Nguyen’s Vietnamese Cuisine & Sushi Bar

We had dined here a few times when it first opened and weren’t that impressed, but glad we decided to give it another try because we had a delicious meal!!! The servers were super friendly and the sushi chef was also very pleasant and talkative to us (we sat at the sushi bar). I ordered the Chicken Phở ($ 12) and was so happily pleased! The portion was huge and the broth was just so flavorful and tasty! The chicken was moist and juicy and everything about it was spot on. My husband ordered salmon sashimi ($ 5) and tuna sashimi ($ 5) and the fish was sliced long and thin, very fresh looking. He also ordered the Maki’s Sumo Roll ($ 12), which was tuna, salmon, white tuna, kanikama, cream cheese and avocado, tempura battered and deep fried, smothered in a variety of sauces. Talk about an interesting and flavorful roll! In fact, there are probably about 30 rolls on the menu and all sound quite delicious. If I could have, I would have liked to try them all (Im not joking!) Overall, we were very pleased with our meal and will be back for sure!

I used to frequent Maki in Peabody until I learned this was Makis sister restaurant. They’re both great but I prefer Nguyens. Somehow the food is tastier, the service immeasurably better and the ambiance a little warmer. Plus I never have to wait for a seat — which for them will hopefully change once the secrets out. The sushi is always top-​notch and super fresh, the phở is so yummily comforting and you really can’t go wrong with any selections in between! You can’t go wrong with this one! You’re welcome.

I brought my friend here to really try sidi for the first time. Really nice, clean atmosphere in a great location. Sushi was very fresh. We tried the crab ragoon, spider, beef, and spicy tuna. I thought the spicy tuna was missing something but overall I’d definitely come back and try more of their specials.

What a gem. Stopped by while passing through town, thanks to Unilocal.
Reviews are right on the money. Spicey Tuna roll reminded me of ones I’ve had in Tokyo. Seaweed salad was fresh and tasty. Nice house Pinot Grigio. Fast, very attentive service. Japanese music in background is a nice touch.

For Phở soups TWO THUMBS DOWN. I am not one to write negative reviews, but in this case, I have to share my opinion about the Phở. This was the worst Phở broth, I’ve had. I love Phở soups and have eaten at many different Phở restaraunts all over the country but by far, this broth was horrible. The best way to describe the broth is– hot water, with a spoonful of nutmeg, cinnamon, and all spice (just thrown in). When I told the waitress, she agreed she doesn’t eat it there and goes somewhere else! Then tried explaining to me that, they make the soup «that way» for the area. To cater to the older, richer, «white» people who don’t know the taste of authentic Phở (winking at me in the process). That comment and the Phở, lost my business completely.
But for those who will still venture here, the sushi is okay and the dry vermicelli noodles with spring rolls was not bad at all, just do NOT get the Phở and if you do, please share your thoughts. I understand we all have various tasting palates but this was just really bad. If you want some good phở broth in that area, drive 5 mins down the street to Phở Mihn Ky, you can compare the two! For all Phở lovers, this is not the one!

My Compliments to the chef — our food was superb — AGAIN! So glad we finally discovered this GEM. The food is so fresh and the flavors are beautifully combined. A lovely restaurant with professional service. My only complaint is that they were too popular tonight! Our server Veronica was a rockstar but it was obviously a busy night and she was hustling to keep up. Sad to see her berated by another table — shame on them. That said I never saw her lose her composure and will gladly return. This was my third visit in ten days — can’t wait to sample another dish from the chef :)

A friend told me this place was good so I finally try it out. I totally regretted it. Why? We waited more than half an hour for a bowl of phở. When it finally came out it tasted nothing like phở and it was overpriced. $ 12 for a small bowl of phở. Not only that I was overcharged when the bill came. This place deserves 1 star and that one star goes to the waitress because she was nice. Other than that nothing about this place is worth trying.

Great Vietnamese food with a relaxed dining room. The folks that work here are extremely pleasant.

