolls I’ve ever eaten. (They’re so good, in fact, that when I eat across the parking lot at Minh Ky, I stop at Á Châu first to pick up egg rolls, ’cause Minh Ky doesn’t make them. And I take a couple extra to the owner’s wife, as a bribe and offering.)
At Á Châu, I’ve enjoyed egg rolls, spring rolls, luscious fried chicken and shrimp, pork and shrimp banh mi and gallons of Vietnamese iced coffee with sweet milk. I always leave full and happy with my choices, but that steam table provokes me. Like a bluffed-​out gambler, like the guy who didn’t ask the gorgeous girl to dance, I always know as I drive away that I’ve left something good behind, because I wouldn’t take a chance.
So what’s stopping me? I’m a fairly intrepid eater, but I like information before I jump in. I never want to offend the cook or my fellow diners by reacting unpleasantly to something I’ve popped into my mouth. My introduction to durian taught me that prior knowledge is a key to civil behavior. I’ve also had the experience of really liking a food, but because I didn’t ask what it was, never tasting it again.
I haven’t given up. I hit Á Châu a couple of times a month, walking in hungry, curious (from the Latin, «curiosus,» meaning «careful») and clueless. I ask my questions. And one day, I’ll eat something new and wonderful; I just don’t know yet what it’s called.

Nestled away in the heart of City Heights you will find A-​Chau which is the home of some of the best egg rolls ever. No seriously the hype is all true. Not sure exactly what kind of mystery meat or ingredients they put into these tiny rolls of deliciousness. Maybe they sprinkle a little crack on them because you can’t just have one. They leave you craving for more.
They also have some darn good Banh mi sandwiches that are no joke. The bbq pork is my favorite and I believe it’s #8 on the menu.
Cash only. Not the best neighborhood but who cares. Parking can be scarce but be patient. It’s worth it.