Vast and empty when we were there the service was excellent because we were the only diners. There were five of us that had gathered for a business lunch and the setting could not have been more accommodating. In fact, it verges on elegant even though the prices are quite reasonable. Someone ordered for me since I was late and I dined on the Le-Han Vegan which was excellent. I came with mushrooms, glass noodles, cabbage, carrots, snow-peas and some other ingredients that I could not identify but were tasty and natural (a flower bud for example). I would recommend this for both casual and business dining.
(4)
Noel D.
Sorry but it was gross. This was my second time at Cafe Trang. First time was with my boyfriend about 6 months ago. The food was just OK and definitely overpriced for what we got. Nothing really stood out in my mind about it. I decided to give it another try today as it is close to my job. I ordered take-out, the lunch special. I was told I got rice, 2 sides, and soup. The rice was overdone and COLD and the eggdrop soup had soggy canned vegetables in it! For sides, I got honey glaze pork, which was the only edible thing. It was just OK. And the part of the meal that earned this review the 1 star was the lemongrass chicken. It seriously tasted like it was left in soapy dirty dish water. I am pretty sure that chicken was spoiled. As soon as I smelled it I wanted to gag. I took one bite and was DONE. Sorry, but I gave this place the benefit of the doubt. I am officially never going here. BLECCHHH!
I came to Cafe Trang around a year or two ago, but things have taken a disappointing turn. 1 - The atmosphere of the restaurant is disgusting; looking at the lamps hanging above the tables ruins my appetite. So much dust above and under the tables, it was as if I was eating off the floor. 2 - The service was quite poor; the server would come, mistake our order then not understand what we were saying -- I'm not hating on foreign people because I am a foreign person myself however if they server is unable to communicate with the consumer, that is a problem. 3 - Price to food ratio; I've ordered the Spiced Chicken, and terrible quality and very little portions came out -- I ended up paying ~$10 for couple pieces of chicken that were terribly burnt. TLDR: The place is not air conditioned meaning if you are totally okay with dining poor quality food for a lot of money in a steaming room, this is the place. For people interested in trying out Vietnamese food, I suggest you spend some time traveling to better Vietnamese food joints.
(1)
Michael B.
I very rarely leave a one star review, so that tells you how disappointing this place truly is. I ordered the cashew chicken, Mongolian beef, lettuce wraps, and potstickers. While I understand that I ordered Chinese food at a Vietnamese restaurant, I still expect the food to be of good quality. I've had the same dishes at J Wong's and several other places, some of which were not specifically Chinese restaurants. The lettuce wraps were the worst I've ever had and that was the best part of this meal. The Mongolian beef had some sort of weird smell when I opened the container and it tasted like that smell. All the vegetables in the cashew chicken were definitely canned or frozen, and they were mushy and gross. I'm not sure how a place like this has three locations, but I will never go there again. Sorry Cafe Trang, but you need to seriously up your game.
(1)
Tina S.
What can I say about Cafe Trang other than TRY IT! GO! JUST DO IT! This place is clean, well staffed and delicious! Came for a private event and was not disappointed. It is locally owned and operated and this helps so much when it comes to Asian cuisine. I love the fresh taste and friendly staff. I love the family style of eating and will be back soon!
(5)
Caden W.
Everything we ordered was completely lackluster. The meat seemed to be low quality as well. Very slow service, and not the most considerate. Overall, a disappointing experience.
(2)
Slugger M.
I am very happy to say that the Vegan Chicken Broccoli is back!!! Along with Vegetarian Pho! I had given up on this place, then last night I met my family here for dinner and was ecstatic to find that things are back to normal. It was just as amazing as I remembered. My wife got the Vegetarian Pho and was also excited. Cheers Cafe Trang, nice work! We'll be seeing you again soon.
(4)
T.J. S.
Went here for the Chinese new year celebration. While this was an invite only celebration, I just wanted to take a minute to comment on the food. I have never eaten more authentic and flavorful Asian inspired food in my life. Since coming here I have been trying to make the chicken wraps at home, but they just can't compare to what I ate here. My wife and I will be back, as often as we can! I will add more to this review after I have had a chance to try more of the menu items!
(5)
Ron R.
Ate lunch here today. We have driven past many times saying "we should eat there and see how the food is." Bad decision! We should have eaten here sooner! The food was very tasty and reasonably priced. Serving size required that we asked for takeout boxes. One meal could have easily fed both of us. We will certainly eat here again.
(3)
Miss J.
Don't waste your money here! I rarely say this so y'all know I really mean it!! I was hoping for a bowl of the Saigon Tamarind Catfish soup to nurse my cold. "No, we don't have catfish." I'm the only one in the restaurant mind you. So fine, rather no catfish then get served spoiled catfish. How'bout the Thai hot & sour soup? It was pathetic! Shrimp w/ floating canned baby corn. Broth was sweet, not spicy hot & not sour. I asked to see the menu & pointed out that there should be straw mushrooms. She looked confused. Asked if they had run out of those too. She said "Yes, maybe." And that was it! No "I'm sorry" or "Let me check". Didn't want to bitch but I should've bitched about it. Asked her how big the portion was the salt & pepper calamari. "I don't know", she replied. At this point I didn't not want to spend another penny at this place. Can't believe I ate some of that gawd-awful soup though. She actually stopped by to ask how I was doing (very brave of her knowing well I was not impressed!). Told her it wasn't good. She said ok then walked away. Then she brought me the bill. WTF! Should have had my cup a noodle in my hotel room instead of paying $13 for floating shrimp & baby corn. I believe they're aware of how bad they are and just don't give a shit. One star for nice decor for a Vietnamese restaurant. Oh how I miss Tamarind Tree in Seattle!!
(1)
Brad B.
Walnut shrimp was good, and the chicken salad we had was good too. The generals chicken was pretty good, all in all it's probably better than most Chinese you might get in the area, but from what I've had that isn't really saying much.
(3)
Neha S.
Good flavorful pho...but the atmosphere is very gloomy... They have good lunch specials..
(3)
Michael P.
Worst food I have ever eaten. Will never go there again. I know they have a few rave reviews, and many awards in the past but my vegetables were obviously frozen and my meat barely edible. I sincerely hope they can return to that prior level of quality that once earned them accolades they were deserving of. In my opinion, they are nowhere close to that level today! I would advise them to 'step it up' if they want to stay in business!
(1)
Josh W.
I hate to leave a bad review, or any review really, but I would feel worse for not making my experience known. I ate at CT with someone last night. We arrived and were seated promptly in what I think is a really nicely decorated space. The room was cold, but we had our jackets with us so no big deal. They also had a TV on playing a murder investigation on some news channel - not super ideal for eating, but whatever. We waited about 10 minutes before getting the attention of one of 3 servers we saw for water. There was only one other table in the restaurant with two people - they had finished their meals and were just chatting. Another 10 minutes passed, we flagged down a different server who took our order. What I wanted wasn't an option even though the menu said it was, and his suggestion was boring (wanted tofu sweet and sour, suggested tofu and broccoli). We waited about 10 minutes for food but only one of us got our plate. Another few minutes later and I got mine. My food was absolutely inedible. It was plastic in texture and the sauce was bitter and rancid tasting. I ordered the General Tsao's with tofu instead of meat. My partner's food was poor but he got through most of it. I only had about 3 bites of mine and I'm usually not much of a picky eater. When the server finally came back over 20 minutes later, we had long since run out of water and were more than ready to leave. He did not ask how the food was even though mine was 90% untouched. He gave us a bill and closed it out immediately. I left just a 10% tip for the first time in my life and it wasn't enjoyable for me to do so. After leaving, we went for a walk around the block, and to see if we could fare better at Finca, which we did. My partner started having a hard time breathing within minutes of finishing his food and we were trying to just get some air. I felt sick and pretty rotten after the horrible service, bad news on TV, and 'food'. Needless to say we won't be back. The last time I had CT it was in the old location on West Temple or Main I believe. That was awesome... this was not. Horrible service, bad setting for enjoying food, menu not available as presented, and food that simply wasn't up to par with my already low standards. Epic fail, and I'm sorry to have to report that.
(1)
Jennifer G.
Came here for the vietnamese iced coffee and it wasn't as good as I thought it would be. It tasted more chocolately and earthy. I was expecting the more,smooth condense milk and coffee flavor.
(2)
Lisa M.
My husband and I thought we would try it. We drive by the building all the time. I've never tried Vietnamese food. I had a pho dish that was suggested by the waiter. I t was very flavorful and satisfying! The place only had 3 other couples eating there on a Saturday night. The service was good. Lol
(3)
Brian M.
I'd rather eat rotten Panda Express. It would taste better than this place. Disgusting, putrescent, vile. The chicken is squishy.
(1)
Tina S.
I realize that this is a Vietnamese food restaurant, but if they can't do a good job of making sweet and sour chicken then, for heaven's sake, take if off the menu. I went there with my entire family to celebrate a birthday yesterday and at least half of us, so that's four out of eight, did not like our food. Let me tell you about the sweet and sour chicken. First of all, the sauce tasted exactly like the sauce that comes in the little take-out packets so that was especially disappointing. They just poured some pre-made, really awful sauce on top of the chicken. And the chicken itself was not in small pieces that were individually battered and deep-fried like is the standard way to do it. No, the chicken was in big pieces that were battered, fried and then cut into strips. The batter used was awful, did not taste right, fell right off the chicken when I cut it. On the underside of the batter there was this layer of fat that was kind of disgusting. Also, the batter was over-fried on some of the outer edges to the point of not being edible. I had to leave it on the plate. The chicken itself was hard to cut and dry. It was by far the worst sweet and sour chicken I have ever had in my entire life and I am 56 years old and that is one of my favorite dishes. I order it often and have never had a problem like this before anywhere else. I found Cafe Trang to be overpriced and the food is awful. The place is pretty and I guess that's what you are paying for if you go there. That's the only good thing I can say about it and also the fact that the wait staff was attentive and kept our water glasses full. Still, I won't ever be going there again. My daughter, whose birthday we were celebrating, was quite disappointed with her food, too. I will probably be taking her out to dinner again somewhere else to make up for this dinner disaster.
I actually think the food is pretty good. But the last two times I've gone during business hours, the place is inexplicably closed, so I don't recommend the place.
(2)
Kassi M.
Sorry to do this but I have been coming here for over a year now with coworkers for lunch. I have ordered vegetarian pho 90% of the time and today, the server tells me they don't have vegetarian pho. That all their soups are made with chicken broth. I'm offended that no one has told me that prior. So there's that cool story.
(1)
Brian B.
I enjoyed the lettuce wraps, although more meat and less noodles would have made them better--and I typically eat very little meat. My first attempt at a pho left me wondering why people rave about it so much. Large portion but just an onion broth soup with some noodles and meat cutlets. I wasn't too impressed but I am not sure if it is a cafe trang problem or just personal preference. As I try pho somewhere else, I will know for sure. I tried a bite of my dad's lemon chicken, which was pretty good but seemed heavily sweet. Overall, cafe trang was decent; although I wouldn't get the pho again if I return.
(3)
Lina T.
