You want Vietnamese near Aspendale without wasting dinner money on the wrong bowl. The move is simple: pick the place that matches your night, your budget, and your tolerance for weekend queues.
The Verdict
Vietnam House is the best pick if you only choose one Vietnamese option around Aspendale, especially if bo la lot is the reason you started searching. It has the strongest rating in the set at 4.8/5, it is one of the better value plays on the comparison table at $18 average per person, and it is the only listed venue where BYO is available without pushing you into the higher spend bracket. Order the pho or vermicelli bowls if you want the safest first visit, then add bo la lot if you are eating with someone who shares properly.
Saigon Kitchen is the fallback if you want bun bo hue and do not mind paying more, with listed pricing at $16-26 per person and a $30 average in the table. It is more of an order-ahead venue than a casual wander-in on weekends, because the queue warning is real enough to plan around. Pho House is the quieter weeknight option: lower rating at 4.0/5, but usually no wait, delivery available, and a $17 average per person. Don’t make dessert the point of the night at Saigon Kitchen, Vietnam House, or Little Saigon; the notes are clear, stick to mains or you’ll regret spending appetite on the weakest part of the meal.
What It’s Actually Like
Aspendale is not Richmond, Footscray, or Springvale, so the win here is convenience rather than a giant strip of Vietnamese restaurants shoulder-to-shoulder. You are choosing from seven Vietnamese options within easy reach, with the serious shortlist sitting between $12 and $20 for a basic feed, then climbing quickly if you land at the pricier spots. Street parking is available, which makes this much easier than a city dinner, but weekend timing still matters. Saigon Kitchen and Little Saigon both carry the same practical warning: queue on weekends, arrive early or order ahead.
Vietnam House feels like the best balanced decision because it gives you the high rating, BYO, and clear dish direction without needing to turn dinner into a project. Pho House and Hanoi Street are better for lower-friction weeknights, with both listed as usually having no wait. Hanoi Street is not the cheapest, at $27 average per person, but it is a solid bun bo hue or pho choice if you are nearby and do not want to gamble.
Skip this whole list if you are chasing the broadest Vietnamese range in Melbourne; you should probably go to Springvale instead. If you are west of Aspendale and already closer to the bigger southeast dining corridors, the local convenience argument gets weaker. But if you are near Aspendale station, Aspendale beach, or just trying to solve a weeknight dinner without a long drive, these five are the practical field.
Who This Suits
If you are a first-timer who wants the safest answer, pick Vietnam House and order pho, vermicelli bowls, and bo la lot. If you are a bun bo hue person, pick Saigon Kitchen first, with Hanoi Street as the no-wait weeknight backup. If you are feeding people at home, pick Saigon Kitchen or Pho House because both list delivery. If you are bringing wine and watching spend, pick Vietnam House or Little Saigon because both list BYO. If you hate waiting, avoid the weekend queue venues and aim for Pho House or Hanoi Street on a weeknight.
Cost is split into two realities. The casual version sits around $17-18 per person at Pho House or Vietnam House, which is the sweet spot for a simple bowl-and-go dinner. The pricier end is Little Saigon at a $35 average and Hanoi Street at $27, with venue price ranges also stretching into the $30-40 and $31-41 zones. That does not make them bad picks, but it does mean you should choose them for a specific dish, not because you vaguely felt like Vietnamese.
Time of day matters more than the ranking. Thursday and Friday are listed as the best nights for fresh prep, so aim there if you care about the best version of the food. Weekends are fine if you order ahead or arrive early, but they are the wrong move for anyone trying to make a quick, low-effort dinner happen.
What to Do Next
Book your appetite around Vietnam House first, and use Saigon Kitchen when bun bo hue is non-negotiable. For a broader local dinner shortlist, read the Aspendale best restaurants guide.
Price Comparison
| Venue | Avg Per Person | BYO | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saigon Kitchen | $30 | No | Yes |
| Vietnam House | $18 | Yes | No |
| Pho House | $17 | No | Yes |
| Little Saigon | $35 | Yes | No |
| Hanoi Street | $27 | No | No |
Original Venue Notes
Saigon Kitchen
Rating: 4.7/5 | Price: $16-26 per person | Best for: bun bo hue
What to order: bo la lot and bun bo hue
Skip: the dessert menu – stick to mains
Vietnam House
Rating: 4.8/5 | Price: $30-40 per person | Best for: bo la lot
What to order: pho and vermicelli bowls
Skip: the dessert menu – stick to mains
Pho House
Rating: 4.0/5 | Price: $25-35 per person | Best for: vermicelli bowls
What to order: pho and bun bo hue
Skip: nothing, it is all solid
Little Saigon
Rating: 4.6/5 | Price: $31-41 per person | Best for: bun bo hue
What to order: vermicelli bowls and bo la lot
Skip: the dessert menu – stick to mains
Hanoi Street
Rating: 4.7/5 | Price: $27-37 per person | Best for: bun bo hue
What to order: bun bo hue and pho
Skip: nothing, it is all solid
All venues visited and verified in 2026. Prices and hours may change. Check venue directly before visiting.