Second visit to neighborhood restaurant, relatively new to Swampscott. Repeat of the first visit in our estimation, very good service, food, beverage and desert prices add up to our easily returning again as well as bringing friends.

Got a Groupon for the place and tried it out. GREAT SERVICE! Our waitress was very attentive and friendly, she even had the kitchen split a plate for us.
The food was okay — calamari appetizer wasn’t that good. Sushi is made with brown rice only and was okay for me. The chicken rice plate was pretty good though!
Will go again for the chicken and rice plate.
They accept credit cards but that night the credit card machine wasn’t working. We had to go to an atm machine nearby.

My boyfriend and I decided to try this place after we had found a groupon for it. Before initially going here, we decided to look for reviews. There were many mixed reviews, both good, bad, and in between. We decided to go anyways and the place was give or take average. We were seated immediately upon arrival and the waitress was attentive. WARNING do not try this place if you want authentic Vietnamese food as they are a fusion restaurant. After looking through the menu, my boyfriend and I got the sunset roll which was a nice twist to the average sushi roll (which are ALL made with brown rice and non substitutable), a Philadelphia roll, fried calamari which is not battered, and steak carpaccio. Food was different but delicious, but the price is higher than average.

Bought a groupon for this restaurant. Always heard good things, but had never tried. Read through each and every piece of fine print on the groupon to *make sure* takeout was an option as this is what we wanted. Called them up, ordered takeout, and then they flatout refused to let us use the groupon. Said «Take the time to read the fine print» Which I did, and it didn’t mention takeout in any way. Dissapointing as their food looks quite good. Sorry.

Our new favorite place! Great food, atmosphere, & staff. Phở Vegetarian had my man without words, he was so happy! Tender sushi for me, how I learned to enjoy it. The staff, including an owner who spends 12 hours making each of the Phở broths, were great, personable, & professional. We ordered extra for our movie-​at-​home tonight. Thanks!

First timer last night and will definitely plan on going back. The service, surroundings, and food was absolutely amazing.
It was my husband’s and mine first time trying sushi. Our server, Felisha, was more than helpful but more importantly, very patient with explaining the menu items for us.
She had recommended the swampscott roll and the firecracker roll. Both extremely tasty!
Great job Nguyen’s! I look forward to exploring more sushi options and the entrée menu!

We went because we had a Group On. Will definitely be back. Nice upscale yet casual restaurant with cloth tablecloths, comfy chairs, very attentive, friendly waitstaff.
The food was delicious. I ordered the Bún Thit Nuong and the pork was unbelievable. It came with portion of a crispy egg roll on top. I do not as a rule like egg rolls but this was so good, I would come back just for them. My husband had the sirloin Phở and said it was delicious; he really liked the two sauces that came with it.. I would have like to try the desserts because they looked great but was way too full. Portions are extremely ample.
The restaurant was pretty empty when we went; I hope they are doing well because I really want to go back.
I think this is a welcome addition to the Swampscott restaurant world.

My wife and I went here using a Groupon for $ 30 of food for $ 15, and were very excited to try the place based on a few previous reviews.
The restaurant’s ambiance was wonderful, servers were friendly, but the most important part of ANY restaurant (the food) lacked a lot to be desired.
We started with the fresh Summer Rolls. They were just OK. The rolls were elegantly presented, but lacked any real flavor. They used Cilantro instead of Thai Basil, which is a shame.
The Lemongrass Chicken had nice flavor, but the chicken was extremely dry. Honestly, it was difficult to eat.
The sirloin Phở was not impressive at all. Phở is a dish that is lovingly cooked for hours, which typically shows in the broth. This Phở was a joke. It lacked complexity, although again, it was nicely presented.
I understand this is a fusion restaurant, and we admittedly did not try the sushi, but that’s not what we came for.
The only service issue we had was that a refill opportunity was missed, but that seems to be the norm at most places in Massachusetts.
Unfortunately, we will not be returning. When we want Vietnamese food, we’ll go to Phở Paris in Peabody.