Someone told me they missed my reviews and I apologize. Being away at Disney for a while and coming home I think I'm still missing Orlando a bit too much. So this will be my first review in a long time! Just last week I flew into Salt Lake City for my baby brothers graduation. He lives right in the city so everything is sort of walking distance. A plus is that he lives in the free zone of the subway station. Not sure I can call it a subway when it's kind of more like a bart. I didn't mind the walking but my parents aren't as young as the little broski and me. It was a good half hour walk from the church to this location. Salt Lake City is pretty quiet and empty on a Sunday so the walk was enjoyable. My parents got to do a bit of sightseeing. My brother said this was the only Asian cuisine in the city that he would dare go to. Upon arriving the place was pretty dead. Being that there was two occupied tables already. My brother had forewarned us that the staff didn't speak Vietnamese. Being seated we were offered water and our menus. Putting in our drink orders they left us to look over the menu. Their menu was pretty big but each section had at most four to five dishes. I opted for the clear glass noodle soup and a ice sweet green tea. However, by the time I had received my entree my drink hadn't been brought out yet. They got my brother and moms beverages but forgot my dad's and mine. Reminding them again they came back with my dads, but mine was still no where to be seen. After reminding the waiter yet again, they sent the man who brought out our food to tell me that all they had was the hot green tea and I could add sugar into it. This was what got me a little peeved. They didn't bother to bring a beverage out to me after that. Nor did they ask if I would like to choose something else. So I just stuck with the water that was brought out to us in the beginning. The soup was pretty fresh, but my goodness, someone needs to slice that meat a bit thinner. The cut was way too thick to bite into easily. It took some work to just break the meat and even longer to chew it. Other than that it's not a bad place. My parents were mentioning that it was better than the restaurants we had back home and I had to agree. Another thing was being as dead as it was in the restaurant, the co-owners had a table where they knew the customer. So the whole time during our meal we could hear their conversations loud and clear which kind of killed the mood for the family luncheon. Other than that I think I would definitely return the next time I'm in town. From my brothers apartment it's only a 10 minute walk.
(4)
Martha M.
what has happened to Cafe Trang? It was once grand, beautiful and felt like a real city restaurant. went there on a weeknight, it was totally empty. service was awful, the waitress didn't understand English. i mean, when we asked for a fork or a napkin, she didnt understand those words. Food was OK but not the same as years ago. i recommemd skipping the location and drive to Murray at Cafe Trang on State Street. the Murray location is fabulous and wonderful. the downtown restaurant seems to be suffering.
(2)
D D.
Got the signature dish - Trang Chicken Curry. The chicken and the curry were very nice. Great flavor, chicken was beautiful. However, it was served with bamboo, potatoes and carrots - and the bamboo pieces were VERY VERY chewy and stringy. I couldn't even eat them. Not sure if they were not ripe yet, or if they were the ends of the plant, or what. But they were inedible, not fit to be served.
(3)
Nate S.
I first boarded the Trang a loooong time ago, back when it was stationed on 800 S. and Main. I don't think I just grew out of it. I'm afraid it has just grown old. The food has lost energy and the restaurant feels weary when you're there. My last visit included vegetarian spring rolls and the pho lunch special. The spring rolls contained noodles, carrots, and lettuce. That was it. No basil, no mint, no sprouts, no possible reason to charge $5 for two. The pho had no options for meat or tripe or tendon, and it was basically beef broth. I sure would like to see one last gasp of enthusiasm out of Trang. It needs an overhaul. The new location is great, but the business just won't last if it stays the same while the competition grows.
(2)
Anjel D.
Everything is so sweet. Why? It's like they poured sugar on all the dishes. It's really not authentic Vietnamese food. It's def americanised. The waitress was very nice.
(1)
Steve F.
In town for a short while. Very happy to find Vietnamese so close by my hotel. Cafe Trang is open on Sunday's which is a plus. I wouldn't really agree the pricing is one star. More like two stars. The pho Ha Noi I got was over $9 (!) but it was very good - full of meat. The spring rolls were okay. The peanut dipping sauce was a little mucilaginous for me. The pho saved the day, though.
(4)
A S.
Awful. Hot & sour soup was ok. Chicken salad had nice fresh mint & cilantro but the chicken was some kind of fatty, cheap institutional stuff with a spongy undercooked texture, we sent it back asking if they could cook the chicken more, I think they thought we just wanted it warmed. The Shaking beef was ok but the sauce was a little syrupy. The red curry was inedible, same gross chicken, the curry was salty (!?) and watery and barely room temperature. We were starving and so excited to try Trang again, but it was just disappointing. The glasses and silverware were kind of dirty too.
(1)
Brigham W.
Great place, good atmosphere. The help dresses in authentic clothing. Food was very good we had the Phone and Crispy chow mein, and we started with the lettuce wraps which were some of the best I have ever had.
(4)
Nandini C.
We ate here on Christmas Day, 2013 - this was the only place near Gateway that was open on that day ! Food was good. Service was pretty fast.
(4)
H Y.
The food here is my ok, nothing to rave about. The service is a bit better than your typical Asian restaurants. I won't return since there are better Vietnamese restaurants around.
(2)
Mata S.
Mediocre food, over priced and the service not so good. This was my second time at this restaurant and the first visit I was also disappointed about both the quality and price. This time I ordered a seafood noodle soup, 1/3 of the seafood (fake crab) was a little rotten. The waitress was surprised but did not offer any compensation, or apologies. She seemed more interested in her Iphone then her customers. No reason for me to come back to this restaurant.
(2)
Kyle K.
Yum! Unique Asian food, focused on Vietnamese, with some dishes you can't just get any-ol-where. I had this fun special noodle dish, with charred wide rice noodles as the base, with tons of meat in a savory dark sauce on top. As the wife said, it is what would happen if you invite noodles to a barbecue. Charred tasting and awesome. (Wish the sauce had a bit more zing). The wife had a deep fried lemongrass tofu dish in which the tofu came out looking a little like angelfood cake-- but delicious. As the wife said, she wouldn't know how to start recreating it at home. I'd avoid the vegetarian fresh spring rolls -- they're big with crispy veggies, but there's no flavor there. We did love the spicy/savory/touch of sweet dipping sauce, though. They have a 2 for $20 deal, "all day, every day" sharing an app, 2 soups, and 2 entrees. Wish we would have seen that before we ordered, as food that quality for that cheap would have been out of this world. We'll be back.
(4)
Kris B.
We stumbled upon this cute place when we got tired of walking to the Gateway shopping mall from the convention center. The nice convention people said it was only two blocks. They lied. It was cold, we were hungry, and there was Cafe Trang! They have a great lunch combo $7.99 which gets you a cup of soup (Hot & Sour really hit the spot), rice and the choice of two items. I had the Lemongrass Chicken and the Thai Basil Beef. Definitely on the spicier side but it warmed me up! We also shared some potstickers (6 for $6.75). I would recommend this great little place - it actually IS within walking distance of the convention center. Trust me!
(4)
Kelie H.
This is total comfort food to me. I love Cafe Trang and I'm not sure why they get bagged on so much. I think they serve great food, the service is always so incredibly gracious, and their prices are low. I often get their lunch specials, which is a ton of food at little cost. I love their hot and sour soup to start off with. It's the perfect blend of sour and spicy. I like the Thai basil beef but beware, it's pretty spicy. The caramel chicken is ok, but not my favorite. The lemongrass chicken is delicious but I don't taste any lemongrass flavor, just a heads up. Aside from the specials, they actually make a pretty mean pho. It's not easy to find on their enormous menu and it's labeled as noodle soup, but it's there. Great broth, tender meat and all the proper toppings. Anyway, enough with the love fest. I've eaten at Cafe trang dozens of times and have never left unhappy.
(5)
Randal S.
I can't say that the food wasn't good, because it was. It just wasn't the kind of place that I leave knowing I'm going to be back someday. The Lemon Chicken was my favorite dish I had. All the other dishes were probably not quite as good as I have had elsewhere. Overall the experience was fine and the service was up to snuff.
(3)
Jean W.
For me, Cafe Trang is Aaawesome with a capital bitchin', and I'll tell you why. First, the sheer variety at this place is impressive! It's been my favorite for cooked Asian food for years, because you can get really anything you're in the mood for. They took a brief exit into sushi-land at this downtown location, and actually it wasn't bad. It was shortlived, however. But that's not important right now. They offer Vietnamese, Chinese, and Thai, utilizing consistently delicious and inspirational recipes, some of which I may or may not admit to regularly attempting to duplicate at home. We know their menu very well, so we typically play Menu Roulette, and order something different each time. But one staple on our Trang agenda remains the same every visit...their fresh spring rolls. For right or wrong, I tend to judge restaurants offering fresh spring rolls by them, and Trang is my absolute favorite. The spring rolls are divine, and large, and come with the most splendid peanut sauce. A big bottle of Sriracha lives on the table so you can add your own spice! Nice! Some of my favorite Trang menu items are Red Pepper and Lemongrass Chicken (my go-to when undecided), Sugared Shrimp Skewers, Caramel Pork Chops, Walnut Shrimp, Hot & Sour Soup (unlike I've had it anywhere else), and Panaeng Curry with Chicken. They serve up some mean claypot dishes, as well. If you're in the mood for savory ambrosia, try any one of their claypot offerings...catfish, sweet pork, and seafood combo are all simply amazing. I'm not a vegetarian (yet), but have many friends who are, and they love Trang's huge selection of vegetarian dishes. They have the largest vegetarian menu I've seen at this type of restaurant. Everything looks fantastic, and I always request a taste of all the vegetarian dishes - yum-ME! Also, just an aside for my fellow green tea drinkers - they serve really really good green tea. As much as you want. We've always had good service at both Trang locations, even though they are arguably a tad slow. Their staff is always friendly and warm, and willing to educate you about their menu if asked. Haven't tried the new locations in Murray and Park City yet, but looking forward to doing so. Words to Live By: Any Trang is better than No Trang, Any Day.
(5)
Anne Marie S.
I can't even remember what i ordered except for it was soo salty.. too salty. It was some noodleIngredients with chicken or shrimp. There was no one else in the joint when I arrived (around dinner time). Should have taken a clue from that. I won't write them off that quickly, i will swing by again. Maybe they were having an off nite.
(3)
Hoa T.
This is one of my first restaurants in SLC. The menu is pretty extensive with some hard to find items like Fondue With Vinegar. However, I have to say that taste wise it's subpar. I did order the Fondue with Vinegar and was disappointed that they did not use the traditional sauce that typically accompany this dish. It just does not taste right otherwise. I will try this place again and see. Hopefully they will be better.
(3)
M. F.
We have always been fans, but last Saturday we decided that though the food is excellent, we will not eat in a dirty restaurant. Very disappointed.
(1)
Kumi F.
Loved their Beef Hue which is a spicy hot noodle dish. The broth is well seasoned and it's just the right amount of spiciness. If you prefer a spicier version of Pho this is a perfect choice for you.
I will likely never eat here again. The egg flower soup was good, albeit cold. The wontons and pot stickers were also good and brought out promptly. However, our drinks were only refilled once - after we ha asked for our check. Our waitress kept disappearing and we had to ask for the check from another waiter. And the chicken Lo Mein entree was very cold with an al dente consistency for the noodles. I couldn't stomach more than two bites. Save your money and the trip and choose somewhere else to enjoy your night because this place wasn't worth it.
(2)
K H.
Walked from a nearby hotel. Food was so good, I ordered another dish for carry out for the next day. Amazing vegetarian options. I'll be back everytime I'm in SLC.
(5)
Heidi D.
My first introduction to vietnamese food. And I am a fan! Love the super huge menu, love ordering unique things that have warming pots and such. Still the best vietnamese coffee I've had (I order it wherever I find it now). I went to the new one in sandy area last visit. Not the same. I like good food. I don't need the frilly yuppy atmosphere, give me a mom and pot with amazing food and new things to taste!! Love this place!!! (ps, the sandy location had super yummy food too, I just missed the larger menu and the home feel).
(5)
I. R.
Great food, friendly service. Tried their Pho (combination beef), calamari, spring rolls, potstickers. I really enjoyed the Pho after a wintry day of snowboarding. One issue I had is I ordered spring rolls thinking they would be the crispy fried kind. Apparently those are called "eggrolls" and what I got were the steamed kind with shrimp. Tasty, but where I'm from every Viet restaurants calls the crispy ones spring rolls and the steamed ones summer rolls.
(5)
John H.
Why this staple of Asian restaurants is deserted on a Friday night is a mystery, but to your advantage if you want to avoid a long wait and excessively noisy surrounds at the local staple of Mexican cuisine.
(4)
William A.
Very, very average and definitely over priced. Perhaps I was expecting too much out of Vietnamese food in Salt Lake City. Portion sizes were quite small and the food was very bland. I have Vietnamese food at one of three tremendous little Vietnamese restaurants at home in Chandler, AZ at least once a week so good Pho and other Vietnamese dishes are high on my taste list. Not sure I will visit this place again if an alternative can be found in SLC.
(2)
Paul V.
I was surprised to find a Vietnamese restaurant here in SLC. The space was huge, decor Asian like (big surprise). I did like the chairs and tables they were using. The food was decent here. The beef was probably the best dish, the pho was alright. I did like the broth, but I felt they should've added more meat to the bowl. DO NOT ORDER THE BUN BO HUE HERE. It is not good at all and I would say taste NOTHING like it. The thing I must say is that service was amazing. They came to us and gave us accurate and fair assessment of their food. The best part was when I ordered the Bun Bo Hue (the waiter's hesitation and description of the food should've warned me not to do it). I just could not eat it. They were willing to swap it out with a bowl of pho for no charge for me. I was a lot happier with that. If I was in the area and hankering for some pho, I'd stop by here (only because I haven't seen any other pho restaurants around) but nothing to write home about. I understand the population is predominantly white and they cater the food accordingly, but coming from LA, I've definitely had better.
(3)
Cori L.
This is a fantastic place. They have a little food truck version that visits the University of Utah campus and I love to pay them a visit at least once a week. First of all the food is fast, the employees are friendly and the prices are great. I usually get there lemongrass chicken on rice which will fill you up but only cost you $5. I highly reccommend skipping all the other on campus food places and checking out this truck across from the library.
(5)
Char L.
When in SLC, you gotta adjust your expectations accordingly. The food's good, but definitely a bit pricier than what you can expect to find in other cities with a Vietnamese population. The shaken beef dish was probably the most I've ever paid for Vietnamese food! Pho broth was good with depth, but the bowl was tiny and the price was high. They also served sushi and I must say it didn't look very appetizing when they came with our order. Seems like Asian restaurants must go with menu items from multiple countries and cultures to be successful here.
(3)
Steve E.
Enjoyed a pleasant lunch this afternoon. My Pho was fine (I like mine with a little more star anise flavor, but the beef broth was still flavorful). My wife enjoyed the Thai Beef Salad and my parents had their favorite, the Vietnamese Saigon Vermicelli Noodles. The service was fine.
(4)
Mary N.
Love Cafe trang= thefood is always so good and their menu is more managable now with 10 pages as opposed to 32. Still a ton to choose from and everything was great. their noodle salad (vietnamese bun) are always so good. Their potstickers are perfectly spicy and my husband got the salt and pepper fried shrimp and raved. Great stuff. The reason 4 stars instead of 5 was the wait staff was a bit passive. We were a big group and wanted to order family style. The food server only took orders from about half the group... she's polite, we're loud and boisterous. Could be worse for sure. (Another kind of great point is that we were a group of 12 on Friday night and they took us in quickly... kind of not great, because this place should be busier, it's so good.) so, go there.
(4)
Tina M.
I must respond to James D.'s statement "not another "I'm from LA so I expect better" reviews. Newsflash: Been to LA and the food is not that good." before I start. I must correct you. If you notice all the LA based reviewers of these Asian restuarants I've been flipping through in Salt Lake's Yelp are all... *asian*... and they've all been to all sorts of Mom and Pop's in Little Saigon. While I generally agree with you, LA food is bad--it is just Westerners/White people food. Ruth's Chris, Spagos, etc... all those chains and celebrity restaurants (with the exception of Nobu and Uresawa I hear) are generally pretty bad. Where you haven't gone, I'm sure, is the ghetto minority neighborhoods where the food is excellent. Case in point? Little Saigon in Westminster and Garden Grove. 30,000 Vietnamese packed into like a two-three mile square not to mention the rest of the Vietnamese in Los Angeles in general--LA has the biggest population of Vietnamese people outside of Vietnam (Wikipedia states San Jose, but that is only because they are using proper city divisions--LA is divided into many smaller cities. I count them together because people generally do make the drive all over LA and Orange county--I've made the 3.5 hour traffic-ridden drive from UCLA to the OC just for some legit Nem Nuong). 100,000 expats can't be wrong. Little Saigon has this little 8x8 large city block area crammed with restaurants which are excellent. Most tourists don't know about it or don't go there. Similarly there are certain parts of LA where you can get great Mexican food and Thai food. (There are Japanese, and Ethiopian but I've had better in other cities--Korean I still haven't eaten enough of to judge--only AYCE KBBQ.) In short, these people have a point as they are probably 2nd generation (in my case, my mother is Viet--left VN when she was 30 couple years after Saigon fell, my dad was White--moulded me into a foodie, lol.) Enough of a mini rant, onto my review. The decor and service were really nice. *Highly* unusual for an Asian-run restaurant. I give them many props for that. The decor and ambiance was a little eclectic but warm. They were on top of my drinks and they repeatedly asked me how my meal was. The family just exuded so much niceness--I thought that it was really sweet. They seemed really caring. The coffee was good, as usual. Nothing particularly special about Viet coffee anyway other than it's dark roast and strength. The cha gio (egg rolls) I'm confused about. The inside was good but then I started not liking it after it got cold. I noticed there were no jicama pieces (I hate jicama--one of the Viet trends I abhor)... but there might have been tiny pieces ground in. I think that might have been what I was tasting. They had nice crisp woodears and the veggies and noodles inside were prepared well. The portion was pretty generous for $6. There were no herbs served with it but that is forgivable (I usually don't eat it the traditional way). The paper they used was interesting. It was kind of cross between chinese paper that most asian people use for their egg rolls and the traditional, hardened rice paper that are also used for non-fried spring rolls/summer rolls. I liked it at first but I found as I ate it more, it took on a sort of sourdough bread flavor (?). I also had the Pho Ha Noi. This is the second place I've been to that had a cloudy broth. It tastes a bit different. How the cloudiness arises I'm not sure (not skimming?). It has a sort of full winter soup taste when cloudy (like Hakata Ramen which uses cloudy pork broth). It may have a tad bit of pork in there, not sure--that or the onions are left in long. I notice that when you cook it and you let them mush a bit, it gets a bit cloudier. I have to disagree with one of the reviewers that it doesn't include bone. My mom's pho is kind of awful and she also doesn't use bone. The juice becomes like water. Theirs was not watery. It lacked the complexity found in other pho's that I've tasted but it was still pretty good. I appreciated that the noodles were not sticky (again worst place for pho ever = Noodle Planet in Westwood, CA). The meat I wasn't too crazy about. It was a bit plain and of medium quality. Other places have a more meaty burst of flavor (but that might be due to MSG or the addition of fish sauce, don't know lol) but here it's a tad flat. All the veg were cut right. Generally everything was in order. Service = 5 stars. Decor = 5 stars Food = 3 stars. Total = 4.3 but I'll round up because I was amazed at the good service.
(5)
Constant C.
Cafe Trang has been a favorite spot of mine for years. When I lived in SLC I ate here at least 3x's a week. 190 with peanut sauce. One day I walked in and there were new chairs and uniforms, and my dish price had increased. No problem, it was clear where the money was going. The place got nicer and the food stayed great. That was the original location on State Street. Now they have moved downtown and there is no 190 on the menu. Luckily the waiter had been there so long he knew what I wanted. Sadly, the food was nowhere near as good as it used to be. The fried tofu did not even resemble the original dish that was so outstanding. It's pretty, but the food is now mediocre. They do know better and can do better. I hold on to my memory of amazing food at the old, original Trang. Before the pretty chairs.
(2)
Sara R.
Excellent bowl of Pho! If you're like me, you'll want to be sure to ask for extra Sriracha since they give you a dish of it, not the whole bottle. :)
(3)
Kevin M.
This place practically introduced me to Vietnamese food. One of my favorite restaurants!!! Normally frequented for take-out but have eaten there a few times in the dinning room. My mouth waters as I write this. EXCELLENT place!!!
Invited here for lunch by a couple of coworkers, we walked over just before noon. Most of the tables were already taken but we were greeted and seated quickly. They have an extensive menu selection ranging from Vietnamese to Thai and Chinese. They also offer a lunch special menu with many items under $8. A fan of Vietnamese noodle salads I ordered the Saigon Salad with grilled pork and egg rolls and a Thai tea. I have to say that this is the best grilled pork I have had in a Vietnamese restaurant, the char from the grill and the fresh taste of lemongrass were tasty on these tender, thin slices of pork. The sauce was just super flavorful with the right amount of heat/spiciness and the vegetables were super fresh (especially the bean sprouts...yum) and noodles were cooked well. The only thing I was missing was the sprigs of fresh cilantro, mint and basil that often tossed in with this type of salad. The portions themselves are generous and priced about right (although I have been to Vietnamese places where the same will run $1-$2 less). Thai tea and Saigon Salad, just under $13 before tip and after taxes.
(3)
Chris G.
We went here because it was close to our hotel and had good reviews. But it was a mistake. The lemon chicken was overly breaded and greasy. The Szechuan chicken tasted strange. The pot stickers were decent and the service was good however. But I wouldn't return.
(2)
Jeffrey C.
Food was great. The hot and sour soup was a bit too salty, but everything else was wonderful. The Pho Noodle soup was amazing with a wonderful blend of flavors that was not over-powerful or too spicy. The service was wonderful and the prices were fair. I would highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Robert T.
Took the advise of the front desk guy at my hotel and checked this place out. Got takeout. This was some pretty good food. I originally wanted the green papaya salad and some sort of vegetable dish. I got the Szechuan Vegetable & Tofu. Was an assortment of vegetables and soft tofu in a spicy garlic sauce. Was tasty. They were out of the green papaya, so I got the chicken larb instead. The larb was well seasoned, not overpowering with onions, and was served with lettuce. I didn't have any problems cleaning the plate of this before digging in to the vegetables. I would recommend this place. They do need to update their website, as they have a location still listed that is not opened (West Valley City).
(4)
Andy K.
Bun Bo hue - good Pho - aight Catfish - dry and overcooked
(3)
Ken C.