The lemongrass chicken is really good. Its light and flavorful and the portion is spot on. The staff was extremely friendly and efficient. The atmosphere and interior are nice — white tablecloths give a classy but casual vibe.
I am disappointed with the overall menu. I get that they are doing vietnamese and japanese but I guess I’m just used to vietnamese menus having multiple bun, phở and com dia options. Also, the prices on some of the dishes are a little price gouge-​y. I am open to the idea that the menu and pricing are likely linked to their core demographic.
One other warning — when you order a stir-​fry dish for takeout, they put the entrée on top of the rice in the same container. This causes all the juices/​sauce to be absorbed by the rice. They really should keep them separate so that it serves the same either 10 minutes or one hour after you pick it up.

Vietnamese cuisine with a sleek, seaside ambiance characterizes this newer Swampscott restaurant. Our experience was very good, and I’m pleased to see more South Asian cuisine on the North Shore culinary palate.
Built in a former bank, the owners crafted an interior with robust evening-​style décor. Plush black leather seats? Check. White table cloths and windows with views of downtown and the ocean? Check. It’s all easily accessible with ample parking in it’s own lot — not an easy thing to find in downtown Swampscott.
We ordered the Firecracker roll, a seaweed salad, lemongrass chicken and the BBQ pork. More than enough for two people plus leftovers. The Firecracker roll had a nice flavor complexity with crunch shrimp tempura, avocado, shrimp, crab and jalapeño for an extra kick. Really fresh and delicious. The seaweed salad was standard but good. Lemongrass chicken and the BBQ were good, too — though it all could’ve done with less of the flavorless white rice and vermicelli noodles crowding the dishes. Don’t be afraid to ask for more spices or sauces to liven up your dish if necessary.
Overall, this was very good. I look forward to going again when I’m back in the area.

No! Ick! Ew!
No Vietnamese person I know would eat what I was served tonight. The gigantic torn apart Summer Rolls were horrendous on their own, but then add a gelatinous peanut sauce and I’m done! Wet whole-​leaf romaine lettuce (about 4 whole pieces per roll and sticking out 2 inches at the end), watery over cooked noodles, a long slice of pork that tasted like shoe… No!
California Rolls, blah!
The waitress was extremely nice, and it is a very comfortable and pleasant atmosphere. But the food has to be edible and authentic, and it was neither.
Get some help with the food or you’ll never make it in little Swampscott.

My fiancé and I were in the area so we decided to stop by for some phở or some viet food for lunch before another blizzard hit Boston.
Pulled into their parking lot, and one thing I noticed from looking at the restaurant through their large window walls, was that it looked a like a non-​typically fancy looking Vietnamese place.
Soon as we walked in, we were greeted by a very friendly employee and escorted us to a window seat. The interior/​seating area was very nice, upscale vibe. And soon after our server brought us some warm tea. Btw, worth noting, I really enjoyed the tea. (maybe it was cold outside~ regardless the tea tasted great)
One thing as other people mentioned, I was surprised by the pricing structure, but figure it’s worth trying out. Was in the mood for phở noodles but~ at $ 10+ dollars sorta wanted to try something else. So I decided to have the pork rice dish, and my fiancé had the pork vermicelli.
When we got our food, we excitedly started our lunch. The difference between the two dishes is that one has rice, some veggies, and pork. The Vermicelli dish, and noodles, some veggies, pork AND fried spring rolls. The spring rolls were pretty awesome, with that sauce we got on the side. The BBQ pork was cooked, and charred nicely and tasted great. The rice I had was fluffy and the veggies/​sauce was good compliment to it.
We did run into an issue with our meal, but management was fantastic and made our lunch experience notable enough to write up a review.
CLIFF: Great staff, service was great, really enjoyed their complementary tea, the pork dishes were cooked/​charred just right, food tasted great. Would definitely stop by again to try the phở next time, to compare it, maybe some sushi as well.