Went here for dinner on a blustery night. It was quiet which made us nervous but the service was great and the food even better! We had curry dishes which were very delicious and extremely plentiful. We got our son sweet and sour chicken - it was delicious! The breading was incredibly light and fresh. The ambiance was kind of groovy. We would definitely go back again!
(4)
Wayne W.
Holy wow, found my SLC Vietnamese place! I tried the chow mien combo take out tonight. Called it in, walked from my hotel, and it was already ready in about five minutes. The food was excellent even though it was laden with green peas. Fortunately you couldn't taste them. Great food for the money, less than $11. I'll be back once a week.
(5)
Tatiana D.
I LOVE Cafe Trang. Always fresh, made from scratch dishes with lots of herbs, spice and unique flavors. I take everyone here and no matter what gets ordered we always enjoy it! Service is great, atmosphere is beautiful! The only thing we have ever had a problem with, out of all the dishes we have tried there, is the potatos in the yellowo curry. Both times we got it they were bad! ~T
(4)
Sonia J.
Just noticed for the first time that apparently I submitted my review 1.5 years ago to the wrong address of this Cafe Trang - whoops! So here's my review for the right place. I don't go as often as I used to but the review still applies. I would probably give Cafe Trang 4.5 stars if possible but since it's not I'd rather 5 than 4.. Atmosphere: Very nice, especially the gorgeous dresses that the waittresses wear. The wait staff is very friendly & attentive. Price: Seems like a good value for what you get - average prices are probably $9-$12 per dinner. Food: I've tried many things on the menu - I'd estimate about 15 different things as we've been there 20+ times I'd guess and I often tried something different. I love asian food but I'm not necessarily very picky about it so the fact that I like this restaurant a lot doesn't necessarily mean too much. However, my boyfriend, who is an ex-marine and spent a lot of time in asian countries, is VERY picky and he really likes the food at Cafe Trang. One item he has ordered many times is the shaking beef cubes so I would recommend that (it's under the signature dishes).
(5)
Jim H.
When is a menu too big? Once you take your seat, settle in for a good read. Select from dozens of options spanning the Vietnamese, Thai and traditional Chinese cuisines you all know and love. Try the House Special Noodle. It's incredible. Fresh Spring Rolls, Pho, noodles, hot pots. Too much goodness for any one restaurant. Standard service, and slightly above average pricing. Soups! Eat their soup!
(4)
Carissa M.
Loved the red curry, but sweet and sour chicken and spring rolls not that great. Menu a little hard to navigate - definitely pan-Asian food choices. I am not dying to go back, but if I wanted sit down Asian food and was downtown I might try it again...
(3)
Susan C.
Please don't take my 3-star rating to mean that the food isn't good. It is, but I adjust my expectations when I travel to a place that doesn't have a large asian population. I'm from LA, the Vietnamese population is significant and there are plenty of choices. I ate here last year on Christmas day because it was the ONLY thing open that day. Thank God! I will never again let myself be in SLC on Christmas. NOTHING was open, that was probably my bad for going to a mormon city on Christmas. We were greeted warmly and the food fed our starving bellies. This year I had to return for the snow and Sundance Film Festival and made another stop at Cafe Trang. Food still decent and the service is friendly and helpful. Nothing spectacular but nothing disappointing except the prices - kinda expensive for Vietnamese but how many vietnamese restaurants could there be in SLC?
(3)
David F.
I am done with Cafe Trang. It seems they are on the way out. The beef salad did not have enough vegetables. The chicken curry was off tasting - sort of petroleum jelly flavored.
(2)
Mike M.
One word. "meh" Actually worst than meh. The space is decent but the food is below average. Came here twice and both times were pretty lame. First time I had Sweet and Sour Chicken which is a popular enough dish that you pretty much can't get it wrong. They try to make it fancy by slicing your chicken over rice but it just doesn't work. Very bland flavors. If you're paying higher prices, you probably should be getting better quality than take out. My hot and sour soup was inedible. It was so salty, it tasted like I was drinking Kikkoman from the bottle. I had to get the waiter and told him to go back into the kitchen to taste the soup because it was too salty. I didn't ask for money or credit, just to tell him so that he wouldn't lose customers. The second time I went I had General Tso's chicken. Another popular dish that you can't get wrong. The flavors were just wrong. Chicken wasn't juicy. Again over salted. Again overpriced. If it were priced correctly, I still don't think I'd revisit this restaurant. I'm confused by the people that gave this place 5 stars. They must have very limited palates or is tasting chinese food for the first time or just doesn't care. To those, I highly suggest you try chinese food outside of Utah then come back and see if you still give this place 5 stars ...
(1)
Andrea Y.
I shared beef vermicelli noodles, chicken curry and fresh spring rolls. It was all super tasty. Granted, I was seriously hungry, but I think this is the kind of meal that's pleasurable no matter what kind of mood I'm in. The service was speedy and the came by often to check on us. Red Iguana had a 30 minute wait, so we came to Cafe Trang. No wait and good food. Can't beat that when you're hungry!
(4)
Steve M.
Ate here twice in two days, but I should probably mention I'm a Pho addict. Also, it was very convenient for me, as I was staying around the corner. There are only two choices of Pho on the menu, and I had the Han Noi both times I was there. Normally, the msg content in Pho is overwhelming, but the soup here didn't seem to have msg, and it was really good. Spendy compared to what I'm used to paying for pho, but worth it considering how good it was. The restaruant was nice and clean, and the staff was friendly. Guess I should have tried an alternate menu item, but the pho was calling my name... Eat on, Americans!
(4)
James D.
I give this place a 5 though it may be closer to 4.5. At least this is not another "I'm from LA so I expect better" reviews. Newsflash: Been to LA and the food is not that good. Anyway for Vietnamese food in Salt Lake City this is top notch. My favorite dish is on the Specialty section of the menu. It is the beef cubes called Sha king beef I believe. The service is excellent, the staff is very friendly and the menu is extensive and very good. So go enjoy it.
(5)
Rafael C.
I am writing this review from my memory about 20 years ago-historic Cafe Trang. This is the place where I had my first pho and I have had difficulty finding pho elsewhere that matched my first taste of pho in Salt Lake City. Their fried springrolls are the best I had in America.
(5)
Jamie P.
Don't waste your time ... Food was luke warm .,nasty
(1)
Kate R.
I ordered a soup on the menu for $8.95, and was charged $9.95. When I told my server, she brushed me off and said the menu listed the wrong price and I was still charged the higher price. Their service blows. The food is good, but expensive for what it is. Also, beware vegetarians - even if you specifically order something vegetarian, you have to double check that they give you the vegetarian version.
(2)
Brad A.
I don't know whether this is the same place that is reviewed at 818 S Main St, but I have been to the Cafe Trang on 200S twice now on business meetings, and both times I have been very pleased by the food and have to recommend it to everyone. The atmosphere is great - its decor is very colorful and tasteful, and almost trendy. Service is also quite friendly. The menu is great. Lots of selections, many of which were very tempting. Both things I've gotten (a beef dish with vegetables, and a lunch special with Thai basil beef and lemongrass chicken) were delicious. Can't say much about the prices - compared to California they were very good, but that's the case with everything in Utah, I noticed. When in SLC, I'll be heading to Cafe Trang for my Asian fix.
(4)
Jiayu C.
A good place for a simple business lunch or dinner. Very reasonable quality with a low price. The food is good Vietnamese with some Chinese influnces.
(4)
Vanessa S.
I happened to be in downtown SLC during Sunday at noon for a meeting -- NOT a good time to find open restaurants here. I'm also vegetarian, and a cheese sandwich was not going to cut it. Luckily Cafe Trang was one of the few restaurants open on a Sunday afternoon. Because business everywhere is slow this time of day, my food was ready almost immediately after I ordered it. It was also very delicious and reasonably priced. I had the La-han Vegan and would definitely visit this restaurant again.
(4)
Ryan H.
The place looks like a total dump, I think it used to be a Perkins or a Jack-in-the-box or something but the food was absolutely fresh and phenomenal! And actually the interior decor was nice. It's kind of unfair to give them a 4 instead of a 5, here's why. The food was great, the server was very friendly, the service was fast - we were even there like 10 minutes before closing and they were totally cool about it. We got a grilled pork dish with rice noodles and fresh greens and a spicy steak dish with tons of peppers and onions. Both were amazingly fresh and flavorful - I mean truly delicious, I really wanted more when I was done. The ONLY thing that bugged me and really it's not a big deal, but they wouldn't substitute the rice on the steak dish for more veggies. Seems like a pretty easy swap, but they wouldn't do it for me. It was still really good as it was with no rice or extra veggies. I'd totally go and order it again. Is that enough of a reason to drop a star, you decide...
(4)
J J.
We ate here with a group of people. Some of the group didn't like Vietnamese food and others weren't too thrilled about Chinese. The nice thing about this restaurant, is they had a little bit of everything. Everyone found something to eat and everyone seemed happy with their food.
(4)
K P.
The vermicelli noodle salad is super. Be sure to ask for extra cilantro or other herbs on the side to make it even better. Very friendly staff and nice looking restaurant.
(4)
thi t.
Food was okay as I am from LA so had much better, however, it's Utah so not too many Vietnamese choices. Dishes were small and it's pricey for what you get. The owner was nice, very friendly. The mango fish, was fishy for me, but the mango was good. The curry stir fried beef was all right, but was missing some flavor. Overall, if I have other choices, I will not come back.
(3)
JaNae C.
First time for our family. The server was extremely helpful and attentive and helpful without being bothersome. They were so accommodating, serving the Pho and 4 other entrees family style so we could all try a little of everything. We started with the calamari for the appetizer and it was cooked perfectly. The Pho was absolutely delicious. All four of the entrees we ordered were each utterly extraordinary. The Vietnamese Shaking Beef Cubes were the biggest hit of the evening. Beef cubes cooked rare but very tender with onions in a sauce to die for. But the Caramel Pork was only an extremely close second for all of us. Again, a lot of onions, but prepared excellently The Thai Tofu Pineapple Curry could not have been spiced more perfectly (a slow starting smolder, but not so spicy that it was distressing) nor could the tofu been cooked any better. A winner to be sure. The Hot Wok Noodles (House Special) was, as the others, a delight for the palate. Each dish was complex in the depth of their flavors and truly offered a feast that was memorable in all the best possible ways. We will be returning often!
(5)
Chad G.
Really good food for a good price. 2 for $20 is a great deal with appetizer, soup, and an entree. Pho beef noodle soup is great on a cold day.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
Dan H.
Vast and empty when we were there the service was excellent because we were the only diners. There were five of us that had gathered for a business lunch and the setting could not have been more accommodating. In fact, it verges on elegant even though the prices are quite reasonable. Someone ordered for me since I was late and I dined on the Le-Han Vegan which was excellent. I came with mushrooms, glass noodles, cabbage, carrots, snow-peas and some other ingredients that I could not identify but were tasty and natural (a flower bud for example). I would recommend this for both casual and business dining.
(4)Noel D.
Sorry but it was gross. This was my second time at Cafe Trang. First time was with my boyfriend about 6 months ago. The food was just OK and definitely overpriced for what we got. Nothing really stood out in my mind about it. I decided to give it another try today as it is close to my job. I ordered take-out, the lunch special. I was told I got rice, 2 sides, and soup. The rice was overdone and COLD and the eggdrop soup had soggy canned vegetables in it! For sides, I got honey glaze pork, which was the only edible thing. It was just OK. And the part of the meal that earned this review the 1 star was the lemongrass chicken. It seriously tasted like it was left in soapy dirty dish water. I am pretty sure that chicken was spoiled. As soon as I smelled it I wanted to gag. I took one bite and was DONE. Sorry, but I gave this place the benefit of the doubt. I am officially never going here. BLECCHHH!
(1)Adrian R.
I went to lunch at Café Trang today. I didn't have that much time during my lunch... I guess I made a mistake. The wait time seemed like forever... They seemed like very short staff, but I think that's how they usually run the business. So I would suggest anyone who goes should not be lunch hours! On the other hand, the food is simply amazing!!! I had the chicken curry and it was so good even it was quite spicy. Anyhow, certainly it is a good Asian restaurant. I totally would love to try the noodle soup next time.
(3)Jaehyun H.
I came to Cafe Trang around a year or two ago, but things have taken a disappointing turn. 1 - The atmosphere of the restaurant is disgusting; looking at the lamps hanging above the tables ruins my appetite. So much dust above and under the tables, it was as if I was eating off the floor. 2 - The service was quite poor; the server would come, mistake our order then not understand what we were saying -- I'm not hating on foreign people because I am a foreign person myself however if they server is unable to communicate with the consumer, that is a problem. 3 - Price to food ratio; I've ordered the Spiced Chicken, and terrible quality and very little portions came out -- I ended up paying ~$10 for couple pieces of chicken that were terribly burnt. TLDR: The place is not air conditioned meaning if you are totally okay with dining poor quality food for a lot of money in a steaming room, this is the place. For people interested in trying out Vietnamese food, I suggest you spend some time traveling to better Vietnamese food joints.
(1)Michael B.
I very rarely leave a one star review, so that tells you how disappointing this place truly is. I ordered the cashew chicken, Mongolian beef, lettuce wraps, and potstickers. While I understand that I ordered Chinese food at a Vietnamese restaurant, I still expect the food to be of good quality. I've had the same dishes at J Wong's and several other places, some of which were not specifically Chinese restaurants. The lettuce wraps were the worst I've ever had and that was the best part of this meal. The Mongolian beef had some sort of weird smell when I opened the container and it tasted like that smell. All the vegetables in the cashew chicken were definitely canned or frozen, and they were mushy and gross. I'm not sure how a place like this has three locations, but I will never go there again. Sorry Cafe Trang, but you need to seriously up your game.
(1)Tina S.
What can I say about Cafe Trang other than TRY IT! GO! JUST DO IT! This place is clean, well staffed and delicious! Came for a private event and was not disappointed. It is locally owned and operated and this helps so much when it comes to Asian cuisine. I love the fresh taste and friendly staff. I love the family style of eating and will be back soon!
(5)Caden W.
Everything we ordered was completely lackluster. The meat seemed to be low quality as well. Very slow service, and not the most considerate. Overall, a disappointing experience.
(2)Slugger M.
I am very happy to say that the Vegan Chicken Broccoli is back!!! Along with Vegetarian Pho! I had given up on this place, then last night I met my family here for dinner and was ecstatic to find that things are back to normal. It was just as amazing as I remembered. My wife got the Vegetarian Pho and was also excited. Cheers Cafe Trang, nice work! We'll be seeing you again soon.
(4)T.J. S.
Went here for the Chinese new year celebration. While this was an invite only celebration, I just wanted to take a minute to comment on the food. I have never eaten more authentic and flavorful Asian inspired food in my life. Since coming here I have been trying to make the chicken wraps at home, but they just can't compare to what I ate here. My wife and I will be back, as often as we can! I will add more to this review after I have had a chance to try more of the menu items!
(5)Ron R.
Ate lunch here today. We have driven past many times saying "we should eat there and see how the food is." Bad decision! We should have eaten here sooner! The food was very tasty and reasonably priced. Serving size required that we asked for takeout boxes. One meal could have easily fed both of us. We will certainly eat here again.
(3)Miss J.
Don't waste your money here! I rarely say this so y'all know I really mean it!! I was hoping for a bowl of the Saigon Tamarind Catfish soup to nurse my cold. "No, we don't have catfish." I'm the only one in the restaurant mind you. So fine, rather no catfish then get served spoiled catfish. How'bout the Thai hot & sour soup? It was pathetic! Shrimp w/ floating canned baby corn. Broth was sweet, not spicy hot & not sour. I asked to see the menu & pointed out that there should be straw mushrooms. She looked confused. Asked if they had run out of those too. She said "Yes, maybe." And that was it! No "I'm sorry" or "Let me check". Didn't want to bitch but I should've bitched about it. Asked her how big the portion was the salt & pepper calamari. "I don't know", she replied. At this point I didn't not want to spend another penny at this place. Can't believe I ate some of that gawd-awful soup though. She actually stopped by to ask how I was doing (very brave of her knowing well I was not impressed!). Told her it wasn't good. She said ok then walked away. Then she brought me the bill. WTF! Should have had my cup a noodle in my hotel room instead of paying $13 for floating shrimp & baby corn. I believe they're aware of how bad they are and just don't give a shit. One star for nice decor for a Vietnamese restaurant. Oh how I miss Tamarind Tree in Seattle!!
(1)Brad B.
Walnut shrimp was good, and the chicken salad we had was good too. The generals chicken was pretty good, all in all it's probably better than most Chinese you might get in the area, but from what I've had that isn't really saying much.
(3)Neha S.
Good flavorful pho...but the atmosphere is very gloomy... They have good lunch specials..
(3)Michael P.
Worst food I have ever eaten. Will never go there again. I know they have a few rave reviews, and many awards in the past but my vegetables were obviously frozen and my meat barely edible. I sincerely hope they can return to that prior level of quality that once earned them accolades they were deserving of. In my opinion, they are nowhere close to that level today! I would advise them to 'step it up' if they want to stay in business!
(1)Josh W.
I hate to leave a bad review, or any review really, but I would feel worse for not making my experience known. I ate at CT with someone last night. We arrived and were seated promptly in what I think is a really nicely decorated space. The room was cold, but we had our jackets with us so no big deal. They also had a TV on playing a murder investigation on some news channel - not super ideal for eating, but whatever. We waited about 10 minutes before getting the attention of one of 3 servers we saw for water. There was only one other table in the restaurant with two people - they had finished their meals and were just chatting. Another 10 minutes passed, we flagged down a different server who took our order. What I wanted wasn't an option even though the menu said it was, and his suggestion was boring (wanted tofu sweet and sour, suggested tofu and broccoli). We waited about 10 minutes for food but only one of us got our plate. Another few minutes later and I got mine. My food was absolutely inedible. It was plastic in texture and the sauce was bitter and rancid tasting. I ordered the General Tsao's with tofu instead of meat. My partner's food was poor but he got through most of it. I only had about 3 bites of mine and I'm usually not much of a picky eater. When the server finally came back over 20 minutes later, we had long since run out of water and were more than ready to leave. He did not ask how the food was even though mine was 90% untouched. He gave us a bill and closed it out immediately. I left just a 10% tip for the first time in my life and it wasn't enjoyable for me to do so. After leaving, we went for a walk around the block, and to see if we could fare better at Finca, which we did. My partner started having a hard time breathing within minutes of finishing his food and we were trying to just get some air. I felt sick and pretty rotten after the horrible service, bad news on TV, and 'food'. Needless to say we won't be back. The last time I had CT it was in the old location on West Temple or Main I believe. That was awesome... this was not. Horrible service, bad setting for enjoying food, menu not available as presented, and food that simply wasn't up to par with my already low standards. Epic fail, and I'm sorry to have to report that.
(1)Jennifer G.
Came here for the vietnamese iced coffee and it wasn't as good as I thought it would be. It tasted more chocolately and earthy. I was expecting the more,smooth condense milk and coffee flavor.
(2)Lisa M.
My husband and I thought we would try it. We drive by the building all the time. I've never tried Vietnamese food. I had a pho dish that was suggested by the waiter. I t was very flavorful and satisfying! The place only had 3 other couples eating there on a Saturday night. The service was good. Lol
(3)Brian M.
I'd rather eat rotten Panda Express. It would taste better than this place. Disgusting, putrescent, vile. The chicken is squishy.
(1)Tina S.
I realize that this is a Vietnamese food restaurant, but if they can't do a good job of making sweet and sour chicken then, for heaven's sake, take if off the menu. I went there with my entire family to celebrate a birthday yesterday and at least half of us, so that's four out of eight, did not like our food. Let me tell you about the sweet and sour chicken. First of all, the sauce tasted exactly like the sauce that comes in the little take-out packets so that was especially disappointing. They just poured some pre-made, really awful sauce on top of the chicken. And the chicken itself was not in small pieces that were individually battered and deep-fried like is the standard way to do it. No, the chicken was in big pieces that were battered, fried and then cut into strips. The batter used was awful, did not taste right, fell right off the chicken when I cut it. On the underside of the batter there was this layer of fat that was kind of disgusting. Also, the batter was over-fried on some of the outer edges to the point of not being edible. I had to leave it on the plate. The chicken itself was hard to cut and dry. It was by far the worst sweet and sour chicken I have ever had in my entire life and I am 56 years old and that is one of my favorite dishes. I order it often and have never had a problem like this before anywhere else. I found Cafe Trang to be overpriced and the food is awful. The place is pretty and I guess that's what you are paying for if you go there. That's the only good thing I can say about it and also the fact that the wait staff was attentive and kept our water glasses full. Still, I won't ever be going there again. My daughter, whose birthday we were celebrating, was quite disappointed with her food, too. I will probably be taking her out to dinner again somewhere else to make up for this dinner disaster.
(1)Niki V.
Tried Café Trang for lunch and enjoyed the Ha-Noi Pho. Love the broth with lots of proteins. My husband had the Saigon Vermicelli Noodle... pretty tasty. We were a little disappointed with the summer rolls. A bit pricey for two rolls with just lettuce, noodles and thinly slice shrimps. Very friendly staff... overall a good experience.
(4)Dan B.
I actually think the food is pretty good. But the last two times I've gone during business hours, the place is inexplicably closed, so I don't recommend the place.
(2)Kassi M.
Sorry to do this but I have been coming here for over a year now with coworkers for lunch. I have ordered vegetarian pho 90% of the time and today, the server tells me they don't have vegetarian pho. That all their soups are made with chicken broth. I'm offended that no one has told me that prior. So there's that cool story.
(1)Brian B.
I enjoyed the lettuce wraps, although more meat and less noodles would have made them better--and I typically eat very little meat. My first attempt at a pho left me wondering why people rave about it so much. Large portion but just an onion broth soup with some noodles and meat cutlets. I wasn't too impressed but I am not sure if it is a cafe trang problem or just personal preference. As I try pho somewhere else, I will know for sure. I tried a bite of my dad's lemon chicken, which was pretty good but seemed heavily sweet. Overall, cafe trang was decent; although I wouldn't get the pho again if I return.
(3)Lina T.
Someone told me they missed my reviews and I apologize. Being away at Disney for a while and coming home I think I'm still missing Orlando a bit too much. So this will be my first review in a long time! Just last week I flew into Salt Lake City for my baby brothers graduation. He lives right in the city so everything is sort of walking distance. A plus is that he lives in the free zone of the subway station. Not sure I can call it a subway when it's kind of more like a bart. I didn't mind the walking but my parents aren't as young as the little broski and me. It was a good half hour walk from the church to this location. Salt Lake City is pretty quiet and empty on a Sunday so the walk was enjoyable. My parents got to do a bit of sightseeing. My brother said this was the only Asian cuisine in the city that he would dare go to. Upon arriving the place was pretty dead. Being that there was two occupied tables already. My brother had forewarned us that the staff didn't speak Vietnamese. Being seated we were offered water and our menus. Putting in our drink orders they left us to look over the menu. Their menu was pretty big but each section had at most four to five dishes. I opted for the clear glass noodle soup and a ice sweet green tea. However, by the time I had received my entree my drink hadn't been brought out yet. They got my brother and moms beverages but forgot my dad's and mine. Reminding them again they came back with my dads, but mine was still no where to be seen. After reminding the waiter yet again, they sent the man who brought out our food to tell me that all they had was the hot green tea and I could add sugar into it. This was what got me a little peeved. They didn't bother to bring a beverage out to me after that. Nor did they ask if I would like to choose something else. So I just stuck with the water that was brought out to us in the beginning. The soup was pretty fresh, but my goodness, someone needs to slice that meat a bit thinner. The cut was way too thick to bite into easily. It took some work to just break the meat and even longer to chew it. Other than that it's not a bad place. My parents were mentioning that it was better than the restaurants we had back home and I had to agree. Another thing was being as dead as it was in the restaurant, the co-owners had a table where they knew the customer. So the whole time during our meal we could hear their conversations loud and clear which kind of killed the mood for the family luncheon. Other than that I think I would definitely return the next time I'm in town. From my brothers apartment it's only a 10 minute walk.
(4)Martha M.
what has happened to Cafe Trang? It was once grand, beautiful and felt like a real city restaurant. went there on a weeknight, it was totally empty. service was awful, the waitress didn't understand English. i mean, when we asked for a fork or a napkin, she didnt understand those words. Food was OK but not the same as years ago. i recommemd skipping the location and drive to Murray at Cafe Trang on State Street. the Murray location is fabulous and wonderful. the downtown restaurant seems to be suffering.
(2)D D.
Got the signature dish - Trang Chicken Curry. The chicken and the curry were very nice. Great flavor, chicken was beautiful. However, it was served with bamboo, potatoes and carrots - and the bamboo pieces were VERY VERY chewy and stringy. I couldn't even eat them. Not sure if they were not ripe yet, or if they were the ends of the plant, or what. But they were inedible, not fit to be served.
(3)Nate S.
I first boarded the Trang a loooong time ago, back when it was stationed on 800 S. and Main. I don't think I just grew out of it. I'm afraid it has just grown old. The food has lost energy and the restaurant feels weary when you're there. My last visit included vegetarian spring rolls and the pho lunch special. The spring rolls contained noodles, carrots, and lettuce. That was it. No basil, no mint, no sprouts, no possible reason to charge $5 for two. The pho had no options for meat or tripe or tendon, and it was basically beef broth. I sure would like to see one last gasp of enthusiasm out of Trang. It needs an overhaul. The new location is great, but the business just won't last if it stays the same while the competition grows.
(2)Anjel D.
Everything is so sweet. Why? It's like they poured sugar on all the dishes. It's really not authentic Vietnamese food. It's def americanised. The waitress was very nice.
(1)Steve F.
In town for a short while. Very happy to find Vietnamese so close by my hotel. Cafe Trang is open on Sunday's which is a plus. I wouldn't really agree the pricing is one star. More like two stars. The pho Ha Noi I got was over $9 (!) but it was very good - full of meat. The spring rolls were okay. The peanut dipping sauce was a little mucilaginous for me. The pho saved the day, though.
(4)A S.
Awful. Hot & sour soup was ok. Chicken salad had nice fresh mint & cilantro but the chicken was some kind of fatty, cheap institutional stuff with a spongy undercooked texture, we sent it back asking if they could cook the chicken more, I think they thought we just wanted it warmed. The Shaking beef was ok but the sauce was a little syrupy. The red curry was inedible, same gross chicken, the curry was salty (!?) and watery and barely room temperature. We were starving and so excited to try Trang again, but it was just disappointing. The glasses and silverware were kind of dirty too.
(1)Brigham W.
Great place, good atmosphere. The help dresses in authentic clothing. Food was very good we had the Phone and Crispy chow mein, and we started with the lettuce wraps which were some of the best I have ever had.
(4)Nandini C.
We ate here on Christmas Day, 2013 - this was the only place near Gateway that was open on that day ! Food was good. Service was pretty fast.
(4)H Y.
The food here is my ok, nothing to rave about. The service is a bit better than your typical Asian restaurants. I won't return since there are better Vietnamese restaurants around.
(2)Mata S.
Mediocre food, over priced and the service not so good. This was my second time at this restaurant and the first visit I was also disappointed about both the quality and price. This time I ordered a seafood noodle soup, 1/3 of the seafood (fake crab) was a little rotten. The waitress was surprised but did not offer any compensation, or apologies. She seemed more interested in her Iphone then her customers. No reason for me to come back to this restaurant.
(2)Kyle K.
Yum! Unique Asian food, focused on Vietnamese, with some dishes you can't just get any-ol-where. I had this fun special noodle dish, with charred wide rice noodles as the base, with tons of meat in a savory dark sauce on top. As the wife said, it is what would happen if you invite noodles to a barbecue. Charred tasting and awesome. (Wish the sauce had a bit more zing). The wife had a deep fried lemongrass tofu dish in which the tofu came out looking a little like angelfood cake-- but delicious. As the wife said, she wouldn't know how to start recreating it at home. I'd avoid the vegetarian fresh spring rolls -- they're big with crispy veggies, but there's no flavor there. We did love the spicy/savory/touch of sweet dipping sauce, though. They have a 2 for $20 deal, "all day, every day" sharing an app, 2 soups, and 2 entrees. Wish we would have seen that before we ordered, as food that quality for that cheap would have been out of this world. We'll be back.
(4)Kris B.
We stumbled upon this cute place when we got tired of walking to the Gateway shopping mall from the convention center. The nice convention people said it was only two blocks. They lied. It was cold, we were hungry, and there was Cafe Trang! They have a great lunch combo $7.99 which gets you a cup of soup (Hot & Sour really hit the spot), rice and the choice of two items. I had the Lemongrass Chicken and the Thai Basil Beef. Definitely on the spicier side but it warmed me up! We also shared some potstickers (6 for $6.75). I would recommend this great little place - it actually IS within walking distance of the convention center. Trust me!
(4)Kelie H.
This is total comfort food to me. I love Cafe Trang and I'm not sure why they get bagged on so much. I think they serve great food, the service is always so incredibly gracious, and their prices are low. I often get their lunch specials, which is a ton of food at little cost. I love their hot and sour soup to start off with. It's the perfect blend of sour and spicy. I like the Thai basil beef but beware, it's pretty spicy. The caramel chicken is ok, but not my favorite. The lemongrass chicken is delicious but I don't taste any lemongrass flavor, just a heads up. Aside from the specials, they actually make a pretty mean pho. It's not easy to find on their enormous menu and it's labeled as noodle soup, but it's there. Great broth, tender meat and all the proper toppings. Anyway, enough with the love fest. I've eaten at Cafe trang dozens of times and have never left unhappy.
(5)Randal S.
I can't say that the food wasn't good, because it was. It just wasn't the kind of place that I leave knowing I'm going to be back someday. The Lemon Chicken was my favorite dish I had. All the other dishes were probably not quite as good as I have had elsewhere. Overall the experience was fine and the service was up to snuff.
(3)Jean W.
For me, Cafe Trang is Aaawesome with a capital bitchin', and I'll tell you why. First, the sheer variety at this place is impressive! It's been my favorite for cooked Asian food for years, because you can get really anything you're in the mood for. They took a brief exit into sushi-land at this downtown location, and actually it wasn't bad. It was shortlived, however. But that's not important right now. They offer Vietnamese, Chinese, and Thai, utilizing consistently delicious and inspirational recipes, some of which I may or may not admit to regularly attempting to duplicate at home. We know their menu very well, so we typically play Menu Roulette, and order something different each time. But one staple on our Trang agenda remains the same every visit...their fresh spring rolls. For right or wrong, I tend to judge restaurants offering fresh spring rolls by them, and Trang is my absolute favorite. The spring rolls are divine, and large, and come with the most splendid peanut sauce. A big bottle of Sriracha lives on the table so you can add your own spice! Nice! Some of my favorite Trang menu items are Red Pepper and Lemongrass Chicken (my go-to when undecided), Sugared Shrimp Skewers, Caramel Pork Chops, Walnut Shrimp, Hot & Sour Soup (unlike I've had it anywhere else), and Panaeng Curry with Chicken. They serve up some mean claypot dishes, as well. If you're in the mood for savory ambrosia, try any one of their claypot offerings...catfish, sweet pork, and seafood combo are all simply amazing. I'm not a vegetarian (yet), but have many friends who are, and they love Trang's huge selection of vegetarian dishes. They have the largest vegetarian menu I've seen at this type of restaurant. Everything looks fantastic, and I always request a taste of all the vegetarian dishes - yum-ME! Also, just an aside for my fellow green tea drinkers - they serve really really good green tea. As much as you want. We've always had good service at both Trang locations, even though they are arguably a tad slow. Their staff is always friendly and warm, and willing to educate you about their menu if asked. Haven't tried the new locations in Murray and Park City yet, but looking forward to doing so. Words to Live By: Any Trang is better than No Trang, Any Day.
(5)Anne Marie S.
I can't even remember what i ordered except for it was soo salty.. too salty. It was some noodleIngredients with chicken or shrimp. There was no one else in the joint when I arrived (around dinner time). Should have taken a clue from that. I won't write them off that quickly, i will swing by again. Maybe they were having an off nite.
(3)Hoa T.
This is one of my first restaurants in SLC. The menu is pretty extensive with some hard to find items like Fondue With Vinegar. However, I have to say that taste wise it's subpar. I did order the Fondue with Vinegar and was disappointed that they did not use the traditional sauce that typically accompany this dish. It just does not taste right otherwise. I will try this place again and see. Hopefully they will be better.
(3)M. F.
We have always been fans, but last Saturday we decided that though the food is excellent, we will not eat in a dirty restaurant. Very disappointed.
(1)Kumi F.
Loved their Beef Hue which is a spicy hot noodle dish. The broth is well seasoned and it's just the right amount of spiciness. If you prefer a spicier version of Pho this is a perfect choice for you.
(4)Todd D.
Is it just me or does using a Yelp check in offer always lead to a drawn out and uncomfortable situation? After this one I think I'm done. I checked in and got the offer for discounted lettuce wraps. Sweet, hey everybody lettuce wraps are on me! Actually what I got wasn't lettuce wraps at all, it was an awkward explanation in broken English about how there are 2 Café Trangs in town and how this location doesn't do check in offers. Okay poorly trained waitress lady, I will actually show you on my Yelp app that we are indeed at the correct Café Trang at which I should be able to redeem this offer. She stuck to her "no lettuce wrap discount for you!" guns so I just canceled the order. The chicken curry entre was very small and only came with a tiny cup of rice, I left as hungry as I went in.
(2)Kira L.
I will likely never eat here again. The egg flower soup was good, albeit cold. The wontons and pot stickers were also good and brought out promptly. However, our drinks were only refilled once - after we ha asked for our check. Our waitress kept disappearing and we had to ask for the check from another waiter. And the chicken Lo Mein entree was very cold with an al dente consistency for the noodles. I couldn't stomach more than two bites. Save your money and the trip and choose somewhere else to enjoy your night because this place wasn't worth it.
(2)K H.
Walked from a nearby hotel. Food was so good, I ordered another dish for carry out for the next day. Amazing vegetarian options. I'll be back everytime I'm in SLC.
(5)Heidi D.
My first introduction to vietnamese food. And I am a fan! Love the super huge menu, love ordering unique things that have warming pots and such. Still the best vietnamese coffee I've had (I order it wherever I find it now). I went to the new one in sandy area last visit. Not the same. I like good food. I don't need the frilly yuppy atmosphere, give me a mom and pot with amazing food and new things to taste!! Love this place!!! (ps, the sandy location had super yummy food too, I just missed the larger menu and the home feel).
(5)I. R.
Great food, friendly service. Tried their Pho (combination beef), calamari, spring rolls, potstickers. I really enjoyed the Pho after a wintry day of snowboarding. One issue I had is I ordered spring rolls thinking they would be the crispy fried kind. Apparently those are called "eggrolls" and what I got were the steamed kind with shrimp. Tasty, but where I'm from every Viet restaurants calls the crispy ones spring rolls and the steamed ones summer rolls.
(5)John H.
Why this staple of Asian restaurants is deserted on a Friday night is a mystery, but to your advantage if you want to avoid a long wait and excessively noisy surrounds at the local staple of Mexican cuisine.
(4)William A.
Very, very average and definitely over priced. Perhaps I was expecting too much out of Vietnamese food in Salt Lake City. Portion sizes were quite small and the food was very bland. I have Vietnamese food at one of three tremendous little Vietnamese restaurants at home in Chandler, AZ at least once a week so good Pho and other Vietnamese dishes are high on my taste list. Not sure I will visit this place again if an alternative can be found in SLC.
(2)Paul V.
I was surprised to find a Vietnamese restaurant here in SLC. The space was huge, decor Asian like (big surprise). I did like the chairs and tables they were using. The food was decent here. The beef was probably the best dish, the pho was alright. I did like the broth, but I felt they should've added more meat to the bowl. DO NOT ORDER THE BUN BO HUE HERE. It is not good at all and I would say taste NOTHING like it. The thing I must say is that service was amazing. They came to us and gave us accurate and fair assessment of their food. The best part was when I ordered the Bun Bo Hue (the waiter's hesitation and description of the food should've warned me not to do it). I just could not eat it. They were willing to swap it out with a bowl of pho for no charge for me. I was a lot happier with that. If I was in the area and hankering for some pho, I'd stop by here (only because I haven't seen any other pho restaurants around) but nothing to write home about. I understand the population is predominantly white and they cater the food accordingly, but coming from LA, I've definitely had better.
(3)Cori L.
This is a fantastic place. They have a little food truck version that visits the University of Utah campus and I love to pay them a visit at least once a week. First of all the food is fast, the employees are friendly and the prices are great. I usually get there lemongrass chicken on rice which will fill you up but only cost you $5. I highly reccommend skipping all the other on campus food places and checking out this truck across from the library.
(5)Char L.
When in SLC, you gotta adjust your expectations accordingly. The food's good, but definitely a bit pricier than what you can expect to find in other cities with a Vietnamese population. The shaken beef dish was probably the most I've ever paid for Vietnamese food! Pho broth was good with depth, but the bowl was tiny and the price was high. They also served sushi and I must say it didn't look very appetizing when they came with our order. Seems like Asian restaurants must go with menu items from multiple countries and cultures to be successful here.
(3)Steve E.
Enjoyed a pleasant lunch this afternoon. My Pho was fine (I like mine with a little more star anise flavor, but the beef broth was still flavorful). My wife enjoyed the Thai Beef Salad and my parents had their favorite, the Vietnamese Saigon Vermicelli Noodles. The service was fine.
(4)Mary N.
Love Cafe trang= thefood is always so good and their menu is more managable now with 10 pages as opposed to 32. Still a ton to choose from and everything was great. their noodle salad (vietnamese bun) are always so good. Their potstickers are perfectly spicy and my husband got the salt and pepper fried shrimp and raved. Great stuff. The reason 4 stars instead of 5 was the wait staff was a bit passive. We were a big group and wanted to order family style. The food server only took orders from about half the group... she's polite, we're loud and boisterous. Could be worse for sure. (Another kind of great point is that we were a group of 12 on Friday night and they took us in quickly... kind of not great, because this place should be busier, it's so good.) so, go there.
(4)Tina M.
I must respond to James D.'s statement "not another "I'm from LA so I expect better" reviews. Newsflash: Been to LA and the food is not that good." before I start. I must correct you. If you notice all the LA based reviewers of these Asian restuarants I've been flipping through in Salt Lake's Yelp are all... *asian*... and they've all been to all sorts of Mom and Pop's in Little Saigon. While I generally agree with you, LA food is bad--it is just Westerners/White people food. Ruth's Chris, Spagos, etc... all those chains and celebrity restaurants (with the exception of Nobu and Uresawa I hear) are generally pretty bad. Where you haven't gone, I'm sure, is the ghetto minority neighborhoods where the food is excellent. Case in point? Little Saigon in Westminster and Garden Grove. 30,000 Vietnamese packed into like a two-three mile square not to mention the rest of the Vietnamese in Los Angeles in general--LA has the biggest population of Vietnamese people outside of Vietnam (Wikipedia states San Jose, but that is only because they are using proper city divisions--LA is divided into many smaller cities. I count them together because people generally do make the drive all over LA and Orange county--I've made the 3.5 hour traffic-ridden drive from UCLA to the OC just for some legit Nem Nuong). 100,000 expats can't be wrong. Little Saigon has this little 8x8 large city block area crammed with restaurants which are excellent. Most tourists don't know about it or don't go there. Similarly there are certain parts of LA where you can get great Mexican food and Thai food. (There are Japanese, and Ethiopian but I've had better in other cities--Korean I still haven't eaten enough of to judge--only AYCE KBBQ.) In short, these people have a point as they are probably 2nd generation (in my case, my mother is Viet--left VN when she was 30 couple years after Saigon fell, my dad was White--moulded me into a foodie, lol.) Enough of a mini rant, onto my review. The decor and service were really nice. *Highly* unusual for an Asian-run restaurant. I give them many props for that. The decor and ambiance was a little eclectic but warm. They were on top of my drinks and they repeatedly asked me how my meal was. The family just exuded so much niceness--I thought that it was really sweet. They seemed really caring. The coffee was good, as usual. Nothing particularly special about Viet coffee anyway other than it's dark roast and strength. The cha gio (egg rolls) I'm confused about. The inside was good but then I started not liking it after it got cold. I noticed there were no jicama pieces (I hate jicama--one of the Viet trends I abhor)... but there might have been tiny pieces ground in. I think that might have been what I was tasting. They had nice crisp woodears and the veggies and noodles inside were prepared well. The portion was pretty generous for $6. There were no herbs served with it but that is forgivable (I usually don't eat it the traditional way). The paper they used was interesting. It was kind of cross between chinese paper that most asian people use for their egg rolls and the traditional, hardened rice paper that are also used for non-fried spring rolls/summer rolls. I liked it at first but I found as I ate it more, it took on a sort of sourdough bread flavor (?). I also had the Pho Ha Noi. This is the second place I've been to that had a cloudy broth. It tastes a bit different. How the cloudiness arises I'm not sure (not skimming?). It has a sort of full winter soup taste when cloudy (like Hakata Ramen which uses cloudy pork broth). It may have a tad bit of pork in there, not sure--that or the onions are left in long. I notice that when you cook it and you let them mush a bit, it gets a bit cloudier. I have to disagree with one of the reviewers that it doesn't include bone. My mom's pho is kind of awful and she also doesn't use bone. The juice becomes like water. Theirs was not watery. It lacked the complexity found in other pho's that I've tasted but it was still pretty good. I appreciated that the noodles were not sticky (again worst place for pho ever = Noodle Planet in Westwood, CA). The meat I wasn't too crazy about. It was a bit plain and of medium quality. Other places have a more meaty burst of flavor (but that might be due to MSG or the addition of fish sauce, don't know lol) but here it's a tad flat. All the veg were cut right. Generally everything was in order. Service = 5 stars. Decor = 5 stars Food = 3 stars. Total = 4.3 but I'll round up because I was amazed at the good service.
(5)Constant C.
Cafe Trang has been a favorite spot of mine for years. When I lived in SLC I ate here at least 3x's a week. 190 with peanut sauce. One day I walked in and there were new chairs and uniforms, and my dish price had increased. No problem, it was clear where the money was going. The place got nicer and the food stayed great. That was the original location on State Street. Now they have moved downtown and there is no 190 on the menu. Luckily the waiter had been there so long he knew what I wanted. Sadly, the food was nowhere near as good as it used to be. The fried tofu did not even resemble the original dish that was so outstanding. It's pretty, but the food is now mediocre. They do know better and can do better. I hold on to my memory of amazing food at the old, original Trang. Before the pretty chairs.
(2)Sara R.
Excellent bowl of Pho! If you're like me, you'll want to be sure to ask for extra Sriracha since they give you a dish of it, not the whole bottle. :)
(3)Kevin M.
This place practically introduced me to Vietnamese food. One of my favorite restaurants!!! Normally frequented for take-out but have eaten there a few times in the dinning room. My mouth waters as I write this. EXCELLENT place!!!
(5)Kamuela M.
Dinner throughout was pretty good, but our experience would have been more pleasant if it wasn't for the poor service. The waiter was nice enough, but there were only three other tables being served, and he couldn't be bothered to refill our water glasses ONCE, even when we ASKED. Cafe Trang's food is on the spicier side, so water is essential! A coffee that was ordered before we ordered our dinner didn't arrive until after we were halfway through our entreés! Inexcusable. Not going back again.
(2)Dolores G.
Invited here for lunch by a couple of coworkers, we walked over just before noon. Most of the tables were already taken but we were greeted and seated quickly. They have an extensive menu selection ranging from Vietnamese to Thai and Chinese. They also offer a lunch special menu with many items under $8. A fan of Vietnamese noodle salads I ordered the Saigon Salad with grilled pork and egg rolls and a Thai tea. I have to say that this is the best grilled pork I have had in a Vietnamese restaurant, the char from the grill and the fresh taste of lemongrass were tasty on these tender, thin slices of pork. The sauce was just super flavorful with the right amount of heat/spiciness and the vegetables were super fresh (especially the bean sprouts...yum) and noodles were cooked well. The only thing I was missing was the sprigs of fresh cilantro, mint and basil that often tossed in with this type of salad. The portions themselves are generous and priced about right (although I have been to Vietnamese places where the same will run $1-$2 less). Thai tea and Saigon Salad, just under $13 before tip and after taxes.
(3)Chris G.
We went here because it was close to our hotel and had good reviews. But it was a mistake. The lemon chicken was overly breaded and greasy. The Szechuan chicken tasted strange. The pot stickers were decent and the service was good however. But I wouldn't return.
(2)Jeffrey C.
Food was great. The hot and sour soup was a bit too salty, but everything else was wonderful. The Pho Noodle soup was amazing with a wonderful blend of flavors that was not over-powerful or too spicy. The service was wonderful and the prices were fair. I would highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Robert T.
Took the advise of the front desk guy at my hotel and checked this place out. Got takeout. This was some pretty good food. I originally wanted the green papaya salad and some sort of vegetable dish. I got the Szechuan Vegetable & Tofu. Was an assortment of vegetables and soft tofu in a spicy garlic sauce. Was tasty. They were out of the green papaya, so I got the chicken larb instead. The larb was well seasoned, not overpowering with onions, and was served with lettuce. I didn't have any problems cleaning the plate of this before digging in to the vegetables. I would recommend this place. They do need to update their website, as they have a location still listed that is not opened (West Valley City).
(4)Andy K.
Bun Bo hue - good Pho - aight Catfish - dry and overcooked
(3)Ken C.
Went here for dinner on a blustery night. It was quiet which made us nervous but the service was great and the food even better! We had curry dishes which were very delicious and extremely plentiful. We got our son sweet and sour chicken - it was delicious! The breading was incredibly light and fresh. The ambiance was kind of groovy. We would definitely go back again!
(4)Wayne W.
Holy wow, found my SLC Vietnamese place! I tried the chow mien combo take out tonight. Called it in, walked from my hotel, and it was already ready in about five minutes. The food was excellent even though it was laden with green peas. Fortunately you couldn't taste them. Great food for the money, less than $11. I'll be back once a week.
(5)Tatiana D.
I LOVE Cafe Trang. Always fresh, made from scratch dishes with lots of herbs, spice and unique flavors. I take everyone here and no matter what gets ordered we always enjoy it! Service is great, atmosphere is beautiful! The only thing we have ever had a problem with, out of all the dishes we have tried there, is the potatos in the yellowo curry. Both times we got it they were bad! ~T
(4)Sonia J.
Just noticed for the first time that apparently I submitted my review 1.5 years ago to the wrong address of this Cafe Trang - whoops! So here's my review for the right place. I don't go as often as I used to but the review still applies. I would probably give Cafe Trang 4.5 stars if possible but since it's not I'd rather 5 than 4.. Atmosphere: Very nice, especially the gorgeous dresses that the waittresses wear. The wait staff is very friendly & attentive. Price: Seems like a good value for what you get - average prices are probably $9-$12 per dinner. Food: I've tried many things on the menu - I'd estimate about 15 different things as we've been there 20+ times I'd guess and I often tried something different. I love asian food but I'm not necessarily very picky about it so the fact that I like this restaurant a lot doesn't necessarily mean too much. However, my boyfriend, who is an ex-marine and spent a lot of time in asian countries, is VERY picky and he really likes the food at Cafe Trang. One item he has ordered many times is the shaking beef cubes so I would recommend that (it's under the signature dishes).
(5)Jim H.
When is a menu too big? Once you take your seat, settle in for a good read. Select from dozens of options spanning the Vietnamese, Thai and traditional Chinese cuisines you all know and love. Try the House Special Noodle. It's incredible. Fresh Spring Rolls, Pho, noodles, hot pots. Too much goodness for any one restaurant. Standard service, and slightly above average pricing. Soups! Eat their soup!
(4)Carissa M.
Loved the red curry, but sweet and sour chicken and spring rolls not that great. Menu a little hard to navigate - definitely pan-Asian food choices. I am not dying to go back, but if I wanted sit down Asian food and was downtown I might try it again...
(3)Susan C.
Please don't take my 3-star rating to mean that the food isn't good. It is, but I adjust my expectations when I travel to a place that doesn't have a large asian population. I'm from LA, the Vietnamese population is significant and there are plenty of choices. I ate here last year on Christmas day because it was the ONLY thing open that day. Thank God! I will never again let myself be in SLC on Christmas. NOTHING was open, that was probably my bad for going to a mormon city on Christmas. We were greeted warmly and the food fed our starving bellies. This year I had to return for the snow and Sundance Film Festival and made another stop at Cafe Trang. Food still decent and the service is friendly and helpful. Nothing spectacular but nothing disappointing except the prices - kinda expensive for Vietnamese but how many vietnamese restaurants could there be in SLC?
(3)David F.
I am done with Cafe Trang. It seems they are on the way out. The beef salad did not have enough vegetables. The chicken curry was off tasting - sort of petroleum jelly flavored.
(2)Mike M.
One word. "meh" Actually worst than meh. The space is decent but the food is below average. Came here twice and both times were pretty lame. First time I had Sweet and Sour Chicken which is a popular enough dish that you pretty much can't get it wrong. They try to make it fancy by slicing your chicken over rice but it just doesn't work. Very bland flavors. If you're paying higher prices, you probably should be getting better quality than take out. My hot and sour soup was inedible. It was so salty, it tasted like I was drinking Kikkoman from the bottle. I had to get the waiter and told him to go back into the kitchen to taste the soup because it was too salty. I didn't ask for money or credit, just to tell him so that he wouldn't lose customers. The second time I went I had General Tso's chicken. Another popular dish that you can't get wrong. The flavors were just wrong. Chicken wasn't juicy. Again over salted. Again overpriced. If it were priced correctly, I still don't think I'd revisit this restaurant. I'm confused by the people that gave this place 5 stars. They must have very limited palates or is tasting chinese food for the first time or just doesn't care. To those, I highly suggest you try chinese food outside of Utah then come back and see if you still give this place 5 stars ...
(1)Andrea Y.
I shared beef vermicelli noodles, chicken curry and fresh spring rolls. It was all super tasty. Granted, I was seriously hungry, but I think this is the kind of meal that's pleasurable no matter what kind of mood I'm in. The service was speedy and the came by often to check on us. Red Iguana had a 30 minute wait, so we came to Cafe Trang. No wait and good food. Can't beat that when you're hungry!
(4)Steve M.
Ate here twice in two days, but I should probably mention I'm a Pho addict. Also, it was very convenient for me, as I was staying around the corner. There are only two choices of Pho on the menu, and I had the Han Noi both times I was there. Normally, the msg content in Pho is overwhelming, but the soup here didn't seem to have msg, and it was really good. Spendy compared to what I'm used to paying for pho, but worth it considering how good it was. The restaruant was nice and clean, and the staff was friendly. Guess I should have tried an alternate menu item, but the pho was calling my name... Eat on, Americans!
(4)James D.
I give this place a 5 though it may be closer to 4.5. At least this is not another "I'm from LA so I expect better" reviews. Newsflash: Been to LA and the food is not that good. Anyway for Vietnamese food in Salt Lake City this is top notch. My favorite dish is on the Specialty section of the menu. It is the beef cubes called Sha king beef I believe. The service is excellent, the staff is very friendly and the menu is extensive and very good. So go enjoy it.
(5)Rafael C.
I am writing this review from my memory about 20 years ago-historic Cafe Trang. This is the place where I had my first pho and I have had difficulty finding pho elsewhere that matched my first taste of pho in Salt Lake City. Their fried springrolls are the best I had in America.
(5)Jamie P.
Don't waste your time ... Food was luke warm .,nasty
(1)Kate R.
I ordered a soup on the menu for $8.95, and was charged $9.95. When I told my server, she brushed me off and said the menu listed the wrong price and I was still charged the higher price. Their service blows. The food is good, but expensive for what it is. Also, beware vegetarians - even if you specifically order something vegetarian, you have to double check that they give you the vegetarian version.
(2)Brad A.
I don't know whether this is the same place that is reviewed at 818 S Main St, but I have been to the Cafe Trang on 200S twice now on business meetings, and both times I have been very pleased by the food and have to recommend it to everyone. The atmosphere is great - its decor is very colorful and tasteful, and almost trendy. Service is also quite friendly. The menu is great. Lots of selections, many of which were very tempting. Both things I've gotten (a beef dish with vegetables, and a lunch special with Thai basil beef and lemongrass chicken) were delicious. Can't say much about the prices - compared to California they were very good, but that's the case with everything in Utah, I noticed. When in SLC, I'll be heading to Cafe Trang for my Asian fix.
(4)Jiayu C.
A good place for a simple business lunch or dinner. Very reasonable quality with a low price. The food is good Vietnamese with some Chinese influnces.
(4)Vanessa S.
I happened to be in downtown SLC during Sunday at noon for a meeting -- NOT a good time to find open restaurants here. I'm also vegetarian, and a cheese sandwich was not going to cut it. Luckily Cafe Trang was one of the few restaurants open on a Sunday afternoon. Because business everywhere is slow this time of day, my food was ready almost immediately after I ordered it. It was also very delicious and reasonably priced. I had the La-han Vegan and would definitely visit this restaurant again.
(4)Ryan H.
The place looks like a total dump, I think it used to be a Perkins or a Jack-in-the-box or something but the food was absolutely fresh and phenomenal! And actually the interior decor was nice. It's kind of unfair to give them a 4 instead of a 5, here's why. The food was great, the server was very friendly, the service was fast - we were even there like 10 minutes before closing and they were totally cool about it. We got a grilled pork dish with rice noodles and fresh greens and a spicy steak dish with tons of peppers and onions. Both were amazingly fresh and flavorful - I mean truly delicious, I really wanted more when I was done. The ONLY thing that bugged me and really it's not a big deal, but they wouldn't substitute the rice on the steak dish for more veggies. Seems like a pretty easy swap, but they wouldn't do it for me. It was still really good as it was with no rice or extra veggies. I'd totally go and order it again. Is that enough of a reason to drop a star, you decide...
(4)J J.
We ate here with a group of people. Some of the group didn't like Vietnamese food and others weren't too thrilled about Chinese. The nice thing about this restaurant, is they had a little bit of everything. Everyone found something to eat and everyone seemed happy with their food.
(4)K P.
The vermicelli noodle salad is super. Be sure to ask for extra cilantro or other herbs on the side to make it even better. Very friendly staff and nice looking restaurant.
(4)thi t.
Food was okay as I am from LA so had much better, however, it's Utah so not too many Vietnamese choices. Dishes were small and it's pricey for what you get. The owner was nice, very friendly. The mango fish, was fishy for me, but the mango was good. The curry stir fried beef was all right, but was missing some flavor. Overall, if I have other choices, I will not come back.
(3)JaNae C.
First time for our family. The server was extremely helpful and attentive and helpful without being bothersome. They were so accommodating, serving the Pho and 4 other entrees family style so we could all try a little of everything. We started with the calamari for the appetizer and it was cooked perfectly. The Pho was absolutely delicious. All four of the entrees we ordered were each utterly extraordinary. The Vietnamese Shaking Beef Cubes were the biggest hit of the evening. Beef cubes cooked rare but very tender with onions in a sauce to die for. But the Caramel Pork was only an extremely close second for all of us. Again, a lot of onions, but prepared excellently The Thai Tofu Pineapple Curry could not have been spiced more perfectly (a slow starting smolder, but not so spicy that it was distressing) nor could the tofu been cooked any better. A winner to be sure. The Hot Wok Noodles (House Special) was, as the others, a delight for the palate. Each dish was complex in the depth of their flavors and truly offered a feast that was memorable in all the best possible ways. We will be returning often!
(5)Chad G.
Really good food for a good price. 2 for $20 is a great deal with appetizer, soup, and an entree. Pho beef noodle soup is great on a cold day.
(5)